chapter 6

Mia gasped at how beautiful the place was. the desert was truly a magnificent place. She was led inside the hotel while Adil kept a hand at her lower back the entire time. the interior had intricate golden designs and amazing lighting which set a calm atmosphere around them.

He led her through a set of mahogany double doors towards a bedroom. It was a very beautiful room with a four poster king size bed situated against the wall. It had two brown sofas facing each with a brown coffee table with golden detailing set in between them. A glass vase with an assortment of flowers was situated on the table with the occasional paintings hanging against the wall. The paint job was of a sophisticated cream and gold which set the ethereal mood in the room.

She glanced out of the sliding doors and saw that it had a swimming pool which was illuminated by the lights from the bulbs and the lights from the pool. She couldn't wait to be left alone.

" This is where you will sleep, if you need anything i will in the next room"

" Anything like what?" Mia asked him.

" Go to sleep habibti and don't try to pull any crazy stunts, you wont like me." Adil said with a dangerous smile on his face.

Mia just stared at him as he exited her room and she heard a click after he had closed the door behind him which meant she was locked in. just to make sure she was correct, Mia went to try the door but just as she had suspected, it was locked. She went towards the sliding glass doors and opened it a little bit. Mia was happy to see that it wasn't locked. She stepped back, an idea forming in her head. She moved back and sat on the sofa, contemplating on all the chances she had at survival if she run right then.

The chances for her where pretty high than if she ever stayed still and listened to what that man told her. She realised she still didn't know his name but from the looks of things he was a pretty important person. For someone to have access to such extravagant cars and a security team you had to be up somewhere on the success ladder.

Mia waited till it was completely dark outside and checked the time on the wall clock. It read '8:43 ' pm. Exactly two hours after they had checked in. she thought he had finally gone to bed since he had looked a little exhausted when they got at the resort. She waited a few more minutes to be sure. She just had to pray there where no any of his personal guards situated around the perimeter of the hotel.

She silently crept towards the sliding doors thanking God for the thick carpeted floor that muffled the the movements from her heeled feet. Mia slowly slid the door wider from where she had previously opened it. She quickly but silently slid the door back behind her after she got out and got to the end of the pool then got down onto the sand. She made her way towards the front making sure to duck in the shrubs when she thought she heard some movements. She kept walking very closely against the buildings so she wasn't an easy target and wouldn't be easily spotted.

The sand just mad a little swish swish sound against her boots as she continued walking. Mia just prayed she wouldn't get discovered before stealing a four wheeler bike and making it out of there. Who knew what awaited her if she stayed?, she wasn't about to stay and find out. She found a roll of bikes and as she made it down the line the fourth quad bike still had a key in the ignition. she quickly thanked the person stupid enough to leave the key there. 'see' she thought,' everyone is useful in there own ways'.

Sliding on the cool leather seat on the black bike, she started the bike. Dana had made her get lessons the previous year and they enjoyed bike riding. she realised if she ever got out of the situation, she had to send dana a gift basket and take her to dinner. She quickly eased out of the parking space and made her way out, thanking the owner for not including a fence, hopefully anyone awake would think someone was going for a late night bike ride. With that thought in mind she made it into her Arabian night.

Adil couldn't believe she would actually pull it off. But again she had proved him wrong. Adil had deliberately ordered Aman to keep a key in the ignition in one of the bikes without making it obvious. He wanted to see if she would actually try to run away. He was awake the entire time but he never heard her go out of the room. Adil knew of the harshness of the desert and what lurked in it. he quickly got in the range rover and drove after her knowing she wouldn't go far because he had ordered Aman to pour a little oil in the tank.

Due to her nervousness, he knew she wouldn't check the gas meter. Who would when you could test freedom on the tip of your tongue. One had to hang on to the slim piece of hope that everything would be ok and she would get out of the situation. Mia had navigated her way using the moon. She had serious survivor skills. But then she would die with them because she was out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Who knew when anyone would pass by her. it could be days and she didn't even think about carrying food and water or a scarf in preparation for the blazing desert sun if she made it through the night.

She couldn't help but think of the dangerous Arachnida, she was aware of the poisonous scorpions and spiders lurking in the desert sand. She remembered the scorpion king movie with Dwayne Johnson and the deadly ants. She felt worse.

She once watched a documentary on the various deadly snakes found in that very desert. She slowly started feeling very stupid. panicking, she put her knees against her chest and put her arms around them. She was very afraid of snakes and she hated them, and realising she was in the desert where some some of the deadliest snakes where found, brought that fear to a whole new level.

She had to think smart if she wanted to get out alive. Her train of thoughts was stopped by the sound of an engine. A car was making its way towards her. she knew the people in the car could see her because it stopped right in front of her.

Imagine her suprise when the handsome man stepped out of the car looking cool and collected in black pants and a loose fitting white button down shirt with two buttons left open. Mia had never in her life been glad to see someone especially if that someone was a sight for sore eyes. She would rather die than tell him that though.

" You know you are very stupid" Adil said as he walked towards her.

" Gee thanks" Mia answered and rolled her eyes.

" Did you actually think of the numerous reptiles or dangers found in the desert!?" Adil screamed at her " you would have died"

" Considering i'm gonna die anyway it was worth a shot."

" There is a viper snake behind you" Adil pointed behind her.

" Aaah!, where!?" Mia jumped behind him, clinging to his arm.

" Exactly! you wouldn't know if there was a snake anywhere near you."

Adil pulled her towards the range rover muttering about the thin line between stupidity and intelligence.

pulling infront of the hotel she was just glad to be out of the uncomfortable silence of the car. she got out of the car and Adil led her back to her room while keeping a tight grip on her elbow.

" i'm guessing you have learnt your lesson and will be smart about your next impulsive decision ?" Adil asked her as he not so gently deposited her on her comfy bed.

" i believe so " Mia murmured.

" well then goodnight habibti" Adil leaned down and pecked her on her mouth before she could react.

" ummm" Mia couldn't get a word in.

Adil just chuckled and left her room.

' what was that' Mia thought to herself as she stared at his retreating back not helping but admire him. She felt hot and bothered with unknown excitement running through her.

No matter how much she told herself to chill and relax, she wouldn't. She needed to have a shower. Mia finally felt how dirty she was from the days activities including the sand she picked up from her little trip in the desert.

She found her suitcase against a shelf in the massive walk in closet. She opened it and got out her hair products and toiletries plus a shirt and some shorts for sleeping in and made her way to the bathroom. She got to cleaning her hair and putting in twists then had her bath. She never left home without her hair products. She brushed her teeth then went back to the room. She tied her satin scarf then went towards to her bed and climbed in between the soft Egyptian cotton sheets. Mia immediately went to sleep. The day's activities had finally caught up to her. She was exhausted.

Adil had loved the fill of her soft mouth against his. He just wished she didn't look at him scared eyes, that made him feel like a monster. No matter how much he didn't want to admit it but he liked it when she was being a stubborn mule. Laying back on his bed from the room adjoining to Mia's, he turned off the lights and closed his eyes.