Wow. After his last visit here, Vansh knew Naina didn’t run the tightest ship. Which had both surprised him and not surprised him at all. This, however, was next-level boundary leaping. Under other circumstances, Vansh would have loved it. He might even have laughed.

Fine, it was hilarious and he did laugh. The older woman with lots of bright blue eye shadow watched him as though she could keep watching him for the rest of her life. Good, because she forgot about the intrusive question, and I offered the use of my well-built thigh was not an acceptable answer.

“That’s good, because this isn’t a casual visit,” he said instead. “Could you tell her that Hari Samarth is here with me?”

Hari stared at his toes, twisted his trembling hands together, and refused to meet Mariel’s eyes even when she said hello to him. This made her throw an accusatory look at Vansh. As though Vansh had dragged an innocent to the gallows that were Naina Kohli’s office for his own benefit in whatever game Naina and he were playing.

She was a smart woman.

“Oh, and could you also tell Ms. Kohli that we need to speak with her before we head up to our meeting with Mr. Mehta?”

Naina stormed out of her office much like a nor’easter. So icy was her demeanor that she might have frozen off Vansh’s extremities. He checked his fingers to make sure they hadn’t fallen off.

“Mariel, can you inform Mr. Raje that we are aware that he is aware that Mr. Mehta is currently in New York. Also, please tell him that lying to get his way isn’t going to work.” Then her eyes met his and her cheeks went flaming red in the most un–Ms. Kohli way.

“It got you out here,” Vansh said directly to her, even though he was tempted to keep playing the “Mariel, please tell Ms. Kohli . . .” game. It just felt a little too TV Land classics to stretch it further.

Naina gave him her We are not amused brow raise and looked away, cheeks still flaming. Then her eyes fell on Hari. One look at his lost and tortured face and she melted like a nor’easter hitting volcanic lava.

She went to Hari.

Hiding behind Hari had been a good call after all.

Hari’s hands trembled as he patted his spiked hair.

“It’s lovely to see you again, Hari. I’m Naina. You probably don’t remember but we met during the campaign. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude to you.” A quick sideways look proved exactly who she’d meant to be rude to.