The Sheikh's Forgotten Bride - completed

Chapter one

After placing down the last detailed document presented in sleeved folders, Donna Barrows came up short, staring at the chair in front of the space in disbelief. Impossible. She had checked and doubled-checked, even tripled, more than was warranted, and so did a head count via the chairs. Twenty-one, tapping her earpiece. "Why is there an extra seat here?"

The Heritage Room of the InterChester Sydney, a branch of the Grandchester hoteliers had been transformed into a boardroom to accommodate her specific needs with one long board table. "What? Why wasn't I informed about this?"

A week of meetings and another had been added. Damn. The last thing she needed, was heading out of the conference room. Swiping the closed door with a key card and locking it into place, she opened the tablet in her hand, flicking through and sending the needed document to the wireless printer, printing another copy.

She had less than ten minutes before the meeting started; the CEOs enjoying a fully catered specialised breakfast before the day began. She headed down the corridor in quick strides that the black A-shape skirt allowed.

Reaching an elevator, she pushed the up button, tapping her foot to dart in, swiped the control, and pressed the top floor. Which, of course, while she was in a hurry, the elevator stopped and started, picking up others, dropping off, and glancing at her watch. Hopefully, when she got there, the printer had done its job, ready to be gathered.

This was the last thing she wanted or needed. She had worked so hard for this. Heads would roll; she should've been informed about any changes the minute it happened. One little thing could upset the whole apple cart. Does this mean she had to change every function as well? It wasn't that easy.

No, she wasn't going to get ahead of herself. Focus on the problem at hand. Exiting the elevator finally, Donna strode towards her room at the end of a long corridor, separate from the main presidential suite, swiped her card and entered. Placing the key card in the side wall pocket, while passing, switching on the lights.

Donna stopped when she didn't hear anything. She charged across and glared at the flashing warning light. Jammed paper. Opening it, she went about removing the paper. The first damn page. Once removed, lid down, she pressed print, only to have more flashing.

"No!" She banged on the machine. Low on ink. She had been up all night printing out all the documents, twenty times over. This can't be happening, touching her earpiece, saying Ryan Taylor's name.

"What is it, Donna? Is everything set up?"

"Mostly. One paper down. I wasn't informed about our new arrival."

"Just confirmed a minute ago. Send it to my phone, while you see to having things rectified. This is a priority."

"As you wish." Tapping the Bluetooth earpiece down, she wasn't about to let one little thing upset her day, removing her jacket, and pushing up the sleeves of the soft pink shirt, she saw to putting new ink in, adding more paper and printing out the detailing documents for the day, not just the first meeting.

She had planned to have something to eat downstairs, so ordered room service instead as the printer spewed out page after page, printing on both sides. Luckily enough, she ordered extra plastic sleeve folders, where she placed the printed data inside. Also lucky it was only one person.

At least for now, she had a two-hour window. If she didn't complete the task, she could come back to finish the others. Nibbling on a sandwich, wiping fingers between, and sipping coffee, she saw folder after folder. Also, she took calls, dealt with problems, spoke to management, and saw all the new issues that kept popping up. Something she was used to.

Rubbing the nape of her neck, Donna stretched her aching muscles, glancing at the printer as it stopped printing. End of paper. She went to the top drawer, coming up empty. All these issues overprinting? No paper, right?