Mia got on her feet the instant Zayn got into the office, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to how he really felt. He nodded in acknowledgment to his secretary and moved towards his door, totally ignoring his brother seated in the room. Instead, he typed in his code, thankful that he had changed it before his trip to Hong Kong, before strolling in.
He made a long show of setting his computer up, barely paying Nathan any attention as he walked in after him, settling in the seat at the other end of the desk. Zayn sent a quick mail to the stakeholders that he would be a few minutes late. It was already almost six, and by the look of things, Nathan had no plans to leave anytime soon.
But Zayn had no plans of letting him stay there either.
“You know, for a well-respected and feared man, one would expect you to treat your sibling better.”
“Hmmm.” He retrieved his phone and sent a last message to William, reminding him not to even think about purchasing the wine without him. Done, he clasped his hands on the table and finally gave Nathan the attention he craved. “What do you want, Nathan? And more importantly, where have you been? Dad has been worried sick about you, but yet, after your sudden reappearance, you think the first place to visit is my office.”
“Well, I wouldn’t have had to disappear if you had just done what I wanted you to do.”
Zayn scoffed. “I think it’s high time you stopped blaming me for every misfortune that comes your way, Nathan Graham. You are my older brother. Don’t you think that should count for something? How does your so-called baby brother have so much control over your actions?”
“You think this is some joke, don’t you?” Nathan snapped suddenly, returning to the only way he knew how to get over matters attack and bully. But he should have known better than to use that on Zayn.
“I advise that you do not speak to me in that manner, Nathan,” Zayn warned, his expression stoic. “You are still under my roof the one I built with my money. I can toss you out without a moment’s thought. In fact, the only reason you are here is because Dad wanted me to ensure you were fine. And now that I have done that, I think I have satisfied his demands. Mia would see you out.”
“Where have you been and why did you change the passcode to your door, both here and to your house? What business are you conducting behind my back?”
“Nathan,” Zayn smirked. “With the way you just spoke, anyone who heard you would think you have a stake in my company and my home. I can do whatever I choose without consulting you. Don’t be an entitled child and just run home to Daddy. I have work important work to do here and you are disrupting that already.”
“According to your schedule, you were supposed to be in France for a couple of weeks. I wanted to be a part of that meeting, to prove to you that I was worthy to be called your brother out in public and that I meant it when I said I wanted to put my life in order. Imagine my shock and confusion when I realized I had been played.”
“Oh!” Zayn mouthed, then nodded in understanding. “Now, I see why no one was able to reach you. I thought you had dropped from the face of the earth.”
“Zayn!”
“First of all, I didn’t ask you to snoop around my office, looking for my schedule. You alone are responsible for whatever you see. I would have let that go on for much longer, but I was tired of letting you into my space. Secondly, I don’t think I recall you ever saying you wanted to put your life in order. Now, I know you are the king of gaslighting, but don’t do it here. I don’t have that patience.”
“So you knew? You knew and made me keep looking like a fool!”
Zayn noticed that his older brother had conveniently ignored his last statement. “I orchestrated it, Nathan. You know, for all the intelligence you claim to have, it is still a mystery that you were unable to figure it out. From the very first bump you encountered your mind should have told you something.”
“How am I to be blamed for trusting my brother?” He shot back at Zayn.
“Trust?” Zayn got up and walked around his desk, resting his hands on the handle of the chair Nathan occupied.
“Did you just say trust? How did that even fall from your mouth after betraying all the trust Dad invested in you, ending up in jail more times than I can count? You constantly snoop around my home and office when you think I’m not watching yet you claim to trust me. I’m not even going to try to reason with you today, or bring rationality into this conversation because obviously, that isn’t your greatest forte.”
He pushed away from the chair and stood straight. “Now, get out. This conversation is over. I have a meeting to get to.”
Nathan’s lips opened and fell in such record time that it surprised even Zayn. The fear he’d always had for Zayn was etched in his eyes as he got up and walked towards the door, pulling it open. Suddenly, he halted and turned around. “You still did not tell me where you went, Zayn, because I know for a fact that you were not in the country.”
“I already established that it is none of your damn business.”
“I’m going to find out,” he threatened. “I know you are hiding something, but for your sake, it better be nothing interesting. Because the moment it slips into my hands, I will make sure to get rid of the bubble you’ve built around yourself, leaving you at the mercy of everyone who used to be scared of you.”
“Why don’t you try saying those exact words without the fear in your eyes? Maybe then, I’d believe you.”