The Sheikh's Contract Bride Read online

  “Is that who I think it is?”

  “No way. It can’t be! What would he be doing in a sketchy place like this?”

  Kaye glanced around at the women, then back to the handsome stranger.

  “Who is that?” she asked quietly.

  “The Sheikh? Only one of the most desirable men in Hollywood. He’s dated half the models in L.A., not to mention the actresses. No one can seem to pin him down, though,” one girl sighed as she made eyes at him.

  “He’s in the tabloids all the time. You really don’t recognize him?” another asked, and Kaye shrugged.

  “I guess I’ve been out of the loop.”

  Kaye had always avoided the tabloids. To her, the invasive nature of those things made her feel bad for anyone they were chasing, and so she actively chose not to give them her money, whether that meant at a newsstand or a click on the internet.

  Weasel man and the Sheikh finally arrived at the whispering group, and the former let out a derisive sneer.

  “Get ahold of yourselves, ladies. This can’t be the first time you’ve been to a casting call.”

  The group grew silent at his nasal tone, waiting for him to continue. Once he had their attention, he cleared his throat. A thick, phlegmy noise echoed across the warehouse.

  “I’m Merle and I’m the executive producer on this project. This, as you’ve likely noticed, is Sheikh Amir Al-Asfour. For any of you that don’t know more than what the tabloids tell you, Amir has been making a name for himself in the States for ten years, and is on board as executive producer for this show.”

  “That’s all well and good,” one of the women pointed out, standing apart from the crowd. “But you left us pretty in the dark as to what this project actually entails.”

  Merle’s lip twitched, the dark stubble of his beard visible just beneath his skin.

  “That was very much on purpose, my dear. We wanted only the most daring, the bravest of women to show up for this audition. You all have passed the first test. Congratulations.”

  “Great. Now how about part two, where you stop being vague and tell us why we’re here?” the woman demanded, crossing her arms.

  Merle stared her down, but to her credit, the woman stared right back, waiting for his response.

  “We don’t accept women who are difficult to work with. I think we can already tell which one of you won’t be a fit for our new reality show.”

  “Reality show?” a few of the women exclaimed, rolling their eyes.

  “Should’ve known…” one of them mumbled, glaring at Merle before several of the women made a grand exit through the front door.

  Four of them remained.

  For some reason, in spite of Merle’s behavior, in spite of the questionable surroundings, Kaye couldn’t keep herself from staring at the Sheikh. He glanced with casual interest at all of the women, and when their eyes met, he winked at her.

  Her stomach gave a little flip.

  What had the women said? That he had dated every model and actress in town? That he was a player who knew how to woo a woman. She reminded herself of that, told herself that she was better off walking away. If a cop show could get canceled so easily, the chances of a reality show making it were even worse. She had no reason to stay.

  “Well, now that the vermin have managed to expel themselves, let’s get this process started. Let’s start with you,” Merle said, gesturing to the blonde, who had also stayed.

  She glanced nervously at the rest of the group, but when Amir looked at her with a warm, welcoming glance, she visibly relaxed and moved a little closer to him. The three of them disappeared behind the door, the same screeching sound echoing across the room as the other three women stood staring at that door.

  “Do you think we should go through with this?” another brown-haired girl asked. She had stunning blue eyes, though she looked an awful lot like an actress that was already wildly famous. Kaye felt a pang of sympathy for her; it was likely she had been told many times that her look had already been done.

  “I mean, we’re already here, and did you see that guy?” the other brunette asked.

  Yet another brunette. Glancing around, Kaye realized they all could likely be sisters.

  Not a good thing, in a casting call.

  “What do you think are the odds that this show will actually make it on the air?”

  The blue-eyed woman shrugged.

  “Who knows? Who knows with any of this stuff, anymore?”

  “This is my first audition,” the other brunette said, her voice small. “Are they all like this?”

  Her eyes looked sad, as though she’d had such dreams for her time in Hollywood, only to be faced with the cold hard reality of it all. Kaye placed a gentle hand on her arm.

  “They are not. Give me your email and I’ll send you some good casting call websites, okay?”

  The girl nodded, her face lit up with gratitude as she exchanged her information with Kaye. Meanwhile, the door scraped open, the blonde leaving without speaking to the others as she made a hasty exit.

  “Next!” Merle called from the room.

  The women exchanged a look, and Kaye nodded at the blue-eyed actress.

  “Go for it. When you come out, you have to tell us what happens in there though, okay?”

  The girl looked nervous as she stared at the door, but she nodded.

  “I will. Wish me luck, ladies.”

  “Break a leg,” Kaye said, which elicited a small smile from her new friend.

  The door closed once more, and Kaye found herself wondering whether it would be a better idea to stay and see what the Sheikh had to offer, or to pick up and run.

  In the end, her feet stayed planted just where they were.

  Chapter Three

  Kaye tried not to absorb the nervousness of her fellow auditionee, who had been shifting from foot to foot for the past ten minutes as they continued to wait in the vast, empty warehouse. Finally, the door squeaked open again, but when the actress walked out, she wore a stricken expression.

  Kaye was about to ask her what happened when she rolled her eyes, shook her head, and headed right for the door, apparently rendered totally speechless. She was gone before Kaye had a chance to say a word.

  “Oh, that’s it. Nothing is worth this anxiety!”

  The young amateur next to Kaye hightailed it out the door, just as Merle called out, “Next!”

  Kaye stared at her retreating back, then at the empty doorway. Was that girl right? The whole situation was so…fishy.

  “Next!” Merle called out again.

  Not one to bail on commitments, Kaye squared her shoulders and marched into the interview room, where Merle and the Sheikh were sitting in chairs that faced the door. Kaye closed it behind her, tugging on the heavy metal as it scraped against the concrete floor. When she turned back to face the interviewers, she noticed another chair planted before them.

  “Please have a seat,” Amir said smoothly, all charm and grace.

  The two men could not have been more different. Kaye allowed her focus to settle on Amir as she accepted his invitation and took a seat across from them.

  “Headshot,” Merle demanded, and Kaye handed over the copies she had brought with her.

  As the two looked over her picture and resume, Merle began with the usual questions.

  “Tell us a bit about your experience, Miss Kearney.”

  Kaye brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, launching into her well-rehearsed response.

  “I’ve been acting on and off for the past three years here in L.A., but you’ll see that I have a degree in theater, and I’ve been in plays all my life.”

  The two men sat in silence as they continued to peruse her resume, their expressions unreadable. The silence stretched on, and Kaye felt the need to fill it.

  “I’m sorry that I don’t have more production-level experience. I actually just landed a leading role on a police drama, but it was canceled yesterday. Apparently, the pilot didn’t test w
ell with audiences.”

  She tried her best to sound more disappointed than bitter, and Merle nodded. She had obviously said something he could relate to.

  “That’s just the way the cookie crumbles, isn’t it?” he mumbled.

  “It’s for the best, actually,” Amir chimed in, and Kaye’s eyes darted back to him.

  She hadn’t wanted to stare. It was like gazing into the sun, the man was so stunningly good-looking. Now that she had an excuse, her eyes drank him in like an oasis in the desert.

  “The less known you are, the better,” he added.

  When Kaye’s eyes widened at that remark, he backtracked.

  “It’s just that we’re really looking for new talent. We don’t want someone who is already established—we’re looking to make a career here, Miss Kearney.”

  She pursed her lips skeptically.

  “Last I heard, careers weren’t made on reality television.”

  Amir lifted an eyebrow at her.

  “I beg to differ. You might recognize quite a few very wealthy, very successful people around here that got their start in this realm.”

  “I don’t see any of them carrying Oscars, do you?”

  “There’s always someone who has to pave the way. Perhaps that person will be you.”

  Kaye stared at him, not daring to hope. He was cheering her on, without even knowing her.

  Merle cleared his throat, taking back control of the interview.

  “Tell us a little about yourself, Kaye,” he said, finally looking up at her.

  It felt more like he was deciding on a sofa to purchase, rather than an actress to hire. Kaye did her best to keep eye contact with Merle, when all she really wanted to do was talk to Amir again.

  “Well, I’m 25…” she began, and Merle scoffed.

  “That’s not something you want to share in a casting call, Miss Kearney.”

  Her eyes narrowed.

  “I’m not in the business of lying, sir,” she said, realizing she didn’t even know Merle’s last name.

  He chuckled.

  “For an actress, that is an amusing thing to say. You have just contradicted yourself in every possible way. Anyway, do continue.”

  She hesitated, her eyes darting to Amir. His slight smile encouraged her to continue, and if he hadn’t been there, Kaye would have been out of that room faster than all the other girls before her. Reluctantly, she looked back at Merle to answer his question.

  “I’m from a small town in Indiana that no one has ever heard of. I’ve lived in L.A. since graduating from college, and I’m hopeful to get a job that can lead to a more stable acting career.”

  “That’s great. What about your personal life, though? Marriage? Babies? Boyfriend? What’s going on with that?”

  Kaye was deeply aware that these kinds of questions weren’t okay to ask in an interview of any kind. She blinked as she stared at him, weighing whether or not to answer.

  “I am single right now. And actually, if you want the honest truth, I can barely afford to look after myself, never mind think about starting a family. I ate four saltine crackers for breakfast this morning, and I have no intention of bringing another person into my life until I get it together, which I’m hoping to do any day now.”

  It was a cold, brutal truth, and she felt a little embarrassed admitting it. Still, Merle seemed to pride himself on his straight-talk, so she was happy to meet him where he was at. She watched as Merle and Amir put their heads together and had a whispered conversation before they both turned to look at her.

  “Thank you for coming in today, Kaye,” Amir grinned. “We would very much like to offer you this job.”

  Kaye stared at them in disbelief.

  “Just like that? Are you sure this has nothing to do with the fact that every other girl walked out on you and I’m all that’s left?”

  Merle snorted, and it was an extremely unpleasant sound.

  “Amateurs. We need a seasoned actress that hasn’t yet been discovered. You are the perfect fit.”

  “And the reason you asked about my family and relationship status is…”

  She allowed the question to dangle. Merle didn’t take the bait.

  “To be answered, all in good time. Yes, we’ve offered this position to several other women, but once they found out the details of the job, it became clear that they weren’t qualified to handle it.”

  Kaye felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. How many other actresses had turned down this ominous position? What were they trying to pull here? Pressing down her uneasy feelings, she thought about her empty refrigerator back in her apartment, and nodded.

  “I understand. I accept your offer.”

  Merle and Amir both smiled at her response, and Merle turned around, pulling out a stack of papers.

  “Fantastic! You’ll be the perfect counterpart to our leading man here,” Merle said, slapping Amir on the back.

  “You’re going to be in the show?” Kaye asked, surprised.

  Amir lifted an eyebrow.

  “Wasn’t that obvious?”

  “Merle said you’re here as executive producer.”

  “Ah, yes. I am also starring in the show. You’ll learn more about it once you sign the contract and the non-disclosure agreement.”

  Merle handed her the pile of papers, then, followed by a pen. Kaye stared down at the document, which was quite lengthy, before she looked back up at them.

  “You expect me to sign this right now?”

  “If you could, yes. We would like to get started right away,” the Sheikh explained.

  “I hope you have some time, then, gentlemen, because I’m not signing anything before reading it.”

  “Smart girl,” Amir said, and Merle glared at him.

  Crossing his arms, he huffed impatiently as Kaye began to read the document. As her eyes scanned the words, they began to register, and she nearly choked.

  “This is a prenuptial agreement!” she gasped, looking up with wide eyes at the producers.

  Merle’s expression remained bored.

  “Are you done yet? We have work to do here.”

  “Are you kidding me? I’m not signing anything until someone tells me what’s going on here!”

  The entire experience had been beyond sketchy, and Kaye was kicking herself for not bailing sooner. Of all the women there, she had clearly been the densest.

  Merle glared at her, entirely unsympathetic.

  “This is the deal, Miss Kearney. You don’t like it? There’s the door.”

  Heat rose up Kaye’s face, and she could just imagine how red her cheeks were. She felt like a complete and utter fool! How had she allowed her situation to get so desperate that she would ignore every red flag that had brought her to that moment, where she was about to sign a shady marriage contract instead of a legitimate job offer?

  Kaye stood, preparing to make her grand exit. If she had to wait tables, she had to wait tables; nothing was worth the degradation she had experienced that day.

  She felt a hand on her forearm and was surprised to see Amir standing too, his gaze beseeching.

  “Kaye, wait.”

  Unable to resist, she hesitated, staring up at him, waiting for an explanation.

  “This document…it’s not for a real marriage. We just need it to make sure that the show will be believable.”

  “Then why are you being so shady about all of this? You do realize what kind of world this is for a woman, right? Why should anyone trust what you say when you won’t even tell people what the job is?”

  Amir nodded.

  “You’re right. It isn’t fair. Allow me to take you out to lunch and explain the premise of the show properly. I’m sorry about this whole experience. We’re still learning the best methods, as well.”

  “Well, I can tell you this one sucks,” she replied, not moving.

  His hand hadn’t moved from her arm, and the skin his fingers touched tingled a little. Kaye kept her concentration up, ignoring the sensation.<
br />
  “You’re right,” he agreed.

  “Ahem? You’re taking her out to lunch? We have a deal to get signed here!”

  “Honey over vinegar, Merle. I’m taking her out to give her the details. If she’s still on board by the end of it, we’ll be in good shape. If she isn’t, we’ll find better methods of casting after this.”

  “That would be my recommendation,” Kaye said, enjoying the puce color staining Merle’s cheeks.

  “Shall we?” Amir asked, holding out his arm for her to take.

  Kaye glanced back at Merle.

  “I’ll let you know my decision,” she said, placing her hand over Amir’s arm.

  Beneath her fingertips, she could feel toned muscle. She thought about what that muscle might look like beneath the smooth fabric of his suit, and shook the thought from her mind.

  They left Merle in the dust, Amir bringing her toward the back of the warehouse. When he opened a door, she saw a sleek yellow sports car waiting in a bay.

  “Hid this one out back, did you?”

  Amir gave her a sideways glance.

  “One gets used to hiding when the paparazzi are around—which is always.”

  Kaye felt a pang of sympathy for the man. He opened her door for her, and she slid in, the seat cushy and comfortable. As he slid in next to her, he turned the key in the ignition, meeting her gaze.

  “Now, where to?”

  Chapter Four

  Kaye hesitated on her answer, unsure what to suggest.

  The truth was, she basically hadn’t been out to dinner pretty since she’d arrived in L.A. Since that moment, she had been forced to save everything she had just to hold on to her apartment while she tried everything in her power to live her dream. Amir waited a beat, then filled the silence.

  “Never mind, I know the perfect place,” he said, pulling out of the parking lot and heading back toward the city.

  “Is Merle going to be mad at you?” Kaye asked, not really sure what else to say.

  Amir chuckled.

  “Merle is always mad. Or didn’t you notice?”