Chapter 49 - The Other Empire
Author's Note ??
Hi everyone! ??
I'm really sorry for not uploading last week. I was planning to upload at least 3 chapters, but my schedule got really busy and I couldn't manage it.
So, to make up for it, I'll be uploading one chapter every day this week! ????
Also, I noticed some of you were confused about Aadhira's business empire. Astra Group was originally built by Aadhira in London, but after she returned to India, she shifted its headquarters to India. I didn't explain this earlier because I didn't want to make the chapters unnecessarily long. ??
I hope you're enjoying the story so far! And as always, feel free to share your theories, thoughts and suggestions with me. I love reading them! ??
Thank you for staying with my story. ??
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The morning sun slowly entered the Rathore Mansion through the tall glass windows.
After weeks of travelling, laughter, family gatherings, and stolen moments with Arjun...
Aadhira's life was returning to its usual rhythm.
Business.
Meetings.
Decisions.
Responsibility.
At exactly seven-thirty in the morning, Aadhira stepped out of their room wearing a perfectly tailored ivory blazer over a black silk blouse and matching trousers.
Her hair was tied neatly behind her head, and a slim watch rested around her wrist.
There was no trace of the shy woman who had hidden behind her dupatta the previous evening.
This was Aadhira Devraj.
A woman who had built something entirely of her own.
Arjun stood near the staircase, watching her.
He folded his arms.
"You're leaving without breakfast?"
Aadhira stopped.
She glanced at the clock.
"I have a meeting at eight-thirty."
"You still have an hour."
"I need to reach the office."
"Your office isn't going anywhere."
She gave him a look.
"And neither is breakfast."
Arjun smiled.
"Exactly."
He walked toward her and gently took the files from her hand.
"Come."
"Arjun-"
"No negotiations."
He led her toward the dining room.
Aadhira couldn't help but smile.
"You're becoming very controlling."
"Only when my wife forgets to eat."
She rolled her eyes.
"CEO of Rathore Industries..."
"Part-time husband."
"Full-time husband."
She laughed softly.
"Fine."
They entered the dining room together.
Dadiji immediately noticed them.
"Good morning, children."
"Good morning, Dadiji," Aadhira said respectfully.
Arjun pulled out a chair for her.
Dadiji smiled knowingly.
"You two have become very comfortable with each other after London."
Karan, who was already eating, looked up.
"Too comfortable."
Riya immediately hit his shoulder.
"Let them be."
Aadhira shook her head, trying not to laugh.
After breakfast, she collected her files.
Before leaving, Arjun stopped her.
"Where are you going?"
"Astra."
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Astra Group?"
She nodded.
"What are you doing there?"
"I have a business meeting."
Arjun studied her.
"With Astra?"
"Yes."
He gave a small nod.
"I actually tried to work with them once."
Aadhira's expression remained perfectly calm.
"Really?"
"Yes."
He picked up his coffee.
"They were expanding into one of the sectors Rathore Industries was interested in. We approached them about a strategic partnership."
"And?"
"They rejected the proposal."
Aadhira raised an eyebrow.
"Just like that?"
"Not exactly."
He smiled faintly.
"They negotiated through representatives. We never actually met the owner."
Aadhira looked away for a second, hiding the small smile threatening to appear.
"Maybe the owner didn't want to meet you."
Arjun narrowed his eyes playfully.
"Are you defending them?"
"I'm just saying they might have had their reasons."
He chuckled.
"Do you know who owns Astra?"
Aadhira paused.
"No."
The lie came effortlessly.
Arjun sighed.
"Neither does anyone else, apparently."
He looked toward his watch.
"I've always found that strange."
Aadhira picked up her handbag.
"I should leave."
"Good luck with your meeting."
She took a few steps before turning back.
"You could come with me."
Arjun looked surprised.
"To the meeting?"
"If you want."
His curiosity immediately won.
"Fine."
Aadhira smiled.
"Then come."
ASTRA GROUP
The black luxury SUV stopped in front of one of the most impressive corporate buildings in Mumbai.
The enormous glass structure rose high above the surrounding buildings.
A silver emblem stood proudly above the entrance.
ASTRA GROUP
Arjun stepped out of the car.
He looked up at the building.
"I've been here before."
Aadhira looked at him.
"You have?"
"Not personally."
He glanced at the building again.
"Our representatives came here when we were negotiating the partnership."
He looked at her.
"The owner never appeared."
Aadhira simply smiled.
"Maybe today you will finally meet them."
Arjun nodded.
"I'd like that."
They walked toward the entrance.
The moment Aadhira entered, the atmosphere changed.
Employees immediately straightened.
"Good morning, ma'am."
"Good morning, Ms. Devraj."
"Good morning."
Aadhira responded with a polite nod.
Arjun looked around.
Something felt strange.
The employees weren't simply greeting her because she was accompanying someone important.
They were greeting her with respect.
A young executive hurried toward them.
"Good morning, ma'am. The boardroom is ready."
"Thank you."
His eyes briefly moved toward Arjun.
Aadhira noticed.
"Mr. Rathore will be joining us."
The executive immediately nodded.
"Of course, ma'am."
He stepped aside.
Arjun looked at Aadhira.
"They know you?"
Aadhira gave him an innocent look.
"I've been here before."
"Often?"
"Sometimes."
He accepted the answer.
For now.
They entered the private elevator.
The doors closed.
Arjun looked at her.
"So..."
"So?"
"How many people work here?"
Aadhira glanced at him.
"Directly?"
"Yes."
"Over four thousand."
His eyebrows rose.
"Four thousand?"
She nodded.
"And that's only the corporate side."
Arjun looked at her curiously.
"What do you mean by that?"
Aadhira smiled.
"You'll find out."
The elevator doors opened.
The boardroom was already filled with senior executives.
Everyone stood as Aadhira entered.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, ma'am."
Aadhira walked toward the head of the table.
Arjun followed.
He expected the CEO or chairman of Astra to arrive.
Instead...
Aadhira sat down.
Arjun stopped.
He looked at her.
Then at the executives.
Then back at her.
"You're sitting there?"
Aadhira looked up.
"Yes."
"Why?"
A few executives exchanged knowing glances.
Aadhira gestured toward the chair beside her.
"Sit."
Arjun slowly sat down.
The presentation began.
Revenue.
Investments.
International expansion.
New partnerships.
Market forecasts.
Arjun listened.
At first, he assumed Aadhira was simply a senior executive or perhaps an outside business consultant involved in the meeting.
But something didn't add up.
Every major decision came through her.
"We're not expanding into three countries simultaneously," she said calmly.
One executive looked surprised.
"But ma'am, the projected revenue-"
"Is attractive."
She closed the file.
"But unstable."
She looked toward another executive.
"Complete the Singapore expansion first."
"Once that reaches our target, move to Dubai."
"And Europe?"
"Phase three."
The executive immediately nodded.
"Understood."
Arjun stared at her.
She didn't need approval.
She wasn't waiting for someone else to make the final decision.
Everyone was waiting for her.
The meeting continued for another forty minutes.
When it finally ended, the executives left one after another.
Arjun remained seated.
He looked at Aadhira.
"Who exactly are you here?"
Aadhira smiled.
"Your business partner for today."
"That's not what I meant."
Before she could answer, the door opened.
Shanaya walked inside.
Elegant as always, she carried a tablet and several documents.
The moment she saw Arjun, she smiled.
"So..."
She looked at Aadhira.
"You finally brought him."
Arjun frowned.
"Brought me where?"
Shanaya looked at Aadhira again.
Aadhira gave her a warning glance.
Shanaya immediately understood.
"Nowhere."
Arjun narrowed his eyes.
"That's convincing."
Shanaya laughed softly.
"Mr. Rathore, it's nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
She placed the tablet on the table.
Aadhira stood.
"Let's go."
Arjun followed them.
They entered another elevator.
This one didn't have ordinary floor numbers.
Instead, it required biometric identification.
Shanaya placed her palm against the scanner.
A green light appeared.
Then she entered a code.
Arjun looked at Aadhira.
"This isn't a normal corporate floor."
"No."
"Where are we going?"
Aadhira didn't answer.
The elevator began descending.
One floor.
Two.
Three.
Arjun looked at the floor indicator.
"Underground?"
Aadhira nodded.
"Yes."
The elevator stopped.
The doors opened.
Arjun stepped out...
And froze.
The enormous underground facility stretched across what looked like an entire floor.
Rows of high-tech servers filled glass rooms.
Security personnel monitored dozens of screens.
Digital maps covered several walls.
Employees worked behind secured glass doors.
It looked less like an ordinary business division...
And more like the command center of an entire technological network.
Arjun slowly turned toward Aadhira.
"What is this?"
Aadhira walked forward.
"The part of Astra that most people don't know exists."
Arjun stared at her.
"Astra?"
"Yes."
"You're involved with this division?"
Aadhira smiled faintly.
"More than involved."
Before Arjun could ask anything else, Shanaya spoke.
"Astra's public-facing businesses are only one part of what we manage."
Arjun looked around.
"What exactly does this division do?"
Aadhira stopped in front of a massive digital screen.
The screen displayed several international projects.
"Technology."