The quartet stepped into Data Dynamics, the hum of activity fading as they entered Ami’s office.

  Inside, the air was thick with the lingering intensity of a high-stakes meeting that had just ended. Ami, seated behind her desk, still wore the stress from her previous conversation, her fingers tapping absently on a closed folder. She glanced up as Anna Abothi, her secretary, ushered them in, her sharp gaze softening.

  “Well, this is unexpected,” she murmured.

  Kasra slid his hands into his pockets, his posture casual but his words laden with meaning. “Seven kicked us out of the ward. Princess was... experiencing some discomfort.”

  Ami straightened in her chair, her curiosity turning to concern. “Is there a complication?” Her voice rose as though she were bracing for bad news.

  Kasra tried but failed to suppress a grin. “Nah, she’s fine. Just… finally moving her bowels. She was mortified. Seven told us to make ourselves scarce.” His lips twitched, amused by the absurdity.

  Ami leaned back in her chair, the tight line of worry across her face eased, and a soft chuckle escaped her throat. “What a silly goose.”

  Then Kasra reminded, “Since we’re here, we can go to Inova together later. You can tell Dad to meet us there.”

  “Good thinking,” Ami chirped, already reaching for her phone. As she dialed, the room fell into a comfortable silence, each person lost in their own thoughts.

  Kasra got down to business as soon as Ami ended her call. “Mom, has Wendy filled you in on Sana’s work?”

  Ami glanced at her son, her fingers tapping lightly against the armrest. “Sort of. We’ve rescheduled the missed meetings and pushed back a few. I’ve thought of taking over some projects, but she hasn’t updated me yet.”

  Kasra inclined his head, calculating. “Has she been acting... normal?”

  Ami paused, her gaze distant as she replayed recent interactions. “She asked about Sana a couple of times. I told her she was unwell; kept it vague."

  Lara, who had been silent, ventured, “If Wendy is the mole, she might inform Cloche that Sana hasn’t been at work. But,” her voice sharpened, “Cloche met me that evening. Would her absence raise suspicion?”

  Kasra’s brow furrowed. “Does Wendy know you’re her bodyguard?”

  Lara shook her head. “No. Outside of TITAN, I’m her PA.”

  “Good.” Ami’s shoulders relaxed. “It’s been a few days since the ambush, so—"

  A soft buzz interrupted the conversation. Ami pressed on the intercom and asked, “What is it, Anna?”

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Anna’s voice crackled on the line, “Ms. May would like to see you.”

  “Let her in,” Ami replied, her tone cool as a cucumber.

  Wendy stepped in, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She moved with practiced confidence, her eyes discreetly sweeping the room before resting on Ami.

  “Good afternoon, President Gilani,” she greeted smoothly. “I have updates on JVP Shahi’s work, but if this is a bad time…”

  Ami waved a hand. “No, it’s fine. Go ahead, Wendy.”

  Wendy stepped forward, setting her laptop on the 8-seater conference table. She quickly pulled up a PowerPoint presentation, and the screen lit up with a neatly organized calendar with project timelines listed down the side.

  “For events, the 5G and Edge Accelerator Alliance ceremony is on track for November 10. JVP Shahi has been working on finalizing the venue with the alliance partners. They’ve shortlisted the Marriott Marquis, Westin, Ritz-Carlton, InterContinental, and Conrad.”

  As Wendy droned on, everyone’s minds wandered, scrutinizing her every micro-expression.

  “As for her ongoing proje—”

  “No need for details right now,” Kasra interjected, cutting Wendy off mid-sentence. “Just organize everything into e-folders with all the information: titles, scope, timelines, and project members. Prioritize them by importance. Then, share them with President Gilani, myself, Sana, and Lara.”

  Wendy’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second, but she quickly recovered. “Of course, SVP Shahi. I’ll have everything sent out by EOD.”

  She swiped to another slide. “We also have five proposals in the pipeline. The earliest deadline is November 15, the latest is January 31st. Would you like summaries?”

  Kasra shook his head slightly, his tone cool. “Same thing. Just send us the details ASAP.”

  “Understood,” Wendy hummed, still composed. Then, she added with a fawning attitude, “President Gilani, I understand JVP Shahi is still unwell. I’d be happy to assist with her ongoing workload. I want to ensure everything stays on track while she’s recovering.”

  Kasra’s instincts immediately kicked in. There it was. Too eager. Too ready to dip a toe into the pool. “We’ll consult with Sana first,” he said curtly.

  Wendy pursed her lips. “Of course, sir. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

  Ami and Kasra nodded in unison, signaling their dismissal. Wendy promptly shut her laptop and exited the room, the door clicking shut behind her.

  ……

  As she stepped out of the office and into the hallway, her thoughts swirled. It had been several days since Sana’s absence, and every passing day without any news left her increasingly on edge.

  Did something happen to Sana? she wondered, heart fluttering. I shouldn’t contact C; he said to wait until he calls. But… what if something went wrong?

  Then, her thoughts wandered back to Kasra. Although they’d only met a handful of times, she’d held a torch for him from the first moment they were introduced. Call her plastic, but she had fallen for his good looks and icy demeanor at first sight. Be it his background or appearance, Wendy certainly knew she was out of his league. And although she gradually reined in her infatuation, it still didn’t stop her heart from beating wildly whenever they met.

  But today, Kasra wasn’t the only enigma in the room. The unfamiliar man and woman also left an impression on her. The bare-faced woman, in her casual white top and form-fitting black jeans, looked like a college student, while the man bore a striking resemblance to Kasra. He held the woman’s hand tightly, never letting go, as though declaring sovereignty.

  How could the Shahis approve of someone like her?

  The woman seemed far too informal, too unsophisticated to be accepted into the Shahi household. And yet, there she was, connected so intimately.

  Wendy felt a slight pang of envy. She wasn’t the type to indulge in fanciful delusions, but seeing Kasra’s brother so openly affectionate, so confident in his connection with this mysterious young woman, stirred something in her. If only she, too, had caught Kasra’s eye…

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