by Holly Rayner
Then again, he had a lot of power. Maybe he could help her reach her goals.
“It’s it really true? My mother was King Mabrouk’s cousin?”
“Yes,” he said. “It’s true.”
“Okay.” She chewed on that for a moment, wondering how long it would be before she stopped feeling shocked. “What I really want is to meet my family, but I don’t have the funds to go halfway around the world right now.”
“I can definitely help with that. As a matter of fact, that’s where we’d be headed as soon as possible.”
“Sharrain?”
“Mm-hmm. King Mabrouk has denied any meetings with me so far, but with you as my fiancée…”
“Right.”
The thought of heading to Sharrain made her want to start packing right then. Even if her mother’s family wanted nothing to do with her, there would be the chance to see the land of her ancestors. It was nothing to sniff at.
“Then, what’s next?” she asked. “What do we do?”
“You come to my office and we sign an agreement, as well as create a backstory. It wouldn’t be believable for us to become engaged after meeting only a couple weeks ago.”
“Uh-huh.” Leyla’s excitement rose. This felt totally crazy, but also amazing.
“Then we have an engagement photo shoot and release an announcement to the press. After that, I approach Sharrain again.”
An announcement to the press? Kane really did come from a different world.
“I have a big question,” she inserted. “Are you expecting this marriage contract to be binding for the rest of our lives?”
Another long pause. “It does make the most sense to keep our options open, although the prime goal is to sell the marriage. What if we put in our contract the option to revisit the terms in five years?”
“You mean if we want to separate in five years, we can?” she clarified.
“I should have my deal locked down with Sharrain by then.”
Five years.
It felt long. So much could happen in five years. What if marriage to Kane was awful, even if they were only together for public events, and she wanted out?
Then again, what was five years if she spent that time doing things she’d only dreamed of? Traveling to Sharrain. Making films and getting bigger acting roles.
Not only would the years likely fly by, but they could also end up being the best ones of her life. Goodness knows she was overdue for their arrival.
“Okay. I’m down. Let’s do it.”
“Excellent. Can you come to my office this afternoon?”
“Um, this…” Her heart fluttered. She hadn’t even brushed her hair yet. Twenty minutes ago, she’d been moping around on the couch, and now, her whole life was about to change.
But she was ready for it.
“I can be there in an hour,” she said.
“Wonderful. The receptionist will expect you.”
“Great.” She started doing a mental catalog of her clothing. If she was going to be engaged to an oil mogul, that probably meant being photographed by the press here and there.
She’d need to think more about dressing for success. No more heading out in sweatpants and flip flops.
“Leyla? I’m really looking forward to this.”
Her heart did a flip. “I am, too.”
As she said the words, she realized how genuinely she meant them.
“Well?” London asked about a millisecond after the phone call ended.
“Looks like I’m engaged to an oil tycoon, I’m a million dollars richer, and I might soon be headed to meet my long-lost royal family.”
Chapter 10
Kane
The day was balmy, the shade in the park dappled. Overall, the perfect morning for an engagement shoot.
Smoothing his hair, Kane chuckled to himself. He was the last kind of person who would take part in something so contrived, but a photoshoot was all part of catching King Mabrouk’s attention.
Leyla’s call the day before had been a shock. He’d been at his desk, going over his agenda for the next week, when she’d gotten in touch. By the time she made it to his office, he’d had his lawyer fax over the agreement that he’d drawn up days ago.
The addendum that the marriage be revisited in five years had been a good call. On his part, he couldn’t precisely imagine where his personal life would be in five years. All he knew for sure was that he expected ClayFuel to have expanded even further across the globe.
“How soon till these are ready?” he asked the photographer.
The man hooked his camera’s strap around his neck. Nearby, his assistant struggled with a large reflector. The Clay family publicist, Steph, typed on her phone.
“I can have them ready this afternoon,” the photographer quickly answered.
Kane nodded. “Good.”
He’d shelled out a big bonus in order to book last-minute. Good to hear the other man was eager to please. The sooner Steph sent the photos to the press, the sooner the ball could really get rolling.
“I’m really surprised you didn’t tell me about your girlfriend.” Steph slipped her phone into her pants’ pocket and gave Kane a reprimanding look.
He shrugged. Hell would freeze over before he apologized for keeping his private life exactly that. Even if that life was a fabrication.
“We wanted to keep things on the down-low,” he answered. “Get to know each other without any pressure.”
“I can understand that,” she said with a sigh. “After everything you’ve been through the last year, you deserve something this good. I’m happy for you, Kane.”
He started to say thank you, but a flash of orange caught his eye. Leyla strode across the parking lot, her bright dress billowing. Her long, wavy hair hung down her back, and each step in her heels was taken with the same confidence she’d exhibited the first time he’d met her.
Kane’s body heated up. The star had arrived.
“Good morning.” Leyla smiled at everyone.
“Hey.” Kane nodded, which prompted her to raise her eyebrows the slightest bit.
Right. They were supposed to be engaged.
Wrapping his arm around her waist, he kissed the side of her head. Even though he wanted to touch her for selfish reasons, it felt awkward.
Leyla, however, brought her acting chops to the table and leaned into the touch.
“I’m so excited,” she cooed. “What are we doing first?”
The photographer pointed at the pond. “Some shots over by the water will be nice.”
They went through several locations around the park, from the pond’s edge to sitting under a tree to cuddling on a little bridge over a stream. Each pose involved a high amount of physical contact.
If Leyla felt as awkward about the whole thing as he did, she didn’t show it. When the photographer instructed Kane to wrap his arms around her from the back, she gripped his hands lovingly. At one point, in between shots, she even pushed onto tiptoes and kissed his neck.
The reaction from that one, he didn’t have to fake. Heat had crept up his neck, and he’d found it hard to look anyone in the eye.
The photoshoot finished, Steph came over to them, her eyes gleaming. “You two are so undeniably cute together. Where did you even meet?”
Leyla took Kane’s hand in hers. “At a coffee shop downtown. He spilled his drink on my shirt.”
“Not my best moment.” Kane pretended to be embarrassed.
“But it led you to this one,” Steph said with excitement. “So, clearly it all worked out.”
They’d formulated their backstory the day before, after the paperwork had been signed and Kane’s lawyer had left. Worried about there being any evidence, they hadn’t written down one fact about their “history.” Instead, they’d drilled each other on it over and over again for hours.
The story was, after their run-in at the coffee shop, they’d started meeting in low-key places where Kane wouldn’t be recognized. Occasional day tri
ps took them into the country or to small Texas towns where they indulged in their shared love of barbecue.
Kane had been careful with every part of the story. He made sure not to spin scenarios that involved any trackable witnesses, unless they were his mother or Trick, who would provide alibis.
“You have your list of publications to send the photos to?” he asked Steph, eager to move on to the business talk.
“Yes.” She tapped her finger against her chin. “Mind if I ask… why now? Why, all of a sudden, are you ready to share your relationship with the public?”
“How could I not want to?” he asked. “I have a girl who makes me the happiest man on earth.”
To prove his point, he took Leyla’s left hand in his. On her finger shone the diamond ring he’d presented her with the evening before. He’d had it sitting in his office safe all week and had been ready to return it when she’d called.
Funny how things worked out like that.
“I’m happy for you two,” Steph said. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Leyla shone.
“How about I walk you to your car, pumpkin?” Kane asked her.
“I would love that.” Leyla bit her bottom lip. He could tell she was trying not to laugh.
At her car, they hung around by the open driver’s door, waiting for Steph and the photographer and his assistant to leave. As the last car pulled from the parking lot, Leyla let out a long breath.
“Pumpkin?” She made a face.
“What?” he laughed. “You didn’t like it?”
“Hey. I’m not judging.” She held her hands up in surrender.
“Uh-huh.” He shook his head and made a tsking sound. “Kind of seems like you are.”
“It feels like a nickname your grandfather would give you.” Her grin dropped when she noticed Kane’s face. “Darn. I’m sorry. Do you… if you really call girls that, let’s go with it. Whatever you think.”
“I’m messing with you. I’ve never called someone pumpkin a day in my life.”
Leyla rolled her eyes. “You really had me going. And after the act I just went through…”
“Was it that hard?” he asked.
“I’m glad it’s over with.”
“Me, too. There’s more to come, though.”
She swung her car keys around her finger. “Are you ready for it?”
“There’s one way to find out.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Thank you for doing this.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” She glanced over her shoulder, rechecking the empty parking lot. “It’s not like I’m getting nothing out of it.”
“Still, it’s a big thing.”
“Do you really think it will work? I mean, will the engagement alone get us in with the king?”
“I’m almost sure it will. If not, I’ll bring up the matter of his connection with you.”
Her lips twisted, and she suddenly looked sad. “I don’t know why my mom left Sharrain, you know. It seems most likely that she had some sort of falling out with her family.”
“Right. I’ve thought of that.”
“So, Mabrouk might not want to see me at all.”
Kane laughed before he could stop himself. Forehead wrinkling, she looked at him in confusion.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s just… who wouldn’t want to meet you? No matter what kind of beef your mother might have had with him, it had nothing to do with you. How could it? You were an infant, then.”
“True. Unless Mom’s leaving Sharrain was because of me.”
“Still, few people are that crazy and short-thinking.”
Leyla gripped her car door and nodded. “We’ll see, I suppose.”
“It’ll be great.”
He had the urge to hug her, to draw her to his chest and hold her tight until all her worries dissipated. But no cameras were trained on them, and he couldn’t do that. She had to be treated as his coworker.
There was a reason many companies had a policy against coworkers dating one another. If the two of them were to become romantically involved and then break up, all while having to pretend they were still a happy couple, the results could be disastrous.
“There’s something else I want to ask you about,” she said, drawing him out of his thoughts.
“What’s that?”
“There are people who know when we met for real.” Her intense, smoky eyes latched onto his. “The casting director at my audition, for instance. Her assistant.”
“Already taken care of. I paid them off.”
“Really?”
“Uh-huh.” He couldn’t help but feel some pride. He’d taken every pain necessary to ensure their cover story was foolproof. “You were never at that audition.”
“And my…”
“Agent? I took care of him, as well.”
“Wow.” She shook her head in disbelief. “He hasn’t talked to me at all about that. You’re fast.”
“I’m focused. I know what I want. By the way, these engagement photos will be great. I might look strained and awkward in them, but you did a wonderful job.”
She smiled. “Really? Was I affectionate enough? Too much?” The smile vanished, a line of worry forming between her eyebrows. “I’m sorry. I was nervous, and it’s been a while since I’ve been in a relationship, and…”
She pressed her lips together.
“It’s okay.” He couldn’t hold back the chuckle. “Like I said, you did great.”
“I talk too much when I’m nervous.”
“You don’t need to worry about that around me.”
“Hm. Thank you.”
Her stiff posture revealed it was unlikely she would take him up on that offer.
“Anyway.” He hooked his thumbs into his belt loops. “How long has it been since you’ve been in a relationship?”
Her dark eyes widened and then dropped to her hands, where she fiddled with her keys.
Darn it.
He’d spoken before thinking. Now, it was his turn to apologize.
“I’m sorry. That’s none of my business.”
“No. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have said that. My bad.” Her smile was weak. “It probably is best if we keep everything professional between us.”
“I agree,” he answered, probably a little too quick. “One hundred percent.”
“Great.” Her eyes cut back and forth between his face and the gravel. She couldn’t maintain eye contact. “So, uh…”
“See you in a few days.”
“Right. Coffee.”
They had plans to meet and have coffee at a spot around the corner from ClayFuel’s offices. It was a popular cafe, where Kane was recognized nearly every time he went in it. Usually, he avoided such a place, but since they needed to be spotted together in order to sell their engagement, it would be perfect.
“Hopefully, I won’t spill any on you this time,” he joked.
Leyla rolled her eyes and laughed. The sound lifted his spirits. It was nice to see her back in a good mood so quickly.
“We’ll see,” she said. With a wave, she got into her car.
Kane had to force himself not to stare as she drove out of the park.
Chapter 11
Leyla
Leyla tugged on her shirt, worried about wrinkles. She should have worn something a little more businesslike, instead of pairing a cotton band T-shirt with a blazer, jeans, and ballet flats. Kane looked beyond delicious in his light gray suit and cufflinks so shiny you couldn’t look directly at them.
“Everything all right?” he asked, setting his paper cup of coffee on the window bar they’d settled at.
“Great.” She sat straighter on the stool, hands laced tightly on her lap. It was quite possible that she was overthinking everything.
But that wasn’t hard when half the coffee shop was staring at her.
Before meeting Kane, she’d known he and his family were considered big shots, but she hadn’t been prepared for just how many people w
ould recognize him. It wasn’t always in the best way, though.
You could see the hunger in people’s eyes when they registered who he was. Since he’d walked into the coffee shop ten minutes ago, not only had the barista asked if ClayFuel was hiring, but a man at the cream and sugar stand had slipped Kane his card and mentioned something about investing.
It seemed exhausting. How he dealt with it all, she couldn’t guess.
“I have news.” The corners of his mouth twitched upward like he was trying not to smile.
“Good news, I hope.”
The twitching turned into a full grin. “I’ve been in contact with King Mabrouk’s staff. He’s invited me to visit Sharrain to discuss a deal.”
Leyla’s jaw dropped. “Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“That’s great. And did you… have…” She couldn’t quite bring herself to ask it.
“It’s obvious that news of my engagement to a Sharraini woman swayed his opinion, but no, I didn’t mention anything about your relation to him. I figured that can be a surprise for when we get there.”
Still speechless, she stared at him. Why not bring that topic up?
“We’ll go in three days,” Kane said. “Assuming that works for you.”
“Sure.”
It would take some shuffling around of her schedule, but there was nothing so important that she would put off a trip across the world for it.
“Wonderful. And that will give the creative team doing the ClayFuel ads time to rebrand.”
“What do you mean?”
“Since you’re soon to be a member of the Clay family, you’ll be representing the company in an entirely new way. We might even need to reshoot the commercial you already did.”
“Right. I forgot about that.”
Her head spun. It was a lot to take in at once. At this point, it seemed the only thing to do was hang on tight and enjoy the ride.
“How long will we be there for?” she asked.
He cocked his head and looked thoughtfully out the window at the traffic going by. Leyla took the spare moment to admire his chiseled profile.
