Page 66 of Every Move You Make
She stared at her hand, the weight of the ring grounding her in the moment, anchoring her to the choice she’d just made.
“It’s… pretty,” she said softly.
It was.
The ring wasn’t delicate or understated. It was bold, just like her. A striking emerald-cut diamond set in a sleek gold band, flanked by smaller stones that caught the light. It was loud, modern, and impossible to ignore. It was perfect. And she loved it.
His fingers laced through hers. Her heart stuttered again. What was it about this man that she was ready to give him another chance? That she was willing to bet five years of her life on him, hoping for more?
God, her feelings for him were all over the place, and that scared her. So much. Yet she allowed him to lead her into the restaurant.
And together, her hand in his, she walked out to face two of the most important people in her life.
18
Shauna sat opposite Rhea and Jiya, acutely aware of how close Akash was seated beside her and how carefully the two women across from them were watching them both. While these two girls were her closest confidantes, Shauna knew Jiya shared an entirely different bond with Akash. He was like a brother to her. And Rhea and Akash had remained friends despite her own tumultuous history with him.
“Do you girls want something to drink? To eat?” Akash asked.
Rhea threw him a hard look. “Does it look like we want anything right now?”
“I’m so glad I decided to take a flight from Delhi and come here,” Jiya said, looking at Shauna. “I heard your voice and figured something was going on. I just didn’t expect what I saw.”
“You.” Rhea pointed at Shauna. Then at Akash. “And him.” Her sister’s eyes narrowed. “You were kissing.”
Shauna winced.
“From what I saw,” Jiya said coolly, her arms crossed, “kissing is a rather tame word. You were devouring each another.”
Rhea’s head snapped toward Shauna. “When in the ever-loving fuck did this start? And why do we know absolutely nothing about it?”
“It’s… it’s—” Shauna faltered, nerves finally catching up with her. She dragged a hand through her hair, suddenly unsure where to even begin.
Jiya’s gaze dropped pointedly to Shauna’s left hand.
“What is that?” She pointed to her finger.
Rhea followed her line of sight. “Oh my God. Is that an engagement ring? Who gave it to you? Him?”
Shauna tucked her hand into her lap, her pulse skidding. She’d never kept anything from these two. Never. And for them to find out like this made her stomach knot.
“We—” Akash began.
“—when did you two even start getting along?” Rhea cut in, incredulous.
“Actually—” Akash tried again.
“Fuck. I can’t believe you both got engaged,” Jiya said, finally losing her cool. “When? How? Who knows about this? How did this even happen?”
Akash clicked his tongue. “If you two would let me talk, then I can explain.”
Rhea crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair, her expression closed off. Jiya, on the other hand, sat straighter, her lips pressed into a thin line.
Akash took a breath. He spoke calmly as he laid out the situation, piece by careful piece. The board. Sehgal Media. The pressure he was facing. The agreement he and Shauna had reached—a contract marriage that would stabilize the company, silence the board, and benefit them both.
The girls didn’t interrupt once. When he finished, Rhea and Jiya stared at the two of them in silence, and then Rhea exploded.
“What the hell is wrong with you two?” she demanded. “A contract marriage is not the right solution.”
