Page 24 of Shâhzâdeh

“I’m glad he went up to the Hall, that statement sounded loaded as hell...”

“Not really loaded, but something is weird.”

She opened the fridge the interior light illuminating her face as she pulled something out. Frankie turned and propped me against the countertop. “Elaborate.”

“Xerxes sent me a gift—”

She laughed and finished chugging her water as she shook her head. “Just one? He’s slipping. I’m shocked you don’t have a fleet of cars waiting for you outside filled with gold.”

“Gold?”

She looked at me like I was missing the plot. “He’s half Persian. It’s kinda their thing. You saw the jewelry he gave me as a wedding present. I had Li put it in the vault at Merrick Hall because that stuff was crazy expensive when I had it appraised for insurance.”

“Shocked he didn’t make you send it back out of jealousy.” I was joking but the look on her face had me stopping.

“Oh, he tried but I laughed his ass out of the bedroom. So whenever you get your shit together and let that man love on you, expect something ridiculous as a gift.”

“This is a thing?” I wasn’t the most cultured person in the world, but I was still trying to understand how this could be something.

“With them? Yes. It’s a macho thing but also a way for them to show how much they are welcoming the other women into the family. It all started with Jasmine. Xerxes gave her a custom gun as a wedding present that matched the one that he made for Yacouba. They aren’t regular men so of course they not handing out gift cards to the William-Sonoma.”

We both cracked up because that shit was funny as hell. Liam didn’t want anyone thinking they were going to give his wife something to have him looking bad. As it was he was making up for the time they lost being apart so spoiling Frankie, their babies and even her horse was on the top of his list. “I guess.”

“But you didn’t call me to talk about wedding presents. Or is there news I need to be made aware of?” She bounced her brows suggestively and I was blushing hard as hell.

“Nothing like that—”

Frankie rolled her eyes at me before staring at me like she wanted to fight. “Girl, I could be under my man fooling with you.”

“He sent me perfume.” I bit my lip because I knew she wasn’t going to truly understand how big of a deal the perfume was.

“Perfume?” Her voice was flat as though she were disappointed in the gift.

“I complimented his scent the last time I saw him and he sent me this custom blended delicious smelling concoction of I don’t even know what.”

I’d apparently been descriptive enough for Frankie to re-engage. “What does it smell like?”

“Like seduction. At least the nighttime version. The rest are very sensual but without being overt. I can’t describe it. He said he had it custom blended so I will need to ask him for the details.”

“Custom blended? That man probably had some poor soul out in a field hand selecting the best florals and notes to add to your shit. Xerxes doesn’t do anything by half so I can only guess your perfume is like ten thousand dollars an ounce.”

My mouth dropped open because there was no way. But damn, he said it was custom blended and it didn’t… “Frankie why would you say that?”

I was trying not to be in panic mode but I couldn’t imagine a man spending that much money on a gift for me. Hell, I think my wedding band was from a gumball machine and I rarely wore it.

Frankie threw her head back and laughed at how I was freaking out. “Because it’s true! This ain’t a man that is going to buy you aBeyonce Heatbox set at Christmas or think he’s doing something by gifting you Chanel number five. He’s hand blending a fragrance based on your body chemistry and how he feels about you. What he wants it to convey when you wear it. I need you to recognize the league you’re in.” She raised her brows at me like I needed to get it together cause I was making her look bad.

“He’s an acquaintance.” Yeah, I was lying even so, what the fuck was I supposed to say? He was just an acquaintance. And not even that for real. I’d just used his number for the first time today but it was clear he had my number and all my business information.

“Did you return the perfume?”

“Huh?” She had to be out of her damn mind because I wasn’t about to do that. I really enjoyed the scent. Hell, I’d sprayed myself with it after I’d gotten out of the shower because it made me feel beautiful.

She snapped her fingers and pointed at the phone like she’d proven her point. “EXACTLY! All the other clients who have sent you shit, it gets sent right back so as not to blur the lines. You have no issue with keeping what he sent you. Because you like it. And him. Don’t let weak ass Johnathan have you questioning a real nigga when he’s in your presence.”

“Frankie!”

She shooed off how badly I cringed at that word. “Girl, you gone have to get that together, too. I respect the fact it’s not your word, but your hyperviseral reaction to it is going to have folks looking at you funny.”

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