Leila simply stared at the man standing across her. She was positive he had asked her to marry him but it was simply too absurd. 

“What…what did you say?” she stuttered, sitting when her legs could not support her.

“As my wife you will own half of the ruby, in this manner the ruby will once again belong to a member of the royal bloodline of Oudh. In a manner of speaking.” Marco took his seat too.

“Why would you do such a thing?” Leila shook her head still unable to make head or tail of the proposition. “You will marry a virtual stranger—what on earth would you gain from marrying me?”

“It isn’t about me gaining anything, Leila. Let’s just say I want to help. This was the only way I could think of that will allow us both to get what we want.”

“Which is?”

“The ruby of course,” Marco said smoothly. He had to tread carefully. Revealing the real reason would be detrimental to his plan.

“You are not making much sense—you already have the ruby. And why would someone like you care what happens to my people?” Leila searched Marco’s face for some clue. Could she have possibly misread him?

“Ouch! You do see me in the worst context, don’t you?” Marco accused. “Well if you want to make me into the big bad wolf go ahead. Think your worst.”

Leila remained silent. The man seated before her was calm and flippant, yet he had just asked her to marry him as if he was asking her to pass the peas at the dinner table. And it hurt. Why? Leila did not want to analyse that for now. This day was proving to be a rollercoaster of emotional challenges. 

“Then my answer would be no. You have asked me to marry you but you will not tell me the real reason for it. I have no option but to decline.”

“You seem to forget you have people depending on you to do the right thing.” 

Leila stood up once again and prepared to leave. 

Marco remembered thinking that Leila would make a terrible poker player. He was wrong. The truth was she could call your bluff like no one he knew before. 

“Wait, Leila if you want the real motive behind the proposal, you’ll get it.” He moved toward her, hands in his pockets. Pursing his lips, he tried to stop the flutter in his chest.

When he had gained control again, he said, “The truth is that I believe I have been selfish. I am not acceding that you are right, merely that my actions may have seemed selfish to you. And I want to rectify that if I can.” 

For the first time that night he suddenly looked unsure of himself. 

Her heart leapt in her breast. She wanted to believe him.

“What I am trying to say is that I am willing to share. I can’t just relinquish the ruby to you—I have desired it for too long. However; my proposition will help satisfy both our needs and more importantly you will be able to fulfil your duty as princess and—granddaughter.”

Leila studied him for what seemed like an eternity. His eyes stayed on hers. He seemed sincere. But she knew she couldn’t deny that however sincere he seemed, there must be a hidden agenda. Marco was a business man. A ruthless one. From all the information Bismah had passed onto her about him, she knew that he was holding out on her. Although she glimpsed fragments of his ability to feel compassion; such a proposal must come with a price. A hefty price, she suspected.

“You would accept that I would only be marrying you out of a sense of duty to my country and my grandmother? What is it—a marriage of convenience?”

“Arranged marriages are common practice in Oudh, I am told. Ours will be a marriage in every sense of the word.” His meaning was clear. But she had to ask.

“What do you mean? We do not know each other. We don’t even like each other!” The red flush rose from the pit of her stomach until it reached and inflamed her cheeks. This was becoming more and more complicated. If anything, these last few months had taught her that she did not do too well with complicated. Leave, she thought, when she realised Marco had closed the gap between them.

“You cannot deny that there is chemistry between us.” It was a whisper. His hand gently brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face, fingers lingered, longer than expected. The feathery touch sent stabs of pure heat through her. 

Dizzy with anticipation, her senses tempted and taunted, she lifted her head up to meet his. His warm breath on her skin, she glimpsed the feint stubble on his chin. Then her eyes focussed on his lips. They hovered there for a moment, waiting and wanting. How did he do it? Make her so mad and then send her into this frenzy of need. 

He leaned in and kissed her. His lips probed hers until they opened with a will of their own. And without warning, the warm gentle pressure became more demanding. Leila matched the demand with that of her own. One that she had no idea existed until the moment he touched her.

Her body seemed to blossom beneath his touch. He pulled her closer. The sweet taste of her was not enough, he wanted more. His hands moved down her spine and made their way up again. His lips moved from her mouth until they found the soft pulsing crook of her sweet neck. Perfect. She was perfect. When her hands crept up Marco’s head and threaded through his hair, he knew he had to stop. Now. Before he lost all control.

Not too gently, he pulled away and turned toward the door. Barely able to steady herself, Leila had to hold the back of the nearest chair to still her rushing heartbeat. Marco turned toward her again, his face slightly flushed, but his voice lacked any emotion. 

“I think my point has been proven.”

‘How dare you!” Anger bubbled to the surface replacing the heat of the kiss. She once again made to leave the room. And yet again he stopped her.

“You kissed me back, let’s not behave like children and admit that we will at least have no problems in the bedroom.”

“I will have to agree to marry you first!” Leila bit back; her eyes still flashing. She strode toward the door. 

To her retreating figure he said, “You have till tomorrow to give me your answer, Princess.”  Just as she was about to slam the door and make a spectacular exit, his mocking voice continued, “This offer may not be on the table for long.” 

Spoken like a true business man. This proposal was nothing more than a business proposition. What did she expect? She had let her guard down. Foolish, foolish, woman, she chided herself.

Leila was sure that everybody could hear the fury in her every step as she made her way to the lobby and eventually the elevator. She ignored Bismah even though he tried desperately to keep up with her.