The Sheikh's Faux Bride - Completed

Chapter Two

Julia stood her ground, clutching at her handbag tightly. "Who are you? And I'm not going anywhere with you or you," she pointed from one to the other, sounding a lot braver than she felt.

They stepped aside, allowing her to look past them to a waiting limousine. Where she watched as the door opened and uncurled a familiar, stern-looking blond. The sheikh's blond P.A. Sighing, she headed towards the blond. "What now? I can't go back. Can't you see I'm busy?" she waved behind her towards her brother, who had different ideas.

"How cool," he said, peering in.

"Tommy," she growled in warning. "Please get out of the car," she ordered as he slipped in, having a look around. "I'm not going anywhere with them." A phone rang to be answered by the blond, who handed it over to Julia. "Yes?" she asked warily, with dread in her heart.

"Get in the damn car and stop being so damn difficult. Now!" The Sheikh barked, then hung up.

Stunned, she stared at the phone to hand back, slipping into the car. She had never heard him so angry, wondering what she had done to deserve that. Damn. Those documents. She had forgotten all about them. Obviously, the party was over, and she was in serious trouble at the sound of his voice.

Helpless, she glanced at her brother, who was enjoying the ride. When was this day going to end? Missing her parents, like never that her heart ached. She was failing him and didn't know what to do next.

It was one of the longest rides of her life. Even the elevator seemed slow, taking them to the top floor. Entering the penthouse, they led away Tommy, while two guards escorted her in a different direction.

Heart in her throat. This was getting worse by the minute. It was like she had robbed a bank, or stolen the crown jewels. Her hand went straight to her neck, breathing easier. She had placed the necklace and jewellery on the bed, beside the dress.

With a knock on a door by one man, then opened, Julia stepped into an office. One she hadn't seen before to confront a tall, hard-faced man, robes gone, replaced with a dark suit and shirt. "I believe you have something that belongs to me," she was greeted with. His voice grating and icy cold, sending a shiver through her, clutching at her arms in protection.

"Sorry?" she blinked at him, shaking her head. "I don't know what you're talking about. Although I need to collect those documents."

He stepped around the desk, looking very menacing. "Do not play me for the fool, Miss Julia Sommers," he bit out.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she repeated, stunned, placing a hand to her throat, bringing his dark hard forbidding gaze upon her that narrowed. Her hand fell away.

"The necklace. The one around your neck that you kept. No wonder you said to me to keep the lousy five thousand dollars paycheque."

All colour drained from her face, swallowing hard. "I didn't take your necklace," she said in a tight voice. First Tommy, now her, making her see Tommy was telling the truth. She had believed him, but this just reinforced it. Someone had set Tommy up. Maybe so had she been. They weren't a family of thieves. His eyes burned into hers that she held, trying not to flinch. 

She was no thief.

"Empty your pockets," Karif demanded.

"I have nothing to hide. I left the necklace on the bed beside the dress," she snarled, digging her hand into the jacket pocket to still. Her fingers touch something she didn't expect to find. Slowly, she eased out the necklace, looking at it in horror. "I had no idea how it got there!" she denied, practically tossing it at him as if an alive snake.