Page 21 of Shâhzâdeh

With an apologetic smile that held no sincerity, I ensured my face was filled with remorse before I spoke. “I could. But I will not. I have meetings zhat are already scheduled based on my arrival back home and I will not delay zhem. Despite zhe graciousness of my potential dinner companion.” A slight acknowledgment of Farah was the only respect I would give before I had to be more firm with them all. That seemed to be too much before her eyes lit up far too excitedly for me.

“I’m sure zhey can vait. Zhis is family.”

Ibriham’s insistence was annoying but not unexpected. When you studied your adversary long enough, their moves were almost habit. My father’s family loved to force their will on people. My maman had long since taught me that you could catch more flies with honey than shit. The shit had a stench and you could leave but the same nasty smell would follow you. But honey kept you stuck. Allowed you the idea that its sweetness wasn’t offensive even if you struck poison in its depths. You would linger longer and let the deceptive sweetness kill you.

I was the honey and they were the flies feeding happily. That would soon come to an end.

“As much as it vould be vonderful to stay, I cannot. Zhe obligations are not ones zhat vould look good on the family’s honor if I broke zhe meetings. Ve are men of our vord, after all. I vould not vant to dishonor zhe family by breaking promises.” My hands were behind my back so they couldn’t see the way I had my fists balled up in order to keep from lashing out.

The standoff lasted several moments where I strategized the next move depending on how they tried to convince me to do what they wanted. Finally, I could see my grandfather giving up on the request.

“Of course not. Hopefully, ve will see you soon. Maybe zhere vill be news of a vedding so zhat zhere can be an even more joyous occasion for us to celebrate and velcome you home. Have a reason to bring zhe horses back to zhe stables vhere zhey belong.” He gave Farah a once over as she stood with her eyes slightly down but a pleased look on her face. I had to wonder what they’d promised her or her family that made her so happy, but that was a question for one of my spies to find out. I had more important matters to attend to.

My grandfather slipping in his request to bring the horses back was lighthearted, but his displeasure at moving them was clear.

“Zhey are exactly where zhey belong. But please, do not let me keep you from ensuring you make prayers on time. I know dis place is not equipped to praise Allah zhe vay He deserves.” I motioned around the unfinished space that lacked the necessities for prayer.

“Always zhe zhoughtful grandson. I vill be in touch.” He embraced me briefly before he moved away.

My uncle and the rest of his entourage barely acknowledged me and said nothing to Afshin as they moved away to the cars waiting outside. I hated the way he was constantly overlooked, especially since none of the progress the family had made would’ve been possible without him. In our family’s eyes, we had the same cross to bear: being only half Persian. Even though my grandfather himself was only half Persian. Afshin’s mother was at least muslimah and he still didn’t get the love he should’ve.

Afshin waited until they were completely out of the building before he spoke. “He is worried.” His tone was amused and I could tell he was happy to watch his father and brother put in their places.

“He’s more dan worried. He’s going broke and de horses are just another vay he doesn’t have money coming in.”

“You vould zhink with zhe amount of oil zhat he allows to be drilled zhrough his people’s lands he vouldn’t be so worried about money.” I glanced at Shoaib as Afshin vented who gave me a nod showing that the king had in fact left the premises.

That was a reason sustainability was at the forefront of everyone’s minds. The business of oil was a messy one and many in the royal family wanted to start the practice of fracking to ensure we had full access to the natural oil and gas reserves. It was a practice that would devastate many parts of the country without providing recompense for the loss.

“Wiz zhe number of descendants he has attempting to keep up vith zhe Joneses and his desire to appear to be bigger zhe Emiraties, I’m surprised he hasn’t lost all of his money yet.”

Afshin looked thoughtful before turning back to me. “I zhink you should check into his banking, Xerxes.”

“Vhat makes you concerned?” Afshin wasn’t one to publicly pick a side. His methods were ones I completely understood. To the family he was expendable and his perceived indifference allowed him to do what he desired. I knew he was calculating, having seen how he interacted with everyone he knew how to pick his battles. The relationship we’d enjoyed over the years wasn’t something that was easy to come by. He’d had many opportunities where they’d attempted to pit him against us and he never folded despite how it meant he became their new target. Many of the people who worked in the palace loved my uncle because he was traditional but also didn’t mind growing. He was a man of faith, but not bigoted towards others. He had a balance that was necessary to bring harmony to this country and the king didn’t see he had the answers to his prayers right under his nose.

“You and your father—”

“And you—“

He smiled at my acknowledgement, and I knew he wished I would stop. I refused to not acknowledge that he was our partner in all things. “And I own over half of zhe oil wealth. Zhey share the rest. His expenditures don’t match his income.” One of the many ways my mother helped save my grandfather’s ass was by giving him the firearms he needed to assert himself as dominant against those who opposed his rule. Between that, human resources and the funds needed to keep outsiders at bay, my father negotiated payment to the Cannon family as ownership in the lands with oil and gas. Which meant we had an almost seventy percent stake between my uncle and the Mahdavi Cannon Corporation.

His words held weight and I wouldn’t ignore his warning because something made him take note. I never worried about them getting loans or having massive debts because it always benefited me. But who held the debts might be of interest to me.

“I’ll check and see who holds zhe loans. Zhe only zhing he has to leverage are zhe jewels but even zhey are in trust to zhe title and not to him. Zhank you for zhe heads up.”

“Any time. But let us depart. I too need to get ready for prayers. Are you sure you don’t mind me staying in your home?”

I had a second home in Iran near the resort that he would be staying in to oversee the construction. We were still about a year from completion, but I knew Afshin was happier to be out of the palace and even further from Tehran.

“You’ll need a place zhat is closer to here zhat you can trust. Tehran might be zhe capital, but for now your business is in zhe souz. It is more your place zhan mine, consider it a palace near zhe sea.”

“Still have your eye on zhe penthouse.”

We embraced and I gave him a pat on the back affectionately. “Of course. I’m better suited to vatch your back from the sky. Now, take your leave, I have important business back home to attend to.”

VANYA

MY OFFICE SMELLED like heaven.

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