Raj grinned for the first time all day. “And that is why her advice was so valuable to me. Because she knows how to make the hard decisions. Ajay, I think I’m going to see my mother.”

She registered the surprise on his face.

“Are you sure?”

Raj nodded. After her brother had left, and after she was able to focus on other things once the press conference ended, she had the niggling feeling of regret in her heart. She didn’t want to feel anything other than acceptance when it came to her family. Unfortunately, that would mean having to see her brother again, too.

Ajay linked his hands with Raj’s. “Do you want me to come with you? We can take the jet and spend as much time there as you want.”

Her heart swelled with so much love for him. It was so soon, so early, but that didn’t matter. She’d spent years in a loveless relationship, an arrangement, so she knew without a doubt what her feelings were.

“I would like that a lot,” she whispered, and tilted her face up to kiss him.

When the kiss never came, she narrowed her eyes. “I think you missed your cue there.”

He shook his head. “I need to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

He led her to the far end of the table, where one recessed light brightened the table and chair. A manila folder and ballpoint pen sat in front of the chair. Ajay ushered her to sit down. “I have another proposition for you.”

“You want to talk business? Ajay, we’ve both had an incredibly long day.”

He rolled his eyes at her, which only made her want to grab the pen and jab him with it. She was about to say so when he opened the folder in front of her.

“This is a personal partnership. I want you to know what the terms are before our relationship continues any further.”

Raj tried to focus, tried to concentrate on the words in front of her. They slowly began to take shape, and when she realized what they said, her love grew exponentially.

“This is an employment agreement,” she whispered. “To work as part of HAZ Enterprises as president of the Singh Foundation.”

“You get to do what you want . . . but you also will be working with the family. You’ll be working with me.”

“Ajay, I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes. Tell me you’ll be my family, my future. If you don’t like it, then I’ll do what I can to help you create your second life, but all I’m asking is that I’m a part of it. What do you think?”

“I think that the terms aren’t very clear, and I’m going to need additional information.”

His brows V’d. “Additional information? Like what?”