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The staff scattered. Nasim knew he should go to his office. He had papers to read, emails to answer, business to handle. Worry ate at him, however. Had Ginni left with this man she'd met? She had mentioned there had been another man in her life. Jealousy clawed into his chest. She would not have left him for this former love—would she?
Pulling out his mobile, he did a search on Ginni, pulling up the gossip about her ex-fiancé. He found a name—Hank LaRue. And what sort of name was that? LaRue sounded like a stripper's name. He also found a photo, which left him frowning and started a headache just behind his temples. The man in the photo identified as Hank LaRue looked far too much like the man in the photograph the ambassador had shown them.
Swiping closed his mobile, Nasim paced the floor again. Where was that woman? He pulled out his phone again, texted her, and paced again.
At last, two members of the staff and two of the palace guards opened the front doors. Nasim stopped his pacing. He pulled in a breath. He would be reasonable. He would apply the patience Arif was forever nattering on about. He would listen.
And then an American voice reached him. "I'm here to see Virginia Leeland
, and I don't appreciate being hauled around like this."
Nasim stiffened. The guards and staff escorted in a man with a stained shirt front, a tie pulled loose, and very American blue eyes and blond hair. Nasim allowed himself a small smile. He could easily look down on this short American.
Pulling his arms free of the guards, the American faced Nasim. "You must be this sheikh fellow."
"Sheikh Nasim Said," Nasim said, with a fraction of a bow.
Smiling now, the man put out his hand. "Hank. Hank LaRue. Came by to see Virginia. I owe her an apology." He smoothed his tie. "We had a little spat. That girl's got a temper on her, and I said the wrong things."
"Sorry, Ginni is not here."
Hank stiffened. "Not here, or not wantin’ to see me? There's a difference."
Nasim waved the guards away and gestured to the garden. "Will you have some tea?"
"Sure. Sweet tea if you have it."
After asking one of the staff to bring them mint tea, Nasim led the way into the gardens. His first instinct had been to simply have this Hank LaRue escorted off the grounds; he was curious, however, to see what kind of man had once interested Ginni. He also wanted to know just why this man had met Ginni here.
Nasim led the way to a table set up near the fountain in the center of the garden. He sat and waved Hank into a chair opposite. "You are in Zahkim on business?"
With a grin, Hank sat down and loosened his tie. "Dang, but it gets hot here. To tell the truth, I asked Mr. Leeland to send me. He's worried about his daughter, and what father wouldn't be—girl in a strange country and all, and she sure does know how to get herself into trouble."
Nasim gave a noncommittal hum. The tea arrived. The man who brought it poured, and Nasim lifted his cup. "This is mint tea—a tradition in Zahkim."
Hank sniffed his glass but drank it and pulled a face. "It's sweet enough, but I was kinda hopin' for something cold."
Smiling, Nasim lifted his cup. "Hot tea is always better in hot weather. So you met up with Ginni in Al Resab?"
"Bumped into her, more like." Hank brushed at his shirt. "Ended up wearin' my drink, too. She didn't care for me relaying a few words from Mr. Leeland. And, of course, she hates hearin' the truth told to her."
"Really? I hadn't noticed that."
"Well, you haven't known her that long. Me…I met her years ago, when I first came on at Leeland Enterprises as an accountant. Worked my way up the ladder to vice president."
Nasim gave another hum. This conversation had started to bore him, and Hank LaRue's constant grin dug under his skin like needles. Obviously, Ginni had not intentionally met this man—and had little interest in him, to judge by the fact that she had cooled him off by pouring a drink on him.
For a moment, Hank glanced around the gardens. He glanced back, seemed to consider saying something, and then reached into his inside coat pocket to pull out a slim folder with papers.
"Say, while we're waiting for Virginia to show up, why don't I just show you a package I worked up with Mr. Leeland for shipping Zahkim's oil to the—"
"Guards!" Pushing back from the table, Nasim stood.
Hank sat, mouth open, the folder in his hands half open. "Uh…I say somethin' wrong?"
"You did. There is only one person at Leeland Enterprises with whom Zahkim will ever do business. I trust Ginni Leeland, but I bloody well don't trust your easy grin or your attitude that Ginni is some wayward child who requires babysitting, and I understand why Ginni dashed a drink in your face. Although her aim needs work."
The guards arrived, and Nasim gestured to his unwanted guest. "Please see that Mr. LaRue is escorted from the palace and that he leaves the country on the next fight."
