Hostage of the Hawk Read Online Free PDF

meet with me?’
    â€˜To talk about what is best for Khalil’s people.’
    He laughed, this time with such disdain that it made Joanna’s spine stiffen.
    â€˜You spout nonsense, Miss Bennett. That is hardly the issue we’re here to discuss.’
    At least the man was blunt, Joanna thought grimly. ‘Very well, then,’ she said. ‘My father’s sent me to talk about what will most benefit Bennettco—and what will most benefit your Prince, which is why your unwillingness to listen to what I have to say surprises me, Mr Hassan. This meeting is in Khalil’s best interests, but—’
    â€˜Sir?’ They both spun towards the curtained doorway. The head waiter was standing just inside it, smiling nervously. ‘The bill, sir.’
    Khalil looked at the silver tray in the man’s hand, then at Joanna. She was right. It would be foolish of him not to find out what tricks her father had up his sleeve, even if it meant enduring her company.
    â€˜Very well,’ he said. ‘I will give you an hour, and not a moment more.’
    Joanna nodded. She was afraid to breathe or even to answer for fear this impossible man would change his mind again and walk out.
    Khalil nodded, too, as if they had made a pact, then looked towards the waiter.
    â€˜Bring us the meal I ordered,’ he said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
    â€˜Certainly, sir.’
    â€˜Be seated, Miss Bennett.’
    Be seated, Joanna thought as she slid into the padded banquette, just like that. No ‘please’, no attempt at courtesy at all. It was ludicrous. He’d already ordered dinner, even though she’d reserved the table. The man was impossible, arrogant and imperious and—
    â€˜So.’ She looked up. He had slid into the booth opposite her and he was watching her intently, his eyes unreadable as they met hers. He sat back, his broad shoulders straining just a bit at the jacket of his suit, and a faint smile touched his mouth. ‘Why don’t you start our meeting by telling me about the Bennettco project?’
    She did, even though she was certain he knew all the details. It would only help her make her case at the end, when it became time to ask him for assurance that he’d not try and hinder the project. She talked through the lemon soup, through the couscous, through the chicken baked with saffron, and finally he held up his hand.
    â€˜Very interesting—but you still haven’t told me why I should permit—why my Prince should permit Bennettco to mine in the mountains?’
    â€˜Well, first of all, the operation will bring money into Jandara. It will—it will...’ Joanna frowned. ‘Permit, Mr Hassan? I don’t think that’s quite the correct word, do you?’
    â€˜English is not my first language, Miss Bennett, but I learned it at quite an early age. “Permit” was the word I intended.’
    â€˜But the decision’s not Khalil’s. It’s Abu’s.’
    â€˜Is it?’ He smiled lazily. ‘If that were completely true, you wouldn’t be here.’ He smiled lazily. ‘You’re concerned that Khalil will interfere with the project, isn’t that right?’
    What was the sense in denying it? Joanna shrugged her shoulders.
    â€˜We think he might try, yes.’
    â€˜And have you stopped to consider why he might do that?’
    â€˜Perhaps he hasn’t given enough thought to how much this project will benefit his people.’
    The arrogance of the woman! Khalil forced his smile not to waver.
    â€˜He is selfish, you mean?’
    Joanna looked up, caught by the man’s tone. He was still smiling, but there was something in that smile that made her wary.
    â€˜Well, perhaps he doesn’t see it that way,’ she said cautiously, ‘but—’
    â€˜But you do, and that’s what matters.’
    â€˜You’re twisting my words, Mr Hassan.’
    â€˜On