"You're bribing my dog."
"I'm not bribing him. I'm just... being kind."
Abhay made a sound that might have been a suppressed laugh. Samarth shot him a glare that could have melted steel.
"Do you understand how trained he is?" Samarth asked, returning his attention to Nimisha. "Bruno doesn't accept food from anyone except me and his handler."
"Maybe he makes exceptions."
"He doesn't make exceptions."
"Well, he made one for me." She met his gaze, refusing to back down. "Is that a problem?"
"It's..." he trailed off, clearly not sure how to categorize it. "Unusual."
"Your dog likes me. I'm sorry if that offends you."
"I'm not offended. I'm—" He ran a hand through his hair, a rare gesture of frustration. "Never mind."
"Is there anything else? I have seating arrangements to plan for the gala."
"Actually, yes. There is something else." He glanced at Abhay, who pulled out a tablet and set it on the desk.
"We've had reports of Rajput's gang moving on our territory," Abhay said. "They've been testing our boundaries, seeing how far they can push."
"What does that have to do with me?" Nimisha asked.
"Nothing, if you're careful," Samarth replied. "But you're not careful."
"Excuse me?"
"You have no security detail. You go places alone. You make yourself an easy target."
"I'm not important enough to target."
The words came out more bitter than she'd intended.
Samarth's expression darkened. "That's not—"
"It's fine," she interrupted. "I know my place in this family. I'm here for appearances, nothing more. I'm not worth the expense of security."
"Nimisha—"
"Are we done? I really do have work to finish."
Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken things.
"You're getting a security detail," Samarth said finally. "Non-negotiable."
"I don't need—"
"I said non-negotiable." His voice was hard, brooking no argument. "Rajput is unpredictable. He might decide you're worth leverage, important or not."
"But—"
"This conversation is over."
Dismissed. Like always.
