Anant looked relieved. “That’s good news.”
Arundhati nodded. “Additionally, I told you that our forensic team has begun tracking her financials. We already found discrepancies in her last three transactions—one being a large, undocumented cash deposit in her account last month. We’re digging deeper to link it to potential financial fraud. Once we have enough, we file an inquiry, which will weaken her credibility in court.”
Kushal’s smirk didn’t waver.
“Impressive,” he admitted, but she knew there was a‘but’coming.
And then it came.
“But... It’s still not enough.”
Arundhati’s jaw tightened. “Do you have a better way?”
“I always have a way. And to your surprise, it’s always the right one.”
Her fingers curled into a fist. She knew what was coming. And she knew she wasn’t going to like it.
Kushal stood, circling the table as he explained his strategy.
“Instead of playing defence, we hit first. Hard. We leak information about Sadhna’s past legal troubles. We dig deeper into her financial history, but we don’t just investigate; we’ll make sure she knows she’s being investigated. Let her panic. Let her make a mistake.”
He moved behind Arundhati’s chair as he spoke. She felt the chills, not just from his strategy, but also from the way he moved, his presence looming, suffocating, intoxicating.
Even the air-conditioning had been on full blast, and her sleeveless satin top did little to keep her warm. She instinctively rubbed her arms, trying to suppress the shiver.
And then, before she could react, something warm and heavy draped over her shoulders.
Kushal’s coat.
What the!
Her head snapped to the side, her lips parting in shock as she felt him press the coat in place, ensuring she didn’t shrug it off.
Their eyes locked, the silent exchange louder than words.
Don’t be stubborn.
Anant is watching.
Just go with it.
For once, Arundhati didn’t argue. She held his gaze, silently conceding.
Kushal turned back to Anant, continuing as if nothing had just happened. “And finally, we expose her. We let the media do that job for us. Once the right rumours spread, Sadhna will be left defenceless.”
Anant nodded, impressed. But then, he hesitated.
“Sadhna never had any legal battles in the past.”
Kushal didn’t even blink.
“Then we create them.”
Arundhati snapped her head toward him, her eyes burning with pure fury.
“Are you out of your mind?”
Kushal sighed dramatically, as ifshewas the one being unreasonable.