21. JAKE

She has forty-five million.

The day is done, but I can't get out of my seat.

All I hear is the rest of the team going to her desk and congratulating her. They tell her no one can get close to her portfolio this year. That she's fantastic and mind-blowing. Someone even bows down by Patel's legs and makes everyone laugh.

Logging into my personal email, I pull up the sale terms for the Lakeside Property. I've done incredibly well with my investments this year, and my commissions have always been very healthy, but the house is worth over two million dollars.

I need the bonus. That bonus should be mine.

Leo comes to stand in front of my desk. "You should congratulate her. What she's achieved has set a new record."

I shut my computer down and walk over to the dwindling celebration. Laughter fades when people see me.

Patel turns around, and her smile also falters, but then she sticks it back on.

"You always have next year," she says.

"Forty-five million," I say, repeating the number that's been torturing me. "It's not possible."

"Don't be a sore loser," says Leo, immediately jumping to her defense. "Of course, it's possible. It's Reema. Nothing is impossible for her."

I see it then. The twitch in her cheek. It's the shadow of a wince. She did something. She's not admitting it, but there's more to this forty-five than stockpiling clients.

"Why can't you be happy for her?" Leo asks. Behind him, the rest of the team slinks away. Now it's just the three of us left.

He continues bragging about Patel, but he doesn't see her like I do. I've sat across her and catalogued every shift in her expressions.

"How did you do it?" I ask again. "You didn't get a whale client. I checked. It's all smaller clients adding up to the forty-five million."

"I… didn't get a whale," she confirms, looking like she's chewing on the side of her cheek. "You know there's no point in going after one of those. Waste of time."

I think about her tossing her sister's guest list in the recycling bin. It's obvious now she has no idea Tarun Singh is going to be at the wedding. It was never about him.

Somehow she's increased her portfolio without him.

"The gap between us can't be that much," I insist.

Again, there's that little wince in her cheek.

"It's not feasible to win that many clients. There'd have to be two of you working at the same time."

"Next year it's going to be yours."

"See," exclaims Leo, "she believes you'll come back stronger next year!"

That's not it. Her statement was more of a promise, almost desperate in tone.

Next year it's going to be yours.

I tilt my head. I'm sniffing fucking guilt.

Patel hoists her bag up on her shoulder, getting ready to leave. "You still have next week to go. I'll be at my sister's wedding, back on the last day of the year-end. Who knows…"

We both know the truth. I can work every second this next week, but I can't bridge the gap between us. Not without?—

A whale.

Tarun Singh.

With him, I could take the lead again. Even if the chances of him signing are non-existent, it's my only shot. Will it work?

Patel did sign Moby Dick today.

What if it was possible?

If I got him, I'd win the bonus. But what reason do I have for getting close to him?

"Did you find that date for your sister's wedding yet?" I find myself asking.

Patel averts her eyes. "No."

"Good. I'll come with you."