Sam was in front her desk ten minutes later.

"Have you been monitoring the rival press situation?"

Sam hovered a second before being seated. "I...no? Is there a rival press situation?"

"Sam, we're being pounded by our rivals and in the national press. Tell me you're in the loop on this."

"I would love to tell you I'm all over this, but I haven't got so much as a memo. I get regular status reports from PR and there's nothing that I can see that would indicate a problem."

"Could they be gaslighting both of us?" Sora hadn't seen any indication that Sam was out of favor with his father. Anthony might have had unique ideas about parenting, but he wasn't cruel; he wouldn't humiliate his son.

"Who's they?"

"Someone within the company is passing falsified internal memos to the press to drive our numbers down. Does that sound like anyone we know?"

"Please tell me my dad isn't behind this."

Sora's silence was telling.

"This is nuts. What does he gain by wrecking Himura's image? That's money out of his pocket. This is his legacy he's flushing down the toilet."

"If he can make me look bad enough, Tracy will have no choice but to have the Board vote me out and reinstate him. I'm pretty sure that's his rationale."

"That isn't a rationale, that's a fever dream. You're kidding me right now. Tell me you're kidding."

There was nothing to say.

"I will get to the bottom of this. Talk to my Aunt Tracy. Give her all the assurances you need to that everything is fine. Leave this to me."

"I'm counting on you."

"You've trusted me this far. Give me another inch. I've got this—I will get this."

"Done. Get to work."

"Yes, ma'am."

Sam donned his trusty messenger bag and hightailed it out of her office.

Sora checked her watch. She had her bi-annual checkup this afternoon that Cristina had taken the liberty of scheduling during Tracy's temporary handover. That's not for another hour. Sora was in dire need of a pick-me-up and it just so happened she knew exactly the man for the job.

Sora gave him a call.

"What are you doing in ten minutes?"

"Anything you want."

All things considered, Sora thought it best to postpone meeting her former sister-in-law face to face until she had the facts on her side. She made her getaway by means of her office's side exit, allowing Cristina to make her excuses. A performance bonus is more than in order for her this year. She was going to have to dip into her own salary to justify the expense.

Sora met Ravi at their favorite rendezvous spot in the park.

He was seated near to the foot of the amphitheater where the three-piece band went about the business of filling the air with song. She let the easy beats be a balm on her frazzled nerves. Her troubles seemed to fade into the background with each step she took toward the round.

Tommy was hale and each day growing stronger and handsomer. She was starting to make a lasting mark on Himura Media Group. A position that had once been something of a war prize was becoming a job she was proud to do. This wasn't Anthony's company alone; this was their legacy to leave to their son. That Sora now got to contribute to that gave her a sense of accomplishment matched only by bringing Tommy into the world.

She aspired to be a woman her son could look up to. And she felt she was getting there.

Ravi checked his watch, bringing to mind Sora's approaching appointment with Tracy.

She found her thoughts tended to grow light and optimistic, and not a little forgetful, when she laid eyes on Ravi. As sappy as it was to think, he had awoken the believer in her. The healing capacity of love was real.

She eased onto the bleachers a couple of rows up from Ravi's turned back.

"Don't you get tired of being so handsome?"

He glanced at her over his shoulder, a twist of humor at the corner of his mouth. His dark eyes seemed to glow when she smiled at her like that.

"You ever get sick of being that damned beautiful?"

Sora rolled her shoulders, all too aware of the heat of his scrutiny.

"I can't say it bothers me."

He fixed her with a long, consuming stare of a cursed man who'd at long last rediscovered his luck and never intended to let it go. She'd never tire of being looked at that way.

Ravi beckoned her to come down to his level, hand outstretched. "You're too far away. Sit with me."

Sora let him guide her over the stone benches separating them. Heels weren't the most practical attire for impromptu hikes, but she managed to make it to the sanctuary of his side unhurt.

She folded her leg under her to settle on the stone bench he'd claimed for his own.

Ravi eyed their positions.

"Why're you all the way over there?"

"If I were any closer, I'd be in your lap."

He skimmed a knuckle up her thigh.

"See, that sounds like an excellent idea to me."

"Not that you have ulterior motives for getting your hands on me."

"Ulterior? I thought I was being obvious."

"You're an enigma. I can never tell exactly what's happening in that head of yours." She slid her fingers up the back of his neck in his hair, smoldering at his admonishing rumble.

"You're saying I should make my motives a bit more explicit," he retorted, rendering the word filthy with unspoken intent. This was the crux of their affair. Each and every declaration of love was met by a mutual respect was nourished by an uninhibited craving for each other. Portioning out loving Ravi from lusting after him from needing him as part of her life wasn't happening. This was one relationship where she was permitted to have it all. And she wanted it all, all the time.

"I'm saying you're doing a lot of talking for a man of action."

Ravi took up his favored pastime of tracing images onto her body. He made the flare of her hip his page, drawing tight circles and whorls that strayed under the hem of her top.

"What are you designing this time?"

"I can't tell you that. If I told you, I'd have to kiss you."

Sora braced herself on his thigh and leant up to brush their lips together softly, the kiss little more than hint of a promised touch.

"I..."

"Shh."

She grazed his mouth with hers, lightly skimming the hard edge of her teeth along his lower lip.

"Sora." His voice had grown husky, dumbstruck.

"Shh."

He followed her progress, trying to capture her lips with his, but couldn't quite catch her to stop her, didn't quite seem to want her to stop. The trail of languid kisses she blazed under his jaw was met with equal surrender, save a sudden clinch of his fingers at her waist when her lips met his fluttering pulse.

When their eyes met, she discovered that Ravi's gaze, dark by nature, had grown darker still. I'll never get sick of that.

Sora grabbed his lapels and drew him down into a languorous kiss.

He deepened the contact, flicking the single button of her blazer loose to slide his hand inside and press between her shoulders. Like a warm fire in an ice storm, he wanted her closer. She was the same, inching over till she was all but in his lap. Ravi pulled her the rest of the way, cradling her face as she made herself comfortable in his arms. When they kissed, they kissed with their whole bodies, lips were just a start.

A gruff cough brought Sora and Ravi back to themselves, and to the park. She didn't try to pinpoint its origin; the message had come through loud and clear. Sora wasn't one to act out, but she had no intention of being cowed by strangers.

They parted unhurriedly of their own accord, Sora sliding off his lap, only a jot sheepish.

"Tell me."

Ravi huffed, "I can't remember. God, I can't, I can't remember." He wet his lips, intent as he was on hers. "You're still trouble. You're gonna ruin my reputation and get me arrested for public indecency, because I swear if you kiss me like that again in public, I can't be held responsible for my actions."

Sora stroked the side of his neck.

"And what actions do you have in mind?"

He cupped her cheek.

"Je vais vous faire hurler pour moi. "He kissed each corner of her mouth. "Look that up and get back to me."

She nodded dumbly, more aroused than she'd been with his hands all over her. Ravi's raspy voice had the power to devastate with hello. French hadn't been in the cards.

"I thought you went to Rome. Don't they speak Italian in Rome?"

"I speak both. I just wanted to give my tongue a workout. Would you care to help?"

"Oh, god, yes."