Dad checked with Rohan while Kamila cut up some fruit. She tried very hard not to pay attention to Dad’s call or to speculate about Rohan’s mental state. She was pretty sure he wouldn’t be happy about her plan. But she wasn’t doing it for him. And she didn’t want to get sucked back into her people-pleasing habit. Even if she was inconveniently in love with that person.

After they were all at the table digging into the breakfast goodies, Kamila started her plea.

“Okay, Dad, I have a proposal for you, and I hope you’ll hear me out before you make any more decisions.”

“A proposal? What is it? Have you thought about what you want to do after leaving Emerald?”

“No, that’s not it.” Kamila took a breath. “First of all, I’m honestly very happy you’ve decided to retire. You’ve seemed so much…lighter since you stopped working a few weeks ago. I’m going to miss you loads and loads when you’re in Florida, but I think you’re doing a good thing to reduce your stress for your health.”

Dad squeezed Kamila’s hand. “I’m doing this for both of us.”

Kamila smiled. “I know you are. And…I’m happy you made a choice for your own health, but I…” She looked at Jana, who sent her a small, reassuring smile. “I don’t want to lose Emerald.”

“But, beti! You won’t need to take care of me anymore! You can do what you want with your life.”

“But that’s just it, Dad—I am doing what I want. Yeah, when I started working there, it was for you. But I love what we’ve turned Emerald into. I love my clients. I love the work I’m doing. And now I want to take it further.”

Dad blinked, obviously surprised. Kamila knew she should have told him before today how much the company meant to her. Maybe then he wouldn’t have done this. She made a silent vow to herself that from this moment on, she’d make sure everyone knew what she valued.

Kamila exhaled, again looking to Jana for strength. “Rohan offered to let me buy your HNS shares instead of him and Zayan buying them. I’m pretty sure that’s what he’s going to talk to you about today. They want me to be a partner in HNS, and together we’d grow Emerald into a chain of small regional offices.”

“What? That’s not something we’d ever—”

“Wait, Dad. I haven’t given him an answer yet, but I’m going to say no. I don’t want that. Selling your HNS shares to Rohan and Zayan makes more sense. They know what they’re doing there. I just want Emerald.”

“What?”