His response is sharp and swift. “Yes, we are.”

“Did I know she was your friend before...” I splay my hand.

“You did.”

“And this is practically her first trip here?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

I’m certain I haven’t met Aaliya before because I haven’t traveled anywhere in the last five years, at least anywhere that required a visa or a passport stamp. Which is again strange to me because I used to travel frequently all over the world for business, pleasure and my love for extreme sports. But the pages of my passport remain curiously blank.

Gabe turns to me. “Why is Jonathan suddenly insisting on working only with you on his renovation project? He has outright refused to work with anyone else.”

“Because now the bugger can claim to anyone and everyone that a Duke designed his house. It’s also his way of seeking my attention. If it wasn’t for the fact that he’s given us carte blanche on this project, which will make us millions, I’d have refused him long back.”

“That and the fact that he is a friend,” Gabe says, “and if he goes somewhere else, it will be bad for business.”

I’ve considered rejecting this project several times. I have too much on my hands already. What with the jewelry houses and our vast estate portfolio also falling under my purview, I barely have time to sleep as it is. But designing is what gives me balance and it stabilizes me in the madness that has become my life now. Hence, I agreed to work with Jonathan’s idiosyncrasies, which have been too many so far.

My eyes drift to the lovely Miss Singh as she dances with Jonathan. Her eyes meet mine once again before she returns them to Jonathan. His hand moves lower on her back and she immediately takes a step back from him, shaking her head. She says something to him that causes him to smile at her. They resume dancing and this time, his hand stays firmly in place at her waist.

“I do not like that blighter anymore,” I tell Gabriel.

His expression remains serious as he continues to watch Jonathan dance with Aaliya Singh.

“I think you need to indulge him, Damien. Talk to him. When you decided to leave England five years back, you cut off all contact with everyone including him and he’s never forgiven you or me for that.”

I run a hand through my hair. “I don’t have time for this right now, Gabe. I don’t even remember why I took the decision to cut off from everyone and leave. I don’t know why I chose to keep him out of that decision. So, what do I say to him? How do I make him understand anything when I don’t understand it myself?”