Ajay began eating the food that had been placed in front of him even as his thoughts continued to center around Raj. He was interested, but that was where it would have to end. He had an obligation to his family, to his legacy.

Chapter Seven
Rajneet

AJAY SINGH: I’ll need financials, corporate docs, everything you got.

RAJ: Did yesterday’s wedding sell you? Are we making a deal?

AJAY SINGH: Not yet, Rajneet. But send docs to my counsel, cc me. I want to see what I’m working with and I’ll call you tomorrow.

RAJ: My Mondays are usually busy, but I’ll clear my calendar for you.

AJAY SINGH: Oh? Your evening, too?

RAJ: It depends on how interesting you’re willing to make the negotiations.

Raj sat behind her glass desk surrounded with paperwork. Her head of Legal, Harnette, occupied one of the off-white chairs across from her, while her assistant, Tracey, sat in the other. They’d been hovering over their tablets and laptops for the last hour and a half.

“I think that covers it for prepping Bharat,” Raj said to two of her oldest employees. “If Bharat needs anything else, then route the request to my cell phone. I’ll handle it personally. This is just talk. I don’t want to alarm anyone.”

She was met with nods.

“Do we have anything else?”

Her assistant nodded. “The animal shelter in Midtown. They called and wanted to ask if you could come down after the fifteenth. They said that you may be interested in seeing some of the animals that are coming in.”

Raj felt her heart jump and pressed a hand to her chest. She’d wanted one for so long, but with getting her business off the ground and with Robert’s allergies, it had never been possible. But now . . .

“Was it—” She cleared her throat. “Was it Jill who called?”

“Yes, I believe so.”

Jill managed the shelter. She also knew exactly what Raj wanted.

The news had her itching to call Jill for more information right that second. Instead, she took a deep breath and nodded at Tracey. “Thank you for the message. Please add it to my calendar for the weekend following the fifteenth. Let Jill know that I’m seriously considering this time. Now that is taken care of, why don’t you two order lunch? On me. You deserve it.”

“I’ll take you up on that,” Harnette said with a smile.

“Me, too,” Tracey added. “Want me to order something for you, too, boss?”

“Sure. Use my corporate card.”

Tracey gave a thumbs-up. Before she could stand, the cell phone she gripped in her other hand let out a shrill.

She tucked her phone between her ear and shoulder. “Raj Hothi’s office.”

Raj watched her assistant’s eyes go wide. She shot a look at Harnette, who had also remained seated.

“What is it?” Raj asked.