Rachelle was gazing at her menu, having finally decided on what to order, when she looked up to see a man staring down at her.

“Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t see you there. Can I please get the goat cheese salad with the dressing on the side?”

The man continued to stare, his expression bemused. Rachelle took him in, and when she did, her skin tingled.

He was stunningly handsome.

His eyes were a dark chocolate brown, and his hair was thick and black, not unlike Phoebe’s description of Ban’s. He was tall, his skin a smooth olive color. He was dressed impeccably in a tailored suit.

Wait. He was dressed in a suit?

Glancing around the café, Rachelle saw a few other servers at other tables. They were dressed in white shirts and slacks—nothing compared to what the man towering over her was wearing. She quickly realized her mistake.

“Oh my gosh. You don’t work here. I am beyond embarrassed.”

Hiding her face with her hand, she felt her blush travel from her cheeks to the roots of her dark brown hair. Realizing that he was still standing there, she glanced back up, her eyes filled with regret.

“I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to mistake you.”

The man chuckled, and it was a warm, inviting sound.

“It’s quite all right. I’m sure you’re not accustomed to random strangers waiting for your attention, or maybe you are, given your beauty. May I sit down?”

Rachelle blinked at his compliment before nodding, unable to find her tongue. Since when was she rendered speechless by anyone? Rachelle Smith could talk her way into and out of any situation she chose. Somehow, in a matter of seconds, this man had taken that ability from her.

He slid into the seat across from her, his eyes warm as he held out his hand.

“I’m Darian, CEO of VELO Media. I saw you at the conference earlier and wanted to make sure I introduced myself. You’re Rachelle Smith, are you not?”

Rachelle smiled and nodded, shaking his hand even as she thought about this handsome man watching her from across the crowded room and feeling warm at the thought. Then the part of her brain that actually worked began yelling at her to pay attention, and so she did.

Darian, CEO of VELO? Why did that sound so familiar?

It struck her like a bolt of lightning. Darian, as in Darian Al-Adain, Sheikh of Zaradi! Not only was he one of the top executives in the field in this country and around the world, he was basically a prince! As she stared at him for a moment, she almost thought he looked disappointed at her reaction.

“I see my reputation precedes me,” he said, glancing down as he pulled his hand away, leaving an emptiness in the palm of Rachelle’s hand.

In that moment, Rachelle realized that the poor man was likely a celebrity in his country, never able to have a regular conversation with anyone normal. She had to believe that it had less to do with his professional accomplishments and more to do with his royal ties. She cared nothing for the latter, personally.

“If by that, you mean your reputation as one of the most successful advertising executives in the world, then absolutely. You are actually on my list of people who I would like to meet while I’m networking here.”

“Oh?” he asked, one perfect eyebrow lifting in interest.

Rachelle swallowed. The man was irresistible. She would have to get her emotions under control if she didn’t want to blow this possibly life-changing connection. Her promotion could be so much higher if she managed to land Darian as a partner.

“Absolutely. Can I buy you lunch?”

Darian smiled.

“You can permit me to buy you lunch, if you’re so willing.”

“Whatever you’d like. I’m happy to have you as my guest today at this lovely café.”

Darian continued to smile, his teeth a perfect row of white. A dimple creased his cheek, and Rachelle felt a strange urge to run her finger along the edge of it before pressing her lips against his perfect mouth.

Get it together, she thought.

“So, is the goat cheese salad any good here?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never been.”

“Really? As a sheikh, I would imagine you’d be out and about among the people, though perhaps not.”

“Perhaps I ought to get out more than I do. I do a rather lot of work from my home office, and when I’m not there, I’m usually traveling to meet with clients, or otherwise engaged. This might be the first lunch I’ve had outside of the office in ten years.”

“I can fully relate to that,” Rachelle said.

Before Darian could respond, an actual waiter arrived at their table and took their orders. Rachelle watched Darian from beneath lowered lashes, studying him.

She had met attractive men in her line of work. There were plenty of handsome, successful people in advertising, especially at her level. Rachelle had been encouraged to date around work, but she had never believed in lowering her professional integrity by mixing work and play together.

Beyond that, she had a reputation to uphold, and she couldn’t do that if some man didn’t like the way things ended and trashed her to the rest of the company. It had never been worth the risk.

Of course, Rachelle, much like any other single woman, had tried online dating apps, and quickly terminated every account she’d created within minutes. Men were unsavory and rude, particularly on the internet, and no one had ever piqued her interest.

Until Darian sat across from her.

The waiter left with their order written down, and Darian turned back to Rachelle.

“You were saying that work has been a priority for you, as well, these past few years?”

“It has. How else could we have gotten to where we are, being so young?”

Darian grinned.

“I have to say that having connections to the royal family has helped, though I hate to admit it out loud.”

Rachelle shrugged.

“At least you’re honest about it. What’s it been like, growing up royal?”

Darian leaned back in his seat, inhaling as he considered his answer.

“Oh, I don’t know. It’s tough to explain, really. My reality is very different from the reality of others. Still, I have two parents who care very much for me, and I was raised well, I believe. Family is important to us, education is important to us, and fortunately for me, I am far enough down the line to never be considered as a ruler, so I’ve been given free rein to do whatever I wish.”

“What drew you to advertising, then?”

Darian leaned in, and his energy was so intense that Rachelle nearly leaned back. She stamped down the urge, instead leaning forward, embracing the feeling of attraction for once in her life.

“I am an excellent salesman, as it would turn out. I love the creative process, as well. Taking a wisp of a concept and turning it into a tangible product that will enrich people’s lives is fulfilling for me, so it is something I continue to pursue.”

“And if you could be doing anything else?” Rachelle asked.

The corner of Darian’s lip twitched.

“I don’t know how to put this, but I can be doing anything else. Literally.”

Rachelle laughed.

“You are right. Your reality is very different from mine.”

“Then tell me, Rachelle, what brings you to this place and time, enjoying a nice lunch with the strange man hovering around your table?”

Rachelle smiled as she took a sip of water, the better to cool her awakening hormones, which until that moment had been lying dormant.

“I was recently promoted to a position that has me in charge of company expansion, particularly in the Middle East. This is my first international conference.”

“That is fantastic news. I will offer you my congratulations, though I am sure it is well earned.”

“Thank you. I admit that I’m a little nervous. It’s my first networking event, and I really don’t want to mess this up. I’ve managed to talk to a lot of great connections here, so hopefully one of them will want to work with us to create a more dynamic and global company.”

“You make it sound so enticing, Rachelle. Are you certain you’re not trying to sell me right now?”

He was grinning, and she leaned in a little closer, enjoying the conversation, and his presence, immensely.

“Are you trying to tell me you haven’t been working on selling me from the moment you stood over my table?”

Darian placed a hand over his heart with a wounded expression.

“I would never. Can’t a man ask a beautiful woman to lunch?”

“He can. If that man also happens to have noticed said woman at a professional networking conference and inquires around her purpose in being there, however, one is liable to take notice and make note.”

“And what if our companies were to blend together? Would that be the worst thing in the world?”

“I believe it would be the best, but to say so puts the ball firmly in your court, so I will simply say that it would be a great opportunity for two successful companies to merge as one, becoming the best in the world, definitively.”

“I am already there, if you’ll remember.”

“You’re there in Zaradi. What connections do you have in America?”

“Ones that are more than sufficient.”

“I’m not talking about sufficient. I’m asking if you want your company to be more than successful.”

“Oh, you’re good,” he said, leaning back and breaking the spell ever so slightly.

Before Rachelle could answer, their food arrived. Her salad looked delectable, and she picked up her fork, carefully loading it so as to present professionally. Client lunch etiquette was one of her first lessons as an intern, and it had only taken one spaghetti accident for her to always buy salads to avoid any further embarrassing incidents.

Taking a bite, she savored the combination of flavors, her stomach cheering after going so long without a meal.

“This is fantastic,” she said, taking another perfectly speared bite.

“You are right. I have to say, though, the food from my chef is a bit more savory.”

Rachelle lifted an eyebrow.

“Your personal chef?”

Darian nodded.

“Yes. Don’t you have one?”

Rachelle had to stop herself from choking. Since when had she had time to sit and have a meal that wasn’t meant to garner a new partnership or deal?

“I do not,” she said. “I don’t have time for lavish meals, anyway.”

“Well now, that is a shame. That is the one thing I’ll never understand about American culture.”

“What? That we’re busy and productive?”

Darian laughed.

“That you never take time to enjoy life. It is certainly admirable to work hard and succeed, as you clearly have. But if you can’t take the time to enjoy your own food, to take a walk and see what the world has to offer outside of your office, what is the point of it all?”

“The point is to be the best at what we do.”

“And then what? I am the best at what I do, and I still have time for a nice dinner.”

“Well, now you’re just bragging. Anyway, weren’t we talking about a merger deal just a minute ago?”

Darian shook his head.

“No, I won’t let you get away from the topic, hard as you may try. What have you done in Zaradi to enjoy yourself since arriving? I bet I can guess.”

Rachelle stared him down, and he met her gaze with a strength and stubbornness that clearly matched her own. Rachelle had never met anyone, man or woman, who could defeat her in a stare down. When Darian didn’t back down, she sat back, not breaking the gaze.

“I’ve made numerous connections that will serve my company’s interest, while also helping others rise to our already impressive status.”

“So, in other words, you worked on the plane, then landed, then worked the minute you could get your hands on some Wi-Fi access.”

“I can’t believe I’m getting a lecture about work ethic from the CEO of a top Zaradi company! What a world!”

“How would you know? You’ve never seen it.”

“I’m about to. My company has me scheduled for several more conferences just like this one, and I can’t wait to get the ball rolling on this new initiative.”

“What new initiative?”

“Globalization of advertising, led by me at the top.”

“You like being on top?”

His implication was clear as he smirked at her, and Rachelle blushed, still not breaking their stare. She would never be the first to relent.

“Is everything tasting okay over here?”

The waiter appeared, and Rachelle and Darian were faced with a decision. They stared at one another for another split second.

“On three?” Darian asked with a grin.

Rachelle nodded.

“This will prove whether or not I can trust you, so if you don’t look away, I’ll know my answer.”

“You might be reading into that a bit too much, Rachelle.”

“Start counting, Darian.”

“One,” he said.

Rachelle could only imagine how confused the waiter was at this strange little contest. She gazed into Darian’s eyes, wondering if he would do as he said.

“Two.”

“Three,” she said, and together they both looked up at the waiter in tandem.

“This is absolutely delicious, thank you so much,” Rachelle said with a smile.

The waiter gave them a strange look before nodding and walking away. Rachelle looked back at Darian and laughed.

“We’ll probably be getting another waiter brave enough to handle us after that.”

“And you’ll notice I ended it at the same time you did. Does that convince you?”

“I am not so easily convinced. I work in advertising, Darian. I know to reserve trust for as long as necessary.”

“Indeed,” he mused, pushing his lower lip between his index finger and thumb as he considered her.

“What are you up to this afternoon?”

Rachelle blinked at the change in topic.

“Nothing, I suppose. I was supposed to attend more sessions, but you might have heard that your country is apparently pretty unstable. Is there a chance of violence erupting, really?”

Darian shrugged.

“There is always a threat of violence, for any country. I learned a long time ago not to put stock in those announcements. I can’t live a life sheltered away, cowering in fear.”

“Indeed.”

“So, that was a no on the plans, then?”

Seeing the direction he was taking, Rachelle leaned back in and grinned.

“Not yet.”