The Sheikh's Impossible Girl - completed.

Chapter Fourteen

Ashley started up at him without blinking. "No."

Reaching down, Tarazi brushed thick, soft hair from her face. "Right answer." Then gathered her against his frame, lowering his dark head close to hers, while caressing her back. "I told you, I would never betray your secret. That's not even a scandalous one. Let's grab something to eat. Where do you want to dine?"

Ashley peered up from the safety of his arms, cocooned against his body. "The courtyard?" she hoped.

"Why not? As long as you leave your laptop behind. No work." She was happy with that. First a ride in his newest prize, even drove it, now this. This day just gets better and better. "Best boss ever. I like the perks."

"And what perks are those, Ashley Cosgrove?"

"You, for one." She smiled at him.

"I'm a perk? Never been that before." Still holding her by one arm, he removed his phone and organised lunch to be delivered in the courtyard, shutting down only to answer as it rang. "Yes? Send him to the office."

Shutting down the phone, he released Ashley, who straightened and eyed him sideways. Her stomach sunk. She had a feeling lunch was going to be delayed, or worse, cancelled.

"It seems we have a visitor."

"We?"

"Yes, your father has sent one of his engineers."

That dreaded feeling sunk lower. "Let me guess, Tom Palmer."

"Yes, how did you know that?" he asked as they headed back towards the office.

"Because Dad would only send the best, and he must be growing impatient. Tom will only be a sounding board for you at this stage, which will be a good thing. I can show you the business side, but not the actual construction of what you want. He will be on hand for any questions you have. Also, it would be great if you get your hands on the drawings of your city, of roadworks, and plans for the layout of the area beyond the city. I'm sure Tom will tell you exactly what he needs."

He was good at that and also can be a proper tool.

One she would have to deal with.

A tall, suited man stood from the seating area, shutting down the lid of a laptop that looked very familiar. Ashley's eyes darted towards her empty desk. It might be a work laptop that didn't mean he could just take it over. Tugging on his sleeves, Tom closed the distance and held out his hand.

"Tom Palmer, your Highness, at your service."

Tarazi summed up Tom Palmer instantly. He has seen it far too many times, the swagger attitude of a man of self-importance. Ashley scooted around him, beeline for the table, grabbed the laptop, and headed back to her desk, head down. Not good. The ladies would see this Tom as good-looking, but he left Ashley cold. That was obvious.

"Care to explain to me what you are doing here?" he asked instead, ignoring Tom's hand that fell away as his smile faded.

"I'm surprised Miss Cosgrove didn't explain." Ashley's head shot up, eyes narrowed on the man, yet said nothing, tight-lipped.

Walking around him, Tarazi headed for his desk and settled behind in his chair, and turned towards Ashley. "Do you know anything about this unsolicited visit, Miss Ashley?"

Tom Palmer flinched as he should.

"Um, I need to check my emails," she explained, opening her laptop, tapping in the password, brought up her emails and there were many, Tarazi noted as he joined her side, looking over her shoulder, resting a hand on the back of her chair. Nothing from her father so went into Spam. Nothing. She searched on her phone, looking up at him, shaking her head, dropping her gaze.