Chapter 28 Deepak

Chapter 28 Deepak

Draft email from six months ago:

Veera,

I miss you. I think I made a mistake.

It had taken Deepak the rest of the day to find a paper trail of how Malkit Mathur was able to get his hands on Veera's proposal.

Apparently, Margaret had sent a glowing email with the proposal attached to another member of the board. That member had been

open and receptive and forwarded the message to Malkit, urging him to reconsider working with his daughter.

The son of a bitch hadn't even spoken to Deepak's father regarding the matter.

Deepak knew he had to tell Veera what was going on. She deserved to know the truth that her father was behind sabotaging any

plans she had of coming back to work as part of the Illyria Media Group empire.

He walked in his front door, toed off his shoes, and dropped his bag. He was about to call out Veera's name when he heard

the dramatic start of Darth Vader's "Imperial March."

Veera did not like Star Wars . It was the only franchise she despised. For her to be playing the "Imperial March," something had to be up.

"Vee, honey?" he called out, his voice hesitant.

When he didn't get a response, Deepak took careful steps up to the main level. The kitchen was empty, but he heard the Darth

Vader march getting louder and louder. "Vee?"

That's when he saw the chaotic mess on his dining table. There were papers strewn everywhere. Veera's laptop was open, and

her screensaver was a picture from their staged photo shoot in Goa. They faced each other, and the sun shone behind them,

illuminating their profile.

Seeing the picture made him feel safe enough to take a breath.

"Vee?" Deepak called out again.

That's when he saw the giant whiteboard in his living room. It stood on a metal frame attached to four wheels. From underneath

the board, he was able to make out a hot pink pair of suit trousers and hot pink heels.

He also could hear the sound of furious writing, of dry erase marker on board.

Deepak walked over to her computer, then wiggled her mouse so the screensaver dissipated to reveal her playlist titled "Fuck

Everyone" that she'd connected to his Bluetooth ceiling and wall speakers. Debating his chances of survival, Deepak paused

the playlist.

The music died immediately.

"Hey!" Veera shouted. Her heels clicked against his hardwood as she took two steps to the left and popped out from behind

the whiteboard. "That was my inspirational music."

"Well, hello to you, too," he said, amused. He took in her attire. The suit was definitely a new addition from Kumari's. It was vibrant, and she came alive with it hugging her curved frame. The shoulders were boxy, the coat cut high on her waist, and the pant legs flared over shoes in the same shade.

But it was her face that got to him. He knew that he would never tire of seeing her at the end of the day. He'd never stop

wanting her to be the last person he talked to, the last person he touched before he went to bed, and the first person he

laid his eyes on in the morning.

Crossing his living room, he bent to press a quick kiss against her pursed lips. "What happened?"

"What makes you think something happened?" she asked.

With his hands on her waist, he pulled her flush against him. "You look like a woman on a mission. You hate Star Wars but you're listening to the ‘Imperial March.' My dining room is a disaster, and instead of one of my sweatshirts you've stolen

out of my closet, you're wearing a hot pink pantsuit."

Veera sighed. She held up a finger. "First, I got into a fight with Kareena and Bobbi. That's... I don't know. We're in

a weird place. Then my sister called and told me something that I need to talk to you about. It has to do with Illyria."

She looked wary now, like she wasn't sure how to tell him. Deepak could sense that her news was going to be the same as what

he'd learned today, too.

"Yes," he said slowly.

Her brow furrowed, and she took a step back. "Yes to what?"

"Yes, your father canceled your equitable lending plan. I spent all day trying to figure out how he got his hands on it, and

then I tried to rally enough support from other members on the leadership team to override his decision. My father loves it,

but he won't be CEO for too long, so he doesn't really have a say."

Veera's mouth dropped open. "My father was the one who nixed my idea?"

"Yeah, he came to tell me himself," Deepak said. His hands dropped from her waist. "Why, what did you think happened? Wait, was that not what was bothering you, too?"

"Oh my god," she said, then capped her marker and put it on the silver tray behind the whiteboard. "That bastard! My sister

called me today and told me that you had been the one to recommend that Illyria Media Group reject my proposal. Sana obviously

believes that version of the story."

It was Deepak's turn to gape. He sat on the arm of his sofa in front of her. "What the hell? Why would I do something to sabotage

my wife's work? Not only is it good, but it's designed by someone I trust."

Veera began pacing, her arms crossed over chest. "My plan is not just good, it's fucking fantastic!" Veera shouted. "I can't

believe he'd lie and try to play all these political mind games! He's so determined to make sure that I never have a chance

at getting back the job he took away from me. And you know what? I've had it. I don't want it anymore. I'm pivoting."

Deepak's head was spinning. "I'm so confused," he said. He reached out and caught Veera's hand and tugged her forward, so

she stood between the V of his legs. "Did you believe your father? Did you think for a moment that I was the one who betrayed

you?"

"What? No, of course not. Obviously, I trust you over him." She leaned forward and planted a quick, impatient kiss against

his mouth, as if she knew she had to reassure him, but also had no time for his feelings.

Her impatience only made him smile.

"So what do you want to do? If you are done trying to work with Illyria, which isn't a dead deal, by the way, what's next?"

"I'm glad you asked," Veera said, her eyes brightening. She went back to the whiteboard stand and took care to remove the silver tray stacked with colorful markers before she carefully turned the board around. On the other side was a chaos of color and text. There were charts, diagrams, and math that added up to a sizable number.

Deepak pushed off the edge of the couch and approached the board. He started at the top corner and was able to figure out

the way she worked through the information, her flow of logic as he got to the section where she'd done some quick back-of-the-napkin-type

math.

"I realized that I am trying to capture a part of my life that I didn't even know if I liked anyway," Veera said with a shrug.

"I worked for someone who obviously didn't appreciate me. Most of my colleagues were finance bros, and my sister and the work

were my favorite parts. I thought I'd changed because of the trip I took, but I changed long before that moment. I somehow

became this passive worker bee. I'm not a worker bee. I'm a Queen Bee, dammit. My proposal proved it, and if Malkit Mathur

doesn't realize that, then someone else will."

Deepak ran a hand over her hair and down her back. Then he motioned to a large number at the bottom corner of the board. "That's

it?" he asked. "That's the dollar amount you need to start the business?"

"That's it," Veera said. She shifted to stand next to him and crossed her arms. They were shoulder to shoulder, and he could

feel the quick zing of electricity course through his skin. "I have half of it," she continued. "The orange is my contribution.

The red is what I would need to raise. I think I have the contacts that can help me do it."

"I can help," Deepak said. "For most of it anyway. You have family and friends who can do the rest."

"Who?" The thought that she had family or friends who would be willing to fund her business start-up seemed to surprise her.

Deepak began listing off names as they came to mind. "My mother has quite a few of her own investments and would appreciate

this. Then you have Bunty and Prem who would be happy to support you any way they can. But you wouldn't need that much from

either of them. I can do the most."

Veera hummed. "I never recommend borrowing from family."

"You wouldn't be borrowing from me," Deepak said. "This is your money, too. We're married."

"Not legally," she muttered as she looked at the diagram and tapped her lower lip with a pink-painted index finger.

Deepak went rigid at her side.

Not legally. They had been married in culture and custom. They had performed all the rites and services. But to Veera, they

still didn't have a real marriage. They were just dating.

Well, damn.

Unaware of Deepak's spiraling thoughts, Veera stepped closer to the board to look at some of the small text that she'd written

on the right side along the edge. "I just want to do the work that I'm passionate about," she said softly. "I can't believe

my father is so angry I won't fall in line that he's trying to hurt me to prove a point."

Deepak had to remember to unpack his feelings about making their marriage legal later. "You don't need his approval, and you

never did. I'm here to support you. So many people will support you."

Her eyes brightened as she turned to face him. "Promise?"

Deepak pulled her into his arms again. "Of course. So, you're no longer mad about your father?"

She rolled her eyes. "Of course, I'm still mad at him, but I'm madder at my sister who is trying her best to protect me when I don't need it. She refuses to see beyond her feelings and think about all the times Dad has lied to us in the past. This is a power play a few weeks before your board meeting."

"I feel like I let you down," he said honestly. "I'm yet again part of the reason why you're facing this career hurdle." And

if this was the reason why she wanted to leave him... Well, he couldn't blame her.

He'd fight for her, but he wouldn't blame her.

Veera rested her cheek against the soft fabric of his suit lapel, oblivious to his spiraling thoughts. "You didn't do anything.

My father is the one who let me down again. And if I'm being honest, my sister is letting me down, too. She's hurting and

she's doing what she thinks is best, but that doesn't mean it's okay."

"Where do we go from here?" he asked quietly.

"Straight to my own company," she replied. Then let out a long, heartfelt sigh. "If Kareena and I weren't arguing, I'd ask

for a best-friend discount and ask her to start working on some business filing documents."

She propped her chin on his chest and looked up at him. Her eyes wide and clear of the animosity he'd expected. "Whatever

guilt you're feeling, you can make it up to me by ordering takeout."

Deepak's heart filled with so much want and need for her that he was bursting from it. This time, he didn't need a cardiologist.

He didn't need a checkup or a therapist. He wanted this feeling, this all-consuming joy when he looked at Veera.

Without another word, he stepped out of her embrace and unbuttoned his suit coat. He shrugged out of it before tossing it

on the back of the couch.

Veera turned to him, a questioning look on her face. "What are you doing?"

"I just realized something," he said calmly as he undid his vest and laid it on top of his coat. "This is the first time that

I'm seeing you in that pantsuit, and I haven't shown you how much I love it on you."

Veera's questioning expression morphed to humor. "You've seen me in pantsuits before."

Deepak loosened his tie and tossed it aside. His cuff links were next. "But not this one. Not the one I bought you. With heels

and that ring on your finger."

She held her hand out and looked at the sparkling diamond before she spoke again. "Deepak, we are having a serious conversation

about my future here. I'm plotting how I can get around my father, and what to do with the rest of my life."

He placed his cuff links on the coffee table and unbuttoned his shirt at the wrists. "Some exercise will help you think clearer."

She snorted, then motioned toward him as he began unbuttoning his shirt. "And you know exactly what exercise we should do."

"Obviously," he said smoothly.

"Fine," Veera said, her tone prim and professional. Her pink tongue wet her bottom lip and her cheeks flushed with rising

anticipation, at his increasing nakedness. To his delight, she shrugged out of her own suit coat and tossed it next to his.

It was followed by her camisole. "I'll agree to some exercise, but we have to turn the music back on. ‘Imperial March.'"

Deepak paused as he unbuckled his belt. "You're joking."

"Not at all," Veera said, as her pants slid to the floor. She stood in the living room in a pair of basic chocolate brown

high-waisted panties and a satin bra. "I'll have sex with you as long as it's to the ‘Imperial March.'"

"Of all the ridiculous things, Veera." He was surprised that his erection didn't soften right then and there, but she was standing in her underwear in their living room. Now all he wanted to do was fuck her on every inch and surface of his town house. He'd neglected his duties as her partner to mark all their shared spaces with her orgasms.

"Fine, if you don't like the terms..." Veera went to pull her pants back on but there was no way that was an option.

"Wait, wait," he said, hand outstretched. Then debating his options, he groaned. "Fine, turn on the ‘Imperial March.'"

Veera clapped like a seal and jogged across the room to her laptop. Her breasts bounced, her ass jiggled, and he was momentarily

distracted when she bent over her laptop.

That was until his speakers began blasting Star Wars again. He rubbed his hands over his face as she returned to his side.

When they faced each other again, one foot apart and wearing only their underwear next to the sofa, Deepak started chuckling.

"This is fucking ridiculous, Veera."

"Kareena loves Taylor Swift. Bobbi and Bunty are more of the Punjabi music couple. I love soundtracks to movies. This is my

mood today, and this is how we are going to conquer what I can while I'm here."

"Nerd."

Veera shrugged. "I put it on repeat because we know that you're not a three-minute kind of man."

This time Deepak couldn't control his laughter. He reached for her, and they tumbled on the couch together. His hands coasted

over her tight nipples and her round waist as he kissed her between smiles and chuckles. She straddled his lap, and he cupped

her breasts. Then he slipped inside her and Veera's laugh turned into a sigh.

They moved together, falling in a familiar sink that filled him with joy. His hands cupped her hips, her hair fell around her shoulders to curtain their faces, as he sipped from her lips. And because he knew he could have fun with this woman, he could laugh with her, he pulled back, holding her still, even as he was desperate for more.

"W-what?" she gasped.

"You have to ride me to the beat," he said.

She almost fell off his lap, laughing so hard. Her inner muscles squeezed him, and he nearly came. Then Veera pressed her

smiling mouth against his while Deepak squeezed her ass, slapping it hard enough to leave the imprint of his hand.

As Veera managed to create some sort of rhythm to the "Imperial March" and he lost himself in the feel of her taking her pleasure

from him, Deepak knew that he couldn't wait to have thousands of moments just like this.

With Veera.