But it was something else that saved her. A buzzer on the wall sounded faintly but persistently. Ali drew back with a small sound of annoyance, picked up a telephone nearby, and snapped something into it.
Almost at once his voice changed. Obviously the message was urgent, for he sighed and rose.
‘Forgive me,’ he said courteously. ‘Important business calls me away.’ He indicated the table. ‘Please, pour yourself some wine. I shall be with you as soon as possible.’
He hurried from the room.
Still in a daze, Fran couldn’t, at first, understand what had happened. At the height of a sensual experience such as she had never known before, he had simply brushed her aside. Business called and she had ceased to matter, or even to exist.
But when he returned he would expect her to be instantly available, she realised.
Well, now I know, she thought, seething. I came here to learn about Ali Ben Saleem, and I’ve already learned his priorities. Oil wells, one. Women, nil.
As her pulses slowed and she came out of the erotic dream he had induced with such infuriating ease, her anger grew.
‘Who does he think I am?’ she muttered.
No, not who? What? A doll to be put back on the shelf until he was ready to take her down again. And, as with a doll, he would expect to find her lying in the same position.
It would teach him a lesson not to find her at all.
She was on her feet in an instant, groping around for her sandals and trying to remember when and how she’d lost them. It brought home to her how far this man had lured her, how easily he’d made her lose control. She must escape.
She looked cautiously out into the hall.
A man, evidently a porter, sat by the front door. Fran wondered nervously if he had instructions to prevent her leaving. There was only one way to find out.
Taking a deep breath, she strolled across the marble floor, a picture of supreme confidence. The porter rose to his feet, uncertainty written all over his face. But, as Fran had hoped, none of his orders covered this unprecedented situation. Her heart thumping, she made an imperious gesture, and he bowed low as he opened the door for her to sail out into the night.
CHAPTER THREE
‘YOU’RE crazy, going back into the lion’s den,’ Joey protested for the hundredth time.
‘That’s where it’s most fun,’ Fran said, putting the final touches to her immaculate appearance.
‘You were lucky I was there to rescue you the other night.’
‘Cut it out, Joey,’ Fran chuckled. ‘I walked out of his house under my own steam.’
‘And found me waiting outside, in my car. I’d been on your tail ever since you left the casino.’
‘But I won’t need rescuing today. He’s agreed to give me an interview.’
‘Only he doesn’t know it’s you. And when he finds out he’ll have a fit.’
Fran’s eyes gleamed. ‘That’s what I’m looking forward to.’
She was almost unrecognisable as the siren of the other night. Instead of the seductive dress she wore a plain white silk blouse and grey business suit, with silver buttons.
Her glorious hair was smoothed back against her head. Her appearance radiated businesslike chic and quiet elegance. This was Ms Frances Callam, financial journalist. Diamond, the gorgeous creature who’d briefly scorched across the horizon, had been a mirage. Looking in the mirror, Fran could see no trace of her.
Which was almost a pity, she mused. Diamond had had a lot of fun. True, she’d also got herself into a perilous situation, from which she’d only just escaped. But she had escaped, and the whole event now looked like a thrilling adventure.
She gave a little sigh that was almost regretful. Suddenly her life seemed very lacking in adventure.
She disapproved of Sheikh Ali with every fibre of her being. She must keep reminding herself of that to dispel the sensual dream he’d woven around her, and which still lingered disturbingly.
At the time she’d fancied herself in control, but looking back she could see how disgracefully quickly she’d succumbed to a little cheap magic and a practised line.
But the scorching intensity of his lips on hers wouldn’t be dismissed so easily. It haunted her night and day, filling her dreams so that she awoke wondering if she would ever know such sensations again. At work she tried to concentrate on figures, but they danced and turned into diamonds.
‘I just hope the cheque clears before he sees you,’ Joey said now.
With a start, Fran came out of her dream. ‘I didn’t take that money for myself,’ she said. ‘I made it out in favour of the International Children’s Fund and handed it over to them yesterday. They’ll be writing to thank him. I’d like to see his face when he gets that.’
Joey was pale. ‘You gave away all that money?’
‘Well, I couldn’t have kept it,’ she said, genuinely shocked.
‘I sure would have done.’
Fran chuckled. ‘I don’t think he’d have given it to you.’
‘I just can’t believe he agreed to this interview.’
‘I spoke to his secretary, and said that Frances Callam wanted to interview him for The Financial Review. I was given an appointment with no trouble.’
‘Your taxi’s here,’ Joey said, looking out of the window. ‘Sure you don’t want me to drive you?’
‘I think this time I should beard the lion completely alone.’
‘I think I should be there waiting when he throws you out.’
‘He isn’t going to throw me out.’
‘After the way you vanished and left him looking silly?’
‘That merely told him that I can’t be trifled with. Trust me, Joey. I’m right on top of it this time.’
Afterwards she was to remember the supreme self-confidence with which she got into the taxi and had herself taken back to the house of Ali Ben Saleem. It seemed so simple at the time.
At first nothing happened to change her mind. As soon as she rung the bell outside Ali’s house the door was pulled open by the porter, who inclined his head in a silent question.
‘Good morning,’ Fran said. ‘I have an appointment with Prince Ali Ben Saleem.’
She walked past him as she spoke, and into the centre of the tiled hallway. The porter hastened after her. He looked alarmed.
‘Will you please inform His Highness that Frances Callam is here?’
At that moment the door to the office opened and Ali walked out. The porter made a sign of relief and backed towards the door. Fran took a deep breath and faced Ali, smiling.
He frowned when he saw her, then his face lightened and he advanced towards her, both hands outstretched, smiling in welcome.
Whatever she’d expected, it wasn’t this. He should have been annoyed at the memory of her desertion. Perhaps he didn’t recognise her. But his first words dispelled that illusion.
‘Diamond! My beautiful Diamond. What a pleasure to see you again. Come.’
He gestured towards the dining room, and she followed him in.
‘I know why you’re here,’ he said when he’d closed the door behind