“She asked you for something very specific, and you knew you couldn’t live up to that,” Nas goes on without a single misstep. “You weren’t interested in doing the two things she asked you for, were you?”

Vance snarls as his eyes dart around the room and find no comfort. “No.”

“In fact, you were afraid of the things she asked for, weren’t you?”

“No,” Vance blurts out quickly, before pulling it all back. “It’s just not … I just don’t … it’s just not for me, alright? It’s none of your business, guy.”

Giggles start to come to life in one corner of the office as people put the pieces of the puzzle together on their own, but Nas isn’t finished yet.

“And that’s fine, Vance,” he continues. “I’m not shaming you. But that’s the gigantic difference between me and you. The things Alina asked you for, the things you couldn't do—I’m more than willing to do them. I am interested in those things. In fact, I’m ready to give Alina so much more than what she asked you for. I’m ready to take her to places she never even dreamed of—places that would make you cower in the corner, just like you did last time. So, don’t talk to me about competing, Vance. You were right about one thing, though. When you said, ‘it’s just not for me,’ you were exactly right. It’s obvious you and Alina are on two different playing fields. She’s out of your league. She’s not for you. She’s for me.”

Silence envelopes the room as jaws drop open in astonishment, and my three friends all stare with their hands covering their gaping mouths. Vance finally takes his hands off his hips and lowers his head until his chin is nearly resting on his chest, and all I can do is smile. I smile so hard I think my face will get stuck, until Nas’s voice speaks again.

“Alina, you there?” he calls to me.

“Yeah, I’m still here,” I answer, pulling the phone close to my mouth but leaving it on speaker.

“So, we’re on for me cooking you dinner tonight at your place?”

Gasps erupt all around as I nod. “Yeah, we’re definitely on.”

“Good. How does eight o’clock sound?”

“Sounds perfect.”

“Great. I look forward to it. I’ll see you then.”

“Okay,” I say nearly under my breath as I struggle to contain my excitement.

“Cool. Have a good rest of your day at work. Bye.”

“Bye,” I reply, and we hang up.