The Sheikh Bear (3 page)

Chapter 4

“Ho, ho!” Malik’s voice was absolutely gleeful. Embarrassment yanked its way through Elle’s stomach, anchoring her to the ground almost painfully.

“Look at you,
habibi
. You look completely different! I almost mistook you for someone else!”

Shopping with Priya had been worse than anything Elle had gone through. They went through fittings and clothing stores so quickly, it left Elle’s mind in a whirlwind and her feet aching.

When they finally concluded the purchase of clothes that Elle would probably never be able to purchase in a million years, they made their way to a salon where many of the staffs’ women approached her like she had been beaten and bruised.

They sat her down, and began attacking her with all kinds of cosmetics and talked amongst one another in rapid Arabic.

Priya had been making commands since the start, and Elle had sat by—helpless—as they made their move and started filing her nails, rubbing oils over her skin, and tugging countless brushes over her wild hair.

When Elle managed to walk out the doors, her hair was soft and fell around her cheeks in lush waves and her face-felt heavy with make-up.

When they returned, Priya had given her a new list of things to memorize. Everything she needed to do and what clothes to match to make herself look presentable for the Sheikh.

To her utter despair, when Elle finally arrived back at the office to finish a few last minute things before heading home, Malik had been waiting next to her desk.

He glanced at her once before doing a double take, a huge Cheshire grin blooming over his face before he let out a chuckle.

“I dare say it, but you even look like the sort of woman that might tempt the Sheikh!” Malik exclaimed.

“Hilarious, Mister Malik.”

Elle retorted, far too tired to do any better than that.

“I’m more impressed you survived Priya’s fabulous make-over from hell,” Malik continued.

“You know she’s actually made women cry? Insanely strong women too, I’m surprised you’re still here.”

This man was on an entire new level of rude.
Elle thought with clenched teeth.

Fed up, Elle finally turned to face him, “Is there anything else you’d like to say or can I go back to work now?”

“Yes. That blouse you’re wearing?”

Malik pointed, “You might want to unbutton a couple of those, because your breasts look like they’re choking.”

“Get
out
!” Outrage burned through Elle’s body and before she knew it, she was taking a few steps toward Malik before spinning him around and nearly shoved him out the door.

When she finally slammed the door shut, she heard a bark of laughter on the other side of the door.

Elle wanted to hide under her desk and die.

Chapter 5

“She did
what
now?” Priya exclaimed, cheeks burning hot with anger.

“You know your face does this hilarious thing when you’re angry. Did you know that?”

“This isn’t funny, Zayn!” The petite woman exclaimed before whirling around, dark ringlets flying about her head in a rage.

“I don’t care if that
gori
has credentials from the bloody president!”

“Priya, take a deep breath.” Zayn replied, rolling his eyes as he casually unfastened his tie from around his neck.

“You can’t honestly expect a woman to not do that after a man points out the matters of her breasts, do you?”

The brunette scowled, crossing her arms over her chest stoutly.

“What I don’t understand is why you are playing this idiot game with her? You’re her employer and you let her throw you out of
your
office? You fired the last girl for mixing up your coffee, and you still want to keep this one around? If she had any idea who you are—“

“That’s exactly why I want to keep her around, Priya.” The Sheikh chuckled before turning around.

“Now that Avani’s gone, don’t you think I deserve a little fun?”

This was not well met by the woman, “I do not like this game, Zayn. I do not like you pretending to be some idiot pushing some
gori’s
buttons for amusement. She’s your secretary, and you’re the heir to an important business empire. Act like it!”

A small silence fell between the two as Zayn moved toward the couch of the large business suite. When he settled on it, he found Priya’s gaze to be piercing daggers into his skin.

Night time already fell over the building, and the brilliant lights of the city were the only thing next to a few dim lamps to cast some light over them. Even in the poor lighting, he could still see Priya’s angry expression and was reminded of a time when they were children and she would glare at him just as hotly whenever he took one of her dolls and hid it.

“Are you acting like this because of Avani, Malik?” Priya asked, and while her voice had softened, the accusation behind it didn’t.

The amusement in his chest sobered instantly to a dark expression. Zayn Abd al Malik remained silent even after he pulled a flask from within his breast pocket.

“Don’t drink, answer the question.” Priya insisted taking a few steps closer to yank the silver flask from her cousin’s grip.

“Priya, let me be alone
.
” Malik sighed.

“I will not leave you in peace until you answer me,” she sat down next to him, leaning close to meet his gaze.

“If you’re trying to entertain yourself because of a broken heart then fine, but go do that elsewhere. Not with this
gori
and certainly not wasting our time. We have matters to attend to and as Sheikh you need to start taking this seriously. The last thing I want is to tell father that you’re playing stable boy with a silly white girl.”

“What do you want me to do, Priya?” Malik asked, rubbing a palm over his face even after she stood and began to walk off.

“You want me to fire the girl? Because if that’s what you want then I’ll do it.”

“No, Zayn. That is not what I want.” Priya said before gazing at him somberly.

“I want you to work with her and do it properly. If you want to fire her, then let it be for a good reason. But I do not want you to be wasting your time acting out because the woman you loved picked another man and is now starting a family with him. You get up off your ass and you get to work. That is what you should do.”

And without another word, Priya placed the flask on the end of the table between Malik and the door before she left. The young Sheikh listened as she disappeared and heaved out a heavy sigh.

Chapter 6

But that of course was easier said than done.

The following day when Zayn Abd al Malik arrived to the workplace, he was pleasantly surprised to find Elle asleep next to the coffee machine. It wasn’t always you find a woman so amusing with her guard down.

As he approached, he noted that the espresso churning within the pot now brewing emitted a sweet aroma of vanilla and coconut. Such fragrances always made him want to sit and relax as well so it wasn’t so unexpected that Elle would do so.

He almost felt sorry for her.

With a grin, he walked toward the small table where Elle was resting. Her hand cradled her jaw as her head drooped toward her chest. A thin stream of drool dribbled down the corner of her lip down to her chin. What an angel.

Cautiously, Malik pulled out the file on the table ahead of her. After a quick skim of the documents, Malik realized she was looking over one of the spreadsheets for the meeting at noon, and vaguely wondered what she was doing looking that over.

Closing the file, he was sorely tempted to take a picture of the dozing woman’s face but knew that even doing that was pushing it.

Instead, he slapped the file over the wood with a loud ‘
whap!’

Elle shot up, alarm flashing over her sleep-muddled green eyes as she let out a gasp. Malik stifled a snicker, settling instead on a smug smile that she caught the moment she looked up at him.

The way her expression flattened was almost just as satisfying as waking her up.

“Nice nap?”

The woman quickly countered hotly, “I was resting my eyes.”

But the force of her statement fell apart when he patted a spot on his chin with a finger. She wiped the drool with the back of her hand, smudging her lipstick, much to her chagrin.

“Well, the Sheikh isn’t paying you to rest your eyes.” Malik replied chiefly, smile unwavering.

“By the way, aren’t you late in delivering his coffee?”

“It’s not like it matters.” Elle replied, and the words actually surprised him.

“And why is that?”

She stretched in her seat and Malik couldn’t help but notice the way her back arched and her body was accentuated prettily by the curve. It was honestly the first time since he saw her that he realized how pretty she was. Bizarre.

“Because he’s never shown up to drink it. For all I know, the Sheikh’s a ghost.” The last word split into a yawn she covered behind a hand.

“Still, it’s not exactly pay day either.”

Malik took a few steps toward the counter to lean against it, inwardly amused at the fact that the very man Elle considered a ghost was standing right in front of her.

“Tsk, tsk, Miss Roberts. Better watch out for what you say, you wouldn’t want the Sheikh to haunt you.”

“I never believed in ghost stories, mister Malik.” Elle replied, pulling out a high porcelain mug and coaster.

She proceeded to make the coffee without another glance at him and Malik watched her work, somewhat fascinated. It’s only been five days since she had started and he couldn’t find anything wrong with how she brewed his coffee.

This woman certainly had her head on her shoulders, he’d give her that. Still, it wasn’t any fun seeing her behave so casually. He liked it better when she was frantic.

Yes, he was a bit of a sadist, but it wasn’t always that he met someone so entertaining.

He could already hear Priya scolding him. Malik knew his play time was running out, so might as well make the best of it before he had to reveal himself. He had wanted to see how far he could keep up pretenses, but now it seemed that his little game was doomed to end quickly from the start.

“Give it here,” Malik said as Elle began to walk off with coffee and file on hand. She paused to look at him curiously, her wild mane of curly hair subdued to pretty waves around her face.

He kind of liked her with the curls a little better, even if she did look prettier now. “I’ll take it to the Sheikh.”

To her credit, Elle refused to give him anything, “Not like I don’t trust you or anything, mister Malik—“

“Please, just Malik. The whole mister thing sounds awful.”

“—Fine. Malik. But, I would much rather take it myself.” Elle tried to walk off ahead of him but he took a couple broad steps in front of her.

She gave him an annoyed stare this time—oh boy he couldn’t wait to see the look on her face—before waiting for him to speak.

“I’m going to go see him right now, actually.” Malik said.

“And believe me, he gets rather cranky if he doesn’t get his coffee. So, I’ll do you a favor this time.”

“All the same…” Elle trailed off but he could tell she was wavering.

“Come on, what have I ever done to you to make you be so wary of me?” Her expression morphed to one of incredulity and just like that Malik felt his lips part in another smile.

“Duly noted. But, I’m serious here, Miss Roberts. Let me take the coffee. Go on and head back to the office. I’ll even let you snag a twenty minute nap, how’s that?”

“As if you could.” Elle scoffed.

“Alliana watches me like a hawk, and Priya is worse.”

“I promise that I will make sure neither of them bother you.” Malik insisted, raising his hand in a mock gesture of honesty.

Elle frowned at him, and the look over her face was so endearing that Malik was tempted to close the space between them, just a little. Finally, she sighed before pushing the cup into his awaiting hands.

“Alright, but if Priya breaks my neck, you’re paying for the funeral services.” Elle said glumly.

“Don’t be so morbid, Miss Roberts.” Malik chuckled, taking in the hot cup of coffee and heading towards the door.

He pushed it open and allowed Elle past, “Go on ahead. I’ll see you later.”

Elle nodded, giving him a last look of uncertainty before smiling slightly. The simple change over her face did something to Malik he hadn’t quite expected and when she thanked him, he couldn’t help but watch as she walked off.

It was strange, but he found himself missing out on her expressions already.

Oh well.

And with that, Malik headed off in another direction to ponder how to make his big reveal, burning his tongue when he took a swift sip of his coffee.