Page 58 of Tall, Royal Hater
I grinned. “To a small wedding.”
All four pairs of eyes popped wide.
“Relax, relax. It’s not who you’re thinking,” Pierre said, chuckling. “But we’ll let our dear prince tell you himself what he went and did when he finally comes over.”
“Did Kai…” Trevor’s voice trailed off as his eyes moved between me and Pierre.
“Did he do it?” Alisha asked excitedly.
Pierre shook his head. “Idiot couldn’t even wait two full days.”
Alisha squealed, I laughed, and the men cursed and shook their heads in amused bafflement.
“Tell me he at least stuck to the plan,” Candy said.
“Yeah, he did.”
“Wait,” Alisha quickly said. “But who’s actually getting married?”
“Can you guys keep a secret?” I asked, grinning. They all answered with some sort of agreement, and I waved them in closer. “Prince Arsh and Katiya want to tie the knot privately, just with family and a few friends, and they gave me the privilege of planning the wedding. It’s on the evening of the twenty-sixth, next week, and if you’re available, I have been asked to ensure you’re all invited.” I waved my hand around. “Of course, Kai will send you official E-invites once I have them ready, but I wanted to let you know now.”
“That’s so sweet,” Alisha chimed, her expression soft and bright. “Zain and I should definitely be able to come, and the kids are going to be so excited.” She put her hand out as if she might have placed it on my arm if Pierre wasn’t between us. “And if you need any help, let me know. I work with Zain’s mum, who oversees big events in their hotels, so I have a few connections.”
Sultan Hotel Group.That’s where I knew the name from. Fucking Neves, Kai had some rich friends.
“Thank you, Alisha. The wedding’s only gonna be small, but I might be cheeky and ask for help with decorations. Can I take your number later, if you’re cool with that?”
“Let’s swap them now.” She put her hand out, and Zain dug through one of his inside blazer pockets and handed his wife a phone.
We swapped numbers and I told them about a few more bits I had planned before I remembered the most important thing.
“Oh, but,” I said, gesturing with my phone and clutch in my hands to the group, “I need you to pretend you don’t know anything about it if Shehryar brings it up.”
Candy pulled a face. “Shehryar? As in Shehryar Timur—Esmeralda’s bodyguard?”
My lips flattened. “Yes, that one, unfortunately.”
“You don’t like him?” Trevor asked with a lopsided smile.
“Quick answer is no. The long answer is that he’s supposed to be planning the ceremony with me, but he pissed me off, and I told him I wasn’t going to help again until he apologised properly. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to actually leave the planning to him and let him ruin his mother’s wedding.” I shrugged unapologetically. “It might sound petty, but he deserves to suffer for getting on my nerves when I was only trying to help.”
Zain and Trevor pulled faces that looked impressed, Alisha chuckled, and Candy grinned from ear to ear menacingly.
Pierre nudged my arm. “We’re a group who likes petty, Mar, so no one’s going to judge you here.”
“Especially when it involves Shehryar,” Candy added.
“That’s only you, Candy,” said Trevor.
I perked up. “You’re not a fan either?”
“Not at all.” Candy shook his head. “He thinks I’m pretentious and arrogant.”
“You are,” Trevor said with a scoff.
“That’s not the point,” Candy and I said at the same time.
We looked at each other and broke out into identical smirks.
