“A big one,” Amara added. “We were never suited to each other. But clearly, Akash and Shauna are, as we can all see.”
“Let’s not rehash the past,” Vir said lightly. “That was long over.”
Suveer looked at Akash. “I’ve always liked you for my Amara.”
Amara gasped, looking horrified. “Oh God, why are we still discussing this?
“You need to drop this topic, grandfather,” Dheer said, his voice tight.
But Suveer continued, undeterred, his eyes on Akash. “In fact, I was going to propose a marriage between the two of you. It would have been the easiest way to get my support, but Janak beat me to it. And so here we are…”
“Suveer, that’s enough,” Janak said, his tone firm. “Listen to Dheer and drop this.”
Shauna’s hand twisted beneath his. Akash stood, pulling her up with him.
“Oh, come on, Janak,” Suveer said. “I’m allowed to hope.”
“Uncle, you’ve said enough,” Akash said sharply. “Shauna and I came here tonight at Janak’s behest, even though we knew you were testing us to see if we are suited. Now, I know that you won’t be satisfied no matter what I do. Clearly, you’ve already made up your mind against me. Besides, we don’t need to prove to you or anyone else that we can make our marriage work. Or that together we can make Sehgal Media a huge success. I am confident we can, and we will. Shauna is my fiancée, my future wife, and I will not stand here and allow you to insult her by making her feel lesser in any way. Thank you for dinner, but I think it’s time for us to leave.”
Akash didn’t wait for another word. He pulled Shauna to her feet and rushed her out of the house.
“Keys,” he said, his voice rough.
She handed her keys to him, and he climbed into the car, taking off the second she was seated beside him. His jaw was clenched tight, his grip hard on the steering wheel as he drove. God, he was so angry with Suveer for saying what he had, and he was so angry with himself for allowing it to happen. He never should have accepted the dinner invitation.
The entire drive to his home passed in silence. The tension in the car was thick and unrelenting, until finally he pulled into hisapartment building. He looked to the side and found Shauna’s gaze fixed ahead, her hand clenched tightly around the strap of her purse.
Exhaling, he put his hand over hers. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” she asked, her voice edged with anger.
“I should’ve known the night wouldn’t be easy,” he said. “I should’ve expected Suveer to be unpleasant.”
She removed her hand from under his. “I suppose he spoke the truth.”
He frowned, turning toward her. “What do you mean?”
“Maybe you and Amara are better suited,” she said, her gaze fixed ahead. “More than you and me. With her, you’d easily get his support and that of the board.”
Something in him snapped. Anger churned in his gut at the ease with which she was dismissing everything that had passed between them over the last few days.
“I don’t fucking care what he thinks or the board thinks,” Akash bit out.
“You know what? It’s late,” Shauna said, her voice laced with bitterness. “I want to go home.”
“No,” he barked. “You’re not going anywhere until we resolve this.”
Before she could respond, he was out of the car. She followed him out, her frustration simmering, and held out her hand. “My keys.”
He locked the car with a sharp click, slipped the keys into his pocket, and caught her wrist in the same motion.
“Akash—” she started, trying to pull free. He didn’t let go. Not this time. He wasn’t going to let them slip back into their previous pattern of anger, resentment, and using distance as a shield. Never again. Not after they’d finally found their way past it.
His grip tightened as he dragged her toward the building, his anger sharp and raw. She twisted against him, trying to break free, but he didn’t relent. The elevator doors slid open. He guided—no, forced—her inside and stepped in after her. The doors shut with a soft thud. He moved, closing the distance and crowding her back against the wall, caging her in.
“Do you know why I broke up with Amara all those years ago?” he demanded, his voice low and intense.
“I don’t know,” Shauna shot back, turning her face away. “And I don’t care.”
