“No, I’m not busy,” I say with a smile that’s dangerously close to taking over my entire face. Juliana notices me on the phone and speed walks across the room to stand beside me like she wants to support me through the conversation. “I’d love to meet up. What’d you have in mind?”

“How about dinner again?” Nas answers. “But this time, you let me cook for you. Your place okay? I’ll bring all the ingredients.”

“Wow. Yeah, my place is more than okay,” I reply, sounding a little too eager, but I’m unashamed at this point.

“Who is that?” Vance says, startling me as I turn around and find him directly behind me with his hands on his hips. “Is that the guy who asked for your number? I have a right to know.”

“Vance, chill,” Juliana fires back, glaring at him like his presence truly offends her. “We’re at work, and you’re getting loud. Go back to your office.”

“Stay out of this Juliana,” Vance snips, pointing his finger.

“Who’s that?” Nas inquires.

“Just my ex,” I reply loud enough for Vance to hear, and his eyes grow twice their size.

“Oh, that’s all I am now? Just your ex? Wow.”

“Is he making a scene at your job?” Nas asks, and I can hear the intense curiosity in his voice.

I take a few steps away from Vance and answer. “Yeah, apparently he came to work today and brought all of his feelings with him. Our boss is bound to walk in any minute now. I should probably go just so he’ll shut up.”

“Let me talk to him,” Vance says, stepping toward me and holding out his hand. “What? You think I’m afraid to fight for you, Alina? I’m not. Let me talk to this asshole.”

The entire office goes silent as Vance advances toward me with red cheeks and sweat on his brow. How on Earth did things go from fine to this unbelievably embarrassing? Oh, I know—all it took was one phone call and one Vance Whiteman meltdown.

“Vance, stop it,” Juliana snaps, trying to keep her voice down, but even she’s losing the grip on her restraints.

“Alina,” Nas says, his voice slicing through the noise in the office. “Let me talk to him.”

“What?” I blurt out. “No way.”

“It’s okay,” Nas assures me, completely calm and sure of himself. “Put it on speaker. I’ll handle it.”

“You’ll handle it? Seriously?”

“Yes. Speaker … please.”

Adrenaline surges through me as I realize what I’m about to do. I must be going insane to think this is even a remotely good idea, but as chaos descends on the office, I take the phone from my ear and press the speaker button. Nas’s voice booms through the room, grabbing everybody’s attention.