Even now, standing in front of him, she felt invisible.
Divya noticed immediately. Without drawing attention to it, she gently shifted the mood.
“Mishti,” she said warmly, “you and Karan have come here together for the first time, and we have not even asked you to sit. Come, come.” She then turned toward Karan. “Please, have a seat, Karan.”
Karan shook his head politely. “No, thank you. We are fine.”
He then looked at Daksh. “Congratulations to both of you.”
Daksh nodded slowly, his brows drawn together as he absorbed Karan’s formal congratulations.
There was a faint grin on Karan’s face as he turned toward Mishti.
“Mishti, you came empty-handed?” he asked casually. “Won’t you give anything to your brother for such big news?”
Mishti was startled by the question and even more by the fact that it had come from him.
She pouted, embarrassed, as she turned back to Daksh and Divya. “I am sorry,” she said quickly. “I came here in such a hurry that I honestly forgot to bring anything for you.”
Before anyone could respond, Karan interrupted. “But I did not forget.”
Mishti turned toward him, stunned.
His grin widened just a little more as he met her eyes. “How could I let my wife down?” he said in a deceptively light tone. “I got the gift on your behalf.”
Really?Her confusion deepened.
Karan reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a small envelope. He then stepped forward and held it out to Daksh.
Daksh stared at it for a moment before taking it. Even Divya straightened slightly, sensing a shift in the atmosphere.
“What is this?” Daksh asked.
Karan did not explain. “Open it,” he said calmly. “You’ll come to know.”
Daksh slid a finger under the seal and pulled out the single paper inside. The moment his eyes fell on the contents, the colour drained from his face. His fingers tightened around the paper as if it might slip away otherwise. He looked up at Karan, shock flashing through his eyes, his mouth opening, but no words coming out.
Karan smirked.
“KW Capital Ventures and the Lexi Group have joined hands,” Karan said, “into a strategic merger.”
Mishti frowned. Her gaze darted between the two men. She knew about this. What she did not understand was why Karan was telling this to Daksh? And why did Daksh look as if the ground beneath him had cracked open?
Karan took a step closer to Daksh, his eyes hardening. “Which means,” he continued, “every authoritative decision of the Lexi Group will now be taken by KW Capital.”
He paused deliberately.
“Precisely,” he added, locking eyes with Daksh, “by me. Karan Wadhwa.”
There was complete silence in the room.
Daksh shook his head slowly in disbelief. “No,” he said hoarsely. “This… this cannot happen.”
Karan slipped his hands into his trouser pockets with infuriating ease. “It already has, Daksh,” he replied coolly. “The papers are signed.”
Mishti could no longer remain silent.
“What is going on?” she finally interrupted, looking from Karan to Daksh. “What is all this about?”
