Instead, she left; not to Pilati, in the end, but to her destiny and her death.
Zamir and Ra’if and would never be the same again.
CHAPTER ONE
“You are to serve me?”
His eyes were like balls of flame and gold, amber with flecks of sunshine and starlight. In the same way a masterpiece in a gallery was framed in a manner that was worthy of it, his eyes were surrounded by the most luscious, thick curling lashes she’d ever seen.
“To serve you?” Olivia responded, grateful that years of floating around the world meeting strangers had resulted in a confident appearance even when her heart was hammering and her pulse was racing.
Zamir compressed his lips. It was a gesture of impatience, but it only served to highlight his dramatic bone structure and fascinating features.
“You are from the agency?”
Sophie nodded, her brain struggling to keep up when faced with such an outrageously distracting man. She didn’t believe in love at first sight. But lust at first sight? Yes, definitely, and she was unequivocally experiencing it. Her nipples were taut, her throat was dry, and she felt a racing of blood in her veins that was making her body hot and cold. He was staring at her with
“Yes,” she said, finally.
Zamir rolled one of his shirtsleeves up to just below the elbow, revealing tanned, slimly muscled forearms and drawing attention to his capable fingers. He performed the same action on the other arm then mano
euvred his rapier sharp gaze back to her face. At the moment his eyes clashed with hers, her heart gave an answering trill.
“You have done this kind of work before?”
“Yes.” She swallowed.
“And you are used to carrying out unusual requests with discretion?”
“Yes.”
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he took a moment to study this woman who had been sent to him. She had arrived punctually, and she was dressed impeccably, in a pair of black trousers and a pale cream sweater that fitted her curvaceous figure like a second skin. It was entirely appropriate for the desert winter of Nevada; yet Zamir instinctively disapproved.
“Such as?” He prompted curiously. She must have only been twenty years old. Her hair was so blonde it reminded him of the sands of his land, and her eyes were wide like a fawn in spring.
“That would be missing the point of discretion, wouldn’t it?”
His lip twisted in a half smile; it was the closest he’d come to the expression in over a month.
“I am not asking you to reveal identities. Only to give me an idea of what you can do for me.”
If she had been prone to blushing, she might have felt a hint of pink creep along her cheek. But her sister Sophie was the blusher in their family. Olivia and Ava were far better at masking their feelings.
What could she do for him? She thought back over the last four months. Since arriving in Vegas and landing the thrilling job as a celebrity concierge, what hadn’t she done? She’d organised wild parties and kept them just inside the line of legal. She’d parlayed entry for large groups into some of the hottest nightclubs in town and ensured her clients weren’t bothered by anyone they didn’t wish to be bothered by. She’d pulled together fashion shows at the last minute. She’d walked dogs. Minded babies. Toured the casinos endlessly, showing her clients with an interest in gambling the best establishments in town, including those not featured on any of the maps. She’d tipped off the paparazzi when her celebrities sought greater attention and she’d blocked the paparazzi when her clients sought privacy. She’d driven clients around from boutique to boutique, and she’d covered up – many times – for various faux pas and indiscretions.
“I can do anything for you. Anything that’s legal, that is.”
Another flicker of amusement. “You know who I am.”
“Yes, sir.” She regarded him from half-shuttered eyes. He was her first royal client, and definitely her most offputtingly attractive.
“Do you think it’s likely I am here on illegal business?” He pushed with a wry sarcasm.
It was on the tip of Olivia’s tongue to ask just what he was doing in Vegas, but she pulled herself up. After all, curiosity was not part of her job description. And so she said nothing, but just stared at him with her huge green eyes and clear expression, waiting for him to continue.
He was grudgingly impressed by her steadfast calmness. Unflappability was a trait he needed to be surrounded by. “I am here on a private matter. I require you to shield me from any speculation or interest.”
“I see,” she nodded, and though there were many gaps in his request, she understood his essential, underlying requirement.