The long mahogany table had never felt so cold.
Twelve chairs.Eleven judgmental faces.One man walking in like he had nothing to lose.
Riaan adjusted the cuff of his blazer as he entered the boardroom. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Aanya wasn't allowed in.
She was waiting outside.
But she didn't need to hear to know what this was.
His defense.Her fate.Their future.
"Mr. Khurana," the chairman said, folding his hands, "I assume you've seen today's coverage?"
"I have," Riaan said calmly.
"And?"
"And I won't be entertaining any insinuations that my personal life affects my professional integrity."
A pause.
"Forgive us," another member said, "but the photos suggest a… pattern. Emotional entanglement with a subordinate can compromise—"
Riaan cut in.
"You mean it threatens your illusion of control."
Silence.
He stood tall, eyes sharp, voice calm.
"Yes, Aanya Sharma and I are involved. No, it did not begin under duress. No, she wasn't coerced, misled, or favored. She earned her position. And her respect."
"Even so, it's damaging—"
"What's damaging is your fear," Riaan shot back. "Fear that vulnerability makes a man weak. That love clouds leadership. But here's the truth—"
He leaned forward, voice low and powerful.
"Loving her makes me stronger than any of you will ever be."
A few gasps. A few frowns.
"And if my position depends on abandoning her," he added, "I'll walk out right now."
The room froze.
"Careful, Riaan," someone said coolly. "That sounds like resignation."
He smirked. "That sounds like freedom."
A tense pause.
Then finally—
"We'll deliberate."
He turned without another word and walked out, his blood still boiling.
Outside, Aanya stood up the moment she saw him.
"Well?" she whispered.
He didn't answer.
He simply pulled her into him, kissed her hard, in full view of anyone watching, and murmured against her lips—
"I don't care what they decide.You're mine."