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“Your parents don’t know that.”
He snorted. “You want to lie to my parents?”
“No.” She tugged a little as he grabbed her hand. “I know! Tell them I’m adopting a dog. And we can go adopt a dog real quick so it’s not a lie. And then I can change.”
“By then, dinner will be over.”
“That’s great. We really should just reschedule. On account of me getting a dog. We’ll need some bonding time. Training time. We’ll have to go get some dog food and toys and . . . Rashid!” she squeaked as he pulled her down the hall.
The doors at the end of the corridor opened as a servant bowed before them.
Terror gripped her as they walked in, and it only got worse when she realized that they were the last ones in. All eyes looked up and stared at her.
Liyah stared at her in confusion, and Asad’s face darkened. Khalid choked on whatever he was drinking, but Amira looked bored. Mila skimmed over them as she settled on the man at the head of the table and the woman by his side. Navine and Shekinah Sharif. In true royal fashion, they didn’t look surprised when they saw her, but neither did they look happy.
“Rashid,” his father growled. “I’m glad that you could finally join us. Could you please seat your guest so that we may begin.”
Mila was relieved when Rashid escorted her to the empty seat next to Liyah. She stared at her friend helplessly, and Liyah reached under the table and squeezed her hand.
In that moment, she regained her composure and relaxed. No matter what happened, she knew that Liyah would be by her side.
“Sheikh Navine, Sheikha Shekinah, I would like to thank you for the invitation and am honored to dine with you this evening,” Mila said formally as she bowed her head.
“We were not aware that you were coming,” Shekinah said coolly. “You are Liyah’s friend, yes?”
“Yes. My name is Mila.”
A servant poured wine into her glass from behind, and Mila quietly thanked the man.
The sheikha was still staring at her. “Mila,” the older woman mused. “And you are friends with my son?”
Clearly, the woman hadn’t turned on the television.
Mila glanced nervously at Rashid, but he was staring at Asad in stony silence. The air was tense around them. Why did she feel like she’d come unprepared for battle? “I have gotten to know your son very well.”
“What do you do, Mila?” Navine asked, and then he threw a sharp glance at his wife. Shekinah did not seem at all bothered by it.
“I’m a waitress at the lounge,” Mila answered in a soft voice.
“A waitress!” Shekinah gasped. “I thought you and Liyah were here for academic purposes. She is opening up libraries all across the nations, and you’re a waitress?”
Oh, God. Mila felt the first spark of anger rising in her.
Before she could say anything, Liyah squeezed her hand and jumped in. “I am opening up libraries thanks to the generosity of my husband,” she said softly. “Before that, I was unemployed.”
“But you had noble ambitions, my dear. What are your ambitions, Mila?” Shekinah asked sharply.
Rashid finally straightened and came to her aid. “Mother, perhaps you could grill her after dinner? I’m hungry.”
As the food was served, Mila seethed in silence. The atmosphere only grew thicker as
the silent dinner went on. One or another tried to make small talk, but Mila could only glare at Rashid. Why was he throwing her into the lion’s den like this?
She reached for her wine, and her elbow hit the heavy, ornate knife and spoon to the right of her plate. They clattered loudly to the floor, and everyone stared at her. “Sorry,” she muttered and pushed back her chair. Bending down, she grabbed the utensils and reminded herself that this was her future family, and she needed to try harder to make a good impression. Resolving to find a way to bridge the gap to the ice queen, Mila straightened up again, and everyone at the table gasped.
Frozen, recovered utensils in hand, she stared at everyone. “What? Is there something in my hair?”
“Mila,” Liyah cleared her throat. “Your necklace.”
