She plugged her headphones into his ears. “You know what helps me when I’m nervous? Music.” She pulled up some bhangra numbers that she knew Hari loved on her phone. “It’s Badshah. You love this one.” They’d listened to it on repeat as they’d worked around the clock these past few months.

As soon as the music started, Hari’s shoulders loosened, though only a fraction and not nearly enough to indicate that taking him into that arena of lions was all right. They’d smell his nervousness and make sport out of him. Which was what Jiggy was looking for. Naina was sure of it.

Hari sank into a chair, head bobbing slightly to the music.

“We can’t do this, Vansh,” she hissed. “He can’t. I’ve seen this my whole life.” God, she hadn’t meant to think of her mother, but here it was. People had limits.

“And you’ve always pandered to the bully. Don’t you want to stand up for once?”

Naina’s heart started to thud. She had known this . . . this mixing emotions with work—this arrangement—was going to spell disaster. Why had she still done it?

As soon as he said it, regret rushed into his eyes. His hand twitched as though he was thinking about touching her, but he didn’t. Smart man. “Sorry, that was out of line.”

“Damn straight.”

“You have to trust me.”

“I’m already seeing how stupid that is.”

Naturally, that fell on him like a kick to his groin, which in turn made her so angry, she couldn’t remember why she’d been having trouble with it before.

Before Vansh could answer, one of Jiggy’s assistants stepped out of the boardroom and announced that they were ready for them.

Hari jumped up and gave Naina her phone. “Let’s do this,” he said.

Vansh studied her face. She’d expected smugness, but all she got was worry. We okay?

She didn’t know.

The moment they stepped into the dark-paneled room, Hari’s body seemed to seize up again, eyes widening and glazing with fear. Vansh squeezed his shoulder. The sense of impending doom bloated inside Naina.

Vansh plugged his laptop into the system, and the presentation they’d been working on popped up on the screen. Sadiya and Vansh had created a story so compelling and slick that just for a moment Naina felt hopeful, but then a squeak arose from Hari. His shaking turned frenzied.

Naina reached over and took his hand, a gesture of weakness not one of the suits missed.