Chapter 6 #2
Akhil was standing near the grand glass terrace doors, surrounded by three senior board executives.
He looked breathtakingly handsome in a custom-tailored black tuxedo that broadened his shoulders and narrowed his waist. His dark hair was neatly styled, and he was holding a crystal tumbler of aged scotch, listening intently to an elderly board member.
Standing ridiculously close to his side was Sonia Kapoor.
Sonia looked straight off a European fashion runway. She was wearing a sparkling, floor-length metallic gold dress that clung tightly to her slender figure. Her long blonde-highlighted hair fell in polished curls down her back, and heavy diamond jewelry sparkled under the chandeliers.
Shruti’s eyes narrowed as she watched Sonia.
Sonia wasn't just standing near Akhil, she was practically leaning her entire body against his arm. As the board member told a joke, Sonia let out a soft, melodic laugh, reaching out her manicured hand to rest it intimately on Akhil’s forearm.
She leaned in close to his ear, whispering something that made her own lips curve into a flirtatious smile.
A sudden, fierce surge of green-eyed jealousy slammed into Shruti’s chest like a physical punch. Her breathing turned shallow, and her grip on her glass of fruit juice tightened until her knuckles turned pale.
She hated how natural Sonia looked standing beside him.
Sonia belonged in Akhil’s high-society world, a world of champagne, designer gowns, corporate mergers, and international galas.
Shruti felt a bitter, painful pang of insecurity twist inside her heart.
'Compared to a glamorous socialite like Sonia, I’m just a travel journalist who eats midnight noodles in panda pajamas. '
Across the crowded room, as if sensing the sudden spike of tension, Akhil casually turned his head.
His dark eyes swept across the lounge, and locked instantly onto Shruti.
When Akhil’s gaze landed on Shruti standing near the staircase in her fitted wine-red silk dress, his entire body went still.
For two long seconds, the powerful billionaire completely stopped listening to the board member speaking right in front of him.
His dark eyes darkened with an intense, raw appreciation as his gaze traced the curve of her waist, the delicate line of her throat, and the elegant waves of her dark hair.
Shruti caught his eye. But instead of giving him her usual playful smile, she shot him a cold, indifferent glare, deliberately turned her head away, and began chatting animatedly with Raghav.
Akhil’s dark eyebrows twitched slightly in subtle surprise.
Beside him, Sonia noticed Akhil’s sudden distraction. She followed his line of sight, her sharp eyes landing on Shruti. Sonia’s lips thinned into a subtle, disdainful smile.
"Oh, look," Sonia cooed softly, her high-pitched, smooth voice cutting through the noise as she tightened her grip on Akhil’s arm.
"Isn't that Raghav’s little sister? Poor thing...
she must feel so out of place at a formal high-society event like this.
I heard she spends her life living out of a backpack in tropical mud huts. "
Akhil slowly turned his head to look down at Sonia. His dark eyes were cold, smooth, and utterly unreadable.
"Shruti does not live in 'mud huts', Sonia," Akhil stated calmly, his deep voice carrying a quiet edge of steel. "She is an award-winning travel journalist who documents diverse cultures around the world. Her work requires far more intelligence and courage than sitting on a yacht."
Sonia’s flirtatious smile faltered for a fraction of a second, a flicker of annoyance passing over her polished face. But she quickly recovered, letting out another soft laugh and running her fingers lightly over Akhil’s lapel.
"Oh, darling, of course," Sonia purred, leaning closer to his shoulder. "You're always so chivalrous to Raghav's family. That's what I adore about you. Now, come... father wants us to join him at the terrace table to discuss the private villa reservations for Lake Como."
Akhil didn't pull his arm away, but his dark gaze drifted back across the room to Shruti.
He noticed the sharp, tense set of Shruti’s shoulders. He noticed how she was aggressively sipping her drink, her eyes shooting silent daggers towards Sonia’s hand on his suit jacket every three seconds.
A subtle, dangerous smirk began to play at the corner of Akhil’s lips.
He was a man who understood human psychology better than anyone. He knew Shruti inside out. The cold glares, the tight jaw, the aggressive sipping of her drink, it was textbook, unadulterated jealousy.
And for the first time in eight long years, Akhil Raheja realized that Shruti Malhotra didn't just see him as her brother's older friend.
***
An hour later, dinner was served on the grand outdoor marble terrace overlooking the ocean.
The long dining table was decorated with crystal glassware, white roses, and flickering silver candles. Guests enjoyed an exquisite eight-course meal prepared by Chef Ramesh, paired with rare Italian wines.
By complete arrangement of the host, Shruti was seated across the table from Akhil. But to Shruti’s intense annoyance, Sonia Kapoor had smoothly claimed the seat directly to Akhil’s right.
Throughout the meal, Sonia made sure her presence was loudly felt.
"Akhil darling," Sonia said softly, placing a small piece of roasted lamb onto his plate with her silver fork. "You really must try this. It reminds me of that exclusive bistro we visited in Paris last winter. Do you remember how cold it was that night?"
Shruti, sitting directly across from them, almost gagged on her glass of water. She stabbed her fork aggressively into her grilled salmon.
"Paris in winter is lovely," Devendra Malhotra remarked politely from down the table. "Did you enjoy your trip, Akhil?"
"It was a busy business trip, Uncle Devendra," Akhil replied smoothly, taking a sip of his red wine. His dark eyes flickered across the table, catching Shruti’s murderous glare. "I barely had time to appreciate the city."
"Oh, stop being so modest, Akhil!" Sonia giggled, lightly resting her hand over Akhil’s hand on the white tablecloth. "We had a wonderful time at the charity gala! In fact, my father was just saying earlier that we should travel together to Lake Como next month for the resort inauguration."
Shruti couldn't hold it in any longer. The vision of Sonia touching Akhil’s hand on the table was the absolute final straw.
"Is your father paying for your ticket, Sonia?" Shruti spoke up, her voice sweet as honey, though her dark eyes were flashing with dangerous sarcasm. "Or are you expecting the Raheja Group to sponsor your luxury vacation?"
The entire table fell into a sudden, quiet hush.
Raghav choked slightly on his wine, coughing into his napkin, while Vihaan hid a massive grin behind his glass.
Sonia’s jaw dropped in absolute shock. She straightened up, glaring across the table at Shruti with pure venom. "I beg your pardon?"
"I just meant," Shruti continued smoothly, leaning forward, resting her chin on her hands with an innocent smile, "since you seem so deeply invested in Akhil’s corporate travel schedule, I assumed you were joining his official staff as an unpaid travel assistant.
It must be exhausting following a busy executive around Europe. "
Sonia’s face turned beet red. "I am a major shareholder's daughter, Miss Malhotra! I don't need a corporate job!"
"Shruti," Kavya warned softly, shooting her daughter a warning look. "Be polite."
"I am being polite, Mom," Shruti said innocently, taking a slow sip of her water while maintaining eye contact with a furious Sonia. "I’m just admiring Miss Kapoor's dedication to high-society tourism."
Across the table, Akhil sat in total silence.
He brought his wine glass to his lips, hiding the large, irresistible smirk that broke across his face. He didn't defend Sonia. He didn't scold Shruti. He simply sat back, enjoying every single second of Shruti’s fierce, fiery jealousy.
"Well," Sonia gritted out, turning her body sharply towards Akhil, deliberately ignoring Shruti. "Akhil knows how much I value our close, personal relationship. Don't you, Akhil?"
Sonia leaned in remarkably close, her golden sequined dress brushing against his arm, her eyes full of obvious, heavy flirtation.
Akhil calmly set his wine glass down. He looked at Sonia, then slowly looked up at Shruti, whose dark eyes were practically burning holes into his forehead.
"Sonia," Akhil spoke in a quiet, smooth voice that echoed across the table. "Our relationship is strictly professional. I value your father's business partnership, but let us not confuse professional courtesy with personal intimacy."
Sonia froze. Her face turned pale as a sheet. The blunt, public rejection in front of Mumbai’s elite business figures was like a slap across the face.
"I... I see," Sonia stammered, pulling her hand back instantly, her voice trembling with embarrassment. "Excuse me. I need to refresh my makeup."
Sonia pushed her chair back abruptly and hurried off towards the indoor powder room, her high heels clicking loudly against the marble terrace.
Silence fell over the dining table once again.
Vihaan let out a soft, appreciative whistle under his breath, while Raghav shook his head with an amused sigh. "Akhil, you really have a way with words."
Akhil didn't answer Raghav. His dark gaze remained fixed entirely on Shruti.
Shruti felt her heart hammering against her ribs. She looked down at her plate, her cheeks burning with a mix of satisfaction and sudden embarrassment. She had completely lost her temper over Sonia flirting with him, and everyone at the table knew it.
***
By midnight, the high-society dinner had concluded. The luxury cars had rolled away through the main gates, and the estate fell into its quiet, peaceful nighttime rhythm.