Chapter 17
Mina made love with Hem two more times that night before she succumbed to exhaustion. She woke a few hours later to the feel of sunlight on her face and an empty bed beside her. When she reached out to touch where Hem had been, the sheets felt cool.
The clock read nine thirty, which mean that her lover was probably working.
Lover. She repeated the word in her head again and then shuddered. Nope. She’d have to work on that one.
Speaking of work, she thought. She had to work, too, but she wasn’t sure if she should go to the Kohli & Associates office.
It was Friday, and the likelihood that her uncles were remote was high, but Mina couldn’t chance it.
She would just have to check in with her legal assistant and paralegal and cancel any appointments.
She hugged Hem’s pillow against her chest and took in a deep breath.
Her life had shifted the night before, and she would never be the same again.
Not just because of Hem, but because of the new shape of her future.
Regardless of Sanjeev’s threats, she had the recording and she was going to report her uncles and hopefully secure Bharat from any more takeover attempts.
As sad as it was to admit, her goal for honoring her mother’s legacy had to change.
Mina began working through her schedule as she stepped in the shower. She took a few moments to luxuriate in the bath products that Hem kept for her before she reluctantly got out and wrapped herself in a soft towel to do skincare and apply a little bit of makeup.
After raiding his closet for the things he’d purchased for her, she put on a pair of jeans and a sleeveless white button- down shirt with a collar and a black bow at the neck.
They were just a few of the items he’d stashed for her next to his white shirts and suit coats that hung in military order.
Half an hour later, she found him in the penthouse’s loft office space, with a headset in one ear. He faced the wall of windows.
“I’ll deal with it on Monday. No, this client is an important one. I’ll be involved. There are a ton of capable people helping with my father’s company that they shouldn’t mind if I spend a few hours a day contributing to my own business needs.”
He motioned for Mina to come forward when she reached the top of the stairs.
The move was so utterly male, so dominant that she felt the need to say no at first simply on principle.
But she wanted to be with him, to touch him, so she obliged.
He pulled her close and she leaned against his side while he wrapped up the call.
“Morning, mera jivana,” he said as he tossed his earpiece on the desk. My life. She warmed at the sound of that and lifted her mouth for a kiss. “Morning. You have more clothes for me in your closet.”
“Really? I wonder who did that?”
She laughed. “Hem, we talked about this.”
“Do you like them?” he asked.
Mina relented. “Yes. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His mouth softened as he smiled down at her, “You look beautiful. Are you hungry? We can grab some breakfast.”
“Aren’t you supposed to come up with a clever way to kick me out?”
He nipped at the tip of her nose. “Why would I do that when you’re so fun to have around? You also have a great ass.”
She slapped him on the chest. “Watch it, buddy.”
“It goes both ways, you know. You get me, too.” He took her hand and placed it over the semi that hardened further under her touch.
“And I intend to keep you for a while yet,” she said with a quick stroke. “But I’m not sure about breakfast. I have to figure out what I’m doing today. Pretending everything is normal seems weird to me.”
“Baby, I think that you don’t have a choice for now. Not until we get federal authorities involved to act on the report you file with them.”
“Federal authorities?” Mina said. She leaned back so she could see Hem’s expression. “Already?”
“They move slow, so we have to get the gears rolling now,” Hem replied. “We don’t have a lot of time before the next board meeting, either. We have to figure out what we’re telling everyone about the compensation offer.”
Hem’s phone buzzed on his desk, and Mina saw Ajay’s name flash across the screen before Hem answered. “What’s up?”
Ajay’s voice came through loud and clear. “Brahm is headed toward the estate.”
“What? What the hell is he doing in the US?”
“Apparently, he has urgent news. Zail can’t make it since he’s now in Cali, but you need to head back to Alpine. I’m already on my way.”
Hem looked down at Mina. “I’ll leave in five. I just have to drop Mina off first.”
Before Mina could motion to him that she’d take a cab, Ajay was already protesting. “Bring her with you. She’s sharp, and she’ll help us fill in the gaps that we can’t see.”
“Bring Mina to Alpine?” The stunned expression on his face, the rejection in his eyes was noticeable. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
Even though their relationship was new, his reaction hurt. There was no question that it was too soon to meet his parents, but Hem made it seem as if it was never a possibility. She tried to suppress the ache in her chest as she pulled out of his arms.
Hem’s eyes widened, his fingers already stretching to reach for her. “Mina, wait. Ajay, how much work will we be getting done if we’re at the estate?”
“If I have it my way, we’ll finish this. Dad can hopefully help.”
“Okay, if that’s the case, I’ll bring her. We’ll be there soon.” He pocketed his cell this time and stepped toward her.
“Don’t look like that,” he said softly. “Please.”
Mina swallowed hard. “No, it’s completely fine. We definitely don’t need to add family to the mix right now.”
He shook his head. “You’ve never had parents like mine. They’ve . . . they can ruin relationships, and I want you all to myself before they start meddling.”
In the short time she’d come to know Hem, she’d been able to read his moods and reactions. He was thinking that she’d react just like Lisa had when she met the Singhs. It hurt that he wouldn’t trust her, wouldn’t believe in her to stay with him.
“You have to stop comparing me to her,” she said softly.
He blanched. “I don’t. I’m not…you’re nothing alike.”
“Look, I know that Lisa is the villain in your world, but maybe she just wasn’t the right person for you. I’m not going to react the same way she did every time your family comes up.”
Hem scrubbed a hand over his face. “You’re right. It’s unfair. It’s unfair to you and to Lisa. I just…I want to keep you with me. Safe. Where no one can hurt us.”
Mina nodded. “I should go home. You can always fill me in later.”
He shook his head. “No, I’m sorry for my reaction but Ajay is right. Unless you want to leave?”
When she didn’t say anything, he cupped her face and tilted her head up to meet his kiss. “I’m sorry. He just took me by surprise. Come with me. I want more time with you. You can use your laptop or cell to answer any emergencies you need to address with your case files.”
She hesitated, but he kissed her again, and how could she say no to that? “Okay, if that’s what you want.”
“Yes,” he said. “This is what I want.”
“Then let’s go.”
They packed work bags with their computers. Mina poured coffee into tumblers while Hem got dressed and were on their way out the door within five minutes.
The car was quiet, and it seemed like Hem was deep in his own thoughts before he flipped on the financial news.
Mina let him brood while she decided to focus on her inbox and get some work done to pass the time on the drive. She’d received over eighty new emails since her lunch the day before, but thankfully, her legal assistant flagged her messages in order of importance.
In forty- five minutes, Mina managed to make her way through most of her mail. She shut down her laptop when Hem maneuvered the car through the ornate gates of the Singh estate.
It was that moment when she realized exactly how wealthy Hem’s family was.
“Holy shit,” she said as she took in the gardens and the home in the distance.
“Yeah.”
“Hem . . . this is Bharat Mahal. Architectural Digest did a whole multi-page spread on this place a few years ago.”
“It was Dad’s dream to have a big enough estate for all of his brothers and their children to visit once a year for a reunion. What really ended up happening was that he takes a trip back to Punjab. He gets homesick for the smell of mustard fields and sugarcane.”
Hem veered off toward the left and soon they were passing the most enchanting colonial homes. Mina gasped when Hem pulled into the third driveway.
“Is this yours?”
“It is. I figured we’d leave the car here and walk to the main house. It’s not that much farther on foot.”
“Can we see your house first?”
Hem looked puzzled. “If you want.”
“Yes, I definitely want, Hem.” She walked up the short path to the porch and entered through the front door. She gasped when she opened it.
The inside was like something out of a fairy tale.
The walls were brightly colored, and the fixtures were simple and understated.
There was a big, comfortable couch in front of a TV mounted over a fireplace with fusion art in brilliant colors on the walls.
The kitchen was a fourth of the size of the penthouse, too.
But the cabinets were a sage green, and the countertops were a pale white with faint gold marbling.
She had to resist running her hands over all the surfaces and then checking out all the other nooks and crannies.
Mina had to wonder how Hem could stay in that giant penthouse when he had cozy living right here.
“Do . . . do you like it?” Hem asked as he stood in the entrance.
“Like it? I love it.” She traveled from room to room, holding back each gasp and sigh. “Your penthouse is amazing, but this is so damn beautiful. Why don’t you spend more time here?”
“I used to,” he said. “I even brought an ex here, but she preferred the penthouse.”