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CHAPTER ONE
‘I NEED YOU, OLIVIA’
Olivia Ellis quickly suppressed the flare of feeling Sheikh Aziz al Bakir’s simply stated words caused inside her Of course he needed her He needed her to change his sheets, polish his silver and keep his Parisian townhouse on the Ile de la Cité pristine
That didn’t explain what she was doing here, in the royal palace of Kadar
Less than eight hours ago she’d been summoned by one of Aziz’s men, asked unequivocally to accompany him on the royal jet to Siyad—the capital of Kadar—where Aziz had recently ascended the throne
Olivia had gone reluctantly, because she liked the quiet life she’d e across the street sipping coffee, afternoons in the garden pruning roses It was a life that held no excitement or passion, but it was hers and it made her happy, or as happy as she kne to be It was enough, and she didn’t want it to change
‘What do you need of ht to Kadar co reasons why she should stay in Paris She needed to stay in Paris, needed the safety and comfort of her quiet life
‘Considering the circuave her hi, yet Olivia tried to remain unmoved She’d often observed Aziz’s charm from a distance, had heard the honeyed words slide frouests in Paris She’d picked up the discarded lingerie from the staircase and had poured coffee for the women who crept from his bed before breakfast, their hair mussed and their lips swollen
She, however, had always considered herself immune to ‘the Gentleman Playboy’, as the tabloids had nicknaht, but she had to admit Aziz possessed a certain charisma
She felt it noith hi all of his attention on her, the opulent palace with its frescoed walls and gold fixtures stretching around them
‘Very well, Aziz What do you need ofthe roof tiles or the guest list for a dinner party Yet it took a littleplace with this man
He was, Olivia had to ade that, just as she acknowledged that Michelangelo’s David was amore than a simple appreciation of undeniable beauty In any case, she didn’t have anything left inside her to feel more than that Not for Aziz, not for anyone
She gazed now at the ink-black hair that flopped carelessly over his forehead; his grey eyes that could flare silver; the surprisingly full lips that could curve into asmile
And as for his bodypowerful, lean perfection, without an extra ounce of fat anywhere, just pure, perfect muscle
Aziz steepled his fingers under his chin and turned towards theso his back was partially to her Olivia waited, felt the silence inexplicably tauten between them ‘You have been in my employ for six years now?’ he said after a h Olivia kneas not
‘Yes, that’s correct’
‘And I have been very pleased with your dedicated service in all of that time’
She tensed He sounded as if he were about to fire her And so now I’m afraid I have to tell you that I have no need of you any more
She took a careful breath, let it out silently ‘I’hness’
‘Aziz, remember’
‘Considering your status, it doesn’t seem appropriate to call you by your first name’
‘Even if I demand it by royal decree?’
He turned around and raised his eyebrows, clearing teasing her Olivia’s mouth compressed ‘If you demand it, I shall of course comply,’ she answered coolly ‘But in any case I shall do my best to call you by your first name’
‘I know you will You have always done your best, Olivia, and that is exactly what I need from you today’
She waited, unease creeping its cold fingers along her spine What on earth could he need her for now, here in Kadar? She didn’t like surprises or uncertainty; she’d spent six years creating soood and she was terribly afraid of losing it Of losing herself
‘In Paris you have done an ad ,’ Aziz told her ‘I have another task entirely for you here, but it shall be short, and I trust you are capable of it’
She had no idea what he was talking about, but if it was short she hoped it meant that she’d be able to return to Paris, and soon ‘I hope that I am, Your—Aziz’
He s over her in approval ‘See what a quick learner you are?’ he murmured
Olivia said nothing She ignored the little flutter of—so—Aziz’s lazy murmur had caused inside her In Paris their conversations were so mundane Olivia simply hadn’t felt the full force of the Gentleman Playboy’s charis but understandable She was out of her ele palace, and Aziz wasn’t talking to her about house repairs or his social diary
She gave him a quick, cool, professional smile ‘I’m afraid I still don’t understand why I’m here’
‘All in good ti over to a walnut desk inlaid with hand-tooled leather He pressed a button on the side of the desk and within seconds Olivia heard a knock on the door
‘Enter,’ Aziz said, and the same man who had escorted her to the room came in
‘Your Highness?’