Page 15 of Sapphire Spring

As always, his sister was a lovely vision. Her long blackhair was swept into a stylish updo, and the ample curves of her body shimmeredin a lace and tulle sheer-top gown beaded in hypnotic, spiraling designs. Shewas glowing, and it wasn’t just her foundation. It also wasn’t a good sign.Pari always glowed right before she started fires.

It would be easier, Naser thought, to allow his sister herassorted moments of being the center of attention if she didn’t spend every dayacting like the center of the universe. But whenever she was in high-diva mode,clutching at nonexistent pearls as she told tale after tale of her triumphsagainst a misunderstanding universe that had yet to recognize her talent andgenius to her satisfaction, Naser felt like he was going to grind his backteeth to dust.

“So,” Naser finally said, “Googoosh.”

“Oh, I know,” Pari gasped, eyes wide. “Isn’t that crazy?People think she’s coming!”

“Crazy,” Naser said. “Soit’s justa rumor then?”

“I don’t know. Maybe she saw my interview on BBC Persia.”

Pari’s BBC Persia interview, while flattering, had only beenthree minutes long. Four years ago. But she’d been bringing it up continuouslyever since, so in her mind it probably seemed much longer.

“The rumor isn’t just that she’s attending, Pari, it’s thatshe’s performing.”

His sister let out a small cry that sounded like she’drehearsed it in the mirror every night for three years. “That would be soamazing. Can we get a microphone just in case?”

Jonas cleared his throat. “Unfortunately, the mics and soundsystems we have on hand are for speaking events, not musical performances.You’d need a mixer board for that.”

“Oh, well. That is disappointing.”

Naser took a step toward her. Pari, as always, held herground. “I’m not sure it’ll come close to the disappointment your guests willfeel if they show up for a Googoosh concert and find out she’s not actuallycoming. And since you are my dearest and only sister, I figured outa pretty effectiveway to save you from that level ofembarrassment.”

Pari swallowed and pursed her lips. “Did you now?”

“Yes. I’ve talked it over with Jonas, and here’s what thehotel’s going to offer you, which I think ispretty generousgiven the misunderstanding with the jackhammers earlier in the week—”

“Jackhammers?” With a furrowed brow, his sister shook herhead and looked between them both. “I don’t know anything about jackhammers.”

“—we’re going to station some of our security team at yourcheck-in table, and they’re going to let each person know individually thatGoogoosh isnotperforming. That way their disappointment won’tdisrupt the party.”

She wasn’t gritting her teeth, but the hand she’d brought toher throat to indicate fake surprise was now clutching her neck. In the silencethat followed, a seagull cawed. A giant heating lamp was rolled across the deckbehind Pari by its base. The whole time, Naser expected his sister to hurl himinto the pool by one ear. And she might have if Jonas hadn’t been there.Instead, she screwed a polite smile onto her face and lowered her hand from herthroat. “I’m not sure that’s necessary,Nas.”

“It is, though,” Naser said. “Soit’s what we’re going to do.”

“Connor and I should talk. Just in case.”

“Connor’son vacation. Jonas and Iare in charge tonight.”

Pari slipped into Persian. “Vacation? He’s notcoming?Tell him he’s no longer one of my official gays.”

“Now about that Persian,” Jonas interjected.

“I’m sure he’ll miss the membership benefits greatly.” WhenNaser answered in Persian, Jonas threw up his hands and sighed.

“Connor and I have a relationship you don’t understand, soI’d like to hear what he has to say about—”

In English, Naser said, “All right,look, Diane vonWorstenberg—”

Jonas clamped a hand on Naser’s shoulder and stepped betweenthem. “You know, I think we covered everything we need to cover for now. Ms.Kazemi, we’ll be back to check in now and then to make sure everything’s goingsmoothly. And if you need us, you can text my cell, or I’m sure you can textNaser. He’ll be with me the whole night.”

“Thank you, Jonas,” Pari said sweetly. “I’ll textyouif you don’t mind. Sometimes when I textNas, theresponse is too long for me to get through before bed.”

With that, Pari turned and headed in the direction of one ofthe assembled minibars where a server was setting out bottles.

“Turn around,” Jonas said softly, “and let’s go to my office.We can be more effective from there.”

“She started the Googoosh rumor. I know she did.”

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