The heat of Dubai hit them the moment the automatic doors of the airport terminal slid open. It was a dry, oppressive heat, but Eunice barely felt it before she was ushered into the back of a waiting black Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Hart Matthew sat beside her, checking his watch. He had been silent since the incident on the plane, his expression unreadable.
"We are going straight to the Atlantis The Royal," Hart told the driver. "I want to review the presentation materials before dinner."
Eunice nodded, staring out the window at the futuristic skyline. Her stomach had finally settled, thanks to the ginger tea, but her anxiety was rising again. She had survived the flight, but now she had to survive three days of constant proximity to the man she was secretly bound to for life.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the hotel. It wasn't just a hotel; it was a palace of glass and water.
The manager was waiting for them in the lobby, wringing his hands nervously.
"Mr. Matthew! It is an honor to welcome you back," the manager said, bowing slightly. "However… we have a slight complication with the booking."
Hart stopped walking, his presence immediately commanding the space. "Explain."
"Due to the Global Tech Summit taking place this week, the hotel is at maximum capacity. There was a system error with Miss Vance's reservation. Her standard room was… double-booked and given to a diplomat."
Eunice felt a wave of relief. "That's fine! I can stay at a different hotel nearby. I saw a Holiday Inn on the way—"
"Absolutely not," Hart cut her off, his voice sharp. "We have sensitive merger documents to review. I am not having my assistant commuting across the city in unsecure taxis with confidential files."
He turned back to the manager. "What is available?"
The manager swallowed hard. "Nothing, sir. The entire city is booked solid. The only space we have reserved is… your personal residence. The Royal Penthouse."
Silence stretched between them.
Eunice's eyes widened. "Sir, surely I can—"
"Put her bags in the Penthouse," Hart ordered, ignoring her completely. He began walking toward the private elevators. "Miss Vance, stop wasting time. We have work to do."
Eunice stood frozen for a second. Stay in his penthouse?
She had no choice. She grabbed her bag and scurried after him.
The penthouse took up the entire top floor. It was larger than any house Eunice had ever seen. The living room had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Palm Jumeirah, a private pool on the balcony, and white marble floors that gleamed under the chandeliers.
"There are two bedrooms," Hart said, tossing his suit jacket onto a cream-colored sofa. He pointed to a heavy oak door on the left. "That is the master. I will take that one."
He pointed to a slightly smaller, but still luxurious door on the right. "You take the guest suite."
Eunice let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Okay. Two rooms. Doors that lock. I can do this.
"Thank you, sir."
"Do not get too comfortable," Hart warned, loosening his tie. The casual action gave Eunice a glimpse of his throat, and her heart did a treacherous flip. "We have a dinner meeting with the investors at 8:00 PM. I expect you to be dressed formally. And Eunice?"
She paused with her hand on the doorknob of her room. "Yes, sir?"
Hart walked over to the minibar and poured himself a glass of whiskey. He turned to look at her, his dark eyes sweeping over her slender frame.
"You are still pale. If you are sick, tell me now. I don't like surprises."
Eunice tightened her grip on her bag, where her bottle of prenatal vitamins was hidden at the very bottom.
"I'm fine, Mr. Matthew," she lied smoothly. "Just jet lag."
"Good," he took a sip of the amber liquid. "Then go get ready. And leave the door to your room unlocked. I might need you to fetch files later."
Eunice's blood ran cold. Leave the door unlocked?
She quickly stepped into her room and shut the door, leaning her back against it. Her heart was pounding in her ears.
She was trapped in a penthouse with the father of her unborn twins, and she wasn't allowed to lock her door.
She walked over to the mirror and lifted her shirt. Her belly was still flat, but there was a tiny, barely there bump starting to form. She placed a hand over it protectively.
"We have to be careful, little ones," she whispered to her reflection. "Daddy is right outside."