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As much as she wanted to celebrate her friend’s special moment, she found the business of marriage in Rudaynah too depressing. It wasn’t a union of two hearts as much as it was a business alliance. The combining of two families and two properties.
The lights came back on, and she heard the murmurs of delight from the ballroom. Lacey hurried down the steps to the main lobby when she saw a familiar figure in a gray pinstripe suit waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
“Where have you been?” Hafiz asked, glancing at his wristwatch. “We were supposed to meet at your apartment.”
“Hafiz?” She remembered that the sultana and the most influential people in the country were in the next room. He was placing himself at risk. “You can’t be here. It’s too dangerous. Your—”
“I’m fully aware of it,” Hafiz said as he fell into step with her. “If you want to get to Abu Dhabi tonight, we must leave now.”
“I’m sorry I’m late. I’m never late.”
Hafiz set his mouth in a grim line. “My limousine is waiting right outside the entrance. Once we leave, then we will discuss what you were doing with my mother.”
Lacey stiffened as she heard the accusation in his tone. How did he find out about that? She didn’t have to see Hafiz’s face to know he was angry. But why was he blaming her?
“I didn’t know the sultana was going to make an appearance. How would I?”
Hafiz muttered something succinct as he ushered her out the hotel. Guilt slammed through her. She didn’t want to be a hindrance. She hated being the cause of his troubles.
Lacey paused. She wasn’t a hindrance. She wasn’t a liability. The only thing she was guilty of was loving a man who didn’t think she was good enough to marry.
CHAPTER EIGHT
HAFIZ KEPT HIS ANGER in check as he got into the waiting limousine. Tonight he had to send away the one person who mattered the most to him. He wanted to rage against the world, destroy everything around him and allow the fury to consume him. Instead he closed the car door with deliberate care.
The car jerked into full speed. He barely glanced at Lacey sitting regally on the other side of the back seat. He didn’t trust himself to speak or look at her.
What was it about this woman? Did she trigger a self-destructive tendency in him? Why had he been willing to risk everything for Lacey? What made him lower his guard when they had been in danger of discovery? Why couldn’t he have fallen for someone who would make his life easier?
“I have nothing to say.” Lacey stared straight ahead. “I did nothing wrong.”
He sliced his hand in the air. “Yes, you did,” he replied in a low growl. In the past Lacey’s hurt would have destroyed him until he did everything in his power to make her happy, but at the moment he wished she would see the world through his eyes.
“I don’t have to explain myself,” Lacey continued. “My friend introduced me to your mother. She thought I was worthy enough to meet the sultana. Why don’t you?”
“Does your friend know everything about you?” The words were dragged from his mouth. “Is she aware that you are the prince’s mistress?”
“Of course not.” Lacey said and rolled her eyes.
He speared a hard look at Lacey. She had spent half a year in his country but still didn’t have a basic understanding how the Sultanate of Rudaynah worked. He risked everything to help her tonight. It would be scandalous if he were found alone with a woman. If it were discovered that she was his mistress, the results would be cataclysmic.
“I’m sorry if my meeting the sultana made you uncomfortable,” she said angrily.
Was she? Had she not suggested a few days ago how he was better off without that title? Lacey had to be furious that her dream life ended abruptly while he was offered the one thing he had relentlessly worked toward. It wouldn’t take much to crush his chances, but Hafiz didn’t want to believe Lacey could be that diabolical.
“No, you’re not. You want me to be uncomfortable and worry. You’re enjoying it.” Hafiz grabbed a hold of the door as the limousine took a sharp, fast turn. “I want to know the whole truth. How long have you known my mother?”
