The Sheikh's Impossible Girl - completed.

Chapter Seven

Stunned, Ashley pulled away from the phone, staring at it. That didn't sound like he was speaking on her phone. Had she touched the speaker?

"Ashley in front of you."

Blinking, she looked up from the barrier of luggage, safe in her cubbyhole. 

Tarazi was standing in front of her, as was Yasser. 

Heated colour flooded her cheeks, lowering her head, wiping at her cheeks, only to have her hands lowered and looked into his concerned eyes, crouched down in front of her after Yasser had removed her cases.

"You'll miss your flight," she sniffed.

"Since it's my plane, we will leave when I am ready." Standing, he turned towards Yasser, giving instructions. "Take Miss Ashley's belongings aboard. Get the flight plan changed, let's say an hour, or two when they can reschedule. Let me know."

Tarazi turned back towards Ashley, who hadn't moved, so removed the laptop bag wrapped around her lower arm, and handed it across to Yasser. 

Ashley didn't move from the chair, her skin felt heated and blotchy, eyes wide, feeling like a startled rabbit while clutching the handbag in a death grip.

Sighing, he settled down at her side, placing a hand over hers, caressing. The tension ebbed out of her body under his touch, though kept her head lowered. "Sorry, I didn't mean to cause a scene." 

Now that she wasn't alone, her racing heart slowed down, releasing the handbag from the white-knuckle grip.

"Shall we have a coffee or something stronger?"

She peered up from under her spiky lashes. "Do we have time? Haven't I caused enough delays already?"

"Well, if you had allowed me to pick you up, this wouldn't be happening."

Her chin jilted out. "It wasn't my idea. I wanted to go with you," she blurted out, then released a long breath. "This isn't a good beginning. Am I even the right person? Surely someone more experienced than me would be better."

"Who knows the business inside out? Every aspect not just their particular skill sets?"

"Besides dad, me, I guess."

"Then you are the right person. You also have access to the entire company, others don't."

"There is that." She gave a wobbly smile. "You must think I'm awfully silly." She blinked away more threatening tears.

"Not at all. Shall we?" Standing, his hand on her arm, Tarazi helped Ashley to her feet, where she shoved her handbag over her shoulder and then was hugging him tightly.

Fingers threaded through her hair, tingling her scalp, planting a kiss on top of her head. "It's alright Ashley Cosgrove, let's get this on the road."

Breathing him in, she nodded, feeling much better, knowing the panic attacks were an overreaction to an event that happened years ago. Not just airports. Add being alone and lost. The wrong mix.

Reluctantly, she edged out of his arms that were around her protectively. Being with him, she always felt safe. They headed through the airport, surrounded by people that faded into the background when before she had felt overwhelmed by them, which was plain stupid because she was surrounded by people all the time, in everyday life, and never worried her.

She never put herself in this situation.

Her dad had without realising what he had done.

Ashley had told no one about her panic attacks. That had only happened once before. Not wanting to look weak. Her family was assertive and could face anything. She had to be as strong as they were.