Lucy Monroe - Sheikh's Scandal

Feeling unaccountably bereft at the thought of his abandonment, Liyah nevertheless nodded. ‘I under-stand.’

‘Good. It is unfortunate you will not be able to work out your notice, but it is fortuitous that you already made your plans to leave.’

‘What? Why won’t I work out my notice?’

‘I’ve told you, we must leave for Zeena Sahra immediately.’

‘You said you had to leave.’

He gave her a look that said she wasn’t following him. ‘Naturally you must come with me.’

‘Why?’

‘You may carry my child.’

‘But we don’t know that.’

‘And until we do, you stay with me.’

Step into the opulent glory of the world’s most elite hotel, where clients are the impossibly rich and exceptionally famous.

Whether you’re in America, Australia, Europe or Dubai, our doors will always be open …

Welcome to

Synonymous with style, sensation … and scandal!

For years, the children of Gene Chatsfield—global hotel entrepreneur—have shocked the world’s media with their exploits. But no longer! When Gene appoints a new CEO, Christos Giatrakos, to bring his children into line, little did he know what he was starting.

Christos’ first command scatters the Chatsfields to the furthest reaches of their international holdings—from Las Vegas to Monte Carlo, Sydney to San Francisco … but will they rise to the challenge set by a man who hides dark secrets in his past?

Let the games begin!

Your room has been reserved, so check in to enjoy all the passion and scandal we have to offer.

Ref: 00106875

www.thechatsfield.com

Sheikh’s

Scandal

Lucy Monroe

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Award-winning and bestselling author LUCY MONROEsold her first book in September 2002 to Mills & Boon. That book represented a dream that had been burning in her heart for years—the dream to share her stories with readers who love romance as much as she does. Since then she has sold more than thirty books to three publishers and hit national bestseller lists in the US and England, but what has touched her most deeply since selling that first book are the reader letters she receives. Her most important goal with every book is to touch a reader's heart and, when she hears she's done that, it makes every night spent writing into the wee hours of the morning worth it.

She started reading Mills & Boon ®books when she was very young and discovered a heroic type of man between the covers of those books … an honourable man, capable of faithfulness and sacrifice for the people he loves. Now married to what she terms her ‘alpha male at the end of a book,’ Lucy believes there is a lot more reality to the fantasy stories she writes than most people give credit for. She believes in happy endings that are really marvellous beginnings and that's why she writes them. She hopes her books help readers to believe a little, too … just as romance did for her so many years ago.

She really does love to hear from readers and responds to every e-mail. You can reach her by e-mailing lucymonroe@lucymonroe.com.

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For my editor, Suzanne Clarke. It's always a little bit terrifying, changing editors, but you've made it a really lovely experience and I'm thrilled how well our creative visions mesh. I'm also delighted to find we are kindred spirits in other areas. I feel as if we're a destined team. Thank you!

Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Extract

Readers’ Extras

Discover The Chatsfield

CHAPTER ONE

NOT EASILY IMPRESSED, Liyah Amari very nearly stopped to gawp upon entering the Chatsfield London for the first time.

Flagship of the Chatsfield family’s hotel empire, the lodging preferred by Europe’s elite was magnificent.

San Francisco’s property where her mother had worked since before Liyah’s birth was beautiful, but nothing compared to the opulence of this hotel. From the liveried doormen to the grandeur of the ballroom-size lobby, she felt as if she’d stepped into a bygone era of luxury.

A decidedly frenetic air of anticipation and preparation was at odds with the elegant surroundings, though. One maid rushed through the lobby—which Liyah was certain was anything but a normal occurrence—while another polished the walnut banisters of the grand staircase.

It looked like an impromptu but serious meeting was happening near the concierge desk. The desk reception staff were busy with the phone and computer, respectively, checking in an attractive elderly couple.

“Welcome to the Chatsfield London, Mr. and Mrs. Michaels. Here is your room key,” the young man said, “and here is your complimentary hospitality pack. We very much hope that you enjoy your stay.”

Both staff were too busy to pay attention to who might be entering the hotel. Behind reception, Liyah saw a row of photographs depicting the Chatsfield London’s staff. Something in her chest tightened as she caught the image of Lucilla Chatsfield staring back at her from within a frame.

One of the Chatsfield siblings Liyah admired and wished she could get to know, Lucilla was too far up the hotel’s ranks for that to ever be likely.

A noise from behind her dragged her attention to where maintenance was replacing a bulb in the giant chandelier that cast the saffron walls with an elegant glow. Ecru moldings and columns added a tasteful but subtly lavish touch and the faint but lingering smell of fresh paint indicated they’d had a recent tidying up.

Liyah’s sensible shoes made no noise as she crossed the black-and-white marble-tiled floor, heading directly for the elevator as she’d been instructed to do.

A man stepped in front of her. “May I help you find someone?”

His tone and expression were polite, but it had to be obvious to him that Liyah in her well-fitting but conservative black gabardine suit was not a guest at the Chatsfield.

“I have an appointment with Mrs. Miller.” As was her usual habit, Liyah was fifteen minutes early for her meeting with the senior housekeeper.

The man’s eyes lit up. “Oh, you must be the maid from Zeena Sahra.”