Page 66 of Boss

“I got up to...”

He waved off her explanation. “I reacted badly and scared you earlier. This is my peace offering. Let’s just leave it at that.”

“You attacked me,” she said.

“And you deserved it. So I guess we’re even,” he countered.

“Not even close,” she replied.

“I’ll accept that,” he said with a smile. “If you accept dinner and wine, it can be a start over. Do you have to like me to eat?” he asked her.

She glanced to the food and then back to him. She was starving. But her drinking led to trouble for her. Maybe today called for an exception.

“Okay,” she mumbled and tightened her robe. She went to the table and drew out the chair before she sat down. Tarek seemed pleased. He located glasses and silverware. He brought them to the table and set them down.

He uncorked the wine.

Kassidy picked up the fork and knife. She glanced to him and then to the food. She cut into the meat. All of her friends were vegans. Though she tried, she could never give up her love for beef. She was raised in Texas after all.

“How did you get involved with the E.P.U. gang?”

“E.P.U. is a legitimate non-profit...”

“Domestic terrorist gang,” he finished for her.

She narrowed her eyes on him. Instead of conversation, she decided to eat. The knife slid through the steak as if it were a block of warm butter. She couldn’t believe how tender pink it was in the middle. He’d all but charred the top layer. And when she tasted a morsel she winced at the spicy seasoning he’d cooked it in. But she appreciated his method, the blackened spice with the tender seasoned center exploded with hot tangy flavor over her tongue. To her surprise he poured half the bottle of hot sauce on his steak and eggs, then added more pepper.

“Are you kidding?” she laughed.

He looked up surprised. “It’s good this way.”

She smiled. “No wonder you never cooked for me.”

“I always wanted too,” he remarked.

She reached for the wine and took a sip. It had a strong berry flavor, and the alcohol cleared her head instantly. She drank more than a swallow, before she put the glass back down. “Why don’t you ask me more about... your father and his plans?”

Tarek waved the question off. “Because it’s a lie and I don’t entertain lies.”

“It’s not a lie. Did you call Mr. Havarti? Did you call your brother and ask?”

“It’s a lie!” he snapped.

She’d found his weakness. And it made him blindingly stupid or just unwavering loyal to his family.

She kept eating. The eggs were getting cold, so she decided to eat more of them to wash out the hot spice from the steak.

“You know, in all the time we spent together, with all the conversations we had, we never talked personally.”

“Because you were hiding who you were from me. Lying.”

“You weren’t always sure of that. And I’m not hiding anymore.”

“Your point.”

“I’m curious about you, who you were before you became the big man at MGS.”

“Nothing to tell.”

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