Page 141 of Tall, Royal Hater
“What did you say?” she said again, clearly not paying any real attention to me.
Breathe, breathe, just breathe.
“I said,where are you?”
“Oh. The TV room. Wh—”
I cut the call without giving my reasoning and darted through the corridors to the TV room like I’d lived in Chaukham Palace all my life. One minute later, I was standing in front of the closed door, muffled music emanating from inside, my chest rising and falling with the heavy, slow beat.
I went straight for the door handle and cursed under my breath when I realised they’d locked the door. Raising my fist, I pounded on the wood in a quick, furious succession.
Within seconds, the door opened, and Esmeralda poked her face through the small gap. Over her head, I saw the lights in the room were low, a seductively slow song was playing through the cheers and hoots of the women inside, and a pink balloon with the outline of an aubergine printed on it floated through the air behind her.
What on fucking Neves—is going on in there?
“Sher!” She grinned, skin flushed and coated in a sheen of sweat. “What are you doing here?”
Rubbing my teeth together, I edged closer. “I need to see Mariyah.”
“Well.” She dragged out the word and chuckled like she was high, eyes wide and dancing. “She’s a little busy right now.”
“Busy doing what?” I bit out and placed my hand on the door. “Where’s Candy?”
She narrowed her eyes at my arm. “Drop the hand, Shehryar, and step back. Now.”
Every fibre of my being wanted to do the exact opposite, but I rolled my clenched jaw and obeyed.
Esmeralda straightened a second later, and keeping her body in the way, opened the door further.
I. Saw. Green.
Literally and metaphorically.
Candy was sitting on a chair in a circle of Queen Leila, my mum, Gigi, Alisha, the second sous chef, Lola, Nur’s wife, who I’d only met once before, and two other ladies I couldn’t quite see properly.
SittingonCandy was Mariyah. Wearing a skimpy green dress with a frayed hem that barely covered her arse and made her look like the fairy of sex who’d left her wings at home.
Her back was to his chest. Her thighs straddling his. His shirt buttons undone. His hand on her belly and decolletage. Her back arched. She was grinning with her head on his shoulder while he whispered in her ear, but they took instructions from Gigi, and he pushed her upper body forward. Mariyah folded over, clinging on to his knees, and shook her arse…
In his fucking lap.
The women cheered excitedly, but my jealousy roared ten times louder, shaking me to the bone.
I stepped forward. And Esmeralda shut the door behind her.
“Esmeralda,” I growled, well aware that I was threatening the crown princess who employed me but unable to bring myself to care. Right then, she was nothing more than a little sister blocking my path.
“No. You’re not going in there, Sher,” she said sternly. “She’s been in a rubbish mood all day today, and she’s finally having a bit of fun—”
“She’s grinding on another man,” I snapped. “On fucking Candy.”
The image was burned into my retinas, and I wanted to incinerate it.
Esmeralda crossed her arms and tipped her chin up in an almost mocking manner. “So?” She quirked a brow. “What claim do you have on her that she can’t enjoy Candy’s company?”
I opened my mouth…and nothing but a choked sound came out.
For fuck’s sake, I couldn’t. I didn’t have one, and Esmeralda bloody damn well knew that.
