“Of course you will, sweetheart.” Asha rubbed Kamila’s back. “But…you’re going through a lot. Your dad moving. Running a business alone. Rohan. It’s okay to be overwhelmed. You need time to process it all.” She looked around. “Tim can handle things here for a bit. I think we need to visit the puppy sanctuary.”

Kamila raised a brow. “Puppy sanctuary?”

“C’mon.” After asking Tim to keep an eye on Lizzy and Darcy, Asha led Kamila down a small hallway off the back of the main room. “That’s what we’re calling the adoption room.”

Asha opened the door, and Potato immediately looked up from his spot resting near the window and bolted to Kamila. She reached down and picked him up quickly before the puppy’s claws could ruin her sari.

“Potato!” she squealed as the puppy desperately tried to lick her face. She put her hand near his mouth to spare her makeup. “Look at you!” Potato had obviously been cleaned and groomed, and was wearing a regal purple-and-gold-print bow tie. Kamila nuzzled her face on his soft head. “Aw, my sweet baby is all grown. You look so dapper.” Her shoulders slumped. There was no question someone was going to fall in love with this puppy and put in an application to adopt him today. A few days ago, that was fine with Kamila. But now it only made her sad.

“So, have you heard how your dad’s meeting with Rohan went?” Asha asked.

Kamila shrugged. “They’re probably still together.”

“What do you think Rohan will say?”

That was the million-dollar question, right? “I don’t know. If he’s considering the bottom line only, I think he’ll refuse to give up Emerald. Or at least renegotiate for some ownership in it.”

“But this is Rohan—he’s not going to only think about the bottom line. I think he’ll agree.”

“He’s probably going to be annoyed I didn’t tell him myself and just made Dad do it.”

“Why didn’t you tell him?”

“I dunno.” She scratched Potato’s ear.

“Kamila, Rohan doesn’t want a relationship with someone he works with. Your plan means you won’t be working with him.”

Kamila shook her head. “That isn’t why I’m doing this.”

“I know. But this is still an opportunity.”

“No, Asha, it’s not. The fact…” She gulped. “The fact that he offered me that partnership in his firm in the first place means he doesn’t see me that way. I’m not going to push for something that isn’t there. Not with someone so connected to my family. I can’t risk it.”

“So, that’s it, then?”

Kamila nodded, then put her head down, burying it in Potato’s fur. “How am I going to survive without him?”

“Rohan or Potato?”

Kamila exhaled. “Potato. Actually…Rohan. Both.”