The Sheik’s Vow (The Billionaire’s Club #13)

Chapter 2

Riaz watched the delicate beauty carefully. No, delicate wasn’t the right word. She was, but that wasn’t the first description he would use. Angry. Stubborn. Careful. Strong.

And scared.

He doubted that Kaia Treon would appreciate that word, but she was. Terrified, actually. Her beautiful green eyes and that gloriously stubborn chin aside, the beauty practically shimmered with whatever threat loomed over her.

Every muscle in his body screamed to pull her into his arms and protect her from the monsters that lurked, waiting to attack her. Riaz knew that those monsters weren’t just a figment of her imagination. He didn’t know the whole story, but he suspected that the monsters were very real.

He’d have to gain her trust. Kaia had been hurt. Not just physically, but he’d heard the words she’d spoken to her sister just days ago. Kaia had been beaten. More than once. Possibly repeatedly. However, she’d risen, like a phoenix, and become stronger. She’d avoided the monster who tracked her, even getting her younger sister to safety as well.

Riaz wasn’t just attracted to the stubborn beauty. He respected her.

When she lifted a soft, brown eyebrow, prompting him, it took Riaz several seconds to remember what she’d asked.

He shifted in his chair, twirling the amber liquid in his glass. "Zayed and I have one more meeting tomorrow morning before he jets off on his honeymoon with your sister. My purpose here is to negotiate an economic treaty with Pitra," he explained, watching her carefully.

Taking a sip of his scotch, Riaz eyed Kaia over the rim, wondering what she was thinking. Why was a woman as beautiful as Kaia so wary? Even as they sat in the privacy of this room, he noticed that she sat with her back to the wall. Protecting herself? Definitely. From what? Did she fear him?

He didn’t like that possibility, but instead of taking offense, he tried to understand why she might be afraid of him.

Perhaps it wasn’t him that made her wary. Perhaps it was men in general? The man that had been apprehended yesterday…Collins. He’d held a knife to Tara’s throat.

Riaz observed the strikingly beautiful woman with careful scrutiny, attempting to unravel the enigma she presented. It was a departure from his usual encounters, where women often vied for his attention. Not that he wanted women to throw themselves at him, but the absence of such advances from the one woman he desired intrigued him.

He harbored no illusions about the motives behind the attention he received. It wasn't him they were after; it was the power embedded in his title and wealth. The unspoken transaction involved women offering their bodies in exchange for the perceived benefits his stature could bring them.

This tedious game of negotiation left a bitter taste in his mouth, which only served to heighten the allure of the brunette beauty before him. She appeared immune to the allure of power and wealth, and clearly was not seeking anything from him. In fact, if he gauged her behavior correctly, Kaia Treon would likely welcome his disappearance .

Yet, she continued to pique his curiosity. She embodied a contradictory blend of confidence and apprehension, intelligence and innocence. Her unwavering dedication to protecting her younger sister only deepened her appeal in Riaz's eyes.

That alone would have warranted his attention. However, there was an additional, enticing layer to the woman that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Something about her intrigued him beyond the image Kaia allowed the world to see. Firstly, what was she so afraid of? Besides the obvious; her monsters finding her.

But there was also something more, a shimmering challenge in her eyes that spoke of fear and something mysterious. He could definitely sense fear in her, fear of the attraction simmering between them, and an awareness that he felt the same way. But beneath that, there was a more intricate complexity lurking in those captivating emerald eyes.

Prompted by the need to learn more about her, he ventured, "You're from the state of Kentucky?"

"Technically, Kentucky is a commonwealth," she clarified. "Although, the distinction between a state and a commonwealth is negligible."

"I see. And did you enjoy living in the Commonwealth of Kentucky?"

"No," she snapped, taking a deliberate sip of her drink. He noticed a flicker of surprise in her reaction, but she composed herself and carefully placed the glass on the table. Strangely, she didn't recoil at the taste of scotch, showing that this wasn't her first encounter with the liquor.

"What don't you like about it?" he probed, determined to peel back the layers of mystery surrounding her.

She shrugged, lacing her fingers together and looking at him.

“The land is beautiful. There are rolling hills and the Appalachian mountains run along the eastern edge. There are also several rivers and plenty of grazing land. ”

“So, what’s there not to like?”

She shrugged and he watched her eyes shutter with something she wanted to hide. From him? Or from the world?

“Kentucky is just like any place in the world. There are beautiful places if one is willing to look for them.”

“But?” he prompted.

Kaia remained eerily still for a long moment. Riaz watched her closely, realizing that the inner workings behind those beautiful eyes held the key to understanding the core of this woman. Finally, Kaia spoke, her voice carrying a weight of experiences, "But sometimes, the devil hides behind a beautiful facade."

With that revelation, she rose and inclined her head slightly. "I know that it's rude to leave so abruptly, but it's been a long few days."

Acknowledging her sentiment, Riaz nodded and stood up, briefly obstructing her exit. A sudden anger struck him: "Who beat you?" The startled pain etched in her eyes stunned him. "Who did this to you?"

As Kaia stepped back, her pulse quickened visibly at the base of her neck. The anger that surged within Riaz was palpable. Whoever had inflicted such harm on her deserved retribution. He wrestled with the rising emotions, drawing on the lessons from his past to quell the rage that threatened to consume him.

But she’d closed herself off to him. He understood and stepped out of her path, giving her the mental and physical space that she needed in this moment. "It was delightful to be by your side today," he told her, bowing respectfully.

A moment of surprise followed. Riaz observed the subtle hesitation in Kaia's movements, realizing it took her a beat to recognize that he wasn't a threat. This reaction provided another piece to the intricate puzzle that was Kaia.

"Th...thank you, Your Highness," she murmured, moving carefully past him. Her gaze lingered on him until she reached the doorway, her hand resting on the knob. "I'm not afraid of you."

Maintaining a composed expression, Riaz inclined his head slightly, acknowledging her statement. Though the fear still lingered in her eyes, he recognized her struggle against it, a battle that only enhanced her allure.

And then she was gone, leaving behind only a trail of rose-colored chiffon and a hint of lemon. Suddenly, the room felt emptier without her presence.