13
Chapter 13
Damage Control
The hallway fell into complete silence.
Anaya felt her heart pounding so loudly that she was sure everyone could hear it.
Rhea, meanwhile, looked completely relaxed.
As if she hadn't just dropped a bomb in the middle of Rathore Industries.
Aarav's gaze shifted between the two women.
His expression was unreadable.
Dangerously unreadable.
"What did you say?" he asked quietly.
For the first time, even Rhea seemed to realize she might have gone too far.
But she recovered quickly.
"I said I was checking on the mother of a child who could become a target because of your enemies."
Anaya almost sagged with relief.
Not much.
Just enough to breathe again.
Aarav's eyes remained fixed on Rhea.
"You need to leave."
The warning in his voice was unmistakable.
Rhea smiled.
"Still giving orders."
"Leave."
This time, she listened.
But not before looking directly at Anaya.
A look that promised this wasn't over.
Not even close.
As soon as she disappeared into the elevator, Aarav turned toward Anaya.
"What was that about?"
Anaya forced herself to stay calm.
"I have no idea."
A lie.
A terrible lie.
Unfortunately, it was the only one she had.
Aarav clearly didn't believe her.
But before he could question her further, his phone rang.
The interruption was almost a miracle.
Almost.
Because whatever appeared on the screen immediately darkened his expression.
"We'll continue this conversation later."
Anaya wasn't sure whether to be relieved or terrified.
---
That evening, Aarav sat alone in his office long after everyone had left.
The city lights glowed beyond the windows.
Normally he would have gone home hours ago.
Tonight, his thoughts refused to cooperate.
Rhea's appearance bothered him.
Not because of what she had said.
Because of why she had said it.
She never did anything without a reason.
Never.
His phone buzzed.
A message from Vikram.
Found information on Rhea. Call me.
Aarav immediately pressed dial.
"What happened?"
"She's been asking questions."
His eyes narrowed.
"What kind of questions?"
"Questions about Anaya."
The tension in his shoulders increased.
"And?"
"And about Kabir."
The room became very quiet.
Aarav stood slowly.
"How long?"
"Several months."
Several months.
Not days.
Not weeks.
Months.
Someone had been investigating Anaya and her son long before he re-entered their lives.
And that was a problem.
A very serious problem.
---
Meanwhile, Anaya was having problems of her own.
Specifically, one five-year-old problem.
"Mumma."
"No."
"But you don't even know what I was going to ask."
"I know enough."
Kabir dramatically sighed.
"You never trust me."
Anaya looked up from her laptop.
"Last week you tried to microwave crayons."
"It was an experiment."
"It was a disaster."
Kabir considered that.
"That's fair."
Despite everything weighing on her mind, she laughed.
Moments like these always made life easier.
Then her phone rang.
Unknown number.
Anaya stared at the screen.
Immediately thinking of Rhea.
After a moment, she answered.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Then a male voice.
"You should tell him."
Her blood ran cold.
"Who is this?"
The call disconnected.
Just like that.
No explanation.
No answer.
Nothing.
Anaya sat frozen.
Because this was no longer a coincidence.
Someone was actively trying to force the truth into the open.
---
The following afternoon, preparations for the charity gala intensified.
Design approvals.
Security meetings.
Guest confirmations.
Everyone was busy.
Especially Anaya.
Which was why she didn't notice the small accident until it was too late.
One of the staff members accidentally knocked over a stack of files.
Papers scattered everywhere.
Anaya immediately crouched to help.
At the same moment, someone else bent down too.
Aarav.
Their hands brushed.
Both froze.
For a second, neither moved.
Then Aarav picked up a sheet of paper and handed it to her.
His expression suddenly changed.
The paper wasn't an event document.
It was something else.
A school form.
One that had accidentally slipped from her bag.
Anaya's heart stopped.
Because she knew exactly what was written at the top.
Student Information Form
Kabir Mehra.
Aarav's gaze lingered on the name.
Then moved lower.
Toward the date of birth.
Anaya quickly grabbed the paper.
Too quickly.
Aarav noticed.
Of course he noticed.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
A tiny reaction.
But enough.
Because Aarav Rathore missed very few things.
And for the first time...
He wasn't just suspicious.
He was starting to connect the dots.
To be continued...