Page 70 of Every Move You Make
Shauna’s parents sat together on the sofa next to them, their expressions… Blank? Shocked? He wasn’t exactly sure what they were thinking. Their faces gave nothing away.
Shauna’s brothers, Sameer and Rishi, exchanged a look with their wives, before turning toward Rhea, who was sitting composed as ever. Nirvaan stood behind her, a slight grin on his face, which showed that he’d already known this was coming. Of course, he had. Rhea would have told him.
Akash looked farther ahead at Janak. He stood slightly apart, his arms folded, his gaze steady. Then he gave Akash a slow, approving nod. Akash had run this plan by him before he’d planned this evening. Janak was, as always, a quiet pillar of support.
But as the silence dragged on, his nerves stretched taut. From his side, he could see Shauna had also stiffened, her lips pressed together as they both awaited their families’ verdict.
“As long as you’ve both thought it through, I’m good with it,” Keya said, finally breaking the silence. She gave them a small smile.
Sameer nodded. “Yeah. We only want you both to be happy. If this marriage is the right way forward, you have my support.”
“Mine too,” Rishi added without hesitation.
“I’m happy to hear this,” Kabier said. “It seems like the right thing to do.”
Akash blinked.
Wait, what? That was it?
He hadn’t expected them to accept this so easily. He turned to Shauna, who was staring back at him, looking just as stunned as he felt.
“That’s it?” Akash asked, looking at all of them in turn. “You’re not going to say anything else? None of you havequestions? Objections? You’re okay with Shauna and me wanting to have a contract marriage?”
“What do you want us to say?” Keya folded her hands in her lap. “You’re both adults, and obviously you’ve put a lot of thought into this. Also, it’s clear you need one another to silence the board.” Her gaze softened as it moved between them. “I’m good with it as long as you both understand that this marriage doesn’t stop at the company or the boardroom. It extends to your home as well, even if it’s only for five years.”
“You’ll be living together, like you said, trying to build a life,” Shauna’s mother, Rita Sehgal, said gently. “That won’t be easy, given your history with each other.”
Raashi leaned forward, deadpan. “Yes. My only request is… please don’t kill one another. That will be very messy for the rest of us.”
Laughter rippled through the room.
Akash still couldn’t believe none of them were raising objections. He’d come prepared to face their questions and calm their worries. But this had been too easy.
Shauna’s father, Jai Sehgal, raised a finger, and everyone quietened. He looked at Shauna. “I know you’ve always wanted Sehgal Media. Are you certain this is the right way to achieve that?”
“I’m sure,” Shauna answered firmly.
Her father’s expression sharpened. “I’d like to read the contract you’ve signed.”
Shauna groaned. “Dad, it’s already done. We’re doing this.”
They’d finished all the signing formalities just that morning, with Janak present. He’d promised to stand by them in front of the family. But by the looks of it, his intervention wasn’t required.
“I’m not against it,” her father said calmly. “I just want to know what my little girl has gotten herself into without discussing it with me.”
Akash met his gaze. “I’m happy for you to make any changes you want, Sir.”
Her father nodded once. “Good. I’ll hold you to that if it comes to it.”
“Dad,” Shauna said again, softer this time. “I need your support.”
She crossed the small distance and kissed her father on the cheek.
“You have it,” he said. “You have all our support.”
Kabier clapped his hands together. “Well then. This calls for champagne. We’re going to have a wedding soon.”
He stood and disappeared down the hall, while Akash still stood there, feeling stunned.
