Page 72 of Shâhzâdeh

“He attempted to kidnap a well-connected woman—”

“She is of no importance here so her connections mean nozing.”

And that, as always, was his problem. My grandfather had a king’s mindset but not one of a strategist. Having been raised to take and expect instead of to earn, he didn’t feel the need to gain the respect of his neighbors unless it benefited him. Goodwill wasn’t something that he did unless he was getting something in return. He lacked empathy for anyone outside of himself and those who fed his ego. My grandfather was a true narcissist and it was the reason my father hadn’t been back to Tehran in years. The king also had an issue with Arabs despite one of his wives being Arab. The attempt to preserve the Iranian culture and to keep themselves separate from those who originated from the Levant, Africa and the Semitic people was another nod to his elitism and lack of progression.

I chuckled softly at the slight he paid to Dr. Briggs. Her value extended far beyond the men she was connected to, but I had to bring them up so he could understand just how badly he’d messed up. “Her connections could bankrupt your entire country several times over.”

“But you wouldn’t allow zhat to happen.” His laugh had my jaw clenched and my eyes turning to baba. I’d wanted to keep a level head, but it was clear that my anger was the only way to communicate what was going to happen.

“You seem to forget zhat it is only by our grace zhat modernization of building projects in your country have commenced. And we only did that because of our familial ties. Few people are itching to visit Iran, but your attempts at making it zhe next destination for the Middle East were met wiz our agreement. Millions have been poured into it, but it is a loss zhat we are more zhan willing to take.”

I was flipping the heavy solid gold pen that my father kept at his desk around in my hand as I worked my neck from side to side. I found my happy thought and held her in my head to use it to ground me so that I could stay focused.

“We have beautiful bodies of water to the norz and the souz. A climate just as good as the UAE!” His jealousy was clear, but it didn’t stop him from spending his considerable allowance in the UAE continuing to fill their coffers instead of tending his own. He thought that was work best delegated to lesser members of the family and so we saw to it for him. But with our own motives in mind.

“And vhat about zhe passion projects zhat we’ve funded? Restoring zhe mosques, building infrastructure to support your visions?”

Bâbâ was getting mad again and I didn’t want him to waste his energy on something so negative. I wanted his time in Charlotte to be good and this would set the tone for his visit there. For him and maman to travel there to pick out a house and to give me their opinion on the woman of my dreams. His mind would be stuck on how his father was going to strike so I would probably need to push everything back.

“Zhat is for the betterment of your family.”

“And yet we are not reaping any of those benefits are we? Funny how I’m part of the family when I’m doing something zhat you approve of. Somezhing zhat allows you to hoard more wealth or buy more useless items.” My grandfather collected status symbols and had for years. I would be more than happy when I sold all that shit off.

“Zhat is what a son is born for. If you would move back—”

“Vhat has my brother done besides spend the money zhat we earn for this family? Hmm? Zhe crown prince. Vhat good deeds does he do for zhe people he wants to rule?” My father’s face was turning red, the vein in his neck bulging as he tried not to let his father get under his skin.

I knew this argument between my father and his would devolve into familiar territory quickly. But for my father to question his brother’s actions was surely to upset the old man.

“He is zhe crown prince, he understands his duty!”

“Yet he does nothing. Does not believe in good works to help the citizens. No, my son and I are the ones who ensure that the people are taken care of and he takes the credit. I’m sure if we were to pull all the aid and forced you to fund it, your palace would be stormed within minutes.”

“Bijan, you see how you speak to me? Your fazer. Your KING! Zhat is vhat I was afraid of. You always zhought it vas her skin color that vas vhat ve disagreed with most. No, it vas her lack of valuing our vays and staying in her place and now she has corrupted you as well.” Now my grandfather was pissed off and his voice kept elevating.

“One ting you will never do vhen I am the reason you have meat on your table is disparage my mozer. I will have a drone drop a bomb on your palace before I hear of any slander toward Babette Cannon.”

I purposefully left off my father’s surname, despite my mother carrying it to piss him off. He felt as though my mother should’ve turned over all her family had ever worked for to him just because she married into royalty. He was angry that she hadn’t converted to Islam. That she was still beautiful and dressed like the American woman she was instead of overly modest the way he thought she should. He didn’t even marry overly modest women, but he was angry my mother hadn’t gone to extremes to confirm or to prove she was good enough for my baba.

“You do all of zhis arguing but no one has said vhen our deposits will be made.”

It was with great pleasure that I looked at my father and nodded my head so he could deliver the news. He grinned and the redness throughout his features receded as he spoke. “Zhey won’t be.”

“Vhat does zhat mean?” My grandfather’s confused tone made this even more sweet.

“Zhe oil production that you all actually still own is what your income is. It is all you will have to survive on.” Bâbâ dropped that bomb and leaned back with his hands crossed over his abdomen.

“I can’t live on zhat type of money! It is pennies!”

“Pennies? Over twenty million dollars is pennies?” I was chuckling because even I with all my streams of income would never say something so damn absurd.

“You act as zhough all the family doesn’t partake in zhat fund. All but Afshin. I’m sure you’re not going to make him suffer.” My grandfather practically spat out my uncle’s name like the thought of him brought shame and disgust.

“Afshin has a job. One zhat you all make fun of him for but he’s paid very well for it. I do not control his finances.” And as always, my grandfather failed when empathy was the necessary skill.

That was only partially true since the stake in the refinery that was gifted to bâbâ when maman saved them all was deeded to Afshin. Since this branch of the Mahdavis controlled so much of it, I didn’t need that source of income the way he did. My grandfather was too prone to punish people by cutting them off financially. This way, Afshin didn’t need to feel beholden to him or used as the brunt of jokes just so he could continue to eat. I didn’t want him doing the right thing because he was beholden to me, either. His independent income that no one could control would help me see the type of person he was. That is why I was so trusting of him.

“A job. What prince has a job?” My grandfather was completely affronted by the idea of actually having to work. I was grateful everyday for my father not being like them.

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