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Zelda raised an eyebrow “We’re supposed to have only known each other a short tiht?”
The Sheikh sh to know each other well enough to get married,” he specified “You start”
“Well,” Zelda began, helping herself to a few bites of food as Zayed began filling his own plate “My parents are both professors; my mom has a doctorate in literature, rew up in Miami, went to one of the private schools there—a perk ofprofessors” Zelda saw a look of concern flit over Zayed’s face, but continued “I lasted two years in college—not quite enough to get my associate’s—and then a feeeks in culinary school”
“That explains how you were able to fool Babette,” Zayed said He ate a bite of one of the sterapped in a pinch of flatbread
“I was definitely glad that it was the chef who assu,” Zelda admitted
The Sheikh paused, then, his s “Unfortunately, that is not…” he looked at her, hesitating “That is not exactly a pro life story for the future wife of a sheikh”
Zelda set her fork down and crossed her ar her cheeks heat up with embarrassment “There’s some prince in…Sweden or somewhere who married a bartender,” she pointed out “How is it that a bartender is an acceptable bride for a prince, but a college dropout is inappropriate for a sheikh?”
“I don’t make the rules,” the Sheikh said then “I just know that it’s not going to work No one is going to believe that I o, fell in love with her, and asked her to marry me”
“So what are you suggesting?”
Zayed gestured for Zelda to keep eating, and poured her some wine “We make you an heiress,” he said after a pause “Little-known but wealthy family, in the same business as I am”
“I don’t even knohat business you’re in,” Zelda protested
The Sheikh chuckled “The luxury hotel business,” he said “I own five of the most exclusive hotels in the world”
“And the coued
“Another syndicate like mine They own four hotels—not quite as exclusive, but beautiful properties in exotic locations that with the right ement can turn a very tidy profit” He paused and considered for a rape “We’ll say that your parents are the owners of an exclusive hotel in South Beach, and that Ifor potential properties; we’ll say your parents couldn’t be persuaded into selling, but that we had an instant rapport”