Suite Dubai (Arriving) Read Online Free PDF Page A

leave with some of her dignity intact. That was her new plan.  

    Feeling better, she typed a quick email to her parents telling them she'd arrived safely. That she had a beautiful hotel room. That she'd met the owner and he was nice. It wasn’t really a lie, because she guessed he was nice, to someone. She promised to write more once she’d had a full night’s sleep. She told them she missed them. That was especially true.  

    By 7 am she had showered and dressed and was heading down to the big restaurant on the first floor. Just off the elevator she smelled coffee and baking bread and followed the scent of breakfast to the main dining room, a much larger space, full of white-clothed tables and buzzing waitstaff. A waiter led her to a small, two-top table near a window with a view of the pool.  

    She ordered the cheapest thing on the menu: continental breakfast.  

    The waiter brought her a silver pitcher of coffee, a smaller pitcher of cream, and a plate of sugar cubes. She had just taken her first sip smooth sweet coffee when her phone buzzed. It was a text from Samantha Byrne. Welcome to Dubai, it said. I have a meeting just now but can meet you at 9 am at the front desk. Until then look around, get a feel for the hotel.  

    She had been nervous about how she would pay for her meals. So she was relieved when the waiter told her to write down her room number and sign it. It would add up quickly but at least she didn’t have to pay now.  

    She found the fitness center, the spa and the indoor pool. The hotel lobby was getting more crowded. Men sat in the chairs, sipping from small teacups. A little boy in a khaki suit tumbled around on a square of silk carpet. More children ran past her. A woman called to them. The energy made her walk faster and gave her a reason to smile.   Welcome to the Al Zari Hotel, she wanted to tell them.

    The brochure mentioned tennis courts, which she guessed were out near the pool. She walked back through reception with the intention of finding them when she noticed three men coming through the front entrance. It was him, with two companions who were both older, both with dark beards and traditional clothing. He looked so young and elegant in his suit, his head turned to them as he spoke. One of the men nodded and the other, the heavier of the two, laughed. He took another step, then turned his head to see where he was going and caught sight of her. He recognized her. Just as she smiled at him, his gaze shifted away and the three of them walked right past her.  

    ***

    Samantha, a tall woman with short, red, aggressively styled hair, was right on time. She stood near the front desk in a poppy-colored linen jacket with a full silk skirt. Her smile seemed pursed and a little too much like a smirk.

    “Are you Rachel Lewis?” She asked, in a sharp British accent.  

    “I am.”

    They looked at each other for several seconds. Samantha seemed to be taking measure of her. “You look quite young,” she said still smile-smirking.  

    Rachel stumbled over a response, saying a “yes, well” and then “thank you.” Though it didn’t seem to be a compliment. “I’m 23,” she said finally and realized it had come out a little more defensive than she’d planned.  

    “Twenty-three,” Samantha repeated. “Well, you look nineteen.” Her voice was cheerful enough but she spoke with the corners of her mouth turned down. “Cute as a button though.”  

    “Now,” she clasped her hands together, “if you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your new office.” With that she turned and began to walk.  

    In a private reception area Samantha, still walking, said. “This is our assistant, Kritika. Kritika, this is our new public-relations-and-marketing-person, Rachel.” Rachel smiled and held up her hand to say hello and goodbye.  

    Samantha walked down a hall, turning her head as she spoke so Rachel could hear her. “The Prince has his own assistant, of course, Sahar. His