“Terminate all deals with Saxena Holdings. Effective immediately. Freeze every ongoing transaction until the audit team gives me a clean report.”
Rajat blinked. “Karan, Saxena’s been with us since the beginning. He’s on the board. He brought in the SRT Infra project just last quarter!”
“And siphoned fifteen percent of that investment into a shell company under his cousin’s name,” Karan revealed. “The internal audit caught it last night. He’s been bleeding this company for months.”
Rajat was shocked.
“You’re sure?” he finally asked.
Karan’s eyes lifted to meet his. “I don’t accuse without proof. Every document is right here. He thought I wouldn’t find out.”He leaned back in his chair again. “But I don’t tolerate betrayal…not in business, not in my personal life.”
He pressed the intercom button. “Call our legal team,” he ordered the secretary. “Prepare the notice for the immediate suspension of Mr Saxena from the board. Schedule an emergency board meeting in two days. I want a resolution passed to remove him from the directors’ registry and an official notice sent to the Registrar of Companies. Understood?”
A quiet “Yes, sir” came through the speaker.
Rajat watched him with admiration. “You are moving too fast. At least let the dust settle.”
Karan didn’t look up. “Loyalty isn’t a negotiation,” he said. “It’s a line. Once crossed, there’s no coming back.”
Rajat exhaled, sinking into the chair opposite him. “I still think we could have given a notice to Saxena instead of terminating him from the board. Have you ever thought who will fill his place? You’re burning bridges one by one, Karan. You’ll be standing alone at this rate.”
Karan’s gaze drifted to the massive window overlooking Mumbai’s skyline.
“Only those who can survive the fire can stay,” he murmured. “I don’t care about the rest.”
Rajat knew that tone…the one that meant Karan’s decision was final. “We’ll need someone we can trust to fill it.”
Karan nodded, staring back at his own reflection in the glass. Trust was the one thing he was done giving.
*****************
Later that Afternoon
Rajat strolled into Karan’s office, humming like he had no care in the world, with a bowl in his hand.
Karan was on a call, barking instructions to legal about drafting Saxena’s removal notice. When he hung up, Rajat was already making himself comfortable on the visitor’s couch.
“What’s that?” Karan asked, eyeing the bowl suspiciously.
“Celebration.” Rajat grinned and pushed the bowl to Karan. The rich, warm aroma of gajar halwa filled the room. “Saxena is officially out. His reputation just took the elevator down fifteen floors. I say this calls for dessert.”
Karan frowned, glancing between Rajat and the halwa. “Where did this come from? Looks homemade.”
“Of course not,” Rajat said too quickly. “I ordered it from one of the best chefs in town. Cost me more than my gym membership.”
Karan narrowed his eyes, unconvinced. “You’re lying.”
Rajat put a hand on his chest, mock-offended. “I would never lie to you, buddy. Just eat. You’ll thank me later.”
Karan hesitated but finally took a spoonful. The taste was unexpectedly perfect. It was sweet, warm and nostalgic. He didn’t even realise he’d gone in for another bite until Rajat’s grin widened.
“Good, isn’t it?” Rajat leaned back in his chair, enjoying himself. “That powdered sugar fiasco this morning at your home, remember that? All that chaos in your kitchen was apparently worth it. Mishti made this. I’d asked her to send some to the office.”
Karan froze mid-bite. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Rajat laughed. “Oh, come on. It’s just halwa.”
Karan set the bowl down with a thud. “Don’t do this again, Rajat. I don’t want anything from the Goels.”
