Mishti looked at him, surprised that even this time, he didn’t care for her opinion; he just decided it for her. Even Karan held her gaze without any expression, as if, yes, the decision had beenmade, without her consent, and it would always be like that between them.
Kanika straightened instantly. “One minute, Karan,” she said angrily. “That project was meant for me. I had already told you I wanted to lead Trinity.”
“I know,” Karan replied evenly. “But I have decided otherwise. You will take over Mehta Group instead.”
Kanika’s frustration was barely concealed now. “This is not done. Trinity is not a routine portfolio. I am not stepping aside forher.”
That’s right. Trinity & Co. was not their usual kind of acquisition. That company was not in crisis, but it was no longer standing as firmly as it once had. Its growth had slowed, its liquidity was tightening, and behind its carefully maintained façade, it was quietly seeking reinforcement. The company had begun informal conversations with potential investors, careful not to appear desperate, careful not to draw unnecessary attention.
One heavyweight player had already shown interest, positioning itself discreetly, negotiating terms from a distance. On paper, it looked like a straightforward rescue investment.
But Karan had no intention of letting that deal go through.
KW Capital’s strategy was not to approach Trinity openly, nor to announce its interest. It was to wait. To outbid the existing investor at the last moment, offer terms too strong to refuse, and step in without giving Trinity the time to question the shift. By the time they realised what had happened, control would already be slipping from their hands.
Rajat exchanged a look with Abhimanyu, both clearly unhappy with Karan’s decision, too.
“Karan,” Rajat said carefully, “Mishti is new to this environment. Giving her such a tricky project at the start is not right. One wrong move and we might lose it.”
Abhimanyu nodded. “Exactly. We are not questioning her intelligence, but this is not our conventional acquisition. It’s different.”
Karan’s gaze did not leave the table. “Which is exactly why I want it handled quietly, with a fresh mind. I know Trinity is vulnerable. So, Mishti is not being asked to execute the takeover. She is being asked to prepare the ground. To observe and analyse. To map weaknesses. To tell us when the moment is right.”
The board members all looked at each other, still confused about whether this was the right decision. Karan read the doubts on everyone’s faces, including Mishti’s, who was just absorbing whatever was discussed around her.
He leaned back on his chair, staring between Rajat and Abhimanyu.
“You didn’t question her capability when you suggested bringing her onto the board,” he said calmly. “And you both are her support system. She won’t be alone in this, I am sure.”
“All I want,” he said, turning to Mishti now, “are results. Trinity has to be broken down. It is one of the biggest projects we are betting on this year. And if I cannot trustmy wifeto handle it, who else would I trust?”
Every pair of eyes in the room shifted toward her. Mishti knew, instinctively, that he was giving her the hardest task deliberately. But she also knew something else. That she would not step back.
“I’ll do it,” she said firmly.
Karan’s lips curved, just slightly. “Good. That concludes the meeting, then,” he said.
Everyone rose to leave.
“Karan,” Kanika said angrily. “We need to talk.”
“Later,” he said, with the same annoyed tone, dismissing her request. She shot him one last hard look before turning sharply and striding out of the conference room.
Everyone left except Karan, Rajat, Abhimanyu and Mishti. Rajat, though a bit worried about how Mishti would handle it all, still tried to cheer her up at the moment. “Well then, congratulations, Mishti. You’ve bagged the biggest project of the year. We expect a treat.”
Abhimanyu laughed. “Do we really need to ask her for that? Of course, we are celebrating this.”
“Thanks to both of you,” Mishti said, smiling despite herself.
Karan waited, his hands shifting into his pant pockets as he watched Rajat and Abhimanyu continue the conversation with Mishti, teasing and fussing over her like proud guardians. The impatience built slowly inside him.
“Let’s plan something,” Rajat said, grinning at Mishti.
“Now? But we have work to do,” Mishti replied.
“No one works so hard on day one,” Abhimanyu said. “How about dinner? Just the three of us.”
“Dinner?” Mishti hesitated.
