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“What is your nahtly, his eyes glinting with interest

“Zelda Barnes-Scott,” she replied

“A very beautiful name,” the Sheikh told her “In any case, it occurs to me that we each have a proble those officials you were ht be part of that solution”

“What?” Zelda set her coffee cup down, scared to drop it

Withouta beat, the Sheikh picked up the carafe and poured her more of the thick, dark brew “I have a proposition for you,” he said, gesturing for her to have more of the coffee

Zelda felt as if she had soe herself into waters so far out of her depth that they ht as well have been theat her lips with a cloth napkin

“You could marry me,” Zayed said

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Zelda was glad she’d ed to s both food and drink completely before the Sheikh had spoken, otherwise she almost certainly would have choked

“It would solve your iration probleranted citizenship—and it would solve a certain proble”

“The proble that her dread of what he was about to tell her was not far off, nohis demand

“Yes and no,” Zayed said, sain “There’s a co prevented frole le women for that matter—cannot buy companies We can start them, and we can sell the exasperated “You would not believe how much I’ve already paid my lawyers to try and find a way around it”

“I can iine,” Zelda said quietly

“In any case, if I can getparty, I can circue a e for me, but here you conveniently are” The Sheikh selected another pastry, with a green-tinged filling, and ate it with the sarace that he had with the previous one “And it would keep you out of prison”

Zelda looked down at her hands, tre sos for hiht wryly, thinking of Zayed’s coe Even still, this had certainly been the last thing she had expected when she’d stoay on his yacht Oh God, are there laws about consues? Zelda’s anxiety intensified

“I don’t think I can do it,” she said quickly, shaking her head even as her heart pounded “I don’t know if I can s for, or act as a wife to a stranger Even if it’s a shaet my citizenship, I don’t think I can do it”

Zelda worked up the courage to aze, and steeled herself for a threat, or worse

Instead, Zayed was s no different than he had the last moment she’d looked at him “I promise you, there won’t be any need for you to act ashis head towards her “This will strictly be a business transaction You would appear with me in public, and for all anyone will knoill be truly married But you will have your own life, and you will be able to coo just as you please”

Zelda pressed her lips together again, thinking that the coffee was stronger than she’d thought

“I’ you to fulfill any romantic role in my life,” the Sheikh said