You got this, Raj. Make them regret every moment they doubted you.
“As all of you have read, an article was released this morning questioning my character, my upbringing, and the way I conduct my business. The article was obviously written by a man.”
A flutter of laughter echoed through the crowd. “I’ve never been one to apologize for my life choices, and I don’t intend on starting now. However, because the article made some serious implications about innocent parties, and it could potentially affect the lives of my employees, I am here to provide some context for you.
“The content for this article came from three different sources, all of whom have been confirmed. The first is my brother, an estranged family member interested in . . . interested in bringing to light a past I’ve kept hidden for far too long. The second is my ex-husband, Robert Douglass the third. Robert is an employee of WTA. He recently acquired a job with them after he sold them information about Bharat that I was personally working on as a part of an RKH–Bharat partnership.”
“Holy shit,” Bhram, Ajay, and Zail said in unison. They looked at each other, goggling, and then back at the screen.
The audience of reporters rushed with questions. She raised a hand and silence descended. “Questions at the end, please. Now, Robert’s activity has been confirmed through video footage. That leaves the last source. This person was working with Robert and is part of an ongoing investigation.”
“She went all in,” Zail said. “Did she tell you she was going to do this?”
“No, but she has to have a really good reason for it,” Ajay said. “Watch.”
Raj brushed her hair over her shoulder. She looked strong and confident. Her elegance was a magnet, and she looked regal standing in front of the microphone. “You can try to villainize me when I’ve lived my life according to my own terms, and you can judge my company while ignoring the tech giant in the room. This tech giant which we all know has affected my business and, in my opinion, is attempting to smother and crush innovative, competitive, and life-altering geniuses like those at Bharat. I have no intention of defending myself against tired stereotypes and sexist allegations. With that being said, I can now take some questions.”
Bhram whistled. “She just challenged the big boys.”
“Yes, she did,” Ajay mused. “WTA is going to come after her now. And I think it’s time we step in line and fight them, too.”
Zail put a hand on his shoulder. “Bhai.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for fighting you on this. You knew what you were doing and I let my . . . I was angry.”
“It’s hard being the asshole, isn’t it?” Ajay said. He opened his arms and embraced Zail in a bear hug. They pounded each other on the back, and Ajay felt the last heavy weight lift off his heart. Things were back to the way they should be in his family.
Rafael knocked and entered the room. He held a Post-it in his hand. “Sorry to interrupt. Zail? Raj called and left this message for you.”
“Raj?” he said, with confusion.
Ajay turned back to the screen. She was still answering questions from the audience. “Raj must’ve left it right before she got on stage.”
“What does it say?” Bhram asked.
“It’s an address. In Peoria, Illinois. A remote rental cabin on the lake.”
Ajay shared a look with Rafael and then his cousin. He cuffed his brother’s neck. “Oye, duffer. Whose address do you think it is?”
Zail’s face went blank in shock. “Sahar’s? She found Sahar for me?”
“If anyone can do it . . .” Ajay said.
Zail shoved the note into his pocket. “I gotta get to Peoria. The jet?”
“At the hangar. Rafael, can you call ahead?”
“Yes, sir.”
Zail gripped Ajay in a bruising bear hug again. “You found the right woman after all,” he said gruffly in Ajay’s ear, and then he was gone.
A few minutes later, Ajay’s father, Hem, and Mina walked into the office. “Did we miss it?”
Ajay looked at Bhram and grinned. “You could say that.”
He turned back to the screen to listen to the rest of the question-and-answer portion of the press conference. He’d never felt so sure, so determined, about anything in his life as he was about his place at Bharat and how he felt about Rajneet Kaur Hothi.
Now he just had to sell her on the possibility of forever.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Rajneet
Raj was bone-tired and feeling even more wrung out by the minute. She gave a weak smile to the attendant at the security desk as she walked into Bharat’s offices. It was late, and most of the staff had gone home for the night, but Ajay had asked for her to meet him there.
As she took the elevator to his floor, she registered every ache and twinge. All she’d done was stand in front of a gaggle of reporters for an hour, then take calls, do interviews and issue statements. Her staff had humbled her with their support. The only person who had been fired up was Robert. She pulled out her cell phone again and read his last few messages.
ROBERT: You bitch!!!! Better prepare yourself for court! You cost me my job!!!
RAJ: No, you cost you your job. Also, our divorce proceeding has been moved up. You violated the confidentiality agreement. Now every penny we have is mine.
ROBERT: FUCK YOU! LIKE HELL! I’ll fight you tooth and nail, Raj!
RAJ: Texting in caps is so juvenile, Robert.
She slipped her phone back into her pocket as she keyed into the double doors of Bharat, Inc. The lights were mostly off, and she heard the faint hum of a vacuum cleaner from one side of the floor. She followed the walls to the corner office, but it was dark. Did he forget?
No way. Ajay never forgot things like this. At least, he hadn’t in the time that she’d known him. She put her bag down on his desk and, with phone in hand, walked the floor to find him.
He was in the boardroom. The lights were off, and he stood facing the windows with the twinkling lights spread out in front of him. The city was always a breathtaking place. The best part was that every view Ajay shared with her was different and special in its own way.
He turned, his silhouette illuminated by the power of the night sky.
“There you are,” he said.
“I am so glad today is finally over.” She closed the door behind her.
“It’s been quite eventful, although I believe it was more interesting for you than me.”
When he lifted a hand, she rounded the table so that she could take it. “I should’ve told you I was going to attack WTA, but before I went to do the press conference, I had a few visitors.”
“Really? Who?”
“Well, I already told you about your mother. She fed me, told me to change my clothes so I looked presentable, and then held my hand the whole way to the press conference. She is so insightful. That’s where you get it from, I think.”
“Mmm-hmm. Maybe.” She fit under his arm and let out a sigh as he brought her close. “Where is Khunda?”
“With your mother, actually. She asked if she could dogsit.”
Ajay tilted his head back and laughed. “You’re kidding me.”