"Let's go over this one more time."

Thomas groaned, banging his head against my desk. "Can we stop yet?"

"Get up. If we land this business deal, we're as good as gold."

"You always say that," he whined.

"And I'm always right, aren't I?" I smirked, knowing his reaction.

He glared. "Dick."

"Real mature, Thomas."

"Asshole."

I leaned against the palm of my hands, listening to the string of curse words that escaped his mouth. Thomas and I were practicing all morning for our upcoming meeting with the board of directors.

They were scheduled to stop by sometime this week, where we would discuss the recent finance developments and go over brief presentations. The directors planned on bringing some important investors, which meant that if Thomas and I could pull off this presentation, I would be able to raise the salaries within my company.

"You done?" I questioned Thomas.

He huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "No."

"Stop being a baby. You're a mature adult."

"I don't care," he scoffed.

I rubbed at my temples, feeling a slight pain begin to rise within my nerves. "If my IQ levels drop, it's your fault," I said.

"If they dropped, it'd make me a happier person because then I would actually get my breaks!" he exclaimed as he fell back into his chair, pouting.

"Fine."

His blue eyes brightened at my answer. "Really?" he asked, eagerly. "You're not just saying that to make me feel better, right?"

I gave him a blank stare. "Thomas, get out of my office."

"A little kindness goes a long way, Ibrahim."

"Oh, alright. Let's just forget the break and go back to our work," I shrugged, realizing he didn't want the short break I was giving him.

At my suggestion, Thomas bolted out of the room so fast that I wondered if he had abnormal running abilities. I shook my head, amused at my friend's antics.

Turning in my chair, I faced the window behind me, watching the busy streets of Baltimore on a Monday morning. Men in suits filled the sidewalks, hurrying to their jobs as their eyes frantically searched for buses. Women of all colors laughed among each other, casually strutting behind the men.

The sun was bright against the cloudless sky. It was a clear day, warmer than it should be, and the orange leaves drifted down. I sighed, enjoying the sun's warmth as it shined through my window. The week had just started, and I was ready to collapse back in my bed with my wife.

Wife, I thought with a small smile on my lips.

If someone told me years ago that I would be at the mercy of a woman, I would have laughed. Without realizing it, my dear wife managed to shatter all the walls that protected my healing heart. Her voice melted the ice that had once consumed me and her touch soothed the old aches that had once scarred me.

I took out my phone, unlocking the screen, and gazing down at the small numbers. I could call her, but something was stopping me. A voice, a sinister reminder, pushed me away from completely surrendering myself to Tasneem. There was always something that held me back, some force that kept me chained, and I knew it was myself.

"I got us some coffee!" yelled Thomas as he abruptly opened the door, startling me.

I turned back around, giving him my bored expression.

"What? No 'thank you'? That's a little harsh," he said as he placed the cup on my desk. "Here I thought we would finally make it past first base."

I rolled my eyes, choosing to sip the dark liquid and hold onto my silence.

"No comeback?"

"I'd prefer to not waste my intelligence on you," I replied, dryly, setting the cup down.

"You're never getting to second base with me, sir," he scoffed. It was hard to believe that he was straight. Maybe I was just too used to his annoying humor.

"Do you even know what the bases are?"

"Of course I don't," he stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Thomas looked down on the phone that I placed on my desk earlier. His eyes slowly examined the number on the phone dial. "Were you calling Tasneem?" he asked, grabbing my phone.

"She's probably busy now," I dismissed his hinted suggestion. "No, I'm not going to call her so stop giving me that look."

His creepy grin got wider. "What look?" he questioned, innocently.

I narrowed my eyes at him, suspicious of his intentions. Thomas' grin only grew more from my uneasiness. This man had my phone in his hands with my wife's number right in front of him. The green 'call' button was right under his fingertips. I harshly glared at him, silently warning Thomas to put the phone down, and just maybe I would show him mercy.

"Thomas," I started, slowly, "put it down. Now."

He craned his ear towards me in a mocking gesture. "It? I don't know what you're implying," he smiled mischievously like Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.

My fingers curled into a fist. "The phone, Thomas. Put the damn phone down or so help me God," I threatened.

"I sense bluffing in the air," he taunted. "Is that a yes to pressing the button?"

"Thomas!"

"That green button is so tempting. It's screaming my name, it's begging- no, it's urging me to press it."

My palm collided with my forehead. "For the love of everything good, I feel like I'm talking to a little kid," I muttered under my breath.

He clicked his tongue to the roof of his mouth. "I'd be careful with what you say, man. I possess all the powers with this phone," he smirked while he lovingly caressed the black electronic.

I stared at my friend in disbelief. "How are you so evil?" I asked, disgusted.

He chuckled. "I'm not being evil. Consider it a favor from a friend. I'm helping you."

"This," I said, gesturing to the phone, "is not helping!"

"I beg to differ."

"I don't give a fuck! Just put the phone-"

The damn bastard pressed the button.

Everything happened so fast, and before I knew it, I felt like I was in high school again. The fear of rejection was so strong. I had no idea why I was because I was married to this girl. She was mine and I was hers for the rest of our lives. Only death could separate us and even then I'd only want to spend my afterlife with her.

She completed me, fulfilled me in a way that no one ever could. The love that Tasneem gave me warmed my hardened heart. For years, I felt as though the very center of my being was replaced by a stone, unable to feel any emotion to most, yet when she came around it all changed. Everything disappeared the second I felt her presence.

"Hey, Tasneem," grinned Thomas, leaning back against his seat and eyeing me. "How's it going?"

Allah, give me the strength to not pulverize this devil of a man, I silently prayed.

"Was it Ibrahim you wanted to speak to? He's a little busy," he lied just to get on my nerves.

"I'm not! Thomas give me the fucking phone!"

"He really means that he is," chuckled Thomas, turning away from me.

I stood up. "Okay okay, you've had your fun. May I have my phone back now?" I grumbled, impatiently.

Taking the phone from his ear, he tossed it towards me. I caught the phone with ease, and pointed at the door. Thomas took the hint and laughed his way out, much to my dismay. The small trails of anger began to fade away, replaced by nervousness as I braced myself for Tasneem's voice.

"Assalamualaikum," her sweet voice chirped.

"Waalaikumussalam."

"So," she drawled out, "what was that all about?"

I sighed, leaning against my desk and crossing one ankle over the other. "Thomas."

Her bubbly laughter warmed my heart. She knew what I meant, and she found it amusing. Of course, I was still visibly annoyed at my friend for putting me through such a hell hole, but I would do it all over again just to hear her laughter.

I didn't know how or when it happened, but I was slowly falling. I used to be at the top of the my mental empire, yet as time went on and every second that I spent with her passed by, I was falling. A strong force pulled us to each other from the very beginning, winding me and unraveling my past into pieces.

"Oh, Ibrahim. I'm sure he meant no harm." I knew she was smiling, I could hear it from the soft way her voice changed and the light-heartedness in her tone. "Why was he even teasing you?"

"Only Allah knows," I mumbled, still pissed at Thomas.

"Ibrahim."

"Yeah?"

"I miss you," she whispered.

That was all it took. My heart rapidly pounded against my chest, my blood pulsed, my mind racing. I felt hypnotized by her in every sense possible. The previous anger had evaporated into thin air and was replaced by a new longing for my wife. My voice caught at my throat, and I was frozen, having no idea how to react. I had no idea what to do, my mind was useless in these situations.

Love wasn't a business deal. It was a raw emotion that hit people at the most unexpected times in the most unexpected ways. It was unpredictable, preying on its victims until they were helpless. It was a remarkable connection that was burned deep into another's soul, an unforgettable reminder.

"I know," I said, lowly. "I'll be home soon."

"Not soon enough," she joked. "Did you want anything from the store? Amira and I were going to stop by before picking up Bashir."

"I need some pens."

"Pens?" she questioned.

"Yeah, Thomas broke the other ones. I need it for my board meeting."

"I heard that!" shouted Thomas from the other side of my office door.

"Clearly, I don't care!" I yelled back.

Tasneem softly laughed, and I instantly relaxed from the sound. After so many torturous years, I finally understood what my parents meant all those years before. Love wasn't a twisted game, it was a connection, a bond Allah created between two individuals. As I listened to her voice again, I closed my eyes, relishing every word she spoke.