Chapter 29
Dinner gave way to a quieter, more relaxed setting, and Akash watched everyone settle into the living room for dessert. So far, the evening had gone smoothly. Even Suveer had kept his sharper edges in check.
Shauna sat beside him, composed and at ease, listening, adding to the conversation when needed, laughing softly at Vir’s commentary.
He’d been aware of her from the moment she’d walked in.
He’d noticed her unease and the stiffness in her shoulders.
But now, he was happy to see the change in her.
The earlier tension was gone, replaced by something lighter…
more comfortable. And he found himself unexpectedly glad to see how easily she fit in with his friends.
He linked his fingers with hers. She squeezed his hand, all the while continuing her conversation with his friends.
His thumb moved absently over her wrist, tracing the delicate line of her pulse.
He felt it quicken beneath his touch and a quiet satisfaction settled deep in his chest. Fuck, now he couldn’t wait to get her alone again.
He leaned back against the couch, waiting for the evening to wind down so he could whisk her back to his apartment.
He exhaled. This need, this urge he had to be with her, to be near her, to touch her, surprised him with its sheer intensity. For years, he’d kept his distance from her. They’d been at odds for way too long, and he’d forgotten what it felt like to simply be at ease with her.
He’d missed this… sitting beside her in the company of friends, hearing her laugh, feeling her relax around him.
And now he was enjoying every second of it.
His thumb moved absently over her wrist, tracing slow, deliberate circles.
Once, a long time ago, Shauna Sehgal had been the one thing he’d wanted more than anything else in the world.
And now, by some twist of fate, she was his.
And this time, he wasn’t letting her go.
He was going to cherish her and thank God every day for giving her back to him.
For allowing him a second chance with her.
And he was going to do his best to make it work between them.
This… them… It felt right. Too right. He smiled absently as he watched her laugh again, his own lips curving in response.
He looked across and found Suveer’s gaze on him. The older man was watching him and Shauna, his gaze assessing. Sharp. Akash lifted his chin slightly. Suveer had always been tough, but never with Akash, not until he’d taken over the leadership of Sehgal Media.
Akash found it difficult to understand why the older man, despite knowing him for so many years, had chosen to make his life difficult when he could have easily supported him instead.
“Is everything okay?” Akash asked him.
“I haven’t really congratulated you on your engagement,” Suveer replied. “Congratulations to both of you.”
Akash felt some of the tension ease, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Thank you, Uncle.”
Beside him, Shauna smiled as well.
“Your engagement was quite a surprise,” Suveer said.
Around them, the conversation tapered off one by one until the room fell into a quiet stillness as everyone’s attention shifted to Suveer.
“I believe you two have never really gotten along,” Suveer added, “and then suddenly, here you are, ready to get married. The two of you don’t make sense to me.
You and Amara, however, would’ve been perfect together.
She’s more suited to you. After all, you did date once.
I’d hoped you might rekindle that. I do believe she was heartbroken when you broke up with her. ”
Amara inhaled sharply. “That was years ago, grandfather, and I wasn’t—”
“—and yet, you haven’t dated anyone since him,” Suveer cut in. “And if I’m right, neither has he.”
Amara’s jaw dropped. She exchanged a shocked glance with Akash.
Beside him, Shauna stiffened, clearly having seen their wordless exchange and interpreting it incorrectly, thanks to this old man.
He felt her try to pull her hand free, but he tightened his hold, keeping her right where she was.
Her eyes met his, and he saw the flicker of anger and hurt in her dark gaze.
“Amara and I barely dated for a few weeks,” Akash said, his jaw set. “It was years ago. We both knew even then that it was a mistake.”
“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 his apartment 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.”
He gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him.
“I broke up with her because she… She. Wasn’t. You,” he said, each word deliberate. “Because even then… I wanted only you.”
Her breath hitched. Shock flickered across her face.
“That’s a lie,” she said, her words rough with disbelief.
The elevator doors slid open on his floor. Akash caught her hand again and pulled her out, striding down the hallway. He unlocked the door with a sharp click before pushing it open and drawing her inside.
The moment they were in, he turned on her. Fury burned through him as he closed the distance. “I am not lying, Shauna.”
She lifted her chin, defiance flashing through the hurt in her eyes. “Then why did you date her in the first place?” Her voice shook, but she didn’t stop. “Why did you choose her over me?”
The words hit him like a blow. He stared at her, caught off guard by her words and the pain in her eyes. Fuck. Was that what she believed? Was this what she’d been trying to tell him in his office the other morning?
Before he could respond, she punched his chest. He barely felt the jab.
“You knew what I felt for you back then,” she said, her voice breaking as anger spilled over. “I know you did.”
Another punch.