She stepped away from his touch. “No, I’m fine. You know, I’m going over here with the kids—”
“Excuse me. I don’t believe we’ve met.” Wasim came up beside them. “Mark Strouse, isn’t that correct?” He stuck out his hand.
“Prince Wasim! No, we haven’t.” Mark shook his hand vigorously.
“Welcome. I didn’t get a chance to speak to you earlier. I hope you’ve been enjoying yourself.”
“I have. As a matter of fact, Ambassador Karunzika has been the best part of the day so far.” His gaze flicked over her in an inappropriate way.
“Better than meeting me?” Wasim asked.
“Afraid so. Nothing takes the place of a beautiful woman.”
Imani gave him a tight smile.
Wasim’s astute gaze bounced between the two of them. “How is your wife?” he asked.
Mark gave him a startled glance. “Er, fine. She couldn’t make the trip.”
“I’m sure it’s difficult to fly when you’re seven months pregnant.”
“Yes, yes it is,” Mark said slowly, obviously surprised by how much Wasim knew about him.
“You realize now that you’ve made a mistake, don’t you?” Wasim asked. “You should have done what you Americans like to say—read the room. There are a few things you must learn. First, you do not touch a woman in the manner you just did. It is inappropriate.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” Mark said.
“You also clearly didn’t know that Ambassador Karunzika is my fiancée.”
Mark’s eyes widened and anoh-shitexpression came on his face. “Your fiancée?”
“That’s correct. In light of your behavior, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. We won’t be doing business together.”
“I just got here.” Mark laughed uncomfortably, glancing at Imani as if she could rescue him. “I made a mistake. I didn’t mean—”
“I’ll have someone show you the way out.” Wasim waved over one of the attendants, who started toward them.
Mark straightened and cleared his throat. “This isn’t how I expected the day to progress, but thank you for the opportunity. I hope you’ll change your mind about us doing business in the future.”
Not likely, Imani thought, if the impassive expression on Wasim’s face was anything to go by.
After Mark was escorted away, Wasim said, “He smells as if he’s spent the better part of the day drinking. You should have gotten my attention when he started bothering you.”
“I could handle him.”
“You shouldn’t have to,” he grated. He spoke quietly so as not draw attention.
“Are you scolding me?” Imani asked in an equally low voice.
“Yes, because you should have called me over.”
Imani said in a low voice, “We’re not really in a relationship, so I—”
“Everyone thinks we are,” Wasim interrupted. His copper-brown eyes flashed with ill-disguised anger. “And he had no right to touch you—or any other woman here, for that matter—like that. He wasn’t aware of our cultural norms, nor that you and I are a couple—real or not. He missed a lot, wouldn’t you say? He couldn’t be bothered to learn a little bit about the country he’s visiting or the man he’s trying to do business with, and dared to make a pass at you. Next time, let me know.”
“You’re right. I…I’m used to taking care of myself, that’s all.” Imani shrugged.
“If you were mine, you’d never have to,” Wasim rasped. Then he stalked away toward a group of guests.
