Vanya
VANYA
MY OFFICE SMELLED like heaven.
It might have been the dozen or more arrangements that were located inside. And not just regular flowers. Each one was different. Vases filled with exotic flowers each with a different color palate that ranged from the starkest white to the deepest of indigo. Whoever had them delivered must have known when my part time receptionist was here and when I was in office so that we didn’t miss the delivery. But that wasn’t the only thing that was in my office. In fact, it was the least impressive thing there.
In the center of the floral arrangements, placed in the center of my desk where I couldn’t miss it was a box.
And not just any box.
The box looked rich. And although it looked expensive it was more than that. It had an elegance and refinement in the packaging that screamed whatever was inside was well thought out and of the highest quality. I could attest that even in homebuilding, the price didn’t reflect the quality. But this box screamed that only the highest of quality anything would’ve been allowed to rest inside of it.
I was checking for a note on all the vases, but none of them contained one. I sniffed a lavender rose that matched the dress I was wearing today, allowing the fragrance to soothe me. Finally, I faced my fear and opened the box. The lid was heavy, not wood, but with more weight than cardboard or plastic would’ve been. Four bottles were securely tucked inside of the cushioned interior like the crystal of each bottle was being caressed. The exterior of the box was black and gold, and the material surrounding each bottle was gold as well.
The inscription on the front of the bottles said Soraya followed by an Arabic word beneath it. Carefully, I lifted the largest bottle now that I understood who it was from. The bottle felt heavy, despite its size affirming they were expensive. Tucked inside of the satin was a card with information on the collection. It was a small gift set that had been custom blended for me. There was a travel sized crystal atomizer with the name in gold lettering. When I studied each bottle, I realized they were all made of crystal. The reflective property of the surface gave it away without me having to lift all of them. By the diagram in the instructions, there were the four variations of the scent just like Xerxes said there would be. Day, night, date and a travel sized. I was impressed. It was something that I didn’t want to be, but there was no way that a man hand selecting each note of a fragrance for you wouldn’t be impressive. Frankie had tried to warn me that he wasn’t going to go gently away and she wasn’t lying.
I sent him a message, eager to see what he was going to say. Instead of him responding, the device in my hand rang and a smile came across my face.
“Hello?” I sat my hip on the small vacant section of my desk that wasn’t occupied with one of his gifts. I had no homes to show and since today was just a paperwork day I was dressed down in a silk and cotton blend button down and linen palazzo pants.
“Do you start zhis with a sigh? I zhink you like zhe idea of giving me a complex.” His tone was cautious, my words of kindness int he message the only thing that seemed to keep him from apologizing immediately.
“I just… Xerxes…”
“Yes, zibā?”
“You brought me perfume.”
I could almost hear his full lips spread into that slightly predatory smile of his. “I did. I had it blended up, based on what you enjoyed about mine. How do you feel about it? Zhe notes? Not too strong, yes? Zhe notes have a subtle, smooz finish. It smells decadent wizout being too much.”
I lifted the cap off the bottle and inhaled noting everything about his description was accurate. The perfume smelled perfect. “I have to admit this is probably one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever received.”
“Ah, zibā, zhat makes me proud.”
“Well, technically I’ve only received about five my whole life and four of them were from Vanya.” I’d spoken without thinking, trying to lighten the mood but immediately I realized my mistake.
I could almost hear his thoughts as he tried to fit the pieces of my past together like a puzzle. “But I just gave you a gift. Dat vould make five.” He wanted me to be wrong. For me to come up with an imaginary gift I’d never received and part of me wanted to do that too. I didn’t like the idea of him pitying me. Of him thinking I was looking for him to do anything for me. I more than spoiled myself to make up for it now, but I knew he wouldn’t want to hear that response.
“I know.”
“But vhat about—”
“I don’t want to be ugly but, I didn’t misspeak.” I hated that I was defensive. He didn’t deserve the anger that I wouldn’t and hadn’t released on the people who’d inflicted the pain.
“ Wallah , de people who raised you. I understand. And for what it’s wortz I’m sorry.” He truly sounded remorseful making me feel even worse about being harsh with him.
I touched the petal of a brilliant hot pink rose in the arrangement closest to me. “You didn’t do it so you have nothing to apologize for.”
“I did not perform de grievances, but it is clear de people who did are no longer in your life to apologize for it. Even if zhey were, I doubt zhey would.”
Bitterness left a metallic taste on my tongue as I shook my head. I couldn’t respond before he continued, “Even more so that you should take my apology in their place.”
“And why is that?”
“Because zhey never deserved to be around you to begin wiz.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’re never not going to flatter me are you?”
He chuckled softly, his voice sounding even deeper than when we’d first gotten on the phone. “No. I hate to say it, zibā but no. Lies in zhe form of me pretending zhat you are at all an ordinary creature are not somezing I can provide. I am sorry for disappointing you because I know I promised I would grant you every desire of your heart.”
“You’re really serious.” I’d thought, maybe even imagined that he was flirting, but the more we talked I knew it was more than that. I was laughing to escape the feelings that battle for supremacy in me. I was feeling intrigued but also scared at the thought of dealing with anyone in a serious way.
“Your laughter, I amuse you?”
“I figured this would be better than our normal banter.” Now I was being dumb and flirting back but it was something I couldn’t resist about him.
“On zhat front, you are right. I will not look a gift horse in zhe mouth. I will smile and thank him for the gift he has bestowed upon me.”
We were silent for a moment, my thoughts wrapped up in wanting to find something to lengthen the conversation and running away. I let fear win and got him off the phone.
“I didn’t want to hold you. I just wanted to say thank you.”
He released a breath and it seemed like he was disappointed for the conversation to end. “It was nothing.”
It was my turn to scoff because his definition of nothing differed vastly from mine. “Nothing? A man flies halfway around the world—”
He chuckled, a mix of arrogance and self deprecation. I didn’t even know how that was a thing, but I could pick up on it in his laughter. “I was going anyway—”
“Custom blends something for you based on one conversation and then has it delivered with an arrangement of custom florals he probably hand selected based on their color, shape and scent.”
“Maybe I’m just a creep who wanted an excuse to sniff you wizout getting slapped for being improper.”
My eyes fluttered closed at the idea of him sniffing me because it sounded…passionate. I’d seen it but never experienced it and damn if his comment didn’t have me wondering what it would be like. “Maybe, but I know that’s not the truth. So accept my gratitude, because you have it. And more than that, you have my appreciation. So thank you. This is exceptional. Magical.”
“Magical. Qalb-e man , given the opportunity, zhis will pale in comparison to what I would like to provide for you.”
“It never could.”
“How do you know? I could present you with an entire turquoise mine. A pallet of gold, a half dozen race horses.”
“You could. But that’s just money. This is thoughtful. Care . Consideration of the person I am, not the person you wish I were. It’s not draping me in diamonds to show the world your wealth. It’s taking the time out to personalize something for me because you can see and value me. I’ve never had that before so for that I thank you. This has touched me deeply.
“ Wallah , I do not zhink my heart can take hearing all zhis from you. I almost razer you be zhrowing out your verbal jabs zhan zhese heaps of flattering zhat warm my soul.” I could hear him smiling, and sounded like he was blushing as well.
“I’m sure you’ll be fine. But I’m going to go. I have perfume to marvel at.”
“I will see you soon, zhen.”
“Perhaps. I’m always at Frankies. How did you say it? Isn—”
“ Inshallah- God willing. But perhaps, inshallah , even before zhe next dinner with our friends.”
His words sounded hopeful, but I should’ve known they were more of a promise.
“I know your babies are asleep, but I needed to talk.”
“I just put Quad down, what’s wrong?” Frankie was moving around in the house but I could see her pause so she could listen to what I had to say.
“I’m shocked you answered if they’re both down for the count.”
“I’d normally be up under Liam, but he’s at Merrick Hall. Bhaltair and Jeri are back.” I could admit I was mildly jealous. Frankie had a new friend that wasn’t me and that new friend had been with her in Scotland when she gave birth to their son. I had been tied up and unable to get out of the country in time because of the craziness of holiday travel. Liam had almost cussed me out since he said he would’ve happily sent their family plane for me, but I didn’t want to be a mooch.
“If you need to go…”
She looked at the phone and rolled her eyes as I saw her walk down the stairs away from the kid’s bedrooms.
“You are really being ridiculous with this no new friends policy. You’d like Jeri.”
“I’m sure I would. I can’t help that I finally have someone that likes me and they go off and get a new homegirl. It’s stirring up feelings, I’ll learn how to deal. It’s not your problem. Besides, she’s family and I’m a friend. You picked me so that makes me even more special.” It’s what I’d been telling myself for weeks. That Frankie loved me and wouldn’t replace me. But it did prick at my feelings of abandonment.
“You need therapy.”
I leaned back against my headboard and laughed sarcastically. “You are absolutely right on that front but we know we’re not going down that black hole that is my mind.”
“I’m glad he went up to the Hall, that statement sounded loaded as hell...”
“Not really loaded, but something is weird.”
She opened the fridge the interior light illuminating her face as she pulled something out. Frankie turned and propped me against the countertop. “Elaborate.”
“Xerxes sent me a gift—”
She laughed and finished chugging her water as she shook her head. “Just one? He’s slipping. I’m shocked you don’t have a fleet of cars waiting for you outside filled with gold.”
“Gold?”
She looked at me like I was missing the plot. “He’s half Persian. It’s kinda their thing. You saw the jewelry he gave me as a wedding present. I had Li put it in the vault at Merrick Hall because that stuff was crazy expensive when I had it appraised for insurance.”
“Shocked he didn’t make you send it back out of jealousy.” I was joking but the look on her face had me stopping.
“Oh, he tried but I laughed his ass out of the bedroom. So whenever you get your shit together and let that man love on you, expect something ridiculous as a gift.”
“This is a thing?” I wasn’t the most cultured person in the world, but I was still trying to understand how this could be something.
“With them? Yes. It’s a macho thing but also a way for them to show how much they are welcoming the other women into the family. It all started with Jasmine. Xerxes gave her a custom gun as a wedding present that matched the one that he made for Yacouba. They aren’t regular men so of course they not handing out gift cards to the William-Sonoma.”
We both cracked up because that shit was funny as hell. Liam didn’t want anyone thinking they were going to give his wife something to have him looking bad. As it was he was making up for the time they lost being apart so spoiling Frankie, their babies and even her horse was on the top of his list. “I guess.”
“But you didn’t call me to talk about wedding presents. Or is there news I need to be made aware of?” She bounced her brows suggestively and I was blushing hard as hell.
“Nothing like that—”
Frankie rolled her eyes at me before staring at me like she wanted to fight. “Girl, I could be under my man fooling with you.”
“He sent me perfume.” I bit my lip because I knew she wasn’t going to truly understand how big of a deal the perfume was.
“Perfume?” Her voice was flat as though she were disappointed in the gift.
“I complimented his scent the last time I saw him and he sent me this custom blended delicious smelling concoction of I don’t even know what.”
I’d apparently been descriptive enough for Frankie to re-engage. “What does it smell like?”
“Like seduction. At least the nighttime version. The rest are very sensual but without being overt. I can’t describe it. He said he had it custom blended so I will need to ask him for the details.”
“Custom blended? That man probably had some poor soul out in a field hand selecting the best florals and notes to add to your shit. Xerxes doesn’t do anything by half so I can only guess your perfume is like ten thousand dollars an ounce.”
My mouth dropped open because there was no way. But damn, he said it was custom blended and it didn’t… “Frankie why would you say that?”
I was trying not to be in panic mode but I couldn’t imagine a man spending that much money on a gift for me. Hell, I think my wedding band was from a gumball machine and I rarely wore it.
Frankie threw her head back and laughed at how I was freaking out. “Because it’s true! This ain’t a man that is going to buy you a Beyonce Heat box set at Christmas or think he’s doing something by gifting you Chanel number five. He’s hand blending a fragrance based on your body chemistry and how he feels about you. What he wants it to convey when you wear it. I need you to recognize the league you’re in.” She raised her brows at me like I needed to get it together cause I was making her look bad.
“He’s an acquaintance.” Yeah, I was lying even so, what the fuck was I supposed to say? He was just an acquaintance. And not even that for real. I’d just used his number for the first time today but it was clear he had my number and all my business information.
“Did you return the perfume?”
“Huh?” She had to be out of her damn mind because I wasn’t about to do that. I really enjoyed the scent. Hell, I’d sprayed myself with it after I’d gotten out of the shower because it made me feel beautiful.
She snapped her fingers and pointed at the phone like she’d proven her point. “EXACTLY! All the other clients who have sent you shit, it gets sent right back so as not to blur the lines. You have no issue with keeping what he sent you. Because you like it. And him. Don’t let weak ass Johnathan have you questioning a real nigga when he’s in your presence.”
“Frankie!”
She shooed off how badly I cringed at that word. “Girl, you gone have to get that together, too. I respect the fact it’s not your word, but your hyperviseral reaction to it is going to have folks looking at you funny.”
“I’m trying, but it’s hard.”
“And I get that, sis. I really do. But when they said it, it was meant to demean. To make you less than or feel inferior. You have to understand that the reclamation of that word, the no longer letting it rule us is part of taking our power back.”
“So white people can say it now?”
“If they wanna get slapped in the mouth with a gun.” She was so deadass I had to crack up because I knew she would more than back up what she was saying.
“Francesca Morrow Merrick, I’m going to bed.”
“Yoo ave the best timin’ of anyone, Vanya. I needed to ‘ave a word with mo reul.” Only Liam’s voice was heard but with the way Frankie’s eyes softened then clouded with lust, I knew this call was over. Her body language shifted from relaxed to anticipatory, as though being in his presence put all her senses on alert in the best way.
“Just say you wanna be fresh. No need to lie. Call me whenever he turns you loose, Frankie.”
His broad golden tan hand and forearm came into view as his fingers caressed her chin and brushed over her lips. I was getting ready to hang up, but Liam seemed to remember I was on the phone and he addressed me after a few seconds.
“Yoo’ll ‘ear from ‘er afore next week, Vanya. If not soon after.”