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She dropped her hands heavily by her side and glared at him. "I don't think so," Gemma said.
So that was it, then, she thought. There was his limo, and the door was wide open waiting for her to step inside. Why was it that Sheikh Ahmed always seemed to be at least one step ahead of her?
She was about to ask him that exact question when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw a young couple standing behind her. The girl and her male partner couldn't have been older than their late teens. The girl had a broad grin on her face. She looked really excited.
"Miss Ellon, can I trouble you for a selfie?" the girl asked breathlessly.
Gemma smiled at her. "Of course. No problem," she replied. Gemma glanced at Ahmed, who smiled and moved swiftly a few steps away.
The girl and the young man moved to either side of Gemma. Then the girl stretched out her hand, holding her camera out. There was a flash and the girl let out an excited squeal.
Another moment with one of her fans, Gemma reflected. She hadn't realized quite how well known she would be here in Qazhar.
The couple thanked her and walked away, with the girl staring at the screen of her phone and talking excitedly with the young man, who Gemma presumed was her boyfriend.
Ahmed walked back to Gemma. "Your fans," he observed.
Gemma nodded. "It's nice," she admitted. "I always try to be friendly when people ask me for a photo or an autograph."
"You're quite the celebrity here, already," he observed.
"I hardly think so," she responded. "I only just got here."
"But online is everywhere," he said. "Isn't that true."
"I guess so," she replied.
The moment with the couple had shifted her mood slightly. Gone was the irritation with Ahmed, to be replaced by a simple, desperate need to get away from the hotel. Suddenly the limo's open door looked very inviting.
Ahmed seemed to notice the way she was looking at the limo. "Well?"
"Okay," she said. "Let's go."
Gemma almost raced over to the limo, but she wasn't quick enough to beat Ahmed, who reached the limo before her and stood holding the door for her.
As she bent down to enter the limo she was sure she saw a flash of light out of the corner of her vision. But, then she was inside the limo and settling back on the plush leather seat, and Ahmed was inside, closing the door behind him and taking his place next to her.
Then the limo was moving away and Gemma felt a surprisingly strong sense of relief at leaving everything behind. She hadn't realized just how intense the whole evening had been. Sure, she was used to the attention.
But, lately she had begun to find some of it a little wearying, a little repetitive. And tonight had been no exception, in spite of the glamorous location here in a part of the world about which she knew so little.
They were quiet for a while as the limo moved out onto the highway which cut through the center of the city.
"You know where I live?" she asked, surprised.
"The other driver gave us the directions," he explained. "Nice place Rashid has given you to stay," he added. "One of the most exclusive apartment blocks in town."
"Only the best, I guess," she said teasingly.
He shook his head. "For you, I think it's just about right," he said. "Rashid's special guest," he added with a wry smile.
"You and him really don't get along, do you?" she observed.
"We're really the best of friends," he joked, his voice filled with sarcasm.
She lifted a brow. "What caused the rivalry?"
He sighed. "It's a long story. We don't have the time to go into all the details. Maybe we can discuss it some other time or place?" he asked.
