Chapter Nine Ajay

Ajay knew it wasn’t a good look for him to be leaving the gym at eleven on a Friday night. He was practically the only one in the facility in his building, and when he returned to his penthouse, his plans were to get back to work. He’d been going to lift weights and run every day since his fight with Raj on Monday. If he didn’t burn off the anger somehow, it would spill over to his employees, and that couldn’t happen.

How much she affected him was irritating, he thought, as he dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. He quickly made himself a cup of chai and sat at the dining room table with his laptop. What was more important for him to remember was that Raj might have family connections that could hurt everyone, not just his uncle.

He checked his watch. He’d put off his conversation with Sri for way too long.

AJAY:I know it’s late, but I need to ask you a few questions. If you’re not available, please schedule time with Rafael on my calendar for tomorrow.

SRI:I can talk now, sir.

Ajay put in a video call in response. Sri’s bald head glistened under recessed lighting. His deep-set brown eyes were shadowed behind thick lenses.

“Sir,” Sri said. “How can I help?”

“I know you have a full plate. I need you to do some additional digging for me. A side project.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Rajneet Kaur Hothi. I need to know about her background.”

“Owner of RKH Collective?”

“Yes. Tell me about her family. What do they do? I want to know everything. Okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Great. Thanks, Sri. Any updates on your other projects?”

Ajay’s head of security shook his head. “Not yet, sir.”

The amount of time and space that Ajay had given the man, including the additional resources, should’ve been more than enough for him to at least figure out WTA’s next move.

“I need you to provide daily progress updates to Rafael, Sri.”

Sri balked, but managed to control his expression. “Sir?”

“I want progress, Sri.”

“But sir, daily progress updates will take time that I don’t have.”

“You’ll have to make it,” Ajay said. “This has gone on for a while now.”

Sri cleared his throat and pulled at the collar of his sweatshirt. “Yes, sir.”

Ajay hung up without another word. He’d barely gotten control of his irritation before another incoming call notification popped up. He answered and a video chat box filled his screen. “Bhram. Kidha, bhai? How are you doing?”

“Vadhiya, vadhiya.” Bhram looked freshly shaved and showered. He sat against the predawn light in the UK. “I thought I’d catch you before I went to gurdwara.”

“Gurdwara? Shit, is it a holy day or a cultural holiday? Am I going to have to get back to New Jersey tomorrow morning?”

“No, fool, but if you’re only going to the temple on holy days, your mother is going to find out and kill you. I’ve been going with Gopal Uncle. Now that he’s out of rehab, he’s staying here in London with me. We go to gurdwara, eat in the kitchens, and then volunteer in the food pantry.”

Ajay winced. Not only had he neglected going to gurdwara for a long time, he’d also forgotten that his cousin had been taking care of his father’s brother.

“If Gopal is doing better with you, then don’t send him back to India just yet. Our fight with WTA isn’t over, and they may exploit him again. He’s a weak link.”

“I know, brother. I didn’t call to talk about our uncle, though.”

“Fine. The answer is no, I cannot pass a message to Rafael in math class. You’re going to have to be a big boy and ask him to the school dance all on your own.”

“Up yours,” Bhram said, lifting a middle finger. “I can woo Rafael on my own. He’s just going to take some more time to convince that I deserve a second chance.”

“Good. Now if you’re done, I have actual work to do, brother.”

“I’ll let you get to it, but I found out some information that you may want to know. A connection of mine who works in California has a partner at WTA. He said that WTA hasn’t been able to complete the location software that is supposed to compete with ours. I know that Zail is under the gun to meet the patent filing deadline, but it looks like that’s the only challenge he’ll have. WTA is not a threat.”

Ajay’s mind raced as he processed the information. “That means Sahar didn’t go work for WTA, even though that’s exactly where we assumed she’d go.”

“Bingo. If the intel was right, and she was going to work for WTA, then she would’ve helped them complete their project before ours. Has your security team been able to keep track of her and verify the relationship in WTA?”

“No, actually.” It hadn’t been until Bhram said her name that he realized he hadn’t asked Sri for follow-ups on that project in particular. Sri should’ve been able to easily secure that information. His head of security had definitely become a liability. His gut was telling him to let the man go, but there was too much at stake right now to make any hasty moves in one of his most essential departments. He’d also been the one to trust Sri from the beginning, and he hated being wrong. Hopefully with the daily status updates, he’d prompted Sri to move faster to get answers.

Ajay scrubbed a hand down his face before focusing in on his cousin again. “I’ll connect with Security. Right now, I’m setting up for a major acquisition.”

“Acquisition?”

Ajay told Bhram about the project, about Raj’s connection to the company through her ex-husband, the information she’d provided about Sahar. And because Bhram was family and another brother to him, Ajay admitted how much he wanted Raj. When he was finished, Bhram let out a low whistle.

“That’s a lot, Ajay. But then again, you always put a shit ton of pressure on yourself. If you really want to do this, though, I support you. I just think that you need to work fast. You have to make the announcement at the quarterly board meeting, which is in, what, three or four weeks? Sitting by yourself on a Friday night reviewing corporate documents isn’t going to be enough. You should get the answers straight from Raj.”

“I have Legal on it.”

“Not enough.” Ajay shook his head even as Bhram said the words. “Your instincts are sharper than all of ours. You read people just like your father can. Talk to her about the business to get the best sense of how to approach this acquisition. And who knows? Maybe it’ll solve your itch, too.”

“If she’ll talk to me.”

“Ha. Now you know how I feel. At least in your situation, Raj wants you to buy her company, so eventually she’ll have to come around.”

“Thanks for the advice, Bhram.”

“You got it. Now I’m off to gurdwara. Don’t be a jerk and go visit Guru Nanak soon. You need an answer to a prayer to get through the next few months.”

“Thanks, asshole.”

“You’re welcome.”

After Bhram’s parting shot, the screen went blank. Ajay sat in the silence of his penthouse for a long time. His chai had gone cold, and the email on his screen went unread. He remembered his cousin’s advice and picked up his phone.

AJAY:I’m reviewing your files. Your sales projections don’t add up.

RAJ:You’re still considering my company after Monday?

AJAY:You think that I’m foolish enough to let sex get in the way of business? No, darling. I’m exploring every opportunity for profit and buying yours looks like a good one.

RAJ:I’m glad to hear that. Have your EA call mine to set up a call. My attorneys can answer you.

AJAY:You want us to buy the company, you talk to me personally when I want an answer.

RAJ:I guess that’s fair.

AJAY:Good. Let’s talk now?

RAJ:I’m unavailable now.

AJAY:Plans on your Friday night?

RAJ:As a matter of fact, yes. I’m on my way to the Ice Palace. This conversation will have to wait for some other time, Ajay. Email me those questions.

Ajay jolted when he read the words on the screen. The Ice Palace was one of the hottest clubs in the Meatpacking District. He barely went out, and even he knew that. Everyone who was anyone wanted to be seen there. More importantly, the Fire Lounge was an exclusive VIP room for private parties. There was no doubt what went on behind those closed doors.

His gut churned at the thought of Raj going to a club and having meaningless sex. Sex with someone who wasn’t him.

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen,” he grumbled, and strode toward his bedroom. He dialed Rafael’s cell as he began digging through his closet.

“Yes, sir,” Rafael said.

“I need to get on the VIP list for the Ice Palace. Tonight.”

“Uh... sir?”

“Tonight, Rafael.”

“Ajay... you normally don’t go to places like the— Oh. I understand now. Give me ten minutes. I’ll have your driver meet you out front in the same amount of time.”

“Thanks, Rafael.”

Ajay hung up the phone and ripped off his clothes in a fury. With each passing minute, his anger continued to bubble.

“There is only one reason why she told me what her plans are, and that’s because she wants to get a reaction out of me. Well, Raj, you’re about to see my reaction. If you want to fuck, then I’m your man,” he said under his breath. “I am the only person you’re going to mess around with from here on out, dammit.”

Fifteen minutes later, he was on his way to the Ice Palace.

I hope you’re ready for me,he thought to himself as anticipation burned through his veins. Raj had underestimated him for the last time.