Hostage of the Hawk Read Online Free PDF Page B

the contrary. I’m doing my best to get to the heart of your concerns. What else am I to tell him, apart from a warning about his selfishness?’
    Joanna stared at him. Was he asking her to be more direct about the bribe money? It galled her to make such an offer but reason seemed to be failing. Sam had warned her that this was the way things were done in this part of the world, but—
    â€˜Don’t lose courage now,’ he said coldly. ‘Be blunt, Miss Bennett. It’s why you came here, remember?’
    â€˜Tell him—tell him we won’t tolerate any harassment of our workers.’
    â€˜I see. You worry he might have them beaten. Or shot.’
    There was a lack of emotion in his words, as if having men hurt were an everyday occurrence.
    â€˜We are not “worried” about anything, Mr Hassan,’ she lied, her tone as flat as his. ‘This project will go ahead, no matter what your Prince does. We simply want to encourage Khalil’s co-operation.’
    His nostrils dilated. He yearned to take the woman’s slender shoulders in his hands and shake some sense into her.
    â€˜Really?’ he said, and if Joanna had not been so caught up in her own determination to succeed, if she had not already decided that the only thing that would close the deal was the enormous bribe Sam had suggested, she’d have heard the note of warning in that single word. ‘And how are you going to do that, Miss Bennett?’
    Joanna gave him a look laced with contempt, then unclasped her evening bag and took out the envelope her father had given her.
    â€˜With this,’ she said bluntly, and slid the envelope across the table towards him.
    He bent his head and looked at it. His anger made the words on the paper a meaningless blur but then, what this female Judas was offering didn’t matter. She had accused him of being obstinate, selfish and despotic, and now she had sought to buy him off as if he were a common thief.
    â€˜Well?’ Her voice was impatient. ‘Is it enough?’
    Khalil silently counted to ten, first in Arabic, then in English, and then he took the envelope and stuffed it into his pocket.
    â€˜Oh, yes,’ he said, the words almost a purr, ‘it is enough. It is more than enough.’
    She’d done it! She’d won the co-operation of the infamous Prince Khalil—well, Bennettco’s bribe had won it, which stole away most of the pleasure. Concentrate on the victory, she told herself, on what this will mean to your future...
    He rose to his feet. ‘Come, Miss Bennett,’ he said softly.
    Joanna looked up. He was holding out his hand and smiling. Or was he? His lips were drawn upwards, but would you really call what she saw on his handsome face a smile?
    â€˜Come?’ she said, smiling back hesitantly. ‘Come where?’
    â€˜We must celebrate our agreement with champagne. But not here. This place is for tourists. I will take you somewhere much more authentic, Joanna.’
    Joanna? Joanna’s heart thudded. Don’t go with him, she thought suddenly, don’t go.
    â€˜Joanna?’
    That was ridiculous. She had done it, she had closed the deal her father thought couldn’t be closed. What on earth could there possibly be to fear?
    Smiling, she got to her feet and gave him her hand.
    He led her through the restaurant, pausing only long enough to say something to their waiter, who bowed respectfully all the way to the front door. Outside, the night seemed to have grown darker. He was holding her elbow now, his grip firm, as he led her towards a low-slung sports car at the kerb.
    Suddenly, Joanna thought of something.
    â€˜Did you say we were going to have champagne?’
    He nodded as he handed her into the car, came around to the driver’s side, then slipped in beside her.
    â€˜Of course. It’s a celebration. Why do you sound surprised?’
    Joanna frowned slightly. ‘Well, I’m