AKSHAT

I tapped on the file spread across my desk. I had files on everyone—every person I suspected she had issues with.

Neeraj and his entire web of contacts. Everyone he knew. Everyone connected to him.

Looking at his file again, I noticed something new. He was also on Aishwarya’s hate list. I’ll have to talk to her.

There were different people working in different fields within the Krishnas. I mostly dealt with underground projects.

We were doing well so far—taking over Neeraj’s projects one by one. All his short-term projects and small ventures were already ours. Now I was considering bribing my way into the bigger ones. Maybe I should take help from the businessmen in the Krishnas—Arjun, Ranbeer, Devansh, Kunal—they’d all do amazing. They have the reputation.

I should call them in for a meeting… I thought.

The board meetings and introductions took a while, and we wasted a lot of time. Since Trisha kept her identity anonymous, she wanted me to be the one in the limelight as the chairman of the company. It made me anxious. If I stepped into the spotlight, if I revealed my true identity, everyone I cared about would be at risk. My friends, my circle, the secrecy of the Krishnas—it would all crumble.

So I stayed hidden. I was fine as a common man living a normal life. Whatever I did with the Krishnas would end with me.

It had been a while since I’d gone public.

People probably don’t even remember me anymore.

After Trisha was done with whatever she was planning, maybe then—

“Oh wait…” I muttered, dialing Rayan’s number.

“Sir?” he answered.

“I need a secretary,” I said.

“Sir, we’re working on it… anyone from the Krishnas—”

“No. Since Trisha is also part of this, we can’t bring more people from the Krishnas here. We need someone who’s aware of this stuff but not a part of it. Got anyone in mind?” I asked.

The silence on the other end told me everything.

I groaned. “You only have two hours left, by the way, to get me the file on Trisha,” I muttered, hanging up.

I tapped my hands on the table, thinking about who to call.

The ladies from the group could help me.

Amayra. Anamika. Aishwarya. Alia.

“Who do I call first?” I muttered.

“Who am I kidding…” I dialed Amayra’s number.

“What do you want?” she groaned.

I scoffed. “You busy?” I asked.

“What do you want?” she repeated flatly.

“A personal secretary,” I said.

“I don’t provide that service,” she replied.

“Can you recommend someone? I mean, I need someone who’s not part of the Krishnas but is aware of it. Got anyone in mind?” I asked.

“Uh… well… you can ask someone else. Maybe Rakshit or Abhimanyu can help…” she said.

I nodded. “Were you sleeping?” I asked.

“Yes, I was. Go piss off!” she snapped, hanging up.

I breathed a laugh and dialed Rakshit’s number.

After a few rings, he answered.

“Akshat?” he asked.

“Listen, do you have anyone in mind who’s aware of the Krishnas but not a part of it? I need a personal secretary. I can’t risk anything…”

“Wait? What for? I thought—”

“It’s a long story. Just tell me if you have anyone in mind,” I pressed.

“Uh… well, I do, but I don’t know if—”

“Who?” I asked.

“Abhimanyu’s wife,” he said.

I choked on thin air.

“I’M SORRY, WHAT?”

“Well, I—”

“WAIT WAIT WAIT!! HE’S MARRIED? WHEN? WHO? WHERE?” I demanded.

“Wow. Never a dull day in his life,” I muttered.

“What happened?” I asked.

“It’s a long story. Let me talk to Abhi first. If his wife is fine with it, then I’m sure he’ll be okay too. I’ll get back to you.”

“Just tell him to be here with his wife and resume and all, just for formality’s sake,” I said.

“Got it,” he said, hanging up.

I breathed out a laugh. “The last person I thought was going to marry… is married.”

My breath hitched. Wait… the kid Amayra was talking about—the four-year-old! Was it his?

I dialed back Amayra’s number.

She didn’t answer.

I dialed it a few more times.

“I’ll kill you,” she answered finally.

“Abhimanyu’s married,” I said.

Silence… and then I heard frantic movement on the other end.

“What!! What!!” she exclaimed.

“I knew something was up with that fucker!” she said.

“Yes. I know. I just called Rakshit and he told me… well, didn’t tell me everything but said it’s a long story…”

“Oh, I’ll get the full story in an hour,” she said, hanging up.

“Oh… wow…” I sighed, placing my phone back on the table. “Should’ve told her to get the file on Trisha too…” I muttered.

I sighed again and placed my phone down.

Soon, Rayan walked in with a file in his hand. He definitely didn’t look happy about whatever he’d found. And I knew I was about to break something.

“Sir, the file you asked about Miss Rathore,” he said, sliding the file toward me.

I grabbed the file, taking a deep breath before—

throwing it under the table because I saw Trisha entering, her heels clicking against the floor.

“What are you doing here?” I asked before I could stop myself.

“This is my company, Mr. Chairman,” she said.

The way she said it…

She’s so hawt.

I nodded and froze as she turned to Rayan, who stood there like an idiot. I’d kill him if he blew this up.

“Who is this?” she asked.

“He was here for my personal assistant post…”

“So did he—”

“No, he didn’t. He was just leaving. Get out.” I pointed at the door.

As Trisha turned to look at me, he fled.

When she turned back to the empty spot, I took a deep breath.

“Are you here to keep an eye on me so I won’t run away with your company?” I asked.

“Something like that…” she smirked.

This woman…

“What were you doing?” she asked, her eyes flickering to the file on the table.

I slid the file toward her. “Just gathering some intel.”

She opened the file, raising her brows. “You could’ve just asked me. I’d have given you more detailed intel,” she said.

“What do you mean?”

She scoffed. “Well, clearly that’s not all.”

“What’s more?”

She took out another file from her bag and slid it over to me.

Taking the file, I opened it—and did a double take. Wait. Why are the Yashwants on this list?

“You seem surprised. Know them?” she asked.

I tried to compose myself. “I know him…” I muttered, pointing at Shourya in the file.

“He’s a regular customer at my cafe and he clearly isn’t from any wealthy family — he knows Shourya is the secret son of Yashwants but he’s pretending he doesn’t know. He’s just an employee,” I said.

“No, he’s not… he’s the son of Himesh Yashwant,” she replied.

“What?” I pretended to be shocked.

I expected she would know this since she’s part of Krishna, but doesn’t she know a little too much…?

Oh wait. Of course she will know things — she’s an insider. She was married to Neeraj, so she will know things.

“Neeraj and Shourya are brothers…” she said.

This landed like a punch.

I stared at her. “How?” was all I could manage.

“Shourya’s father, back in the day, helped Neeraj’s mother in every possible way,” she explained.

“Does Neeraj know?” I asked.

She nodded. “Everyone does except Neeraj’s father. And of course Neeraj won’t tell him since he’s after his inheritance.”

“So you’re saying—”

She nodded again. “The real father and son are working together, and I don’t care about that much because he is no saint either… that motherfucker has his genes going around.”

Everything clicked. That’s why Shourya is the black sheep. Now I get why the Yashwants disowned him. Aishwarya was right: if we want to find more, we need someone inside. I need to lure her in with Amayra so we can get the upper hand. I must update Amayra on this.

I gulped. “And what about Shourya? Is he involved in all this too?”

She looked at me. “You were the one saying he couldn’t be involved, remember?”

Oh.

Oh — she’s good.

“Are you sure you don’t want to be a detective?” I teased.

She rolled her eyes. “How long are you planning to hold this against me?”

“Until you actually become a detective,” I said.

Something flickered in her eyes and she tried to hide it. I saw it.

“Is he an alibi?” I pressed.

She blinked. “What? You talked with him in the cafe and you said you tried asking him to be the face of your company, and he refused. So either he is not involved at all, or he’s an important part of this.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think he is.”

I perked up.

Am I sensing sympathy?

For someone else?

Who’s not me?

Why does she care about him?

Jealousy rose like a hot bitter tide. Of course she worry about him, she’s been around him longer, she’s the insider, she knows his softer corners — and somehow that knowledge makes me feel suddenly exposed and small. I resent how easily her eyes soften when she speaks about him. I resent that my pulse skips at the thought of someone else’s name making me feel protective. Why does my chest tighten for a man I barely know? Why does her concern sting like a betrayal?

I smirked, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “Interesting. You seem awfully protective of him. Should I be jealous?”

Her gaze flickered to mine, unreadable.

“Maybe,” she murmured.

“Cute,” I said, letting the sarcasm do the work my voice didn’t trust. “i though you dont worry about anyone anymore"

“I worry about people who matter,” she said flatly, riffling through the file as if she could cut the conversation into neat, manageable pieces. “And people who could make life difficult for us.”

She tapped a photograph “He isn’t dangerous, Akshat. He’s an asset—if you know how to use him.”

“An asset?” I snorted. “The boy’s a liability.”

She raised an eyebrow. “To Neeraj maybe. To us? Not necessarily.”

Something in the way she said “us” set me on edge. there is no us if shes already found an asset other then me

i glanced back at her and saw her trying to bite back her smile

I pushed the file away from myself with one deliberate motion.

Trisha closed the file, the lamplight catching on her manicure. She tilted her head, smile half-made, and for a second the Trisha that charmed investors out of licences and men out of secrets flickered free. “I want results,” she said simply. "and you should stop sulking"

Before I could answer, the door burst open and Rayan stumbled in, breathless and red-faced. “Sir Mr. Abhimanyu’s hear with rakshit waiting to speak to you.."

i nodded clering my throat and standing up fixing my sleaves

"why?" she asked

"uh.. yea they are just friedns of mine abhimaniyus wife was looking for a job so i thought why not a personal secratary since someone decided to dump evrything on my head" i said

" so crancky? did u passed ur nap time?" she monked

A slow grin eased across my face despite myself.

god i love her...

trying to pull myself out of the daze i walked outside

i made my way towards the board room and saw rakshit and abhimaniyu waiting for me

I swallowed hard, my throat dry.

“So she—”

“She’s fine… for now,” Abhimanyu breathed out, his voice low and tight. “But I don’t think she’ll ever forgive me. And to be honest… I don’t want her to. It’s well-deserved.”

I exhaled slowly, pressing my palms together.

“Did you find out who drugged you?” I asked quietly.

He nodded, a flicker of anger in his eyes. “I put them in their places,” he said flatly.

I gave a small nod. “There’s no pressure if she’s fine with it. I mean, it’s temporary. And I promise she won’t get into any mess with the Krishnas… or whatever Trisha is doing…”

Both men stiffened.

“Wait… Trisha—” Abhimanyu’s eyes widened.

“Is it the same one?” Rakshit asked sharply.

I pressed my lips into a thin line and nodded.

They exchanged a look—one I tried to ignore, but couldn’t.

“Just ask her, and if she’s interested—” I started.

“I can’t just ask her. I—” Abhimanyu’s voice faltered. “You’re not understanding—”

“He’s having problems making conversation with her,” Rakshit said, shooting him that look.

The look.

I raised a brow, fighting the smirk tugging at my lips.

“Oh? Is it like that?” I asked, my tone laced with curiosity.

Rakshit gave a small, resigned nod, trying not to grin himself.

I cleared my throat as I heard Abhimanyu groan. “Alright, fine. How about I forge a fake flyer and slip it at her? If she’s interested, she’ll apply herself. She’ll come to you, right? You said she asks for permission for every little thing.”

He let out a deep breath and nodded.

I signaled Fran, who was standing behind me, and he instantly understood, following my cue.

“You don’t waste a second, do you?” Rakshit asked, his lips twitching into a faint smirk.

I shrugged. “I’m not the defense specialist in the underground Krishnas for no reason. Anyway…” I leaned forward, lowering my voice. “I’ve just got some really important intel that’s going to help us a lot in the future.”

Both men straightened immediately, their interest piqued.

“Neeraj and Shourya Avasthi are brothers,” I said.

“Well, yeah… they claim they’re distant relatives in the media and all that,” Abhimanyu said, frowning.

“No. No. They’re actual brothers. Trisha told me that Neeraj’s father did a lot of favors for Shourya’s mother back in the day. Everyone in their circle knows it… except the media. In other words, the world doesn’t.”

“This explains why Shourya is the black sheep,” Rakshit muttered darkly.

“Amyra should know this, don’t you think?” Abhimanyu asked.

I nodded. “I’ll tell her. Uh… guys, there’s some stuff I need to handle. I’ve been trying to grab every single project Neeraj’s company has—whatever he’s doing, big or small. I mostly have the small ones, but it’s too much for us. And Trisha has enough on her own to invest in, but I don’t think she’s doing well. In order to make that kind of money, she’s drowning in debt too.”

They both looked at me sharply.

“So I’m going to talk to Aryan about this. I want all of you to do the same with Neeraj and his projects. Can you talk to the rest of the guys? There’s no chance of getting everyone in one place for small things like this…”

“Will do,” Rakshit nodded, followed by Abhimanyu.

“I’ll come here with Roshni tomorrow… just somehow get that flyer to her,” Abhimanyu said.

I nodded once.

Leaving the boardroom, I made my way toward my office, a cold realization hitting me—Trisha’s file was still lying on the ground. I found myself silently begging God that she hadn’t read it.

I peeked into the office. Empty. Relief coursed through me as I stepped inside and dialed Kshmira’s number.

“Where did Trisha go?” I asked the moment she answered.

“Sir, she just made her way outside. Do you want me to follow her?”

“She knows you’re an employee here. I have people for following. I just needed to know where she went. It’s fine,” I said, collapsing into the chair.

Hanging up, I reached for the file and found it exactly where I had thrown it.

Taking a relieved breath, I opened it to take a look—