Nicole laughed and stepped toward Arash and Alicia.

If she gets to them, my one chance will be lost.

He reached out and took hold of her hand, stopping her progress. When she turned, he noticed the fire in her eyes. This was something new—a fresh level of intrigue.

He pressed on. “Listen, Nicole. I am a man with more money than I can spend in many lifetimes. I have boats and cars and mansions and businesses. But it all means nothing because I don’t have anyone to share it with.”

Although she was tugging her hand, he held on. He was too caught up in the moment.

“I can give you the world. A woman like you deserves nothing less. Look around you. All this can be yours.”

“Let go of my hand.”

But instead, he pulled her toward him, then kissed her full lips. It was exquisite. But then he was stumbling backward, trying to regain his balance. His legs caught on a pool chair, and he tumbled over, hitting the deck with his back, then his head. Pain radiated throughout his entire body.

Rolling to his side, he saw Nicole striding toward the elevator with Alicia racing to catch up with her. A steward stepped in front of them, barring their way, until Saad raised his head and called out, “Let them go. Take them to their rooms.”

He laid his head back down and closed his eyes. A steward sprinted over to help him up, but he chased him away with a curse. A few moments later, he heard a creak in a nearby pool chair, followed by Arash’s voice. “So how’d it go?”

Opening his eyes, he saw his friend with legs stretched out, smiling at him. Arash offered him the drink in his hand, which Saad took and downed in one toss.

“You know, you could just take her. You’ve got more than enough resources at your disposal to clean up any resultant mess.”

Saad threw the empty glass into the pool and pulled himself into a chair. “You Persians. How did you ever build an empire? You have no tact.”

Arash laughed and signaled for the steward to bring two more drinks. “Who needs tact when you have power and money? That is the lesson you, my friend, must learn.”

But that’s not who I am. This was simply the first battle. I may have lost this skirmish, but I will win this war. Nicole le Roux will be on my arm one day, not because she will be forced to be but because it will be her greatest desire.

Chapter 34

CHAPTER 34

21:40 / 9:40 P.M. SGT

Alicia closed the door to her room and locked it.

“What happened?”