Page 65 of Shâhzâdeh

“To who? The random people that stopped at the table? No. If anything, you were rude to sit here and speak with them while I was here and not ask if it were okay.”

I slow blinked as though it would help change the bullshit that had come from his mouth. When I was met with continued silence instead of a recanting of said bullshit, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut any longer.

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’m very serious. I’m trying to see why you thought it was a good idea to speak to them while you were clearly here with me. And I’m wondering if the rumors I hear about you are true.” His face was frowned up and he looked as though I’d betrayed him. Patrick was okay looking. About my complexion and probably what would be considered a pretty boy. But he didn’t have any confidence about himself. Something about his presence screamed beta, which is why I’d even given him my number.

“I’m sorry, rumors?” I wanted him to elaborate because I was sure what he meant. I just needed to hear him say it.

“Yeah. Your ex-husband said that you only get the type of clients that you get because you are sleeping with them. You and that man seem far too comfortable around each other for you to just be friends.” He looked over to where Xerxes and his people had gone. It was laughable how he didn’t realize how bad of an idea that was.

I smirked at him and decided that he didn’t deserve my respect or a second more of my time. “As a matter of fact, we are.”

He looked vindicated, as though his poor treatment was because of some hearsay. But now he felt justified in basically ignoring me for the last twenty minutes. “Oh, so—”

“We are because my best friend is married to his best friend. So we have had the opportunity to spend time together. You heard me address him as Mr. Cannon but that doesn’t seem to be what you wanted to hear. Instead, you wanted to be loud and wrong about what I was doing like you can control any of my actions. I gave you the respect of being introduced into the conversation but you were too busy ignoring everyone to care. But that’s fine. I thought you were a nice guy, which is why I agreed to dinner. Clearly I was wrong and we should just end this here now.”

I stood up from my chair but he immediately reached across the table to stop me.

I could almost feel the anger radiating at my back from wherever Xerxes was sitting in this restaurant.

“That’s my fault. I’m just nervous. I’ve wanted to take you out for a minute now and I’m not trying to fuck that up.” Him having any connection to the people that had hurt me the most meant he wasn’t a safe person. I had no desire to have him any closer to me because of his behavior, but his connection to them sealed the end to this before it began.

I snatched my arm back and shook my head. “Too bad you just did. Lose my number.”

I turned to walk away, and I could hear Patrick stand up to follow me. I braced myself for impact but heard him grunt instead. When I glanced back, I saw him on the ground and a muscular, wide shouldered, bald black man attempting to help him up. Only he wasn’t helping him. He was literally getting in his way every time Patrick tried to get up and make a move. My eyes darted around until they landed on Xerxes at his table. With his eyes glued on me, he gave me a small and a playful wink before he went back to what he was doing.

Taking his interference with gratitude, I made my way to the front of the restaurant and to valet to get a ride. The last thing I wanted was Patrick following me back home or worse yet catching up with me in this parking lot. When I made it out of the front door, a man with a plain white keffiyeh and agal was waiting with the back door of an expensive SUV open.

“Ms. Vanya?”

I paused as a man spoke my name and almost walked back inside. Remembering what was waiting, I took a cautious step forward.

“Yes.” The city was lit up and traffic was bustling so I wasn’t too concerned. But I was still going to make sure I protected myself.

“Compliments of Mr. Cannon. He told me to take you vherever it vas you vished to go.” When he turned I saw it was Shoaib and I breathed a sigh of relief.

I glanced back toward the restaurant as my phone rang. Fumbling in my bag I pulled it out and smiled at the name on the screen.

“Yes?”

“Go wiz Shoaib, ziba. He is perfectly safe.” I didn’t want either of them to think I was afraid of Shoaib because he was a sweetheart. But I knew that man had a job and it wasn’t protecting me.

“I know this but he’s normally with you…”

“Because I would forfeit my life before I ever allowed anyone to harm yours. Please, go with him before I have to stand up. I’m doing my best to show you what you need. If you no longer care…”

I walked closer to the car because I knew exactly what he meant. “I’m going! Please stay with your cousin. Although I feel he thinks of a multi-million dollar payout as the cost of entertainment for the night.”

He chuckled softly and I adored the way it made me feel inside. “And somehow you think his pockets are deeper than mine? I’m offended.”

I couldn’t help but grin but the last thing I wanted to do was give him ammunition to act up. “Goodnight, Xerxes.”

“Goodnight.”

I hung up the phone and looked at a patient Shoaib who had no issue with my verifying anything with his boss.

“Satisfied? I would never harm asayyida.”

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