Dad checked with Rohan while Kamila cut up some fruit. She tried very hard not to pay attention to Dad’s call or to speculate about Rohan’s mental state. She was pretty sure he wouldn’t be happy about her plan. But she wasn’t doing it for him. And she didn’t want to get sucked back into her people-pleasing habit. Even if she was inconveniently in love with that person.
After they were all at the table digging into the breakfast goodies, Kamila started her plea.
“Okay, Dad, I have a proposal for you, and I hope you’ll hear me out before you make any more decisions.”
“A proposal? What is it? Have you thought about what you want to do after leaving Emerald?”
“No, that’s not it.” Kamila took a breath. “First of all, I’m honestly very happy you’ve decided to retire. You’ve seemed so much…lighter since you stopped working a few weeks ago. I’m going to miss you loads and loads when you’re in Florida, but I think you’re doing a good thing to reduce your stress for your health.”
Dad squeezed Kamila’s hand. “I’m doing this for both of us.”
Kamila smiled. “I know you are. And…I’m happy you made a choice for your own health, but I…” She looked at Jana, who sent her a small, reassuring smile. “I don’t want to lose Emerald.”
“But, beti! You won’t need to take care of me anymore! You can do what you want with your life.”
“But that’s just it, Dad—Iamdoing what I want. Yeah, when I started working there, it was for you. But I love what we’ve turned Emerald into. I love my clients. I love the work I’m doing. And now I want to take it further.”
Dad blinked, obviously surprised. Kamila knew she should have told him before today how much the company meant to her. Maybe then he wouldn’t have done this. She made a silent vow to herself that from this moment on, she’d make sure everyone knew what she valued.
Kamila exhaled, again looking to Jana for strength. “Rohan offered to let me buy your HNS shares instead of him and Zayan buying them. I’m pretty sure that’s what he’s going to talk to you about today. They want me to be a partner in HNS, and together we’d grow Emerald into a chain of small regional offices.”
“What? That’s not something we’d ever—”
“Wait, Dad. I haven’t given him an answer yet, but I’m going to say no. I don’t want that. Selling your HNS shares to Rohan and Zayan makes more sense. They know what they’re doing there. I just want Emerald.”
“What?”
“You can make it a condition of the sale of your shares that they must first sell Emerald to me. We can even set the price now.”
Dad paused, thinking about it. “You want Emerald alone?”
Kamila nodded. “I mean, I’m not really alone. I have friends”—she looked at Jana—“who can support me. Maybe…Rohan for guidance. I have ideas. I don’t want to make it a chain of shops or anything but instead grow the services we provide. Even partner with Aim High to teach finances to newcomer businesses. Let me show you.”
She showed him the printouts of the plans she worked through late last night. Even though Jana hadn’t seen them, she elaborated on Kamila’s ideas, seeming to understand completely what Kamila was trying to do with Emerald.
Huh. Jana Suleiman understood her. That was pretty cool.
Dad exhaled. “Kamila, I didn’t know you wanted this.”
“Do you think she can do it?” Jana asked.
“Of course she can do it. I have faith in Kamila, but this will be a lot of work. Kamila, do youwantto do this? What about all the other things you do? Your volunteer work, your parties, your friends, your videos with Darcy. Running a business is a big commitment with a lot of risk.”
“I know, Dad.” She exhaled. “I’ve been unfocused. And maybe too concerned with what people think of me, and I didn’t stop to really think about what I wanted.” Or who she loved, either. She looked down. “I didn’t see my potential, but I do now.”
Dad didn’t say anything for a while. Finally, he sighed. “Your mother underestimated you.”
Kamila snorted. “That’s an understatement.”
“I’m so sorry, Kamila. I should have asked you what you wanted. I assumed you were only at Emerald for me. Not for you.” He frowned, looking over Kamila’s printouts. “I’ll worry about you, beti, working alone.”
“That’s how I know you love me. Let me try, Dad.”
He exhaled. “Okay. I’ll tell Rohan. Let’s see what you can do with Emerald.”
Kamila smiled widely and hugged Dad from behind. That was all easier than she’d thought it would be. “Yay! Thank you, Dad! Amazing!”
Truly the sweetest man in existence.
