Raj's face was pale as he found a seat and sat down, regretting last night's overindulgence.
Arjun threw a file—filled with countless invoices for private expenses ranging from luxury cars and villas to furniture and carpets—on the table. These were all from the directors who had misappropriated company funds for their private use.
"Explanation?" Arjun raised his eyes and scanned the conference room. Finally, his gaze landed on Raj, who turned even paler. "President Kapoor, I…" Raj regretted his hedonism and intemperance with Meera last night, which made him late today and the center of Arjun's scrutiny. His heart pounding, Raj gritted his teeth and said, "I was confused." He was the one who bought the villa in the suburbs for Meera using company funds.
Arjun snorted as he tapped his fingertips on the table. He asked casually, "Who did you buy it for?" Those words felt like a slap to Raj's face, making him burn with shame. With many members of the Kapoor family present, Raj dared not admit that he had cheated on Ananya and bought a house for another woman.
Raj finally said, "I bought it for my fiancée."
Standing behind Raj, Ananya secretly rolled her eyes—she had been scapegoated again.
Arjun looked up indifferently. "Is that so? Then consider it my gift to my future niece-in-law." He leaned back and lowered his eyes. "There won't be a next time." Those words were not only meant for Raj. The atmosphere in the conference room grew even heavier. Knowing Arjun's reputation, no one dared to challenge him directly.
The meeting ended two hours later, with the directors leaving with long faces. Ananya knew that Raj had never paid attention to her, so she quietly moved to the back of the crowd. After the senior management left, she decisively closed the door and turned to walk towards Arjun. "Young Uncle, you're so impressive."
Arjun glanced at Ananya's face and said softly, "Get out."
Ananya did not get angry. Arjun's comments about Raj were just to make an example of him, not to support her. Still, she was quite pleased to see Raj suffer!
Just as Ananya was about to say a few more words to flatter Arjun, the conference room door was pushed open. Raj stared darkly at her. "What are you still doing here?"
Ananya was surprised to see Raj return. He had never cared about her in the past! She pretended to pack the documents on the table and bowed respectfully to Arjun before leaving the conference room.
Raj met Arjun's gaze and said, "Young Uncle, please forgive Ananya's imprudence."
Arjun grunted and looked away.
After closing the conference room door, Raj grabbed Ananya's wrist. "You reported me? Ananya, you're the daughter of the Sharma family after all. Are you that desperate?" The disgust in his eyes was palpable, stabbing Ananya's heart like a sharp knife. Ananya looked at Raj with amusement. She had no idea where he heard—or believed—the rumours that she was a promiscuous gold-digger. She suspected he looked down on her because she had only joined the Sharma family when she was 10 years old.
"Raj, we've known each other for 13 years. I don't think you've ever given me anything, right?" Ananya's words emphasized that she did not covet a single cent from Raj.
Raj was furious. "Do you think you're worthy of my gifts?! Ananya! Your family is after our Kapoor family's power. Let me tell you, I don't like you at all; don't try any tricks. Be obedient, and we can still part on good terms when I explain it to my family one day."
Ananya winced as Raj's grip tightened on her wrist, causing pain.
"Raj, you were the one who wanted this marriage back then. Now, you're also the one who wants to break off the engagement. What do you and your Kapoor family take me for?" It was indeed Raj who had asked the Sharma family for Ananya's hand when he was a teenager. The young Ananya was pretty and had good grades. The two had been classmates, and Raj, spoiled as he was, felt that only a girl like Ananya was worthy of him and insisted on getting engaged to her. The Sharma family had readily agreed to the marriage, leaving Ananya with no choice or right to refuse. As for the Kapoor family, they probably thought Raj was acting on a whim, so they did not refuse.