Chapter Five Rajneet
UNKNOWN NUMBER:It’s your bhai. We need to talk.
Raj stared at the text message for a moment longer before she blocked the number, turned her phone to Do Not Disturb, and tucked it back into her tote. She had no idea how her brother got her contact information, but she’d have to resource someone to find out.
When she left India and came to the US to study, he’d been one of the only people who supported her. He’d argued with their parents that he’d gone abroad to get his education, and she should be able to, as well. But then, when she didn’t want to go home to Punjab to fall in line and meet every expectation that had been laid at her feet since her birth, he’d turned his back on her. And after she’d opened RKH Collective, he’d ensured everyone else in her family did the same.
Her car slowed in front of a slate-gray building at the heart of Park Avenue.
“Here we are,” the driver said.
“Thank you. One hour.”
“I’ll be waiting for your text, ma’am.”
She stepped out of the car and into the balmy fall air. The weather meant nothing to the dramatic hustle of Midtown. Men and women in suits strode down the sidewalk with wireless earbuds and various sizes of leather bags, creating a frenetic movement that demanded everyone keep up. The sheer energy smelled like money and confirmed what she already knew: she had too much on her plate right now to lose focus on what mattered most to her.
Squaring her shoulders, she strode through the glass doors of Bharat’s office building with her tote hanging from her forearm.
The lobby was an architectural showpiece of glass and steel. Twisting pillars formed arches over a wide, oval concierge desk.
“Hello,” she said as she approached the first available attendee. “Rajneet Kaur Hothi. Here to see Mr. Ajay Singh in Bharat’s offices.”
“Just you?” the woman asked.
It wasn’t a strange question. She usually brought one of her assistants or even an executive with her, depending on the nature of the business meeting. She didn’t want to alarm anyone at RKH, though, so for the first time in years, she was on her own.
“Just me today.”
The woman took her ID, pointed a handheld camera at her for a picture, and printed out a visitor’s tag. “Elevators to the far right for floors forty-six to sixty-five. They’re expecting you.”
Raj made her way up to Bharat’s executive floor and stepped into a lobby that was encased in even more glass. A slender man of medium height in a suit and narrow black tie greeted her at the entrance.
“Ms. Hothi?” he asked, tablet in hand.
“That’s me.”
“I’m Rafael. Ajay’s EA. I can take you to him now.”
“Rafael, please call me Raj. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Lead the way.” She gestured toward the open workspace behind reception.
Raj didn’t know why she was so surprised that Ajay had a male EA. As someone who hated stereotypes about women in the workplace, she shouldn’t automatically believe stereotypes about Indian men, too. She knew enough professionals that she had to stop assuming they were all sexist predictable pigs. Ajay could have a male EA instead of an attractive woman supporting his sexist fantasies. But then again, Ajay wasn’t an average Punjabi man and he’d done nothing predictable.
They followed the perimeter of the floor until they reached the far corner office. The glass walls were covered with a privacy screen, but Raj could hear voices coming from behind the double doors.
Rafael entered first, then stepped aside for Raj.
The skyline was the first thing that she saw. The river, the harbor, and glinting steel stroked in sunlight. In front of it was a large mahogany desk with dual monitors. A matching table was situated in the corner with a Polycom unit and telepresence screens hanging on the wall above it. A couch and two armchairs bracketed a coffee table off to the right of the desk.
Ajay wasn’t alone. He stood from his high-back leather chair just as Mina and a man Raj didn’t recognize turned to face her. Hem, Mina’s boyfriend and the eldest Singh brother, leaned against the side of the desk.
“Sir,” Rafael began, “Ms. Hothi is here for your one o’clock. Raj, can I get you anything?”
“No thank you, Rafael. I appreciate it.”
He nodded and shut the door behind her quietly.
Raj turned back to the expectant faces and started with the familiar.
“Mina.”
Her best friend’s lips quirked. “Raj. I want to introduce you to my father, Tushar Kohli. Dad, this is my best friend, Raj.”
The older man extended a hand, but Raj brushed it away. “Uncle, family doesn’t greet family like that.” She kissed his cheek and gave him a friendly hug.
Tushar Kohli patted her shoulder and pulled away. His lips quirked in amusement. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
Raj turned to Hem. She grabbed her earlobes just like her mother used to when apologizing. “Sorry, yaar. I made a mistake and tried to fix it,” she said in Punjabi.
“Find a better way to fix it next time,” he responded in kind.
“You have my word.”
She pivoted to Ajay, who stood, arms crossed, watching her the whole time. The intensity of his stare had her hesitating, but she forced herself to relax. “Ajay Singh.”
“Rajneet Kaur Hothi.”
“Thank you for making the time to see me.”
“You called this meeting. I wasn’t sure what it was about, so I have Tushar, our head of Legal, and our outside counsel in attendance. Does that suit you?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
He motioned to the couch and armchairs. “Why don’t we have a seat so you can tell us what’s on your mind?”
She hated the formality of his tone, but she more than anyone knew that there was a certain dance that had to be done leading up to a business negotiation. The small talk, the handshakes, and hugs. It was all part of a build-up.
She sank into the armchair, and when everyone else was seated, she began. “Ajay, your father not only started your company, but he built a reputation over the last thirty years. And now his time as CEO is coming to an end.”
There was a tick at the corner of Ajay’s mouth, as if he hadn’t expected her directness to come quite so soon. He, along with Tushar, Mina, and Hem, remained silent.
“Deepak Singh’s health, along with his upcoming sixty-fifth birthday, mean that it’s time for him to step down. Since Hem isn’t interested in taking over your family company, that leaves you.”
“You’re not telling us anything we don’t already know,” Ajay said. “What’s your point?”
“My point is that you’re recovering from a press nightmare. After WTA tried to take over your company, your leadership is in question, Bharat’s pristine reputation is at stake, and your stock prices have stagnated.”
“We’re aware of the work that needs to be done,” Hem said. “We know how bad the situation is. We also have a plan for how to fix it.”
“Right,” Raj said. “The software that was in development before your head of R D was fired for being a WTA mole. You have a provisional patent that ends in what, one year? That means that your deadline is November.”
Ajay and Hem looked at each other.
Mina laughed. “I told you that she knows everything.”
Raj grinned. “It’s public information at this point.” She leaned forward in her seat and met Ajay’s glare. “Your patent is not going to get the market excited enough to increase the value of your shares and to secure support for your position as CEO. You need to do something drastic, otherwise you won’t get the support you need.”
“What do you propose?” Hem asked.
“Buy RKH Collective. Expand Bharat to include cybersecurity and physical security services.”
Pin-drop silence.
“Raj...” Mina started. “This wasn’t exactly what I meant last week when I said you should sell your business.”
“No, but it makes sense.” Raj paced to the window. This was harder for her than she’d expected, but she knew it was the right decision for her future. “Bharat has to expand, and the timing is perfect. Not to mention, the type of work RKH does is a natural extension of what you already do.”
“Ms. Hothi—”
“Raj, please.”
“Raj, then.” Tushar nodded. “What exactly can RKH provide that Bharat doesn’t have? We can create a dedicated security team on our own if that’s an area we want to pursue.”
She turned on her heel to look at the expectant faces in the room. “I have a local facility, trained employees, long-term contracts, and a growth strategy. It would take years for Bharat to develop what I’m offering you today.”
Her eyes met Ajay’s. “You sign the paperwork for a buyout and make the announcement. No one will question that you’re perfect for CEO.”
“Clear the room.”
Ajay had spoken so matter-of-factly that it took her a moment to register his words.
“No, it’s fine—” she began.
“Clear the room,” he said again.
Raj watched as Ajay shared a look with his family and legal counsel before, one by one, they stood and headed for the door.
“I’m going to make sure Zail is occupied,” Hem murmured. “Call me if you need me, brother.”
“That goes for you, too,” Mina said, pointing at Raj.
Raj and Ajay were alone a moment later.
He strode forward, then stood with her, shoulder to shoulder, facing the brilliant blue sky and glistening cityscape together.
“Why are you selling?”
“You didn’t need to clear the room for me to tell you that.”
“I did if I wanted you to cut the bullshit.”
She straightened. “Are you still pissed at me about Robert?”
“No, but it looks like you’re still keeping secrets.”
“Watch your step, Ajay Singh. You aren’t my only choice for a buyer.”
He rolled his eyes, and for the first time in as long as she could remember, Raj was speechless. Had he seriously just rolled his eyes at her? She hated when a man rolled his eyes.
“Answer the question, Rajneet. Why are you selling?”
“It’s an opportune time to—”
“The truth.”
She faced him, arms crossed. “Cut me off again and I’ll cut off more than your words. Understand?”
“Hothi, did you know you get this little sexy accent when you’re pissed? Kind of like all of the polish and sheen and assimilation can’t control you. Your Punjabi roots are showing, and you’re a real phataka when they do.”
Assimilation. That fucking word grated on her nerves like nothing else ever could. In the same breath he’d complimented her by calling her a firecracker. Ajay, with his comfortable upbringing and his proud Punjabi parents who’d established roots before he could, would never understand what it was like to immigrate to a new country at such a young age, to be a woman who had to speak the language of her older, straight-white-male client base. Just because she had polish didn’t mean she’d assimilated. Just because she’d married a man to give her access to her dreams didn’t mean she’d suppressed her Punjabi roots.
So many second-generation Indians didn’t understand, she thought as she stepped back from Ajay. Her fury was barely contained. “I think we’re done here.”
“You have to tell me if you want to work with me and my family.”
“That’s not a business require—”
“I thought you were smarter than that.”
“I want to start over!” she burst out. Her hands fisted at her sides as she tried to regain control of her temper. “Because my divorce is going through in a few months. I have a job offer from Gen One, and I want to screw my ex-husband after he screwed with me, by selling to his competitor, dammit. I also want a challenge again and selling accomplishes all those things. Happy?”
Ajay smiled at her now, and it was so disarming that she stood motionless, even as he reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear.
“I’m sorry. That comment was out of line.”
“You said it to piss me off.”
“And it worked. I won’t go there again, though.”
Raj paused. “I... appreciate it.”
“I can’t commit to anything until I meet with my executive team,” he said. “In the meantime, we’ll get the nondisclosures in place. If and when we decide we’re interested, you’ll send over your corporate documents and we’ll start the review process.”
She let out an audible breath.
“I’ll have my legal team get the ball rolling on our end. Maybe we’ll do business, or maybe we won”t. I’m willing to explore the options, though.”
Raj grabbed her bag and had crossed the room when Ajay’s hand caught hers. She turned and found herself inches from his chest. He’d sneaked up behind her so silently that she hadn’t even realized he’d followed her to the exit.
“What’s this?” she asked, leaning back against the door. A fluttering in the pit of her stomach spread warmth through her body. She was barely able to control her shiver.
Ajay shifted so that his hands rested on either side of her head. He leaned forward until his nose almost touched hers. His scent, a subtle fresh and clean musk, fogged her senses. He was so much taller than her that it felt like he was surrounding her.
“When is the divorce final?” he asked. His voice was low, and Raj followed the subtle curve of his lips as they moved. She felt hypnotized.
“Three months.”
“Three months until you’re a free woman?”
“I’ve been a free woman since I was eighteen. Marriage doesn’t change that, you ass.”
“I wasn’t referring to your freedom as a woman... darling. You got an offer from Gen One. Knowing as much as I do about you, there is no way you’re going to take another lover right now.” He inched impossibly closer when he whispered those words, and her skin hummed with anticipation. “You’re too worried right now that you’ll be caught when all eyes are on you as a potential candidate. But when you’re ready, I’m willing.”
“I thought you weren’t going to touch me. Not after the gala.” What was happening to her? How had the tables turned on her so quickly? She straightened, horrified at herself for being sucked under, like a current was dragging her away from solid ground.
He traced a hand down the curve of her cheek. “I think we still have unfinished business between us that I’d like to explore. Don’t you want to see how we are, too?” Ajay stepped back, leaving her unsteady on her stilettos. “Now that we’re not mad at each other and all. I’ll see you at the Gupta wedding. I assume you were invited.”
Her brain kicked in again now that he had given her space. “I’ve been invited to the reception. Are you going to be there?”
“Frankie, the bride’s grandfather, is on the Bharat board. He’s an old friend of our father’s.”
Raj made it a point to decline every Indian wedding she was ever invited to. Spending days exchanging social niceties with women who would rather see her floating in the Hudson was not her strength. However, she’d go to the Gupta reception. Being seen was important for her image now. For her company’s image.
And for closing the sale of RKH and starting over.
Raj smiled at Ajay, even though she was still a bit lightheaded from his close proximity. With a little wiggle of her fingers, she opened the door. “It’s been a pleasure. I look forward to seeing you and your brothers this weekend.”
“Raj?”
“Yes?” she said, pausing to look over her shoulder.
“I have a feeling you’ll be seeing a lot more of me. Soon.”