Page 18 of The Sheikh's Willing Captive

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.

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