Page 7 of To Tango, with Desire

“Don’t call me boss.”

“Right.”

“Anything else, Bil?”

“No, boss.”

Five minutes later, my phone pealed again. “What is it now?” I barked. And why the hell wasn’t Bil using our internal comms system? The kid was giving me a goddamn migraine.

“A friend is here to see you, Mr. Nasser.”

I tapped my fingers on my desk. “Does this friend have a name?”

There was silence. “He said he was an old friend?” he supplied.

“Fuck’s sake.” I sat up in my chair. “Send him in.”

I was still questioning my decision to hire Bil when the door of my office swung open. I cursed. A particularly spirited expletive in Farsi, my mother’s tongue. Every nerve in my body zinged, on high alert.

I remained seated, where normally I would stand. The disquiet that had threatened my equilibrium earlier was nothing to the red-hot anger that consumed me now.

“Zane. You’re looking well. How long has it been, brother?”

“I would suggest you get the hell out of my office if you want to keep that pretty-boy smile, Kade.”

Kade’s grin widened. “What? No love for an old friend? My father would be turning in his grave.” He shook his head, but the sorrow didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“God rest his soul. Omar’s only been in the grave a year, Kade. Show some respect.”

“Respect? For dear ol’ dead Dad? Hard pass.”

“I see you’re still a dick. Good to know some things don’t change. Now get the fuck out.”

I watched as Kade sat down, lounging back in the chair opposite, as if he owned the place. He crossed his legs at the ankle and rested his hands on his stomach. Funny how the familiar gesture that used to make me smirk, now made me want to punch the arrogant expression clear off his face.

With the exception of Omar’s funeral, I hadn’t seen Kade in ten years. And as far as I was concerned, I never wanted to see the bastard again.

“What do you want?”

“And here I thought you’d be happy to see me.” Kade pouted.

“If you don’t cut the bullshit, I’ll have security escort you out.”

Kade’s pale-green eyes widened. “Security? Big man now. So far from the poor, dirty boy who would beg for my toys.”

“Not everyone was born with a silver spoon shoved up their ass.”

“Bitter?”

I scoffed. “I’m proud of where I’ve come from, so you can kindly shut the fuck up. And leave.”

“Ah yes, the rags to riches story,” Kade continued, a smug glint in his eye. “Your mother took her job as housemaid very seriously.”

My stomach clenched.

“My father’s favorite cleaning lady. His favorite w—”

“Watch your mouth.”