Jiggy stopped at the bar, picked up two glasses of scotch, and took them to a tall table all the way in a far corner where they had a view of the dance floor but were far enough to also have some privacy. Jiggy handed Vansh a glass. “I’m all ears. Tell me about this project you have in mind.”

Vansh took a sip. Fine, he’d just have to fill Naina in later. He’d spent the past couple of days poring over the data Hari had collected. They didn’t have an exact plan yet, but it seemed like focusing on people like Hari, who were employable but knocked down by bad decisions and worse luck, was a good place to start. Finding them employment seemed like a manageable piece of this gargantuan challenge.

Jiggy watched him.

Vansh opened his mouth. But he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t do this behind Naina’s back. “You know what, you were right. You should be enjoying your party. Let’s talk about this at your office.”

Jiggy gave another one of his shark smiles, all teeth and bloodthirsty eyes. “Let me make this easier for you, Vansh. You know who’s important in all this?”

Vansh had no doubt Jiggy was about to enlighten him.

“Yash,” Jiggy said in a tone he might have used had he been saying the Lord almighty. “The Raje name. As you can imagine, Naina’s work is meaningless to me, but being associated with the governor’s girlfriend was a good look for the Omnivore Foundation. Doors open up. That’s how the world works, as you well know.”

Something cold curled around Vansh. He’d known this, of course, but having it declared like this as though it weren’t wrong made it vastly more so.

Jiggy wasn’t done. “You know who will always be related to the Rajes?”

As a matter of fact, Vansh did know. But he refused to jump at Jiggy’s laser pointer like a frolicking kitten. He waited.

Jiggy took a sip of his drink. An auntie dressed like she was at a wedding waved at Jiggy from across the room. Then again, they were all dressed like that. This auntie just really loved her gold jewelry. The billionaire signaled at her to give him a minute.