Page 211 of Tall, Royal Hater
Before they could all think to get up and crowd me in around my desk, I shoved my chair back and stood. But as I reached for my phone, it started vibrating loudly against the surface of the desk from an incoming call.
“Her phone’s ringing,” Priya shrieked, laughter lacing her words.
A renewed bout of squeals and chuckles torched the skin off my bones.
It was fucking embarrassing, but my fingers shook as I grabbed it and turned it screen-side up.
“My Dickhead”was printed in white at the top of the incoming call.
Without wasting another second, I swerved past my desk chair and towards the closest misted-glass meeting room, ignoring the bellows behind me.
“I’m going to tell your parents you didn’t open it in front of us when they get back,” Priya playfully taunted as I closed the glass door on my cackling colleagues.
The soundproof glass muffled their loud voices, making me ever more aware of the buzz of Shehryar’s call. I quickly swiped to answer it and brought the phone to my ear.
“Hello?” I said, heading for the white table and cushioned chairs that took up the central space.
“Happy birthday, little menace,” Shehryar said, his deep voice full of affection.
My skin prickled all over in delight, but I hadn’t forgotten my previous irritation with him, so I scrunched my lips to the side in distaste. “Is that all you have to say for yourself?”
“No, it’s not.” Light amusement enveloped his words, and I could picture him rubbing a hand over his beard to hide his grin. “But before I explain myself, can you tell me if the bouquet was in fact delivered like the email said it was?”
“Yeah, it was.” I set the roses down atop the table, then gripped the back of one chair and plonked myself in the seat.
“Do you like it? Have you opened the note?”
I arched a brow even though he couldn’t see me. “That depends on your explanation of why it took you so bloody long to say happy birthday and why you ignored my message.”
“I know you’re mad, baby,” he purred, and I could already feel my annoyance melting away like snow on warm sand. “But I hadn’t planned on not saying happy birthday or ignoring your message. In fact, the roses were meant to arrive the moment you got to work, and I was going to ring you and surprise you. But they emailed me saying there was going to be a delay, and I didn’t want to wish you happy birthday without having anything to show for it—”
“So, you thought ignoring me completely was better?”
He made a sound as if he was going to answer, then thought better of it and sighed. “No, menace, I didn’t. Now that I think about it, my plan to wait until the roses arrived was stupid—”
I grunted. “Ya think, Sheri?”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t ignoring you. I just wanted my surprise to work, but I should have wished you a happy birthday before you messaged. That was the least I could have done.”
I nodded slowly, toying with one corner of the cellophane wrapped around the roses. “Hmm. Exactly, dickhead.”
There was a pause on his end. “So have you opened it?”
“No,” I admitted, moving my hand down to trace the gold cursive lettering of my name on the small envelope tucked between two roses.
“Open the note, then tell me if you’re still mad at me.”
Tsking through my teeth, I put my phone down, then carefully pulled the envelope out and tore it open. Inside was a postcard printed on one side with a picture of me and Shehryar cuddling in my bed back at my apartment, his lips on my forehead. On the other side was a typed note.
My beautiful little menace,
Happy 24th birthday, baby.
I would have given you one for every moment I’ve missed you, but I doubt your parents would have been happy if I’d filled their office with a million roses.
I wish I was by your side right now, but as long as you’re mine, I’ll take us any way that I can.
From your Sheri x
