“Then speak. I have a very busy day,” I insist, my annoyance showing. How dare he ruin my good mood like this?
I’m so tired of him popping up uninvited at places that are supposed to be my safe, happy sanctuaries.
“Are you in a rush? Interesting, since you’re still in your pajamas and just got back. Got a new friend I should know about? You moved on quickly,” Faiz sneers, jealousy in his eyes even though he has nothing to be jealous of. I am not his to get jealous over. If he wanted to care, then he should have way before now. It’s too little, too late.
“Faiz, I warned you.” My father’s hand slams against the table. “You may stay to discuss the business you mentioned, but you are not welcome for anything past that. This is still my house, and that is my son—do not test me.”
“I meant no disrespect, Mr. Xander,” Faiz says sincerely. “I was simply curious. Since Z and I were supposed to get married soon, I feel like I have a right to know what’s happening in his life.”
“You lost that right,” I inform him, gripping the mug so hard I feel it crack. “My father is right. Either discuss your business or get out. If it isn’t clear, your invitation was rescinded the moment we broke up. You aren’t welcome here.” It’s cruel but true. I need him to understand my boundaries and respect them. I don’t care if he has regrets or realized too late I was what he wanted.
I am over him, and I intend to stay that way.
“Why are you being like this, Z?” Faiz asks, uncaring of my father’s presence.
“Why?” I ask incredulously. “Fuck, Faiz.” I push to my feet, eyeing my father. “Excuse me for a moment.” I point out the side door that leads into the garden. “Go.”
Faiz rises, his eyes narrowed. He knows we are about to argue. He inclines his head at my father and storms out onto the slightly damp grass, the sun shining down. Stopping in the middle of the garden, he turns to me. “Go on then, shout.” He smirks. “Then we can make up. That was always your favorite part, right? How I would kiss it and make it all better?”
“Did you know I used to argue with you just to force you to act like you cared for one fucking second?” When he goes to speak, I swipe my hand through the air, cutting off his words. “Enough, that’s historyand not why I dragged you out here. What do you want, Faiz? Why are you here?”
“It’s obvious what I want. I told you.” He shrugs, stepping closer. “You’re mine, Z?—”
“No, I’m not. I never was. I’m mine. You were simply also mine for a short while, but not anymore. Get over it. I have.” I go to turn away, but he grabs my arm and spins me back.
“No, I won’t. We belong together. We always did. I won’t give up on that.” His gaze drops to his hand on my pajamas. “Who were you with all night?” His voice is tight.
“It’s too late for your possessiveness now.” I twist my arm free. “Leave, Faiz, and don’t ever come back. If you want to discuss business, then make an appointment like everyone else. I’m a very busy man.”
There is something so satisfying about telling him that, and the flash of anger in his eyes only makes it better. Before, I responded to his every whim. If he said jump, I asked how high. Now, he can’t even get a spare moment of my time, and it feels good after how much he hurt me.
“I will keep coming back. You can’t get rid of me, Z. You should know that by now. When I want something, I get it.” He sounds so cocky, so confident, and it just pisses me off more. How can he suddenly decide I’m what he wants? How is that fucking fair? I’m moving on, I have a new life, and he doesn’t get to come in and fuck it up.
“Stay out of my life,” I order.
“No.” He gets in my face, anger contorting his features. “And anybody who dares to touch you will find out just exactly what I am capable of. Don’t forget my family name either, Z. I might be nice and sweet to you, but anyone who tries to take away what’s mine will face my wrath.” My hand fists his shirt as I yank him closer before he can react. I see his eyes dilate, but I ignore it. “I missed this side of you. If you want me to take it off, you should have just asked.”
“Shut up,” I hiss, beyond irritated. How dare he come here like nothing happened? “I am not yours. Even if I fuck every single personin this city, you will do nothing about it, just like I did nothing when you fucked your way through it.” He flinches. “You speak of power and your family name, but you seem to have forgotten mine since I never used it with you. I am richer than you, Faiz, and I have more power than you. I might not flaunt it openly like the others, but if you so much as try to hurt anyone in my life, I will ruin you. Every disloyal, dirty secret of yours will be exposed, and I will sit in the aftermath, grinning. Do you understand me?”
“You loved me once?—”
“Once,” I hiss. “Not anymore. Now you’re looking more like my enemy. You don’t want to be that.”
“At least your attention would be on me,” he retorts, dropping his eyes to my lips for a moment. “I always loved it when we fought like this, always loved this dark side of you. It makes me hard as fuck when I tame you.”
“Listen closely, little boy,” I start. “We aren’t playing games anymore. I might have cared for you once, but if you fuck up my life now, I will show you why everyone else fears me. Do you understand?”
“Sir.” Yuki’s voice interrupts us, but I don’t look away from Faiz. “The car is here. You have a meeting downtown.”
Pushing Faiz away, I straighten my shirt. “I mean it, Faiz, stay out of my life.”
“Have a good day at work!” he calls after me.
My interaction with Faiz put me in a shitty mood, causing me to be snappy and irritable. Everyone avoids me but Yuki, who’s used to my mood swings. When we pull up in front of a familiar bar instead of my building, I narrow my eyes.
“You need a drink, and you also need to attend the party you promised to be at,” he says. “You agreed to attend last month. It’s to celebrate the opening of the new casino, which you bailed on, so you must go to this one.”
“Yuki,” I warn.
