by Albany, Cara
Zayed was momentarily lost for words. After a pause, he nodded. "I believe Chloe enjoyed the trip."
Zayed looked down at Aliyah and saw his sister's unusually pale face and furrowed brows. Zayed tried to catch Aliyah's attention, but she turned quickly away from him.
Zayed looked down at his father who had, of course, not risen to greet him. "Good morning, father," Zayed said taking his seat at the table directly opposite his mother. Like his sister, Beatrice looked worried. What did both women know that was causing them to behave like this?
For a few minutes, nothing was said as they all helped themselves to the food on the table. Eventually, Zayed couldn't take the silence any longer.
"Has anyone seen Chloe, this morning?" he asked.
The heavy silence prompted by his question convinced Zayed that something was going on. He had to know.
His mother, ever the mediator, smiled at Zayed. "I saw her earlier. She was having breakfast with Aliyah," she said, turning to her daughter. "Isn't that right?"
Zayed lifted a brow. "Well, Aliyah? Have you spoken to Chloe?"
Aliyah shifted in her seat and nodded slowly. "I have spoken with Chloe. She was here a short while ago."
Zayed looked around the terrace and the garden. "Where did she go?"
"She had things to attend to," Aliyah explained.
Zayed frowned. "Like what?"
Aliyah hesitated. "I believe she said she had to speak with her boss, Andrew," she said.
King Kamal grunted.
Zayed turned to his father. "I suppose you are happy that she will be leaving, father?"
Kamal gave Zayed a stern look. "It was inevitable that she would leave in such a fashion."
Zayed stood quickly, thrusting the chair away with a firm shove of the back of his knees. "I have to find Chloe," he said. He started to turn, but Kamal extended an imperious arm, and Zayed froze, as if controlled by a reflex.
"Sit down, my son," Kamal said softly.
Zayed hesitated and looked down at his father. Kamal gave Zayed one long look and Zayed slowly regained his seat.
Kamal took a long sip of his coffee and slowly placed the cup down on the saucer. He turned to Zayed. Father and son had exchanged words in exactly this manner for many years. Zayed knew when his father was unhappy about something; could tell when bad news was about to be given. He had that familiar sensation in his gut, right now.
Zayed glanced at Beatrice and Aliyah. They both smiled wanly at him, already sensing what was about to happen.
Kamal sighed loudly and then peered at Zayed. "You disobeyed me, Zayed."
"How" Zayed blurted out. He saw his mother flinch at the harsh sound of his voice.
Kamal's brows furrowed. "I explicitly asked you not accompany that woman to the caves without your brother being present."
Zayed's shoulders stiffened. "That woman has a name."
"I'm aware that the American woman has a name."
"Her name is Chloe," Zayed stated. "And yes, she is American, although I fail to see how that is important."
Kamal paused and lowered his head as if composing himself. "Miss Stirling said that she wanted to see the wonders that our kingdom has to offer. I allowed myself to be persuaded that this might be in the best interests of our kingdom."
"And I am grateful that you did so, father."
Kamal acknowledged Zayed's recognition with a bow of his head. "However, I do not recall allowing you to pursue Miss Stirling," his father said sternly.
Zayed glanced across at his mother and saw that she was watching him intently, a grim expression on her face. "What do you mean, I pursued Chloe?"
"Exactly what I say, Zayed. You have allowed your passion for this woman to cloud your judgment."
"In what way?"
"You are no longer behaving as your station in life dictates."
"Are you saying that my love for Chloe is a threat to your kingdom?"
Kamal froze, and his eyes widened. There was a look of consternation on his face. "This is as much your kingdom as mine, Zayed. Don't forget that. And don't forget your duty lies to this kingdom."
Zayed drew in a deep breath. "I understand what you say, father. But, my duty is also to my heart and how I feel about Chloe Stirling."
Zayed saw his mother smile at him. Her eyes had moistened, and Zayed thought she was about to say something, but she glanced at Kamal as he continued to speak.
"How you feel about Miss Stirling is frankly irrelevant, Zayed. Your duty is to this kingdom."
"I am aware of my duty father. I believe my obligations to our kingdom and my love for Chloe are not incompatible."
There was a long pause. Kamal stared at Zayed. "Are you saying you wish to wed this American woman?" Kamal demanded eventually.
Kamal's voice had risen in volume and Zayed could tell that, any moment now, his father was going to make some irrational, furious demand.
Zayed glanced at his mother. She was patiently stirring her coffee with a teaspoon. He wondered when she would take the opportunity to say something, anything that would control the rising rage of his father.
"I haven't said any such thing, father. I am merely stating to you that the love for a woman not of our kingdom should not be so difficult for you to understand," Zayed said looking across at his mother.
Beatrice smiled softly and took her cue from Zayed. "Kamal. I know you mean well, but Zayed is just trying to tell you that he has found the woman he loves," Beatrice said. "Surely that must mean something to you?"
Kamal sighed heavily. "But, she is not who I would have chosen."
Beatrice reached across and laid a hand on her husband's arm. "Don't you remember how you felt when you met me? I was as much a stranger to this world of yours as Chloe is to Zayed's."
"That was different," Kamal said.
"How was it different, my dear?" Beatrice said softly.
Kamal grunted and looked up at the early morning sky as if seeking guidance. Or patience. "But what of the arrangement?" Kamal asked Beatrice.
"The proposed marriage between Zayed and Abdul's daughter? That need not go ahead," Beatrice said. "You always knew that was not a serious proposal."
"I cannot undo a promise I have given to someone I have dealt with honorably all my life."
"He will understand, Kamal. Honor will prevail."
Zayed could have raced around the table and hugged his mother right there and then. She always had been able to persuade her husband. In the gentlest way, of course. It augured well for his relationship with Chloe, because he had seen so much of the same patience and wisdom in her.
Kamal sighed one last time. "I suppose you are right. I will tell Abdul that the proposed wedding between Zayed and his daughter has been canceled," he said looking at Beatrice.
His Queen. His wife.
For a heart-warming moment, Zayed saw love in his father's eyes.
Beatrice smiled at her husband and then looked at Zayed. "What are you waiting for?"
Zayed frowned at his mother and saw Aliyah's face light up with a smile. "Well? Go quickly. Find Chloe," Aliyah said waving a hand at Zayed.
Zayed stood up and laid a hand on his father's shoulder. "Thank you, father. For understanding."
Kamal leaned his head to one side and looked at Beatrice. "Thank your mother. Her wisdom always prevails," he said with a smile.
Zayed nodded and raced from the terrace, making his way back into the palace. He ran along the corridor to Chloe's chambers. His heart was full of hope, filled with joy at the prospect of telling Chloe that there were no barriers to their love.
Not any more.
He was sure she would welcome him with open arms. If Chloe and Aliyah had been talking, then he was sure that Chloe would be ready to forgive all of Zayed's stupidity, forget all the mistakes he had made. He couldn't wait to see her, sweep her into his arms, throw her on the huge bed and make love to her.
He reached her chamber and pushed open the door, calling out her name. "Ch
loe? Where are you? I'm here. I have some wonderful news."
Inside he was greeted not by the sight of Chloe sitting on the sofa, but by the sight of an empty chamber. One of the servants was tidying up the remnants of Chloe's occupation of the room. There was no sign of Chloe.
"Where is she, Sira?" he demanded of the young female servant.
Sira's eyes widened as she saw Zayed advance toward her. "Chloe? She has left."
"Left? When?"
"A short while ago."
Panic rushed through Zayed's body, fixing him momentarily to the spot.
"Did she say where she was going? Is she going back to the hotel?"
Sira shook her head. "Not to the hotel. I believe she called her boss. It has been arranged that they will both leave by private jet this morning."
"Private jet?"
"It appears there are urgent matters to attend to in America," Sira said.
Zayed ran his hand through his hair and whirled around. For a moment, he was at a loss what to do. Right now, all he could think of was that Chloe was in a car speeding toward the airport, where her boss was waiting to whisk Chloe back to the comfortable, safe life she believed awaited her back in America.
He had to go after her, had to stop her from leaving. Zayed knew that if Chloe got on that plane and took off, then he would probably never see her again. Even if the production company returned to make their movie, Chloe would find some way to avoid being involved. She would find some excuse for making sure that Zayed would have no further part in her life.
Zayed ran out of the chamber and started to run down the corridor. He reached the front of the palace and leaped inside his sports car, sinking into the comfortable leather seat and grasping the wheel. As he started the engine and jammed his foot down on the accelerator, there was only one thought running through his mind.
Chloe Stirling wasn't going to escape him this time.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Chloe settled back into the soft, padded leather seat and exhaled.
Finally!
The plane was ready for takeoff.
The interior of the small, private jet felt like an air-conditioned cocoon sheltering Chloe from the harshness of the warm air outside the plane.
Chloe glanced out the window at the airport building, modern, sleek and new. If she had anything to do with it, this would be the last time she would see that building.
She felt the movement of the plane as it began to taxi out onto the runway and reached down, snapping her seatbelt around her waist.
Across from her sat Andrew. He was keeping himself busy with paperwork. Chloe smiled, recalling that Andrew had never enjoyed flying. For her, though, right at this minute, the flight promised to deliver her from making a terrible mistake.
Because, that was what she had almost done. She had almost succumbed to Zayed's scheming. He must have known all along that he was going to marry another woman. That kind of thing happened all the time amongst families like Zayed's.
Arranged marriages were part of their tradition.
Chloe knew now that she had no place in Qazhar; realized that she had no place in Zayed's life, nor in his heart.
But, was that true? Back in the cave, while she had been submitting to Zayed's passion; surrendering to his fierce need; opening herself up to him completely; it had all seemed unbelievably real. Now, though, Chloe recognized it for what it had been. A last fling before his arranged wedding.
The plane vibrated and juddered suddenly to a halt. Chloe glanced out the window. The jet had stopped at the end of a narrow transit lane that gave onto the main runway. Perhaps they had to wait while another plane landed.
"You okay?" Andrew said, his face slightly pale with hidden anxiety.
"I'm fine, Andrew," Chloe replied.
"We'll be up in the air in no time. Then, back to L.A and that darned meeting."
While Chloe had been enjoying her adventure in the desert, there had been an urgent call from the studio, demanding that Andrew return immediately. There had been staff changes amongst senior executives at the studio. Now, there was some doubt over whether the movie Andrew was producing would even be financed.
Chloe wasn't sure if it was that, or the prospect of the long flight back L.A that gave Andrew's face the pallor of a character from a zombie flick.
Chloe glanced out the window and saw a car speeding straight toward the jet. That was odd. Usually, the only vehicles allowed on the tarmac were those involved in the essential running of the airport.
Then, Chloe felt a sudden twisting sensation in the pit of her stomach. Her heart started to hammer fast, and her throat tightened. She recognized that car!
It was one of Zayed's extremely expensive and very exclusive sports cars.
Chloe gripped the side of the seat and crushed her face against the glass of the window.
Zayed? What on earth was he doing? Why was he here?
"Anything wrong, Chloe," Andrew said trying to see out the window.
"I think I know why we've stopped," Chloe said slowly.
Andrew's brows furrowed and he placed his papers down on the empty seat next to him.
Chloe watched in growing disbelief as the car skidded to a halt by the side of the plane. The door was flung open, and the tall figure of Zayed leaped out. For a moment, he scanned the windows of the plane and then he froze, seeing Chloe's face in the window. With a sudden reflex, Chloe drew her head back from the window, gazing across at her boss.
Andrew leaned forward. "Is that Zayed?" he asked.
Chloe nodded mutely.
"What's he doing? He seems to be signaling to the pilot to open the door."
"What!" Chloe exclaimed turning again to the window. Sure enough, Zayed was pointing to the door at the rear of the plane while moving swiftly in that direction.
"What does he think he's doing?" Chloe blurted, feeling her chest tighten, her breathing starting to feel short and tight.
"I think he wants to get on the plane," Andrew said, unbuckling his seatbelt. "I need to stop this," he said standing up.
Chloe reached out a hand. "No, Andrew. Don't."
Andrew looked down at Chloe and frowned. "You want him to come onboard?"
Chloe unbuckled her seatbelt and stood. "Let me deal with Zayed," she said.
Andrew's eyes narrowed. "Is there something I should know, Chloe?"
Chloe shifted nervously, saying nothing.
The door to the pilot's cabin opened and the Jack, the co-pilot emerged. "Sorry about this, folks. But, we just got a message from the tower that there is something important that needs to be sorted out before we can take off."
"Did they say what it was?" Chloe asked.
"No. But, this is highly irregular," Jack said heading to the rear of the cabin.
There was a loud, metallic scraping sound and then the door was open, letting in a blast of hot air and the sound of whining jet engines from somewhere far off at the terminal.
Then Chloe saw Zayed leap into the cabin, grasping the edges of the door. He was as lithe as a cat as he maneuvered himself through the open door. He raised himself to his full height. In spite of herself, Chloe had the sudden thought that she had never seen a more majestic looking man in her life. Zayed's eyes flashed down the length of the cabin. They widened when they settled on the figure of Chloe.
She realized, with growing incredulity, that she couldn't move her feet, so stunned was she by his sudden appearance.
The co-pilot started to say something but was cut off by a deep, guttural sound.
"Chloe!" Zayed roared, his voice unnaturally loud in the confines of the cabin.
Zayed strode down the aisle toward Chloe. Every step he took made Chloe's heart beat faster. She could feel the blood racing through her veins. Her legs felt weak, but she refused to sit down. She had to face Zayed down, show him that he hadn't won.
Zayed halted in front of Chloe. She could see the result of his exertion on his florid complexion, his sweat-covered brow. T
here was an intensity in his gaze which almost made Chloe turn away from him, but for some reason that she couldn't quite fathom it was utterly impossible to take her eyes off him.
Zayed's breathing was rapid, and he took a moment to compose himself. His gaze shifted to Andrew for a moment, and there seemed to be some unspoken communication between the two men, because Andrew touched Chloe gently on the arm and spoke. "I'll be at the back of the cabin if you need me, Chloe," he said.
Chloe saw Andrew nod at Zayed. Andrew and the co-pilot moved to the separate area at the rear of the plane and closed the door behind them.
They were alone now, and Chloe simply didn't know what she should say. But, Zayed solved that problem for her immediately.
"Chloe, why are you leaving so suddenly?" he demanded.
Chloe snorted and fixed Zayed with an angry stare. "You know why I'm leaving Zayed. We're over. Finished."
Even as she said the words they seemed somehow unreal, unconvincing, but she needed Zayed to know that she knew he had been less than honest with her.
"What do you mean, finished?" Zayed gasped. His brows furrowed and he reached out a hand, but Chloe leaned away.
"Exactly that, Zayed. You had your fun with me, and now its time for me to get back to my real life," Chloe said.
Zayed frowned. "Your real life? But, I thought I'd convinced you." Zayed pointed out the window. "This is where you belong. This is where you can have your real life. With me."
"You? After what you did? I don't think so, Zayed. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
Zayed flinched visibly at the sound of Chloe's words. "I did not intend to make a fool of you, Chloe. Not at all."
"You thought I wouldn't find out?"
Zayed looked surprised for a moment. "About what?"
"Your intended marriage?"
Zayed's mouth fell open, and his arms dropped down by his side. There was a very long silence. Zayed simply stared at Chloe, and for a moment she thought he might admit defeat, turn and leave the plane. Now that she had told him what she knew, there was nothing for him to fall back on.
No more deceptions.
Then Zayed's head leaned back, and he looked at the cabin ceiling. His mouth stretched into a wry smile, and Chloe felt a sudden rush of indignation.
