Liz Fielding - The Sheik's Unsuitable Bride

A book in the Desert Brides series, 2008

LEAVE that, Di.

Diana Metcalfe backed out of the rear door of the minibus she was cleaning and, stuffing a handful of chocolate wrappers into her overall pocket, turned to face her boss. The woman, unusually, looked as if she was just about at the end of her tether.

Whats up, Sadie?

Jack Lumley has gone home sick. Hes the third today.

The cafs meat pie strikes again?

So it would appear, although thats the Environmental Health Officers problem. Mine is that Ive got three drivers with their heads down the toilet and a VIP with a packed schedule arriving at London City Airport in a little over an hour. Despite her worries, she managed a wry smile. Please tell me you dont have a hot date tonight.

Not even a lukewarm one. Who had the time? You want me to work this evening?

If you can.

It shouldnt be a problem. Ill have to give Dad a call, let him know hell have to give Freddy his tea.

How is your gorgeous little boy?

Growing like a weed.

Daisy keeps asking me when he can come over for another play-date. Then, Ill fix up something when I call your father. You dont have time, not if youre going to meet that flight.

Diana blinked. Meet the flight? Excuse me? Are you saying that I get the VIP?

You get the VIP.

But I cant! You cant

Sadie frowned. Youve been checked out on the car havent you?

Um, yes Company rules. Everyone could, in theory, drive any car, in the Capitol fleet. In theory. But this was the newest, most luxurious, most expensive saloon car in the garage-pride and joy of Jack Lumley, the companys number one driver. While shed anticipated a shuffle round to take up the slack, an extra job or two, never, in her wildest dreams, had she imagined shed ever be entrusted behind its leather-covered steering wheel.

Or entrusted with one of their top drawer clients.

Thank goodness for that, Sadie said with feeling.

Apparently, she could!

Diana slapped a hand over her mouth, but not quickly enough to catch the word that slipped out.

Sadie sighed. Please tell me you dont use that kind of language when youre on the school run, Diana.

Me? Oh, please! Where on earth do you think I learned a word like that?

Are the kids really that bad? My father took it on as a public service, something for the local community, but I wont have-

The kids are okay, she said quickly. Really. Theyre just at that age where shocking the grown-ups is a sport. The trick is not to react.

The trick, Di, is not to join in.

I dont Realising that she just had, she let it go. Right.

Sadie looked thoughtful. Ive half a mind to put Jack on the job for a week or two when hes fit. Teach them to think twice about their language. Teach him to think twice about eating dodgy meat pies on my time.

The senior driver of Capitol Cars reduced to driving a minibus full of lippy primary school kids?

Having swiftly recovered from her shock, Diana grinned. Now thats something Id pay good money to see.

They exchanged a glance. Two single mothers-one at the bottom, the other at the top of a male-dominated business-who between them had heard every chauvinist put-down, every woman driver joke in the book. Sadie, with obvious regret, shook her head. Unfortunately hed resign rather than do that.

Totally beneath his dignity, Diana agreed. Im sure learning that Ive been driving his precious car will be punishment enough.

Sadie just about managed to stop herself from grinning back and snapping back into boss mode she said, Yes, well, just remember that at this end of the business the clients prefer their chauffeurs politely invisible.

No singing, then?

Singing?

I find it keeps the passengers from using bad language

Im serious!

Yes, maam.

Right. Well, come on. Ill brief you on Sheikh Zahirs itinerary while you change. This is a full dress uniform job. And yes, before you ask, that includes the hat.

ShSh-Sheikh?

Diana thought shed managed to cover her near slip pretty well, but Sadies quick glance suggested that she was not fooled.

Sheikh Zahir al-Khatib is the nephew of the Emir of Ramal Hamrah, cousin of his countrys ambassador to London and a billionaire businessman who is single-handedly turning his country into the next ber-fashionable get-away-from-it-all tourist destination.

Diana instantly lost any inclination to sing. Hes a genuine A-list VIP, then.

Youve got it. The Mercedes is at his disposal full-time while hes in London. The hours will, inevitably, be unpredictable but if you can hold the fort for me today, Ill have someone else lined up to take over tomorrow.

You dont have to do that, Diana said a touch fiercely, hoping to counteract the initial impression of irresponsibility. She might not be Jack Lumley, but her passengers were never short-changed. I can handle it. At least until Jack has recovered.

This was the chance shed been waiting for, an opportunity to prove herself capable of taking on the big jobs, to move up from the no-frills end of the market-the school bus, the airport runs-to driving one of Capitols limousines and big money; she wasnt about to meekly surrender the Mercedes to the first man to recover control of his stomach.

Give me a chance, Sadie. I wont let you down.

Sadie touched her shoulder, a gesture that said she understood. Lets see how it goes today, shall we?

Okay. She got the message. This was her opportunity to show what she could do; it was up to her to make the most of it.

Diana responded to the challenge by peeling off the latex gloves she used for cleaning out the minibus with a decisive snap. Then she stepped out of her garage overalls and replaced them with well-pressed trousers, a fresh white shirt and, instead of her usual Capitol Cars sweatshirt, her rarely worn burgundy uniform jacket.

Sadie, consulting a sheet on the clipboard she was holding, said, Sheikh Zahir is flying into the City Airport in his private jet, ETA seventeen-fifteen hours. Wait in the short-term parking area. The VIP hostess has the number of the car phone and shell give you a call when his plane touches down so that you can be at the kerb, waiting for him.

Got it.

His first stop will be his countrys embassy in Belgravia. Hell be there for an hour, then youre to take him to his hotel in Park Lane before leaving at nineteen-forty-five hours for a reception at the Riverside Gallery on the South Bank, followed by dinner in Mayfair. All the addresses are on the worksheet.

Belgravia, Mayfair Diana, unable to help herself, grinned as she buttoned up her jacket. Be still my beating heart. Is this a dream? Should I pinch myself?

Dont go all starry-eyed on me, Di. And keep in touch, okay? Any problems, I want to hear about them from you, not the client.

Sheikh Zahir bin Ali al-Khatib was still working as the jet touched down and taxied to the terminal.

Weve arrived, Zahir. James Pierce removed the laptop, passed it on to a secretary to deal with, and replaced it with a gift-wrapped package.

Zahir frowned, trying to recall what it was. Then, remembering, he looked up. You managed to find exactly what she wanted? he demanded.

One of my staff located it via the Internet. Antique. Venetian. Very pretty. Im sure the princess will be delighted. Then, Your usual driver will be waiting at Arrivals but weve a very tight schedule this evening. Youll need to leave the embassy no later than eighteen-forty-five hours if youre going to make the reception on time.