The Sheikh Bear Read online

  “Since apparently you’re still new and Avani is unable to train you, I suppose I have to show you how it’s done before you ruin everything.”

  The following few hours were spent with Elle being drilled on coffee temperatures, times and directions for the dry cleaning, restaurants the Sheikh preferred to eat from and what meals to avoid.

  She was then informed on the Schedule—an immense spreadsheet that was comprised online and on her computer. Using her phone, Elle would receive notifications for each upcoming event, and make sure the Sheikh was informed of every change, be it infinitely tiny or otherwise.

  Her office phone led to several places and she was drilled on which speed dials led her where. Alliana had even slapped her wrist when Elle had nearly dialed a wrong number. It was mortifying.

  However, Malik was nowhere to be seen and so that was some relief. She didn’t know how she would react to having that man laughing at her for being scolded like a child.

  Finally, Alliana brought Elle a large binder before nearly slamming it on the desk. Elle jumped at the sound, before turning a meek glance to the severe looking woman.

  “These, Elle, are the Rules. You memorize them, you breathe them, you become them. You do not break the rules, you do not bend the rules. You make sure all of these are followed to the very letter or you will be packing up your things and being sent out of here faster than you can even care to say your own name. Make sure you’ve got everything down, because if I hear just one complaint from the Sheikh, I will not be happy.”

  Elle nodded quickly, swallowing thickly as she looked down at the binder.

  Gingerly, she opened the cover before looking down at the page. She nearly blanched when her eyes fell over one of the rules.

  “Alliana, what does it mean that I must attend to the Sheikh’s every needs?”

  The woman let out a noise that sounded like an incredulous laugh.

  “I’m sure I don’t need to explain it, Elle. You’re a smart woman, you can figure it out. Now, will that be all your questions or do I need to spell everything out for you? I have important matters to attend to.”

  Elle shook her head quietly before turning the page. Allianna gave her a short nod.

  “Good. Don’t screw up.”

  And with that, she sauntered off not unlike how she did the other day.

  Alone, Elle peered over the rules and pondered over them. Some of these were absolutely ridiculous. Never speak to the Sheikh directly unless spoken to. Never look at the Sheikh unless permitted.

  It was as if she was working for an alien rather than a human being. Still, he came from a far off place and one that Elle had never really heard of aside from her world’s geography class back in high school.

  “Having trouble?” Elle heard and she nearly jumped out of her skin.

  Turning around, she saw Malik leaning against the doorframe, smirking at her with amusement. He was dressed in a dark violet three-piece suit, perfectly tailored to his broad and slim figure.

  “No…” Elle said, frowning.

  “I’m just looking over the rules. Some of these are a bit extreme.”

  “Oh?” Malik asked, “Thinking about quitting?”

  Elle fixed the dark skinned man a flat stare before turning back to her work.

  “It’s just some of these are sort of vague. Like… I have to make sure the Sheikh’s needs are all attended? What does that mean?”

  Suddenly she felt Malik right behind her. His abrupt presence made her skin shiver and feel tight, and when she glanced up, he was grinning down at her wickedly.

  “What do you think it means, Miss Roberts?”

  Elle fought the urge to push away, feeling disturbed by this man’s nerve.

  “I think it means that the Sheikh really needs a mother, not a secretary.”

  Malik pushed away, letting out a short laugh before placing his hands in his pockets.

  “Don’t let him hear you say that. Otherwise it’ll be the can for you.”

  “Then I’m glad he’s not around,” Elle replied, taking a breath to calm her down. The comment brought up a question she had been meaning to ask.

  “Speaking of which, where is the Sheikh? I haven’t met him since I’ve arrived even though I’ve been sending all the information and placing his coffee in his office.”

  “He’s a lot closer than you think, habibi.” Malik said before heading towards the empty desk feet away from her.

  He leaned against the edge, watching her with unreadable eyes.

  “What is that? That word you keep calling me?” Elle asked, thumbing over the pages of the Rules before shutting them close.

  “It’s a term we have for dear, habibi” Malik explained.

  “Nothing insulting. So no need to fret. If anything, it’s an endearing term.”

  “I’m sure,” Elle said, before turning back to her work.

  “Anyway, I hope you don’t mind if I just continue working…”

  “Why would I mind?” Malik inquired, looking rather comfortable watching her. Elle fought the urge to kick him out, but was still wary about where he came from.

  In all honesty, she didn’t know him, just that he was somehow related to the Sheikh and that he clearly had the permission to move about as he pleased.

  “Can I ask you something?”

  Malik blinked, dark eyes narrowing somewhat before he gave her a sudden grin, “If you want to know where the nearest exit is, it’s in the back.”

  Elle felt a twitch begin in the arch of her eyebrow.

  “That’s not what I want to ask. You said you’re related to the Sheikh, right?”

  “In a matter of speaking,” he replied as vaguely as he did the day before.

  “What’s he like?” The question seemed to surprise Malik, because one moment he was smiling at her, the next a strange emotion passed over his face.

  It disappeared much too quickly for Elle to tell what it was before he let out a small scoff of amusement and pushing away from the desk.

  “You better worry more about yourself than that guy, Miss Roberts. Trust me, he’s out of your league.”

  A red flush burned up and over Elle’s neck and into her face, making her steam with irritation.

  “That’s not why I was asking, Mister Malik!” But he was already slinking away, his steps languid and graceful before he disappeared out the door with a final wave.

  Elle glared at the direction Malik disappeared off to before getting back to work. That evening when she returned, Elle was exhausted and was sporting several papercuts over her fingers, but it had gone better than it did her first day.

  If there was anything she didn’t want to do, it was running back home with her tail between her legs.

  Chapter 3

  She arrived the next morning an hour early, her phone ringing in her palm incessantly since she woke. Alliana’s voice was shrill on the other side of the speaker, listing off a long list of orders Elle had barely managed to catch before hanging up and leaving the half-awake brunette spinning to get ready.

  When she arrived, she had to jog back and forth between offices to deliver documents, pass out spreadsheets, and ensure members met memos before she was scrambling back towards the kitchenette where the Sheikh’s coffee was being made.

  By the time Elle made it next to the biggest espresso machine she had ever seen, she felt completely worn out.

  “You’re the new girl, aren’t you?”

  Elle straightened from her position next to the immense coffee maker, sleep drawing lines of inattention through her vision as she focused on the person speaking to her.

  When she finally turned around, she saw a woman—who looked like she should still be in high school—leaning against the doorframe.

  The posture reminded Elle far too quickly of a certain dark-skinned man and felt her stomach sour at the thought. She didn’t know Malik enough, but of what she did know, she wasn’t fond of it.

  Shoving the bitterness in her stomach aside
, Elle faced the woman directly.

  “Uh, yes. I’m Elle. Elle Roberts.”

  “Charmed.” The woman—girl?—said.

  She was beautiful; with dark mocha colored skin and huge hazel eyes, her petite figure was wrapped in what looked like a Sari (a garb from India that Elle had been forced to recognize since the document debacle of her first day) but split away to show a pair of pale cream pants.

  Her dark hair curled around her heart shaped face in ringlets and if it wasn’t for the pointed look aimed at Elle, she would be a little endeared toward the girl.

  “How’ve you been faring?”

  Her accent was practically the same as Malik’s, sounding like a mix between British and Arabic, and for a moment Elle wondered if this girl was his sister.

  “I’ve been alright,” Elle replied modestly and with a smile.

  “Still getting used to this place. It’s amazing.”

  “Hm, unsurprising. You don’t look like much,” the girl said and Elle started to feel a little annoyed. Why did everyone treat her like this?

  “But, I suppose you’ll do.”

  “Sorry, but, who are you?”

  Elle asked, nearly biting down her tongue when she caught the hint of attitude escape through her teeth. The girl didn’t seem to notice.

  “Priya Abdul al Hamik,” She replied flippantly.

  “I’m your employer’s second cousin and advisor. I heard about you, can’t say I’m impressed.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Elle said, reeling but nonetheless holding back from embarrassing herself further.

  “I’m sure it is,” Priya replied.

  “Anyway. Because Avani is indisposed for the next eternity, I’ve been assigned to supervise and train you. The last thing we need is you offending the Sheikh.”

  “I appreciate it,” Elle said.

  “I’ve memorized a good portion of the rules but I do have questions about some of them.”

  Priya rolled her eyes, “You and every other gori. Come. There is much to be done and you’re late.”

  Elle nearly scrambled after the short Hindu woman, grabbing the coffee and the documents she was given earlier that morning.

  When they reached the business suite, Priya had launched into a series of commands that had Elle feeling like she was in boot camp. She needed to straighten up, freshen up, send out new spreadsheets and call for a special broth that the Sheikh would need to begin his day.

  The glass doors that lead to the Sheikh’s office were closed and covered by a purple curtain on the other side. It was the first time Elle had seen this and felt a twinge of worry when she wondered if the Sheikh had finally decided to appear.

  An hour later, Priya was looking over the Schedule in a tablet, her dainty fingers skimming over the glass screen swiftly.

  “Hm.” Priya finally let out, and Elle prepared herself for the next series of commands.

  Instead, Priya was placing the tablet down before urging Elle to stand up. “Up. I want to see you.”

  Confused, Elle did as she was told spinning around awkwardly when Priya made circular motions with a finger.

  “Not too bad,” Priya muttered through pursed lips.

  “Very well. We’re leaving.”

  “Wait—what? Wh-where are we going?” Elle stammered, barely registering how quickly Priya was gathering her things and urging her out the door.

  There were still a bunch of duties she needed to complete!

  “Shopping, gori. While you may be comfortable sitting in those rags, while you’re in the presence of the Sheikh, you will not be dressed like that.”

  Gawking, Elle followed numbly, nearly overwhelmed with surprise. “But, I don’t have the money—!”

  “Nuance.” Priya shrugged off before yanking Elle out the door and taking her out on the strangest shopping trip of the young woman’s life.

  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.”