Page 6 of Every Move You Make
Akash Karia, the one man she ought to feel nothing for, had imprinted himself on her mind and body. And she hated herself for feeling like that about him. God, she was such an idiot.
She exhaled slowly. It had been six months since he’d moved to Dubai to train under Dev Luthra of the Keystone Corp. Six months since anyone in this group had mentioned his name or even spoken about him in her presence. After so much silence surrounding him, she’d even started to assume he’d moved to Dubai for good.
And she’d had… feelings about that.
Relief, for one. If he stayed abroad, she wouldn’t have to deal with him once she stepped into a bigger role at Sehgal Media, which had been her plan all along. Then there would be no awkward tension. No competing with him on the job. And definitely no memories of thatnightsneaking up on her at the worst possible times.
But the other emotion, the one that twisted painfully inside her every time she imagined him building a whole new life far away? No. She was never naming that out loud. Absolutely not. She hated him. He was smug, arrogant, and it always felt like he was competing with her for the top position at Sehgal Media, which wasn’t even his to claim. God, why had her grandfather encouraged him to work at Sehgal Media too? And the worst part was that he had started working there much before her.
She sighed. Over the past year and a half, Akash had interned with several other companies, yet he had always maintained an office at Sehgal Media. It annoyed her that despite the distance, he continued to oversee certain aspects of the business.
She sneaked a glance at Dev Luthra, the tall, dark-haired man seated beside Sheena’s husband, Rajiv Mehra. Akash had been interning under him in Dubai. Dev was here tonight, but Akash wasn’t. Maybe he had moved to Dubai for good. Which was the best-case scenario for her. Wasn’t it?
Ignoring her jumbled feelings on the topic, she asked. “Where is Grandfather? He hasn’t replied to my messages.”
The last time she’d spoken to him, her grandfather was in Mumbai, working at Sehgal Media, the only business in the Sehgal empire that he personally oversaw to this day. He should have been here tonight.
Keya exchanged a glance with Raashi before shaking her head. “Janak is traveling. Oh, I miss him and Akash. I wish they were here.”
A sliver of unease worked its way down her spine. What was with all the glances they kept exchanging with one another? Why did she feel that something was going on? Something she wasn’t privy to, but the rest of them were. Added to that, her grandfather hadn’t replied to any of her messages, and that never happened. And he was traveling? Where? Why didn’t she know about it?
Sameer tugged her down beside him, and before she knew it, she was swept into the easy laughter and overlapping chatter that always seemed to rise and flow at gatherings like these. Her heart eased. God, it felt good to be here amongst all these people.
As the evening continued, she indulged in some of the finest food imaginable and sipped more than a few glasses of exquisitely smooth wine. For the first time in weeks, she felt relaxed in a way she’d almost forgotten was possible. Maybe her family was right. She really did need to do this more often. Nothing beat the quiet joy of being surrounded by friends and family, or the simple pleasure of breathing in the fresh ocean air and listening to the distant rhythm of the waves.
Keya rose from her seat, tapping her glass lightly until the chatter around the table softened.
“I’ll keep this short. Thank you all for being here,” she said warmly. “It means so much to Kabier and me that so many of you took time out of your busy schedules to celebrate with us here in the Maldives. We’re truly delighted you could all be here.”
Her eyes found Kabier’s. “Kabier, I love you more than I ever imagined I could love anyone. I never thought being in love would shape my happiness or my life the way it has… until you walked into it. You gave me strength when I needed it and showed me that sometimes all you need is to take a chance on love. Thank you for being you, and thank you for the best five years of my life.”
Kabier rose and kissed her forehead. “I love you too, sweetheart.”
Catcalls and teasing whistles erupted from their friends around the table, laughter spilling into the night. Shauna chuckled on hearing their raucous comments.
When the noise subsided, Keya looked back at the two empty seats beside Shauna.
“We are missing two very special people tonight—Janak and Akash,” Keya said. “It doesn’t feel quite the same without them.”
“It really doesn’t,” Kabier concurred.
Keya and Akash were orphans, and as far as Shauna knew, they had no family beyond those gathered here, so she understood Keya’s need to have her brother by her side on this special day. Though she was more than gladhewasn’t here.
“Was someone talking about me?” a loud voice said from behind Keya, and Shauna’s heart lurched. A tremor rushed down her spine as she recognized that voice. Fucking hell.
Keya whirled around. Her face lit up instantly, and she crossed the short distance to where Akash stood beside Janak. She pulled Janak into a quick hug before launching herself into her brother’s arms, holding him tightly.
Akash kissed his sister’s cheeks, and then his eyes moved over the table, taking everyone and everything in until they landed onher. Shauna’s heart pitched. His lips curved into that infuriating smirk that always drove her mad and made her heart beat faster. Before she could look away and break eye contact with him, he and Janak were swarmed with everyone rising to meet them.
Still, she ought to look away, to focus on anyone else but Akash. But her eyes refused to obey. She watched as he interacted with every person who came to meet him with warmth and that familiar hint of mischief that always made everyone smile.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored navy linen jacket, dark trousers, and a black shirt, Akash looked effortlessly striking. His hair was pushed back from his forehead, revealing eyes the color of warm brandy, sharp cheekbones, and a jaw carved with arrogant precision. And his mouth… that mouth had always been pure trouble. Then there was his height. Well over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and a commanding presence, Akash Karia moved with a quiet authority that said he knew exactly who he was and the effect he had on people. Especially women.
God, she hated him. She hated how smug he was. He acted like luxury was his birthright, when everyone knew he was simply benefiting from his sister’s successful career at Sehgal Systems and the fact that Keya had married into the Sehgal family.
His eyes caught hers again, and his grin widened as he found her watching him. Giving him a dirty glare, she finally focused on her grandfather standing beside him. Happiness bloomed inside her on seeing him. He was her most favorite person in the whole world and the one person who held the key to her dreams.
Her grandfather, Janak Sehgal, was the patriarch of the Sehgal family. His was a name people recognized not just across India but in boardrooms around the world. He was the force behind Sehgal Corporation’s success, the reason their family’s business empire had thrived for generations. Thanks to him, Sehgal Corporation had its roots everywhere: real estate, hotels, automobiles, telecom, media, even IT. Their reach extended far beyond India, with a presence in multiple countries.
