Redemption of Royals (Royal #1: Book 3) | ✔

32

-• jealousy •-

Rudra

[Two months later]

In the darkness, the name you remember first,
is the one who has always reached out to you before everyone else.

"Your idea sounds good," Yuvraaj concedes with a nod. He reaches for the sealed bottle of water and tosses it towards me. I catch it and twist open the cap, guzzling the water down my dry throat. "But I'll need you to give the presentation personally."

I pause. "No, Yuvraaj, after last time, I'm hesitant about revealing my identity."

"I understand," he agrees. "But you can convince the board better than me. I'm a businessman, Rudra, all I understand is profit and loss. And this, this is not my forte." He gestures towards the presentation screen. "I don't even know the meaning of half of the technical terms that you use. Even if I try, I won't sound as confident as you. Only the sailor knows the sea better."

Putting the bottle down, I brace the edge of his desk with my hands. "So, what do you suggest? I expose myself?"

"I don't know." He shakes his head. "But the board is getting restless, Rudra. They have deep respect for you and for what you've created, but they are still hesitant to trust you. Business is not all about risks. People want to trust the people they do business with."

"I'll think about something," I stand straight. "Let's call it a day. Good night." Picking up my phone and car keys, I leave his office and nod at Rachel on my way to the elevator.

I put on my glasses. Yara activates himself.

"Did you hear him?"

"Yes."

"Do you think it's the right time?" I step out of the elevator and press the fob to unlock my car.

"I can't grasp the concept of right and wrong time. Isn't it just time?" He asks, perplexed at the human understanding of a basic physical quantity. "Time has nothing to do with it. But you might need to retrospect your situation to make a sound decision."

I slide inside my car, revving the engine to life. "Then I'm afraid I'm not in the situation to take a risk right now."

"I understand."

"Is there no way I can be in front of them without revealing who I am? Like I can send someone to act like me, without needing to train him. He should encapsulate me in his behaviour so well that it's as if I'm the one speaking, but it's actually him."

Yara falls quiet.

"No?"

"Sounds confusing to me." He replies.

I sigh in defeat.

Parking my car in the driveway, I get out and throw the keys in the hands of the valet, thanking him on my way inside the palace.

"Late again, Shourya?" The Chairman's voice halts me in place.

Having reached the end of the staircase, I place my hand on the wooden railing and turn sideways to give him my attention. "Good evening, Dadu," the last word feels like acid in my mouth.