Page 35 of Shâhzâdeh

His features conveyed a look of devastation as his hand went to his chest. He was in the long-sleeved lightweight floor length garment that looked like a long ass button down. I had seen him in it before but felt too stupid to ask what it was called. A search engine was gonna hate to see me coming if I was going to be around this man much longer. I was too nosy not to have my curiosity filled but didn’t want to be disrespectful.

“I’m so sorry—”

My hand shot up because this man looked like he was getting ready to lower the privacy divider and ask them to stop the car. He had us driving in some luxury SUV I’d never heard of before and when I asked him the brand, he just smiled and held the door open for me.

“No, wait let me finish. I don’t mean yes because I think you mean any harm by what you’re doing. It’s just simply how you are.”

“Is zhere somezing I can do to fix it?” He looked uneasy. Like my words had killed the self-confidence I was used to him displaying and I didn’t like that.

“No. Unless you try to change the way God made you. And I would never ask that of someone like you.” I reached over and squeezed his hand to show him I was being sincere.

“What do you mean someone like me?” He seemed almost hesitant to ask but his curiosity had gotten the best of him.

“Someone who, at his core, is a good person. Who does as much good as he can. I read up about you. I have probably asked more questions about you to Frankie than I should’ve. But in her defense she answered them willingly. Probably because she fancies herself as a matchmaker.”

“And what did you find out?” His curiosity was back and I knew that only my blatant honesty would give him peace.

“I found out that I like you, Xerxes. That I think you are an honorable man. And what I know of your family, you all are very good people.”

“I hope our good opinion hasn’t been formed simply because of our finances—”

I laughed because although I knew he was joking; I had to ensure he truly knew who I was and what I valued. “Oh no. I despise wealthy people. Rich people too, because they see the idea of money and only focus on the cruelty it will take to get them to the next level.”

“You realize I’m a wealzy man.”

“Yes, but that’s not all you’re known for. That’s not even how you would describe yourself. I think you would reach for the darker side of your descriptors before you would ever put the socially accepted ones out front. That type of honesty is refreshing.”

“So my… unhingedness is a positive now.” His smile was creeping back over his face as my words removed the doubt he was feeling.

I shrugged cause God only knows why I was saying any of this to him. “It’s a something”

“If you don’t like rich and wealzy people, why do you work for zhem?”

I tried to avoid his gaze because I was revealing a part of me that only Frankie knew about. “So that there is a part of my business that can fund my passion projects. I help low-income families with down payment and closing cost assistance when they purchase a home. It doesn’t even have to be through me.”

His eyes softened when he looked at me like my answer pleased him greatly. “Vanya, zhat’s a beautiful zhing. Even more reason for you to charge higher fees zhan you do.”

“I still have to be competitive. But yeah, it makes me feel good to give back. That’s like when people hit the lotto but don’t forget where they come from. That’s how I feel. I got the chance to do better so I have to help others. I know that all of you give back in extensive capacities because Frankie said it’s just who you guys are. It’s beautiful to see how many generations of giving you have without wanting something in return.”

“Ms. Vanya, I’m sorry to interrupt—”

I hadn’t even noticed that the partition had been lowered slightly for one of the men in the front that I recognized from last summer. I moved back slightly from where I’d apparently leaned in closer to Xerxes. “No, it’s no problem. What is the issue?”

“There’s a gate that we need a code for.” The man who wasn’t driving who’d told me his name was Quentin, was still looking forward as though he was trying to give us privacy.

I got flustered because I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten. “Oh, that’s right. There’s a temporary password I could program remotely. It’s your boss’s birthday.”

“My birthday?” I ignored him because I could hear how pleased he sounded.

“Yeah. I figured if you purchased this place it was one less thing that you would have to think to do.”

I looked back up, and he was indeed smiling at me dimple peeking out impishly. “Zhat is very sweet but anyone would guess zhat. But now I have hope. So zhank you.”

My brows furrowed but now I was smiling along with him. “Hope of?”

“Hope that you really do like me. You committed my birthday to memory. That it is something you won’t forget now. God has smiled upon me so this is truly a blessed day.” He sat back as though he were truly satisfied with my words.

“Oh, shut up.” He cracked a larger smile watching me laugh at him as the large wooden gates swung open to reveal a tree-lined pathway that still kept the house from view. He said something in another language and the partition lowered so we could see the drive ahead.

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