Page 26 of Tall, Royal Hater
Prince Kai’s frown flew to his hairline when he realised he was the centre of their attention, and the two of them giggled. He blushed and tugged at his left ear as he cleared his throat. “It’s cold outside,” he mumbled, fighting a frown and failing.
Esmeralda and Mariyah fell against each other as they laughed louder and harder, and Prince Kai looked like he was about to malfunction in embarrassment.
Once their laughter settled, the two-metre-tall bodyguards, Gary and Rocco, stepped up, dressed in black suits and overcoats. “Ready, Prince Kai?” Rocco asked.
“Yes.” He looked to Esmeralda and Mariyah, then me. “We are.”
“Okay. We have two options for transport. We can take one car collectively, or you can split up and travel in two.”
“We should definitely take two, right, Kai?” Mariyah said before anyone else.
My head jerked in her direction.What the actual fuck? Why would she say that?
No. No, Ididn’twant to spend the day driving between places alone with Mariyah.Please no.
I pinned a heavy stare on Prince Kai, but the oblivious man didn’t lift his gaze from Esmeralda to see my urgent message. “I don’t mind. We can go collectively.”
My shoulders relaxed.Thank Neves.
“Oh, come on.” Mariyah waved a hand in the air, the strap of the green, square camera wrapped around her other wrist. “I know we’re on holiday together, but that doesn’t mean we have to go everywhere together. So, don’t be shy, Prince Kai. You can say you want Esmeralda to yourself.”
What the fuck is she doing?
Prince Kai’s cheeks flushed, and he tugged at his left ear as he glanced between Mariyah and Esmeralda. He cleared his throat, and doom sank through me. “We’ll take two cars, Rocco.”
Fuck.
I pulled in a slow inhale as I glared at the blood-red carpet dotted with gold threads. It did nothing to curb the boil in my blood.
I’m going to strangle her. I should strangle her. Ineedto strangle her.
I slipped my hands into the slanted pockets of my coat to stop myself from seeing it through.
“Great,” Rocco said. “All the cars have been checked and fuelled, so you can take your pick in the garage. Are you happy to drive, Shehryar?”
I lifted my head and forced myself to hum my agreement. What fucking choice had the menace left me with?
“Gary and Earl will lead the way ahead of you, Prince Kai and Princess Esmeralda, and the others and I will follow behind Mariyah and yourself, Shehryar. Is that okay?”
“Wait, what?”
Everyone looked at Mariyah. I turned too, facing her fully. With a dead expression, I watched as her furrowed brows lifted slowly, higher and higher as understanding rounded her blue eyes.
The kind of ire that rose through me made me want to laugh like a madman while I held her in an unbreakable headlock until she stopped breathing.
The damned brat had opened her mouth without even fucking realising what Rocco had been asking.
“Is something the matter?” Rocco said.
“Yes, Mariyah,” I said, trying to keep my tone even. “Is something the matter?”
The menace, who could read me better than I wished she could, straightened and narrowed her stormy stare slightly. She smiled. “Oh, no. Rocco confused me for a second, but I’ve got it now.”
“Are you sure, Mariyah?” Esmeralda said, her worried gaze homing in on her best friend’s every move. “You don’t have to drive alone with Sher if you don’t want to.”
Mariyah opened her mouth, but I spoke over her. “We won’t have a problem, will we?” I angled my chin and arched a brow, daring her to say otherwise. She trapped us herself, and I’d be damned if I allowed her to escape now.
She might have been wearing blush, but I noticed the colour that flooded her light olive skin underneath. Her smile widened. “No.” I heard the gritted bite to her voice. “We won’t.”
