Chapter 231: Dealing Aftermath
Rohit narrowed his eyes as he studied Vani.
She was barely twenty-five. Beautiful looking face. A decent salary. A promising position in one of the city’s established companies.
Someone like her didn’t casually gamble away an entire career by sabotaging an international presentation.
There were only two possibilities.
Either someone close to her had convinced her to do it...
...or someone held enough leverage to force her hand.
That was why, the moment they were finally alone, he asked the strangest question possible. "Do you have a boyfriend?"
Vani instinctively flinched.
She stared at him blankly.
Rohit tilted his head slightly. "Ms. Vani... was my question that difficult?"
She unconsciously took half a step back.
Despite his polite tone, something about his calm expression felt anything but gentle. "No, sir..." she blurted quickly. "But I don’t think Arya madam would approve of our relationship."
Silence.
Rohit blinked once.
Then understanding dawned on him.
He had been thinking like an investigator for so long that he’d completely forgotten how absurd the question sounded between a young man and a woman standing alone in a cabin.
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
Interesting.
Even now, she was still trying to play dumb. He decided to be straight forwrd anyway and clear the misunderstanding.
"That wont be necessary" He picked up a pen casually. "I was wondering whether some outside influence had caused you to make a few mistakes." His eyes lifted toward her. "Since that’s apparently not the issue... perhaps we should discuss the deliberate ones instead."
Vani frowned. "Sorry, sir... I don’t understand."
Rohit’s smile returned.
He turned the monitor toward her. He pointed the pen to a single file buried inside the deployment draft. The malicious patch.
He tapped it once. "Would you like me to explain this to Arya?"
Everything drained from Vani’s face.
Her lips parted. No words came. Her knees nearly gave way as panic overwhelmed her.
"Sir... please—" She instinctively bent forward. Rohit immediately caught her elbow and quietly bent down himself, pretending to retrieve the pen he’d deliberately dropped moments earlier.
His voice became a whisper. "Are you insane?" He flicked his eyes toward the corner. "There’s a camera."
Vani froze. Only then did she notice it.
Rohit placed the pen into her trembling hand as though nothing had happened.
She straightened herself and folded both hands respectfully. "Young master... please forgive me. I didnt want to. I was forced.." Rohit simply nodded with a hush gesture as his reasoning hit where it was. "its alright. We will talk about it later. For now, go wash your face."
Vani bowed repeatedly before turning toward the door.
Just as her fingers touched the handle— "Vani."
She stopped.
Rohit extended his phone toward her. "Give me your personal number. I might need your help with something later."
Fear flashed through her eyes. She understood immediately that this wasn’t a request she could comfortably refuse.
Quietly, she accepted the phone and entered her number.
Rohit saved it. "See you soon."
Vani said nothing. She hurried out of the cabin.
A moment later Rohit looked down at the newly saved contact and sent a harmless-looking Skype invitation link. Exactly the kind nobody would think important for scrutiny if cross- investigated.
Within seconds, it got Accepted. Rohit’s smile deepened just slightly.
Right on cue. The door opened again.
Sheetal stepped inside. "Rohit, come quickly. The delegation has already arrived. The meeting starts in fifteen minutes."
He slipped his phone back into his pocket and stood. "Sure thing."
***
After roughly seventeen minutes, Rohit still found himself staring at the closed meeting room door.
Sheetal had brought him in early and seated him near the front. The nameplate in front of him read Technical Adviser, with his name printed clearly below the title. The adjustment looked a little crude, but it was still professional.
Inside the room sat four people. Sheetal was to his right. Team leaders Geeta and Avantika sat across from them, eyes fixed on their laptop screens. Vani’s seat was empty.
When Rohit asked about her, he learned she had taken leave after feeling unwell — conveniently right after following his advice.
It was no surprise. She had clearly understood the potential consequences and had done her best to clean up any remaining traces for both their sakes.
Sheetal leaned a little closer, covering her mouth with one hand as she teased him in a low voice.
"Second day in the office and you’re already looking after someone, young master?"
Rohit only smiled back. There was nothing useful he could say without making the situation more complicated.
Just then the glass door slid open.
Arya entered first, followed by the receptionist and a middle-aged Japanese man. He looked composed and calm in a well-tailored professional suit, his movements unhurried and precise.
Everyone stood up at once. Rohit rose a second later out of respect.
Arya introduced the guest as ’Kazumi Toyama’, Director of the ’Eastern Branch Overseas’. She then briefly introduced the members on her side.
Rohit was mildly surprised.
That position oversaw rights and distribution across the Asian sphere of influence, including Japan itself.
For someone of that rank to come in person was no small matter. Then he remembered that his family still held stakes with the Takamura group on several rail projects. It was possible that Fujimura’s connection had played a role in bringing the director this far.
Arya gestured for Toyama to take the seat across the table with the prepared nameplate, then walked to the head of the table.
She gave Rohit only the briefest glance before treating him as if he were not there at all.
Rohit’s eyes, however, did not show the same restraint.
As she leaned forward to adjust the projector, his gaze drifted over her legs — the sheer pantyhose making the smooth, glowing skin underneath even more noticeable.
His eyes continued upward, taking in the way her tight skirt hugged her hips and the formal shirt and coat that outlined the graceful curves of her body. The top button of her shirt was left open just enough to draw attention when she bent down to set the laptop.
Arya’s eyes suddenly met his.
She caught him looking without the slightest attempt to hide it. For a moment she simply stared at him, then rolled her eyes and returned to her work.
Rohit only offered an absolutely shameless smile in return, still letting his gaze linger for another second on the soft line of her cleavage.
In his mind, the thought was simple and unapologetic. It’s her fault for looking that stunning... especially after what already happened between them that night.
Rohit leaned back in his chair as the meeting resumed, deciding to stay quiet for now. He would watch how his elder sister handled the company that should have been his.
No matter how high she took it... eventually, everything would fall into his hands.