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She noticed that something came into Numair’s eyes as he watched them splutter. Like what came into his eyes when she said something that particularly appealed to him or surprised him. It was indulgence—minus the heavily sensual undercurrent, of course. The protector vibe was back full-on.
“Grass!” Fayza howled. “We’re grass!”
Numair’s lips quirked in response to their hilarity. “Yes. So watch out for the hares and the sheep of this world. They’re the real danger.”
Which was absolutely right, come to think of it. Ed had definitely been a cross between the two creatures. She still couldn’t believe she’d married him. Sure, she’d been rebelling. At Fayza’s age, she’d been looking for the opposite of her kingdom’s chauvinistic men. But still, Ed? She’d put up with him for six whole months before she’d kicked him out on his ear. She must have had a severe judgment blackout at the time.
“But we’re not little girls!” Zeena protested belatedly.
Numair’s faint smile was all forbearing. “Oh, yes, you are. You’re so little I can barely see you. But you’ll soon grow bigger and bigger, and your worries and burdens and responsibilities will grow with you. Being little is good. Savor it for as long as you can.”
Her throat tightening with emotion at the direction the conversation had taken, Jen interjected, “They’ll always be little, as long as they have their big sister.”
“Having a big sister like you is a sure way to remain protected, to never face the world alone.”
His eyes held such warmth. She’d seen them in every temperature, but that was the hardest hitting yet.
“Were you ever little?” Fayza asked, her expression filled with curiosity.
He shrugged. “I didn’t get the chance to be.”
Jen’s throat closed completely at the world of pain hidden behind his words. She’d thought he’d acquired his scars as an adult. But had he? A history of early abuse didn’t coincide with what was known of his past. But was it his real past? A man like him could rewrite his history with utmost ease. So had he? And what was his real story? Would he ever tell her?
Seeming unwilling to discuss his past, he said, “About your earlier question, Black Castle Enterprises has companies and businesses that produce everything from screws to planes. We produce all our methods of communication and transportation from start to finish. This way, we get everything done to our specs, and it slashes our cost by two-thirds or more, not to mention it puts us in control of our electronic security and personal safety.”
The girls looked even more impressed, if that was possible, as Zeena asked, “So how much did this plane end up costing you?”
“Around fifty million,” he said. “It’s still a lot, but if I’d bought it at this level, it would have cost a hundred and fifty. It’s paid for itself in the past two years with the amount of commuting I did with hundreds of people who are key to my businesses. It seats up to thirty people, and I fly up to two hundred times a year, not to mention the other benefits I reap from it. I didn’t get to become a billionaire by splurging on things that cost far more than they’re worth and aren’t an investment that will pay back in spades for the effort, time and money I put into them.”
Fayza chuckled. “Fifty million is pocket change compared to the whopping half a billion one of our region’s royals recently paid for his latest private jet.”
Numair raised one eyebrow. “I will have to hunt him down and rid the world of his excesses.”
Jen covered her forehead theatrically. “Don’t give him ideas, girls. If you don’t want to get rid of someone for good, don’t bring them to Numair’s attention.”
After the girls laughed, thinking that was an excellent joke, Fayza pursued her line of questioning. “So what’s the specs of this jet?”
Numair’s answer was immediate, and involved. “It’s between a Boeing 737 and 777 in size, but you’re excused in thinking it was the first, since seeing the interior without the usual seating doesn’t give you an accurate estimate of its size, and it’s also a twin jet. It flies seven thousand nautical miles at point eight Mach uninterrupted, or roughly sixteen hours of nonstop flight, before it needs refueling. It has three sleeping areas, and the meeting area has an internet signal booster, so it’s the best place to talk on your smartphones, play on your tablets or work on your computers online. You’ve seen the entertainment/conferencing system. In case you want to hold a party in the air, just let me know.”
Both girls’ jaws dropped.
Then Fayza exclaimed, “God, you mean it?”
“Ask Jenan. I never say anything I don’t mean.”
Jen nodded sagely. “He means it.”
The girls squealed with delight, deluged Numair in thanks. Even though they were the daughters of a king, the girls hadn’t grown up in anywhere near that level of luxury. Their father would have indulged them even with Zafrana’s deteriorating economic conditions, but Jen had made sure he didn’t, so they didn’t grow up spoiled and desensitized from excess.
But now a little indulging from someone who could so afford it was okay. And how they appreciated it. Numair, on the other hand, didn’t seem at ease under the bombardment of their gratitude.
To end the subject, Numair asked Fayza, “So how do you know about that other plane you thought this one was? I didn’t realize following the news of aviation exhibitions was among the things a girl your age would be interested in.”
Fayza sat forward eagerly. “I want to be a pilot, and I’m interested in everything man-made that flies.”
And Jen was doing everything to make sure Fayza realized her dreams and soared as high as she could.
The next second, her heart scattered its beats at his feet as Numair said something to the same effect. “Whatever you need to realize your ambition, I’m at your service.”
