He looked at her. Deep into her eyes, and Kamila saw his mask chink away. He was very upset about hurting her. He did care—that was true.
“I didn’t know what you’d think. I…I knew you were dedicated at Emerald, but…maybe I didn’t think it was what you truly wanted with your life? You teased me for being in finance all the time, and you showed no interest in working at HNS.”
“Because I washappyat Emerald. You thought I was just playing there? Working my butt off just to kill time?”
“I knew you worked hard. I admired you for what you did there. But…your father said you only studied accounting because of him. And you only worked at Emerald for him, too. You do so much for your father—I didn’t see that it was something you were doing for yourself, too.” He exhaled, looking down. “I should have asked you. I shouldn’t have assumed.”
“You’ve always assumed with me,” she said. “Everyone has. You assumed I didn’t love being an accountant as much as you and your HNS crew because I don’t work ridiculously long hours or wear a suit to work. You think I redesigned Emerald just because I wanted to post it on Instagram—it never occurred to you I wanted to make the space more welcoming to the type of clientele I wanted to attract. You think because I’m excited to bring in hairstylists, tattoo artists, and dog trainers I must not care as much as if I were trying to get more…respectable clients. You think because I care so much about my hair, my clothes, my parties, and my dog, that I can’t possibly have serious thoughts about building my future in this head at the same time.”
He shook his head. “Kamila, that’s not true. I’ve told you so many times that I think people should stop underestimating you.”
Kamila clasped her hands together, frustrated. “It’s a little bit true, though, isn’t it? I’m not an idiot, Rohan. I know it’s what everyone thinks of me.”
He said nothing.
“Loving fashion, or my hair, or dressing up my dog doesn’t mean I’m shallow. It doesn’t mean I’m not entitled to have a say in decisions that affect my life. I’m not surprised Dad thought this way. Disappointed, but not surprised. He sees what he wants to see in his daughters. But you…you doing this is what kills me. Everyone else said you were uptight and shrewd, but I saw…” Her voice cracked. She closed her eyes a moment, then looked into Rohan’s. “I saw the Rohan no one else saw. The warm, generous,aliveman who would ride the same roller coaster six times in a day and hide his tears during the sad parts of Bollywood movies. The man who wouldn’t think twice about rolling up his sleeves to make momos in a polka-dot apron. Isawyou, but you didn’t see me.”
She was crying, and she hated that. She hated all of this. She picked up her bag. “Your ten minutes are up. I—”
“Wait, Kam.” He held her arm so she wouldn’t leave. “I didn’t get to tell you my idea.” He sighed, opening the folder. “I’m sorry. I…want to fix this. I don’t know what you want, but we have options. I think…Maybe…” He rubbed his hands on his legs. She’d honestly never seen Rohan so unsure. “My first idea is you can start your own accounting firm that’s all yours. I can help. I’m sure many of your Emerald clients would come with you. I can assist with the start-up capital if you need it or help with the process. Anything you need, I commit to. You can recreate your own Emerald. Even call it what you want.”
She had considered this, the option of starting her own practice. She had a feeling Rohan was right—she could probably take most of her clients with her. Definitely the ones worth keeping. It was scary, but it could be great. She was always helping others start their own businesses. She could do it for herself.
“Before you say anything, there is another option I’d like you to consider.” He took a breath. “I know you don’t want to come to HNS as a CPA…and you said you didn’t get any respect when you worked there before, but I think youwouldget respect if you were an owner.”
Kamila froze. “What?”
“Your father’s shares in HNS…you could buy them instead of Zayan and me. Then you could come and work at HNS as apartner.”
Chapter 25
Kamila was speechless. Literally, there were no words in her entire body, possibly for the first time in her existence.
Her? A partner in Hussain, Nasser, and Suleiman? Was that even a possibility?
She found something to say. “You would be willing to give up Dad’s shares?”
He nodded. “I would. Our fathers built the company. It would be pretty amazing if we continued it together. Zayan is on board with this idea, too. We’d need to convince your dad.”
“Seriously?Me? This isn’t the small firm our fathers built anymore. It’s the third largest accounting firm in the province. It’s massive.” She frowned. “How would I pay for the shares?” Dad was only planning to give her part of the money from the sale, not all of it.
He pulled out a printed spreadsheet. “I ran the numbers—your father would technically loan you the money to buy him out, which you would pay back gradually from profits. It wouldn’t even take long, especially if we increase the client load in your division.”
She raised a brow. “Division?”
“Zayan and I have been impressed with Emerald’s growth. The original plan was to absorb Emerald into HNS, but what if instead we grew it? We’re proposing starting a whole line of small neighborhood-based offices geared toward financial literacy and services for millennials and Gen Zers. This is a perfect project for someone with your skills and talent.”
“Rohan, we’d be working together.”
He nodded. “We did well with the momos—we could do well here, too.”
Kamila blinked, not sure what to say about this. She’d meant it when she claimed HNS wasn’t for her. Rohan, Zayan, and their father, when he was still active there, had grown the small accounting firm into a sterile, massive organization. She preferred a small grassroots practice like Emerald.
But maybe Rohan was offering her the best of both worlds—the security and wealth of the large firm, and the opportunity to continue to do what she was doing at Emerald. Actually, she had the opportunity to do more—to grow Emerald.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just think about it, Kam.”
