“The information in the article is identical to Sri’s research and was also shared in tandem with Robert Douglass.”
“Wait, you’re saying Sri was the one working with WTA, not someone directly on the R&D team?” Frankie said. “Impossible.”
“It’s possible. We have evidence, as well. We went into his access history and learned that he used Sahar Ali Khan’s access keys to pull data after Sahar had already been fired.”
Ajay had been told that there were also encrypted messages shared with one Guru Hothi. He hated having to tell Raj that her brother was involved, but he refused to withhold the truth from her.
She was strong. And if she couldn’t handle it on her own, he’d be there for her.
“What are the next steps, brother?” Hem asked. “Is Sri locked up?”
“Yes, but we’ll most likely have to provide testimony. Hopefully, with the help of RKH Collective, we’ll have a more robust security team so this situation never arises again.”
The intel had come in barely an hour ago from Roshan. Their FBI contact in white collar crimes, Ms. Hu, had been ready to assist.
“So Raj was right,” Mina said. She winked at Ajay. “She told me a while back that if our security team was having such a hard time finding out the mole in the company, we needed to fire them. She knew something was off before anyone.”
Ajay nodded with a bittersweet feeling—even though his company had succeeded in ousting the mole, his love was in pain because he’d been the root cause of her secrets being released to the world. “Raj’s life story has now been painted in the ugliest way possible in the news because of her dealings with Bharat, despite the positive outcome for us.”
Ajay shut the lid of his laptop and stood. “I know some of you blame me for the shit hitting the fan after Bharat went public two years ago. Before we were on the market, we were a growing, profitable business. The rest of you think I’m too young to fill my father’s shoes. Well, I’m here to tell all of you that I have no intention of filling anyone’s shoes. This is not a damn game of dress up. It’s a race, and the only thing that I’m getting from my father is the baton so I can run the next leg of the relay for Bharat.”
“Comparisons are inevitable,” one of the newer board members chimed in. “You’re his son, but you don’t program like he does and you stay out of the limelight. People are going to have to use what they know and make assumptions about you.”
“And that’s going to change,” Ajay said. He motioned to his family. “My legacy has been the most important thing in my life, which is why I’ve been focused internally. After this article about the company we plan on acquiring, I’m going to make major adjustments in the way the Singhs show up. Starting now.”
He fixed his tie and the buttons on his suit jacket. “You may have called this meeting out of concern for the decisions I’m making for Bharat. But whether you’re family or you’re a general board member, I have the same message for you. I’m going to be the CEO of this company. I’ll fight all of you for it, because I know I deserve this position. If you don’t like it, then get the fuck out. Are we clear?”
There were nodding heads from Bhram, Hem, and his father. The board looked like they’d been hit in the solar plexus.
“Bhai, do you love her?”
The question came from Zail at the far end of the table. He watched Ajay expectantly, as if the other people in the room didn’t matter.
“Zail, what does that have—”
“Do you love her? Answer the question.”
Ajay let out a breath. “I do. She’s a hell of a businesswoman, and a lady.”
Zail nodded. He looked down at his fingernails, then back at him again. “I’m sorry I misjudged you. You have my support.”
Frankie gasped. The old bastard let out a wheezing cough before he said, “What do you think you’re doing, Zail?”
“I’m supporting my family, Frankie,” he replied. “I made a mistake in bringing you into what should’ve remained family business.”
Ajay wanted to hug his brother, to slap him on the back and say that he loved him and he appreciated Zail’s support.
Ajay turned to the man at his right who’d taken his seat again. “Frankie, it looks like the family is voting unanimously. The question is, are you going to continue to be a pain in my ass?”
A knock on the door interrupted Ajay’s next thought. Rafael entered and motioned for him to check his phone.
“Excuse me,” he said, and pulled out his cell from his pocket.
RAFAEL: Raj is hosting a press conference in an hour. Emailing you the livestream link. We need to get everyone out of here so we can watch it.
Holy hell, Ajay thought. He had no idea what she was up to, but there was no way he was going to miss it. He looked up at the expectant faces. Some were whispering with each other again, and others had blank looks of shock.
“We’re going to have to cut this short.”
“Hey, future CEO,” Bhram called out. “What gives?”
Ajay threw all discretion out the window as he headed toward the exit. “My girlfriend is having a press conference.”.
He heard chairs and chatter clatter in an uproar behind him. He grinned as he strode toward his office. His family would be right behind him.
Good, he thought. Rajneet needed all the support she could get, and now that his family knew where he stood, they’d support her, too.
Come on, Raj. Whatever it is you’re doing, you have the Singhs behind you.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Rajneet
Raj knew that she couldn’t hide in Ajay’s penthouse forever. She wasn’t the hiding type. Furthermore, despite the shame she’d felt when she first read the article, she had nothing to be ashamed of. Yes, her secrets were uncomfortable, but they were hers. She’d made her life choices and reaped the benefits of what she’d sown.
Harnette had just left with instructions about the press conference in two hours. Now all Raj had to do was finalize her statement and wait for her assistant to come pick her up to take her to the location. She’d just trimmed her opening paragraph when she received the one call she’d been dreading since she saw the article.
“Kia,” she said with as much briskness as she could muster.
The other woman didn’t even bother with pleasantries. “You have some serious enemies, Raj. I’m so sorry about the article.”
“I’m sorry that my life is written like a salacious tabloid, but not about the contents.” She reached down and picked up Khunda to cuddle. Ajay’s view of New York was therapeutic as she stepped up to the glass, phone and puppy cradled in her hands. “Are you calling to tell me that I’m no longer considered for the position of chairwoman and CEO of Gen One?”
Kia let out a sigh. “No, actually. I’m not.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m not going to rescind my nomination of you for the position. I think you’re a strong, hardworking woman who has made choices to get the career that you’ve wanted. I am not judging you, I’m commending you.”