“Sahar is why we lost Sahar, Zail.”
“It was a setup,” he said through gritted teeth. “The security report is super vague, isn’t it? You have a name of her potential relative, and a bunch of possible connections, but no family pictures, no birth certificates, nothing concrete. I’m telling you, bhai. There is no way Sahar’s uncle works for WTA. I would’ve known about it. We went to school together. We worked together. Raj’s intel is wrong or she’s played you.”
“Raj had nothing to gain by getting rid of Sahar. And Sri, our head of security, couldn’t find anything that disproved Raj’s findings.”
“Sri is an idiot and you should’ve fired him the minute he screwed up.”
Zail had never hidden his feelings about Sri. The fact that Raj agreed with him and had said something similar at the gala rubbed Ajay the wrong way. Maybe it was time to call Sri in and transfer him to a different department. It was just that the man was his first hire since he started the department. Since Ajay had brought him on to lead the cyber security team, Sri had always been loyal. Maybe something had changed.
A group of aunties wearing brightly colored saris and anarkalis giggled behind their hands as they passed. Ajay could barely control an eye roll. He looked over at his brother.
“I’m sorry. I know you don’t like Sri or Raj, and you believed in Sahar, but there was nothing more we could do. Come on. Let’s get back before we’re accosted.”
They wove through tables and dancers until they reached the secluded corner where Uncle Frankie had put the entire Singh family. Ajay’s parents sat at one end of the table while Hem and Mina sat next to them.
Ajay’s mother looked regal in a pale cream and gold salwar kameez with a thick gold choker and matching gold earrings. She pointed at Ajay and then at his father. “Come sit next to your papa. He’s in a sour mood.”
Deepak Singh, the genius businessman who’d created some of the most groundbreaking location technology in the world, sat back in his chair with his arms crossed over his broad tuxedo-clad chest. “I don’t understand why I can’t go sit with Frankie. Tusi mainu mara rahe ho. You’re killing me, woman.”
“Deepak, if you go sit with him you’ll want to drink whiskey and smoke cigars. The doctor was very clear about your restrictions. Stop whining, otherwise I really will kill you.”
“Dad, we’ll have your whiskey for you,” Ajay said with a grin. He sat next to the man who’d taught him how to drink. “When is dinner? Do we get to eat right away or is Uncle Frankie going to have, like, ten relatives toast the bride and groom first? Those speeches are so long.”
Ajay’s mom leaned across his father and gripped his hand. Her wrists full of bangles rang as they hit the tabletop. “You can’t go until you meet Shilpa Aunty’s niece.”
“Here we go again,” Zail mumbled next to him.
A buzzing interrupted their flow of conversation, and Ajay pulled out his cell phone from his breast pocket. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the rest of his family was checking their various devices, as well.
“That’s me,” Mina said. She reached into a tiny pouch that matched the mirror work on her salwar kameez to retrieve her phone. “Oh. Raj is here.”
Even as she said the words, Ajay spotted the woman he’d been waiting to see. Anticipation unfurled in his gut as he took her in. She wasn’t as tall as some of the other Punjabi women in attendance, but like always, her heels gave her formidable stature. Her gown flowed around her as she paused at the entrance where Uncle Frankie was still greeting the last of the arrivals. Ajay watched as she folded her hands together as if to say namaste, and then handed over an envelope.
Ajay didn’t realize he was standing until Zail said his name in a sharp tone.
“Don’t even think about bringing her here to sit with us.”
“No, I—” An older man went over to talk to Frankie and Raj.
If he was going to speak with her, he needed to look inconspicuous. The old man next to him would have to do as his excuse. “Papa, I want to introduce you to someone. Can you take a walk with me?”
Deepak Singh’s face brightened, and without asking Ajay’s mother what she would prefer, he was out of his chair like a shot. “Challo, puttar. Let’s go.”
Ajay held out his arm for his father to hold.
“Ajay,” Mina called out. Her expression was solemn. “She’s more delicate than she wants people to think. Be kind.”
“This is business, Mina. Nothing more.” He led his father slowly across the ballroom to where Raj stood talking with Uncle Frankie and the second gentleman.
“Your mother is hovering,” his father said. “I was about to go mad.”
“I could tell. Now as repayment, I need you to be on your best behavior.”
“I am always on my best behavior, even when I am being used by my grown son to talk to a pretty girl.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Hem gave me a little bit of background, Ajay. I know your mind better than you think. Just remember that your mother is like a vulture when it comes to these things. She’s going to ask questions.”
“It’s nice to know that some things never change.”
They approached the trio near the entrance. It took all of Ajay’s concentration not to freeze when Raj’s eyes met his.
She looked even more stunning up close. Her makeup was muted, and in the center of her perfectly arched brows she wore a simple round rhinestone bindi that matched the trimmings on the purse-pouch that hung from her wrist. Her lips parted slightly as she scanned him head to toe before she turned back to Uncle Frankie.
“Apologies for interrupting,” Ajay said as he moved to stand next to Raj. “Uncle Frankie, I wanted to introduce my father to Ms. Hothi here.”
The old man’s bushy white eyebrows leaped in surprise. “You know each other? I didn’t think your circles crossed.”
“I didn’t think yours did, either, Uncle Frankie.”
“Ms. Hothi invested in an office complex in Long Island City with a few other parties that Peter here put together. We’ve kept in touch for, what is it, Raj, a year now?”
“Just about. Ajay, I’m so glad that you’ve brought this incredibly handsome man over.” She reached out and gripped his father’s hand in both of hers. “The legendary Deepak Singh needs no introduction. I’m so sorry I missed you at the last fundraiser event you were scheduled to attend. Your wife is a lucky woman to have such a dashing hero in a tux at her side.” She leaned over and pressed a kiss to each crinkled cheek.
Ajay thought she was laying it on a bit thick, and he was about to say so when he saw his father’s face go ruddy with pleasure.
Well, I’ll be damned, he thought. She’d charmed his father with a few cheesy words.
“Fundraiser?” Deepak asked. “Was it Gen One? I’m disappointed now more than ever that I missed the opportunity to meet such a lovely person such as yourself then. It’s a shame our paths haven’t crossed before?”
“The disappointment is mutual.”
“Deepak, Raj is in the security business,” Peter said. “If Bharat is ever in the market for security services, you should partner up!”