His angry-filled tone startled everyone including Isha, since she is standing at the presenter's place, it mixed with her nervousness, and she fisted her palms which are now sweating profusely... what if she disappoints her husband?? What if she is an embarrassment to him?? What about Ragini's dream??

"W... We... before... Ms. Ash...Ashley asked a question... I... I would like...", Isha fumbled and everyone in the room widened their eyes... the king hates whenever people fumble...

"Stop... someone else take over please...", Mr. Chaudhri said, Isha bowed in embarrassment, she quickly walked to Ragini who already is walking towards her. Ragini held Isha's palm for a second assuring her that she isn't at fault... Isha calmed down with her friend's assurance but still, she is embarrassed, hurt, and is feeling shame... she quickly sat in Ragini's chair while Ragini started presenting...

Abhyansh's fury is nowhere near control, he wanted to kill Mr. Chaudhri, at the same time, he wanted to console his wife, who looked very shameful, hurt, and embarrassed right now. He wanted to assure her that all this didn't matter to him... he knewshe must be hurting right now, thinking she disappointed him and Ragini, he wanted to assure her that he is still proud of her and her talent...

Ragini finished her presentation and looked like everyone is impressed with how she operated her business. The young talents she has, seemed promising but everyone felt Isha to be the blackspot for the firm, just because of her one mishap. They knew Abhyansh Singh Ranawat can make the best of the best nervous but still what R Empire needed is a confident and bold workforce, not timid ones, thought everyone in the conference room.

"During A & M, we follow a bottom-to-top approach at R Empire, going by that procedure, we would like to ask our department heads for their opinions followed by the CEO, CFO and COO, followed by His Highness...", announced Ashley... Abhyansh wanted to oppose this, he wanted to announce his decision first so that no one badmouths Isha after he declared that he is in favour of this acquisition, but his wife looked at him just when he is about to talk. Her one look stopped him from saying anything further, she wanted everything to happen fairly without his involvement.

The divisional heads agreed to the acquisition but indirectly said that Ragini should filter her workforce saying only an extremely talented workforce can enter R Empire Headquarters. Everyone understood what they meant. The COO and CFO too gave the same opinion with some other inputs regarding their fields, and its Mr. Chaudhri's turn. Abhyansh for the first time feared this, he always liked how Mr. Chaudhri is very open and bold when giving statements. He didn't sugarcoat his words, he was blunt,if there was a need for improvement, he made sure to put it in a harsh way but today it's his wife at the other end.

"Ms. Ragini, I don't have anything different to say from what others have said, I must say, you have surprised me with the presentation... I didn't expect a small boutique like yours to have such quality stuff, I'm very much impressed with it, there are small adjustments needed, but they are all pointed out by the CFO and COO, so I won't repeat them and waste his highness's time, I have only one requirement...", Mr. Chaudhri said, Ragini looked at him with a smile, and nodded asking him what is it... "everyone has told you that at R Empire, we employ only the best... after the acquisition, you and your employees would become the employees of R Empire, and would be working here... so, I want everyone to match our standards, to tell you bluntly, we don't want incompetent employees like Isha... can you do this??", Mr. Chaudhri said and that's the last string for Abhyansh, a tear left Isha's eye but she is quick to wipe it. Before her husband blasted with anger, she stood up she knew if she delays any further, her husband will rip Mr. Chaudhri...

"Sir... I understand what you are saying but....", Ragini started but Isha interrupted her...

"I would resign... I understand what this means to Ragini and our whole firm... I'm thankful that you realized great talents and showed interest in working with them... I would like to wish all my colleagues and Ragini good luck in this journey", Isha said softly with a wide smile... "excuse me", she said and walked away...

Abhyansh crushed the phone in his hand to hold his temper... the inner beast in him is screaming to come out but he couldn'tlet it out... it would hurt his wife more... Ragini signed Reetu to go to Isha...

"I'm sorry Mr. Chaudhri, I can't accept this proposal... while I'm extremely thankful for the opportunity, I also pity you for lack of eye to recognize talent", Ragini said fiercely, surprising everyone including Abhyansh. She must be daring to say such a thing bluntly to one of the king's men in front of the king, thought everyone, but Abhyansh enjoyed it.

"Isha is not only one of the best designers of our boutique, but also the design head, we follow a flat organizational structure at our boutique and that's the reason I didn't believe in giving a position to her, but she manages everything related to designs and does everything a design head should do and even more. And 60 percent of the designs you saw in the presentation belonged to her, we don't take individual credits, everything is born collectively at our firm, that's the reason Isha asked not to put the names of designers under the designs...", Ragini said shocking everyone... they underestimated Isha... is the girl who fumbled badly just some time ago has so much talent?? Thought everyone...

"Shivam, wrap up everything and meet me out, I'm leaving this place as soon as possible...", Ragini said and started walking out when she realized the king is still present there, suddenly her heart dropped, she got furious seeing her friend getting humiliated and she lost it, she completely forgot about the King's presence, why didn't he stop her when she is spurting nonsense at his people wondered Ragini. She got frightened... she slowly turned but didn't dare to look at his face...

"Maharaj... I apologize for the way I spoke in your presence, hope you could find it in you to forgive me...", Ragini tried hard not to fumble...

"So, you take back what you said just now??", Abhyansh asked her, to see if Ragini goes back on her words in fear of him and leaves Isha's side...

"No Maharaj... if given a chance, I would refine my words since I'm speaking in your presence, but the gist of it would still be the same", Ragini said, and everyone's eyes widened at her audacity, exactly how brave she is... Abhyansh is surprised to see how his wife's friend didn't leave her even during tough times... he then understood why Isha loves her friends so much...

"The decision is not yet done... gather here at 5 O Sharp everyone", Abhyansh said dismissing everyone... his calmness after the way Ragini spoke surprised everyone...

Everyone went to their cabins not understanding what was running in Abhyansh's head... after everyone left, he too walked away asking John to bring his wife to him discretely but on his way, he found her fighting with Ragini in an isolated alley. Reetu is holding Isha by her shoulders... he dismissed his people and slowly walked towards them...

"Calm down Ragini, don't get mad now", Reetu said

"Calm down?? How can I after what this stupid did there?? How could you take a decision all by yourself, I feel like killing you... are you that desperate to leave me?? Ishu... how could you...", Ragini started but Isha hugged Ragini tightly... Abhyansh's immediate reaction was to kill Ragini for shouting at his wife, but soon he realized the love behind that anger... he fisted hispalms to refrain from doing things that would make his wife hate him...

"It's your dream, Ragini... I don't want to come in between... and it's me who messed up everything, I want to take the responsibility...", Isha said

"No Ishu... you didn't mess up... if it's not for you, I wouldn't be here, you encouraged me, helped me prepare everything... seeing the king, anyone would have gotten nervous... it isn't a big deal... stop blaming yourself", Ragini said

"No, you said you will present, it's me who took it on my head... and at the end, I messed up, so I should take responsibility...", Isha said

"Reetu stop this crazy woman before I kill her...", Ragini said angrily...

"Ragini, please let me go...", Isha said

"Shut up, will you?? I'm not letting you go", Ragini said decisively

"What if they acquire the firm, what will you do?? You will lose it to them for me??", Isha asked and the answer she got shocked her and impressed Abhyansh.

"Yes, I will... you are more important, if we are together, we could create another brand any day... you are my family Ishu... you and Reetu are my priority always", Ragini said calmly...

"Are you crazy... woman... it's your lifetime hard work... that boutique is everything for you", Reetu scolded Ragini, Isha stillcouldn't come out of the shock, her friend would actually lose everything for her?? She would do the same if she is in Ragini's place, but she didn't expect anyone else to do this for her, till then only her brother did extreme things for her...