Page 149 of Shâhzâdeh

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Settled

XERXES

MY PRETTY WIFE was insatiable.

Which, I had to admit, made me feel like I was doing something right to please the universe.

She’d been a woman who had been shy about being around me. She’d been brave when she was demanding a kiss as we slow danced. She’d regressed back into herself and I worried we would never get here.

But I was wrong.

It was as though she finally realized she was safe to crave it. To want it without judgement or fear of what someone might want in return and she relaxed. I had no issue when she would come into my office and crawl in my lap and just be. Her presence a balm to my soul as much as mine apparently was to hers.

She’d spent hours admiring the gift that my father had sent over when we returned from our honeymoon. He refused to not have a gift for my wife and had a custom backsplash for the kitchen commissioned for her. Instead of it being the traditional tile or marble it was a stain glass view of a field of wildflowers with butterflies and bees. He’d started work on it and had it installed while we were gone to ensure it was ready for her when we returned. Vanya cried her eyes out at his thoughtfulness and he shed a few tears too. Her ability to fit in so easily with our family was proof she was always meant to be here.

“What is on your agenda for today?” She was wearing her ring despite having said that it might be too much for her everyday. Vanya hadn’t taken it off since I’d placed it there.

“Spending time wiz you. But zhere is a brief meeting I need to have.”

“Is it important?”

“Zhey all are if I would take time away from you. How are zhings going wiz zhe building?”

“Great! The contractors said they should be able to have a quote for upgrading the pool within the week. And the new equipment for the fitness center should be delivered on Friday. The tenants have been asking the management team when their rent increases will start and how much it will be. I didn’t realize that he made that much overhead and wasn’t keeping things up to minimum standards. I’m looking into what other businesses we can put in the lobby that will benefit the tenants.”

She was ticking off the improvements that she wanted to make at her complex. On the plane back from our honeymoon, she’d begun to discuss with me the things she wanted to do and thought she was going to use her commission money, she’d earned from selling properties to me and my parents, in order to fund the venture. I laughed at her and explained that we weren’t capable of draining her bank account because I would replenish it, but I also wasn’t going to let her touch a dime of her money. It would all be taken care of under the Mahdavi Cannon umbrella and she would reap the benefit of the appreciation to her property.

“You’re really enjoying being an owner.” The delight on her face was clear and I settled back in my chair, allowing her to sink deeper into my frame.

“I enjoy making people’s lives better. I don’t know if I actually am or not, but I would like people to want to live in our building. For it to take advantage of the area so that folks get the feeling of privilege that living in South Park is supposed to provide.”

“I zhink you’re doing a beautiful job. Zhere has already been an increase in rental applications from vhat I understand.” While we were gone Mavi had set up in the leasing office and had Vanya’s old space cleaned out. Damage to the exterior had been repaired and I’d paid her lease out so she didn’t have that hanging over her.

“I think when you painted the exterior of the complex and put out word that it was under new management people want to come back to rent there. The place isn’t that old, and inside is nice, it’s just crazy to see how neglect can turn something ugly fast.”

That was my other wedding gift to Vanya. She’d talked about how she hated the way the building was slightly shabby and that it needed fresh paint. Navi again oversaw the task and I wondered if she would stay on because she and Vanya worked well together.

“Remember you said zhat when you wonder why I’m showering you wiz love and affections zhe next few decades. Zhe last zhing I will ever be accused of is neglect.” I peppered her neck and face with kisses as she giggled.

“Well, understand that I will take the love you provide me and multiply it. But don’t hesitate to tell me if I’m being too clingy.” Her eyes were slightly serious but I wanted to keep the mood light.

“Will you?” I hadn’t brought this up but I probably should have.

Vanya pulled back with her freckled face still filled with joy. “Will I what? Be clingy?”

“Multiply zhe love I give you?”

Her head tilted to the side playfully and I brushed a stray curl from her shoulder. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“I wasn’t sure if zhat was zhere yet. Zhe love. Zhe affection was very clear and zhe intimacy we’d charted out all zhose days ago deepening, but I wasn’t sure…”

“How I felt?”

“Yes.”

Instead of being offended she nuzzled my nose with hers. “Well then, let me clear it up. I, Vanya Grace Mahdavi Cannon, took you Xerxes Amádée Bijan Mahdavi Cannon as my husband. By choice. I promised to honor you and to love you. I didn’t speak those words for the sake of others, I spoke them so you understood how I felt. How I feel. That this is what I want for us.”

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