She went down the row and petted each dog, aware that Ajay followed close behind, standing next to her sometimes as if he was ready to step between her and the pen. She knew very well that he wanted to make sure she didn’t get bitten but was trying to hide his intentions by pretending to be supportive instead. Men were so easy to read sometimes.

“Gen One is your next move,” he said, breaking their silence. “But what about opening up your own foundation?”

Raj let Ajay help her get to her feet. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, Gen One has a very narrow focus. With your own foundation, you could do things like this.” He motioned to the rows of shelter animals waiting for new homes. “Soni, you love being here,” he said in Punjabi. “Your face is glowing. Wouldn’t you want to help out just as much with the animal shelters you’re involved in?”

“Sure, but I can still do that and also work for Gen One.”

“But not with as much attention and focus as you’d be able to on your own, right?”

“That’s true.” She circled until they stood in front of the door they’d entered from. “What brought this on?”

Ajay tucked his hands into his jeans pockets. “I see you like this, and then I think about how you were at the Gen One gala. I can’t help but think this is where you belong, not at a conservative organization.”

She felt her heart clutch. He saw so much. Or maybe she let him see a part of her that she should be more careful with. It was too fast, too soon for her to be feeling so attached to Ajay Singh. She turned her back on him and approached one of the shepherds on the far wall who was dancing on her hind legs, begging for attention.

“Gen One is my gateway into the work that I like to do.”

“It’s a worthy cause, no argument. But are you sure it’s a gateway or a step farther from your goal? Even if you work for another company, heading up a large private foundation, you could do this kind of work. Bharat, for example, has a foundation that my mother directs. She recommends causes and we just supply the money.”

Raj gave him a rueful smile. “Well, I’m not going to do any philanthropic work if I can’t sell my company. You still haven’t given me a decision.”

“Fine,” he said, holding his hands up in surrender. “I know avoidance when I hear it. I’ll let it go.”

“Thank you.”

“As for buying you out, I still haven’t connected with my brothers and father. It’ll be a few more days before I can get you an answer.”