“I went home the night before thinking I was the worst kind of person for snooping into something like this and then I come back to work yesterday knowing I had to snoop into it.” Minka leaned forward, pressing the backs of her hands against her eyes and shaking her head. “Thank God Sim decided to take yesterday off.”
Vectra cleared her throat and poured a third cup of the wonderful-smelling blend. “Minka...why are you telling me this? I mean, isn’t there a rule against spilling company secrets?”
Minka rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure if Qasim had this type of thing in mind when he helped set the company bylaws.”
“From what I hear, he’s a great boss. You should talk to him.”
Minka gaped. “Are you crazy?” She moved to reach for her mug then squeezed her hands closed when she saw how badly they were shaking. “I mean, did you hear all Will’s war stories the other night? The man saved Qasim’s life. My guess is it’d be pretty hard to believe anything bad about someone who did that, you know?”
“So what are you gonna do?” Vectra studied the pattern she tapped out around the mouth of her mug.
“I’m doing it. I’m asking you to talk to Qasim.”
“Are you crazy?” Vectra bolted from the deep Queen Anne chair she occupied in the alcove where they enjoyed the tea.
Minka had grown utterly calm. “He’ll listen to you, Vectra.”
“How do you figure?”
“He’s in love with you.”
Vectra returned to the chair with a hard bounce. “How do you know that?”
“Anyone with eyes would know that.”
Vectra blinked, absorbing the other woman’s words.
“Minka, listen.” Vectra smoothed her hands along the chair arms. “Most men don’t like it when people meddle in their business. Especially women they...love.”
“He’s got to be told.” Minka leaned forward in the matching Queen Anne, extending her hands in a needy display. “I’ve already put my foot in my mouth and made Will look bad when we were debating over the hotels. Qasim might see this as a petty attempt to get something started.”
“You’re his assistant, Mink. He counts on you to point out when he’s making stupid business decisions.”
“Once bitten, twice shy.”
Minka’s simple defense drained Vectra’s will to argue. After all, Vectra thought, hadn’t she been battling with the same line in defense of her own actions?
“Would you just think about it?” Minka pleaded.
Think about it? Sure. Think about repeating an act that had once opened the doorway to an abusive relationship?
No problem.
Vectra groaned, hiding her face in her palms.
“I told you I love it, Dad.”
“But you’ve only seen it on paper.” Oscar Bauer closed the leather portfolio that carried information about his intended real estate acquisition in Lake Misurina, Italy.
Vectra patted her father’s hand over the portfolio. “If you love it, then I love it. Who am I to throw in my two cents about a place you want as your retirement oasis?”
Oscar’s square jaw clenched. “You’re my daughter and,” he emphasized when Vectra opened her mouth to reply, “the closest thing I have to your mother. Having you go there and give your blessing would be like having her do it. In my mind, anyway.”
Vectra’s smile was indulgent as she squeezed her dad’s hand. “This is unfair, but too sweet to refuse.”
He grinned. “Pleased I’ve persuaded you.”
“But I don’t think Oliver would be too happy to hear you say I’m the closest thing you have to Momma.”
“Hmph.” Oscar bumped his fist lightly against Vectra’s jaw. “My son is a handsome devil, but I know he’d agree he’s nowhere near as beautiful as you are.”
“That’s what you think!”
Father and daughter shared a laugh at Oliver’s expense and continued their lunch at the small but popular bar and grill not far from Oscar’s SoMa loft. When Vectra heard her dad chuckle out Qasim’s name, her gaze flew upward to lock with his bottomless ebony stare.
“Mr. B.” Qasim greeted the older man with a handshake.
“Join us, kid!” Oscar urged.
“I’ll have to decline this time, sir.”
“What are you doing here?” Vectra blurted, dismissing the shivers attacking her beneath the cotton fabric of her olive-green wrap dress.
Qasim appeared pleased by her curiosity. “I had a meeting with a client.”
“We need to get together, too, Sim. My treat,” Oscar offered.
Qasim chuckled. “I never turn down a free lunch. We’ll make it happen soon.” He returned his focus to Vectra and then, holding her gaze, he leaned down to apply a lingering kiss to her cheek. “I’ll see you tonight.” He made no attempt to whisper.