Page 8 of The Rules of Playing with Fire

Not badly enough to spill the tea on myself, but enough to cause a shift in my pulse rate. It caused a quick, unpleasant flashback to my past, and I shuffled in my seat.

He didn’t notice it, though. His eyes were locked on some point in the distance through the glass window, his frown growing deeper every second. “This kind of behavior is unacceptable. Just pull out of the contract,” he said, then listened patiently. “No, keep everything as it is. We have fucking done our job. If they don’t like our recommendations, I need to hear it from them in very specific words.”

A short pause.

“I’m not taking her off the job. If they have a problem with a woman leading their account, that will be the end of their tether. Has Matt been apprised?”

More silence as the person on the other end spoke.

“Call it off. We’re done. And I don’t want to hear anything more on this issue.”

He walked back to his seat on the tufted blue couch. “My apologies, Sona,” he said without looking up at me as he typed something on the phone. “This needs my attention.”

“No apology necessary,” I said quietly, and he looked up instantly with a softened face.

“Just need to send two texts,” he said, the ferocity returning as he typed what I assumed was an angry note to someone.

Whew! I wasn’t timid, but I wouldn’t want to be at the receiving end of that wrath. So, this was the Mihir I had heard about! Just when I was beginning to wonder why the man who picked me up at the airport seemed nothing like the reputation that preceded him.

Tara emerged from the bedroom as I was finishing my tea.

“Are you both ready for food?” she asked Mihir, who tossed his phone on the couch.

“I sure am!” I cried exuberantly just as the door opened again, and Sameer walked in with a grand smile on his striking face.

“Hey, Sona! Welcome to Dallas!” He walked straight to me and gave me a big, tight hug.

Then, turning to Tara, he gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “Hey, sweetheart. I can’t imagine how happy you are right now.”

Tara’s eyes shone in response.

Mihir sat with his arms sprawled across the top of the couch, and I knew from the look on his face that he was about to bring up the topic again. “Now, Sona just told me that she’s furious at me, and I am really curious to know why.”

“Oh, not this nonsense again.” Tara shook her head dismissively. “She’s still upset I got back with Sameer and moved to Dallas.”

“What?” Sameer’s eyes bulged at me.

“Sorry,” I mouthed, scrunching up my nose and making a cute face.

“What does that have to do with me?” Mihir asked, and our attention turned to him again.

This time, I was ready with the answer. “If you hadn’t put your big nose into their affair, Tara would have stayed angry at Sameer. She would’ve returned to New York, and we all would’ve lived happily ever after.”

“I’m injured,” Sameer said dramatically. “If this is payback for not picking you up at the airport, I’d say it’s rather harsh.”

I held his arm. “No, unfortunately, I’ve come to like you. Except you stole my bestie from me and dragged her halfway across the country, and for that, I blame Mihir.”

I expected Mihir to be offended or annoyed, but he sat there looking striking in the grey suit on the blue couch, lips lifted at one corner. Then he shook his head and exchanged a look with Tara.

“Did you just brush me off?” I asked with hands on my hips.

“Let it go, you two,” Tara said pointedly to Mihir and me. “Neither of you is winning this. Off your ass, Mihir. Let’s eat.”

She led us to the dining area, where she had already laid out the table and brought the food over. That was Tara for you—efficient and capable, great at everything she did.

I turned to Sameer as we took our seats at the table. “Although I am Tara’s stand-in sister, and you do need to get on my good side. You better start ingratiating yourself to me.”

Sameer threw his head back in a surprisingly melodious laugh as Mihir pulled a chair across from me. “I’m at your beck and call. Tell me, what can I do to make up for it? How about I take you shopping tomorrow?” Sameer pandered.

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