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"It's beautiful," she replied. "What I've seen of it, so far, anyway. I've mainly been in the city since I got here."
"You would love the desert," he said.
She turned and looked at him. "You think so?"
Ahmed nodded. "It's glorious. Peaceful and beautiful," he said, his voice filling with a wistful tone.
She frowned. "But you're a city guy, aren't you?" One of those sheikhs in name only who never leaves his palace or the city."
"What gives you that impression?"
"I can't imagine you running a media company from a tent in the desert," she said. Once again that humor was back in her voice and there was a glint in her eye.
"I go to the desert regularly," he explained. "I have to. It makes me feel in touch with where I came from. My tradition. I have a private encampment, well away from prying eyes. Near a little village called Qabiyah. My family originally came from there a long time ago." He sighed. "No-one can interrupt me when I'm there. It's my refuge from this busy life, here in the city. I could not exist without it."
She nodded. "It sounds wonderful. An escape from the world." She sighed. "Away from all the noise and demands."
Again there was that vague melancholy tone in her voice, he reflected. This was a woman who wanted more. She seemed weary of her life in some way.
"The people there know me. Respect me. They are good people with a simple way of life."
"They're lucky," she said.
He looked at her. "Why?"
She shook her head. "Life has become just too complicated for everyone now. Seems like there is nowhere left in the world that hasn't been touched by all this progress. All this change."
"Qabiyah hasn't changed one bit during my lifetime," he explained.
She looked at him. "Really?"
He nodded. "It's totally cut off from the outside world. No cell phones. Only a dirt track road for access."
She smiled and shook her head. "I didn't know places like that still existed."
They were silent for a while. For a few exquisite moments, all he could sense was the sweet scent of her perfume which drifted on the cool, night air. The aroma was intoxicating and made him unnaturally aware of her presence so close to him.
As if by instinct, Ahmed moved closer to her. He was still inches away from her. She took note of that movement and narrowed her eyes. Once again, there was a questioning look in her eyes.
"Did you have some kind of proposal for me?"
Her was momentarily taken aback by her directness. "Business? I thought that was off the table?" he asked.
"I think I know what's going on here," she said.
"Really," he replied in a flat voice.
She turned and faced him. He loved the slow way her body shifted, how her full breasts could be sensed beneath the fabric of her dress.
"Yeah," she said with a slight grin. "I think you want to steal me."
He straightened. "Steal you?"
"Away from Rashid," she said with a nod.
Ahmed shrugged. "Would that be such a terrible thing?"
"It depends."
