Epilogue #2
"Can wait." He kissed her softly. "You're more important than any deal."
She believed him. Because he proved it every single day.
*
The conference room was filled with powerful men—the Dubai investors, their lawyers, several Singhania advisors.
But all eyes kept drifting to Akriti.
She sat beside Raghav at the head of the table, dressed in a crisp emerald saree, the Singhania diamonds at her throat, her hair swept back in a professional bun. She looked every inch the powerful businesswoman she'd become.
Gone was the timid girl who'd cowered in the library. In her place was a woman who commanded rooms, made million-dollar decisions, and ran a charitable empire that was changing thousands of lives.
The transformation still took Raghav's breath away.
"The hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi will expand your footprint significantly," the lead investor was saying. "But we need assurances about the timeline. The construction delays in your Mumbai property have made our board nervous."
"Those delays were due to labor disputes," Akriti said calmly, pulling up data on her tablet. "Which we've since resolved by implementing better working conditions and fair wages. In fact, our employee satisfaction scores have increased by forty percent, leading to faster, higher-quality work."
She projected the data onto the screen. "Our revised timeline shows completion three months ahead of schedule. And the positive publicity from our ethical labor practices has increased advance bookings by sixty percent."
The investors looked impressed. One of them leaned forward. "Mrs. Singhania, your reputation precedes you. The Asha Foundation's work has garnered international attention. How do you balance charitable work with business expansion?"
"They're not separate," Akriti replied. "Our business model incorporates social responsibility. We hire from underprivileged communities. We use local suppliers. We invest in the areas where we build. It's not just good ethics—it's good business. People want to support companies that give back."
"And it doesn't hurt that my wife is brilliant," Raghav added, his hand finding hers under the table, squeezing possessively. "She's transformed how we operate. Made us not just more profitable, but more sustainable."
The pride in his voice was unmistakable.
The meeting continued for two more hours, but the deal was essentially done. Akriti had won them over—with her intelligence, her passion, her vision.
When the investors finally left, promising contracts by end of week, Raghav pulled her into his private office adjoining the conference room.
"You were magnificent," he said, backing her against the desk.
"It's just business—"
"You were magnificent," he repeated, his hands framing her face. "Watching you command that room, seeing their respect, their admiration—do you know what that does to me?"
"What does it do to you?" she asked breathlessly.
"Makes me want to fuck you on this desk until you scream my name." His hips pressed forward, letting her feel how hard he was. "Makes me want to mark you so thoroughly everyone knows exactly who you belong to."
"We're at work—"
"My company. My office. My wife." Each word was punctuated with a roll of his hips. "I'll take you anywhere I want."
"Someone could come in—"
"Door's locked." His hands were already pushing up her saree, finding the waistband of her petticoat. "And I don't care. I need you. Now."
She should protest. Should remind him they had standards to uphold, appearances to maintain.
Instead, she reached for his belt.
They came together with desperate urgency, right there on his desk, papers scattering to the floor, pleasure building fast and intense.
When they finished, both breathing hard, completely disheveled, Akriti started laughing.
"What?" Raghav asked, grinning.
"We have a child. A empire. Responsibilities. And we're still sneaking around having sex in your office like teenagers."
"And we'll be doing the same thing when we're seventy," he promised, helping her straighten her clothes. "I'll never stop wanting you. Craving you. Needing you like I need air."
"Good," she said, standing on her toes to kiss him. "Because I feel the same way."
*
Akriti found Raghav in the garden just before sunset, Yug toddling between the flower beds while his father followed close behind, ready to catch him if he stumbled.
She stood at the window, watching them, her heart so full it ached.
Yug picked a jasmine flower and held it up to Raghav with a proud smile. Raghav took it solemnly, brought it to his nose, and declared it the most beautiful flower in the world.
Then he plucked another and tucked it into Yug's hair, making their son giggle.
This man—this dark, dangerous man who ruled a criminal empire with an iron fist—was gentle with their child. Patient. Loving. Everything she'd hoped he'd be and more.
She walked out to join them, and both her boys' faces lit up.
"Mumma!" Yug ran to her on unsteady legs, and she caught him, swinging him up into her arms.
"Did you have fun with Dada?"
"Flowers!" He pointed proudly at the one in his hair.
"Beautiful, just like you."
Raghav came up behind them, his arms wrapping around both of them. His family. His world.
"I love this," he said quietly. "These moments. This life we've built."
"Me too," Akriti agreed, leaning back against his chest.
They stood there as the sun set, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink, their son between them, perfectly content.
"Do you ever think about the beginning?" Akriti asked. "What we were?"
"Strangers forced together," Raghav said. "Two people who couldn't have been more wrong for each other."
"And now?"
"Now you're the only person in the world who's right for me." He pressed a kiss to her temple. "You've given me everything, Akriti. Love. Family. Purpose. Redemption."
"We gave those things to each other," she corrected. "That's what makes it real."
Yug was getting heavy in her arms, his head drooping against her shoulder—a sure sign bedtime was approaching.
"Come on, little king," Raghav said, taking him gently. "Let's get you ready for bed."
"Story!" Yug demanded, suddenly alert again.
"Of course. What story do you want?"
"Dragons!"
Akriti smiled, following them inside. Raghav had a whole repertoire of made-up stories about brave princes and dragons and magical kingdoms. Yug loved every one.
*
After Yug was asleep, after they'd checked on him three times to make sure he was comfortable, after the house had settled into quiet darkness—Raghav finally had Akriti alone.
"Remember what I said this morning?" he asked, stalking toward her with clear intent. "About tonight being ours?"
"I remember." Her pulse quickened.
"Remember what else I said? About trying that thing you thought would be too intense?"
Heat flooded through her. "Raghav—"
"Do you trust me?"
"Always."
"Then let me have you. Completely. The way I've been dreaming about."
What followed was hours of exquisite pleasure and complete surrender. He explored every fantasy, every desire, pushing boundaries while keeping her safe, worshipping her body until she was boneless and sated and more in love than she'd thought possible.
And afterward, when they lay tangled together, sweaty and satisfied, he held her like she was the most precious thing in the world.
"I love you," he whispered into her hair. "Today. Tomorrow. Forever."
"I love you too," she murmured, already drifting toward sleep. "My husband. My partner. My everything."
"Sleep, jaan. I've got you."
And she did, safe in his arms, knowing that whatever tomorrow brought—business deals or family drama or the simple chaos of raising their son—they'd face it together.
Equal partners.
Devoted lovers.
Unbreakable.
And together, they'd built something more valuable than any empire—
A family.
A love story.
A forever.
And as the moon rose over the Singhania mansion, casting silver light across the sleeping city, two people who'd started as strangers held each other close and dreamed of the future they'd continue building together.
One day at a time.
One moment at a time.
One kiss, one touch, one whispered declaration of love at a time.
Forever.
THE END