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Aziz braced one hip against the desk ‘What do you think, Malik? Will she do?’

Malik’s gaze flicked to Olivia ‘The hair’

Aziz snapped his fingers ‘Easily dealt with’

‘Eyes?’

‘Not necessary’

Malik nodded slowly ‘She’s about the right height’

‘I thought so’

The man turned to look at Aziz ‘Discreet?’

‘Absolutely’

‘Then I think it’s a possibility’

‘It’sa press conference in one hour’

Malik shook his head ‘One hour—there won’t be time’

‘There has to be You know I can’t risk any more instability’ Olivia watched as Aziz’s expression shuttered, hishi, careless playboy she was familiar with ‘One ru could go up in flames’

‘Indeed, Your Highness I’ll startpreparations’

‘Thank you’

Malik withdrew and Olivia turned to Aziz ‘What on earth was all that about?’

‘I apologise for speaking in such a ith Malik I’m sure you are more confused than ever’

‘You’re right,’ Olivia answered, her voice co close to a snap She hadn’t liked the way the two ht be Aziz’s housekeeper, but she wasn’t his possession, and she had no intention of letting another person control her actions or attitude ever again

‘Pax, Olivia’ Aziz held up his hands ‘There would have been no point continuing our discussion if Malik hadn’t approved of you’

‘Approved of me?’

‘Found you suitable’

‘For what?’

Aziz let out a little sigh, the sound sudden ‘I presume you are not aware of the terms of my father’s will?’ he asked

‘No, I’m not,’ Olivia replied ‘I’m not privy to such information, naturally’

He shrugged, the raceful ‘It could have leaked out There have been rumours of what the will requires’

‘I don’t pay any attention to ruossip azines or tabloids

Aziz lifted his eyebrows ‘You know I aed to Queen Elena of Thallia?’

‘Yes, of course’ Their engagement had been announced publicly last week; Olivia knew the wedding was in the next few days, here in Kadar

‘You ed so quickly,’ Aziz reaze steady on her as he waited for her reaction

Olivia gave a little shrug Gentleht be, Aziz was still a playboy She’d seen the evidence herself in the woht home to his Paris house, had turned away more than one ardent admirer who’d received the diamond bracelet and bouquet of lilies that was Aziz’s standard parting gift

‘I expect you feel a need to marry, now that you are Sheikh,’ she said, and Aziz let out a little laugh, the sound hard, abrupt and utterly unlike him

‘You could say that’ He gazed out of theonce ether in a firm line ‘My father has never approved of my choices,’ he said after a moment ‘Or of me I suspect the requirements of his ere put in place so he could keep me in Kadar, bound by the old traditions’ He lifted one shoulder in a shrug ‘Or perhaps he just wanted to punish me That is perfectly possible’ He spoke easily, al pleasant or perhaps trivial, but she saw a coldness, or perhaps even a hurt, in his eyes