CHAPTER SEVEN
Paige dismissed the driver and stood inside the lift with her bags at her feet. The lift door was about to close when a large hand was jammed between the doors. Paige's entire body tensed when she saw the figure of Abdul enter the lift.
"You don't mind if I accompany you for a few moments, do you?" he asked.
Paige glared at him, and forced herself to speak in a neutral voice. "Not at all."
Paige considered stepping out of the lift. She could easily call the driver back, if she wished. And the concierge was sitting at his desk in the main reception area of the apartment block.
Thinking of how Abdul would interpret that as an indication of her fear of him, Paige decided to remain in the lift. She pressed the button for the top floor penthouse.
"Of course," Abdul observed. "Only the best for Sheikh Al Kharif," he said acidly. Abdul pressed the number for the tenth floor.
Paige glared at Abdul. "You're talking about my husband."
"Indeed I am," he said. His eyes narrowed. "But for how much longer will that be the case?"
Paige lifted her chin proudly. "I believe that is none of your business, Sheikh," she retorted.
He lowered his head. "You're right. It is none of my concern. Although, I cannot help asking myself what it might mean. If it were true."
"It is not true," she said emphatically. "My husband and I are very happy together."
Abdul snorted and shook his head. "There is not much which escapes the notice of society in Qazhar."
"Are you calling me a liar?" Paige challenged.
Abdul smiled. "Your husband and I aren't exactly friends."
Paige was well aware of Razim's rivalry with Abdul. Razim had spoken about it on many occasions. And she had met Abdul before, at numerous social gatherings, functions and parties. In fact, Abdul was probably the most recognizable figure on the Qazhar social scene. Particularly amongst the rich and the elite. Some of the stories Razim had told Paige about Abdul had made her feel sick. And here she was, standing in a lift, on her own, next to a man she loathed, and who seemed determined to find out the truth about her private life.
The lift slowed at the tenth floor and the doors opened. Abdul stepped out into the corridor. Before the door closed, he turned and faced Paige. He held the door open and peered at her.
No. He wasn't just looking at her, Paige told herself. He was doing something else. Something far worse.
Abdul's eyes were moist and steady. He was clearly enjoying her discomfort. She felt as if he was mentally undressing her. She stood defiant, and matched his gaze steadily and resolutely.
"Please take your hand away from the door," she instructed firmly.
He didn't respond.
With that, she reached out and thrust his hand away from the door. His skin felt clammy and cold. She felt a sudden revulsion sweep over her. For a moment, he seemed outraged that she would have touched him. She was sure he was going to try and step back into the lift. Before he had a chance to do so, the doors slid shut.
Paige leaned back against the rear of the lift car and sighed.
Had she done the right thing by refusing Razim permission to come up to the apartment with her? Right now, she wasn't entirely sure. She hadn't expected that behavior from Sheikh Abdul. Maybe he had been emboldened by the discussion down at the limos. What right did he think he had to speak to her like that? Even if he was a sheikh, that didn't mean he could talk to her like that.
She thought about calling Razim and telling him about what had happened. But she decided there would be no point. He'd already be gone in the limo, heading back to the palace.
She wondered, once again, if it wouldn't have been better to have Razim with her in the apartment. But that would defeat the purpose of getting away from the palace until tomorrow.
The lift halted at the top floor. She went down a short corridor and opened the door to the apartment. Relief swept through her as she closed the door behind her.
Paige ran her gaze around the interior. It was just as she remembered it to be. She hadn't been here for months. Right now, the elegant, minimalist interior was the most welcome sight she could imagine. Plain, but expensive furnishings filled the wide open space of the apartment. An open plan kitchen area was the only thing which interrupted to spartan elegance of the design. Over on the right, she saw the open door to one of the three large bedrooms.
The place was big enough for a small family. That would be one thing she would never have with Razim.
She slipped off her shoes and flopped down onto one of the two sofas. A sudden sense of being alone swept through her. She couldn't complain about that, though. This had been her choice. Hadn't she wanted to get far away from Razim?
She thought about how he'd behaved toward her since their reunion in New York a bare twenty-four hours ago. As usual, Razim's conduct had been a mixture of the good and the bad. He'd lied to her on the jet. And he'd shown the strength of his desire to her, too. At the palace, he'd tried to conquer her in the only way he knew. With passion and desire. She had almost given in to him. Had almost let her emotions get the better of her.
Paige gazed around the empty apartment. Was this what she really wanted? To be alone, without Razim? Without all the promises he held out to her? The promises of fantastic wealth and a relationship he clearly valued, even if she didn't.
Why was she hesitating? What was holding her back from simply accepting her fate with the troubled, devastatingly handsome sheikh? He was offering her the kind of life most women would gladly accept. And yet, Paige couldn't commit to him. She couldn't bring herself to step back into his life and stay for good.
The reason was simple. She felt as if she'd been used. She wasn't sure she could trust him, because he had taken her as his wife at a time when it was merely convenient. And now he wanted her to believe that all that had changed. That her absence had changed the way he felt about her. Could it be that simple?
A sudden wave of exhaustion made Paige's body feel heavy. Qazhar was in a different time zone, and the travel was catching up with her. She was sure it was also the effect of the emotions she'd been experiencing since returning to the kingdom.
She opened one of the suitcases and removed a dressing gown. Maybe a few hours sleep would help, she told herself as she headed to one of the bedrooms.
****
From somewhere far away there was a bell ringing. At first she wasn't sure where it was coming from. Or even where she was.
Then she started to drift up from the depths of sleep and she remembered she was in the apartment in Qazhar. A long way from home.
The bell rang again and she recognized it as the front doorbell. She glanced at the time on her phone. She'd been sleeping a few hours. Paige slid out of bed and padded, barefoot, into the living room. Through the wide, tinted windows she could see that it was dark outside.
Once again, the doorbell rang. This time, whoever was ringing it must have left their finger on the button, because the sound didn't stop.
"Okay," Paige called out. "I'm coming."
Even as she started toward the door, a quiet voice in the back of her mind murmured caution to her. She assumed it would probably be Razim. Maybe his impatience had gotten the better of him. Given how long it had been since she'd left him downstairs, she was surprised it had taken him this long to come and see her.
Paige tugged the door open and shrieked. Abdul was standing at the door, leaning on the wall. He smiled at Paige and ran his gaze down the length of her body. Paige pulled the gown around her body. She was sure couldn't see anything, but that didn't stop her feeling instant discomfort.
Paige thrust the door, determined to close it. Abdul shoved a hand out and stopped the door from closing.
"No need to do that, Paige," Abdul said. His voice was slightly slurred. "I thought I'd come up and make sure you're settling in."
Paige pushed the door, this time harder, but Abdul held his hand on the door, equally determined that it would not shut.
Paige thought about running back into the apartment, and reaching her phone. She could call for help. But it would take too long for anyone to come. She thought about the concierge and what he might do to help. Panic started to well up inside her. Breathing became sharp and fast. "Just leave," she barked at Abdul. "Now."
Abdul smiled. "I always did admire your spirit," he said. "There are those who say you should never have been allowed to marry someone like Razim. I was one of them." Abdul's gaze drifted languidly down the length of Paige's body. "However, I think I can see the reasons why he did. And it wasn't for your personality."
"Please leave, now," Paige stated firmly. Her voice cracked with emotion.
Abdul shook his head. "I only want to talk," he insisted.
"I've got nothing to say to you," Paige snapped. She pushed on the door. This time it did advance slightly. Another push, and it might close, she told herself.
Then Abdul advanced, placing his foot in the door. Any moment now, he would be able to get into the room. And then what? Paige didn't want to think about that.
"If you don't leave, I'll call for help," Paige she yelled.
Abdul sighed and grinned. He leaned in closer now and she could smell his scent, a sickly mixture of sweat and spices. Her throat tightened and, for a moment, she was sure he was going to be able to force his way into the apartment.
Just as she was about to kick out at him, Paige heard a noise from behind Abdul. It was the lift door opening. And then she heard a voice roar down the length of the corridor.
"Abdul! Step away. Now!"
It was Razim's voice. Abdul twisted around, surprise on his features. Paige looked past Abdul and saw Razim racing down the corridor, fists clenched, eyes wide, teeth bared. He looked like a feral animal, ready to fight. Ready to protect.
Razim halted in front of Abdul. "I said, step away!" Razim roared.
Abdul took a step back from Razim and glanced at Paige. "I was merely trying to see if your wife needed any assistance," he said.
Razim didn't respond to that lie. All he did was lean forward and glare at Abdul. His gaze was steady.
Challenging.
Although Abdul was taller and of larger stature, it was clear who would be the winner in any physical contest.
Once again, Abdul glanced at Paige. If he thought he was going to get any support from her, he was sadly mistaken, Paige told herself.
Razim positioned himself between Paige and Abdul. With one concerned glance, Razim seemed to satisfy himself that Paige was safe.
Then Razim pointed toward the lift. "Think yourself lucky, Abdul," Razim barked. "On another day, you wouldn't be walking to the lift. You have shamed yourself today. And you have shamed my wife. I will not forget this."
"Your wife?" Abdul sneered. "That's not what I have heard, Razim. News travels fast in Qazhar. You cannot fool everyone."
Razim growled like a wild animal. His nostrils flared and he advanced on Abdul.
Abdul started to back off toward the open lift doors. He paused one last time at the doors. "Shame works both ways, Sheikh Al Kharif," Abdul snapped. "And I shall reclaim my honor."
"Honor?" Razim called out. "You have never had any. And neither had your family. Not for a hundred generations."
This time it was Abdul's features which were transformed with rage. His eyes widened, filled with fury. Then, he seemed to think twice about acting. He waved a dismissive hand at Razim and Paige and then disappeared into the lift. The doors closed and he was gone.
Razim turned to Paige and swept her into his arms. In spite of all her reservations and all her doubts, Paige was happy to settle into his embrace. It felt good to be held by Razim. She laid her head against his chest, feeling his furious heartbeat, sensing the strength of his body. He held her for a few long moments and then they made their way into the apartment.