Chapter Seventeen Ajay

“Have you listened to a word I’ve said?” Bhram called out in Punjabi. “I’ve been trying to talk to you about this for over a week.”

His cousin’s voice broke through the clouded mess of Ajay’s thoughts. He’d been staring out at the crystalline New York skyline. Chrome, glass, and steel buildings glinted against a robin’s egg blue backdrop. He loved his view. Ever since Bharat had built out office space in the Park Avenue location, he’d come stand in his father’s office, now his, and just watch the city. It was even better than the sparkling cityscape from his penthouse.

He faced his cousin, who looked way too alert for taking a red-eye from London. “Sorry, Bhram, run that by me one more time.”

“You don’t care two tits about our UK office expansion.” His cousin’s expression softened. “Have you heard from her?”

Ajay shook his head. “Since the news broke, we’ve both been busy.”

“I’m sure, but brother, either you go to her, you talk to her and clean up the mess between yourselves, or you let her go. You have to get your head in the game, and your personal life is distracting you from what’s always been the most important thing in your life.” He held up his tablet with the opinion section of the Financial Times on display. “These are serious allegations that are getting visibility. They can ruin your chances of securing the CEO seat.”

Ajay took the tablet and scanned the text. The article was ugly, just like the three that had come before it since the news broke on Friday.

Bharat, Inc., is attempting to bolster its market value and its reputation by acquiring a cybersecurity and physical security services company. Although, on its face, the acquisition appears to be a sound decision to expand the Bharat portfolio, the company in question is owned by Rajneet Kaur Hothi.

This means one of two things. The first is that WTA succeeded in establishing itself as the technology giant pulling strings on Bharat’s next move (see yesterday’s article on the relationship between Rajneet Kaur Hothi and WTA). The second, which is more of a commentary on business engagement in a globalized economy, is that South Asian entrepreneurs are banding together to fight the lack of diversity and inclusion in the business world.

One truth remains: the heir apparent of Bharat, Ajay Singh, has not made a public statement regarding the company’s position, which doesn’t give investors confidence in the man touted as the next CEO of Bharat.

Ajay dropped the tablet back on the dining table. “Wouldn’t they love to know that my own brother is the reason why I’m not at a press conference right this moment? That Zail is holed up at Bharat Mahal waiting for me to say something so that he can make a move against me and against Raj? Both my brother and father are convinced this is a lesson that I have to learn on my own as a leader. Easy for them to say. They never had to deal with something like this before.”

Bhram shrugged. “I’m still stuck on the racist bullshit about South Asians banding together to take over the world. These colonizers, man. Always feeling threatened.”

“You’re not helping, cousin.”

Bhram stood and buttoned his suit jacket. “I think you need to go to Bharat Mahal and stay with your family until you can talk this out and come up with a solution. I’m happy to watch things here while you’re busy. I’m staying... nearby.”

“No, you need to head back to London. Even if you have to go for a weekend and then come back for next week’s meeting. I don’t trust our uncle alone with the caretakers. He hasn’t been in recovery long enough.”

“Don’t worry about Gopal,” Bhram said. “The people in charge are very qualified. You have enough on your shoulders to think about. Focus on the acquisition and leave the rest to the competent people in the company.”

“Thanks, Bhram.”

Rafael knocked on the doorframe. His gaze slid over to Bhram, held for a moment, then returned to Ajay. “Sri is here to see you.”

As if his day couldn’t get any worse. He’d been avoiding his head of security until he could compile the information he needed before terminating Sri’s employment.

“Does he know I only have five minutes before my next call?”

“I told him.”

“Good. Send him in.”

When Rafael didn’t budge and continued to stare at Bhram, Ajay stuck two fingers in his mouth and let out a piercing whistle, just like Mina had taught him.

Both his cousin and assistant jumped.

“Rafael, sooner rather than later.”

“Right. Okay. Bhram, I can show you out.”

Bhram was out of his chair like a shot, following on Rafael’s heels. Ajay rolled his eyes. Watching those two was like watching a telenovela crossed with an Indian soap.

Sri appeared moments later, wearing his customary black sweatshirt and Chucks. He was the oldest member of Raj’s security team, the most senior member, and he still looked like he was trying to fit in at a Silicon Valley tech mixer.

“How can I help you, Sri?” he said.

“Uh, sir, I wanted to ask if there was a problem.”

Ajay motioned to one of the chairs. Sri shook his head. “What do you mean?”

“Sir, my team and I have been working to locate Sahar Ali Khan for a while now. Same with intel on WTA and, most recently, Rajneet Kaur Hothi. We’ve been working hard—”

“With zero results.”

Sri glanced to the side, failing to look him in the eye. “Be that as it may, in my opinion as your security lead, it’s important to continue looking.”

This son of a bitch, Ajay thought. He’d trusted him. He’d defended him.

“I agree with you, Sri, but this isn’t supposed to be a difficult project. I haven’t gotten any information from you that shows me you’re making headway. That’s why I asked Legal to look into your team.”

This time, Sri’s cheeks went ashen. “Sir...”

“Nothing to worry about. Just making sure we don’t have another data leak. You understand.”

“Sir, we were blocked out of the system last night. If I could get access and download some of the files I need to work on, then I won’t be so unproductive.”

“No need,” Ajay said with a wave of his hand. “You’ll get paid regardless.”

“But this is my job.” For the first time in the years they’d worked together, Sri’s voice rose in volume. “If you don’t trust me to do it, then I shouldn’t be here.”

“I don’t trust anyone but my family,” Ajay said. And Rajneet.

Sri looked like he wanted to argue, to press the matter. Ajay was ready for him. Sri had to be dirty after all of this. And if he was, Ajay would nail Sri’s ass to the wall. He just needed to find out what Sri’s motive was in all of this.

Rafael poked his head through the door again before Sri could get a word out.

“You have a call.”

“Take a message. I have a staff meeting in minutes.”

“I know. You’ll want to take this one.”

Ajay glanced at Sri, then back at Rafael. “Fine. Sri, you can go.”

“Uh, yes sir. If we could maybe talk soon—”

“Next week,” Ajay said as he grabbed the receiver.

He waited until Sri and Rafael both had exited his office before he spoke into the mouthpiece. “This is Ajay.”

“It’s Raj.” Raj’s throaty voice gripped him like a vise. He took a shallow breath.

His blood ran hot and cold. The back of his neck prickled. How long had it been? Eight days? Ten? He was obsessed and had just come to terms with the fact that he was probably going to have to go back to her, to grovel and apologize because he wanted her in his life.

“Do you need something?”

“I apologize for disrupting you at work. I know you’re mad— I need your help. My housekeeper isn’t home, I couldn’t get in touch with Mina, and I didn’t want to bother my assistant. I gave her today off. I don’t know who else to call.”

He could hear the watery panic in her voice, and because he’d never known her to panic before, his instincts went on red alert. “Where are you?”

“I’m at my place. Can you... Ajay, can you come?”

“I’m leaving now.”

“O-Okay.”

The sniffle, that delicate sound of tears in her voice, had him panicking, too. Was she hurt? Had something happened to her? He had so many questions.

“I’ll be there soon,” he said softly, and hung up the call. Ajay buttoned his coat, grabbed his cell, and bolted out the door.

“Cancel my obligations for the rest of the day,” he said to Rafael as he passed by his desk. “I’ll take the staff meeting in the cab.”

“Sir, you have two with board members that cannot be rescheduled or canceled.”

“Have Dad or Bhram take them.”

He exited his office and walked as fast as he could to the elevator banks without calling attention to himself. Should he call 911? What if she was seriously injured? Could it have been her ex-husband? That bastard might have come back at her for revenge.

Ajay pushed through the steel-and-glass front doors and onto the sidewalk. His hand went up and a cab slowed just as he approached the curb.

Without waiting for it to come to a complete stop, he yanked open the door, slid onto the torn leather seat, and barked directions at the driver.

He’d see Raj in nineteen minutes, and somehow, he had to work before he got there.