Riya slipped her hand into her handbag and pulled out her phone, ready to snap the photos of the confidential docunts. Just as her fingers hovered over the screen, she froze as she heard footsteps outside the office door.
Panic surged through her. In a flash, she closed the file and shoved it back into the drawer.
Click.
The door opened.
Riya stiffened, her heart thudding. She turned sharply toward the doorway, and her expression darkened when she saw who had walked in.
"Zara?" she muttered, brows knitting together.
Zara stood at the threshold, equally surprised. Her eyes narrowed as they fell on Riya standing dangerously close to Nathaniel’s desk.
"You? What are you doing near Nathaniel’s table?"
Dread pressed down on Riya’s chest, but she buried it beneath a cool, haughty mask. Straightening her posture, she tossed her hair back and sat down on the chair as if she owned the place.
"What’s the problem?" She crossed her legs and leaned back, her eyes bold and unbothered. "I can sit wherever I want."
She threw her a contemptuous look. "Why are you even here? Shouldn’t you be at ho? Chopping vegetables? Folding laundry? This is a corporate zone, not a kitchen. There is no place here for a housewife like you. Walk out before you get humiliated."
Zara hadn’t co here without a reason. Nathaniel had called her himself, asked her to co over and have lunch with him before heading to the board eting together. But she didn’t owe Riya an explanation.
She gave a slow, confident smile. "My husband is the president of this company. That makes more welco here than anyone. Who would dare to humiliate ?"
With unhurried grace, she walked deeper into the room and settled herself on the sofa. Her eyes t Riya’s with quiet fire. "But you? You are not an employee here, nor a board mber. Yet you are sitting in that chair. For this audacity, you might get scolding, or worse, humiliation."
Riya scowled, her irritation flaring. "Have you hit your head sowhere?" she snapped, voice rising. "Who do you think has the authority to scold ? I’m the most adored daughter of the Grant family. I hold five percent of this company’s shares. Who would even dare to humiliate ?"
Zara let out a sharp scoff, folding her arms across her chest. "Who else?" she shot back. "The man whose chair you are so comfortably lounging in."
Riya’s eyes darkened. She jerked her hand up, pointing a finger in warning. "You—"
But Zara cut her off, "What do you think you are doing, Riya? Sitting on the president’s chair like you own the place. Do you have his permission? This is completely out of line. You are crossing boundaries. Nathaniel won’t be pleased."
Riya tossed her head back and laughed, mocking. "How sad... You still don’t get it, do you? I’m the most important person in Nathaniel’s life. He treats like a princess. He’ll never raise his voice at . And if you don’t believe ," she leaned forward, smugness written all over her face, "wait. Let’s see what he says when he walks in."
Zara’s features tensed. She couldn’t deny the bitter truth that the Grant family had always pampered Riya beyond reason. Nathaniel had never held her accountable for anything. Even when she crossed the line, he’d just wave it off, calling her "childish."
The thought made Zara’s chest ache with frustration. Still, she refused to back down. Maybe this ti, things would be different. Perhaps he’d finally show Riya her place.
"Fine," she said coldly. "Let’s see who he stands by—his wife or his precious little sister."
Just as the tension in the room thickened, the door pushed open. Nathaniel stepped inside, instructing sothing. Right behind him followed Roberto.
Riya’s posture stiffened the mont they entered. She didn’t move to get up, though her fingers twitched around the armrest, betraying the flicker of unease under her composed exterior.
Nathaniel’s eyes moved from Zara to Riya, who still occupied his seat.
"When did you co?" he asked, his voice clipped and cool.
"A little while ago," Riya replied quickly, pasting on a sweet smile. "I hope you don’t mind sitting in your chair?"
Nathaniel didn’t answer imdiately, but there was a flicker of disapproval in his eyes. He had never tolerated anyone crossing into his workspace without permission.
Before he could speak, Roberto stepped forward. "Miss Riya, that chair is not ant for everyone," he said pointedly. "You are not authorized to sit there."
Riya’s head snapped toward him, her face flushing with a mix of anger and humiliation. She shot up from the chair. The urge to lash out was strong, but Nathaniel’s presence held her back.
"Nathaniel," she whined, turning to him with a pout as if she was wronged. She walked up to him, tugging at his sleeve like a spoiled child. "Your assistant is being so rude to . He is embarrassing ."
Roberto’s brows furrowed. "Sir, I only pointed out a rule. She—"
Nathaniel lifted a hand, cutting him off. "Roberto, go check what I asked you about earlier," he ordered coldly.
Roberto swallowed the irritation rising in his chest. He gave Riya one last sharp glance, then turned and exited the room silently.
As the door clicked shut behind Roberto, the atmosphere in the room grew heavier.
Nathaniel turned to face Riya, shoving her hand away. "I’ve told you before—don’t co here without informing . Why are you here?"
Riya blinked, stunned. Her lips parted slightly in disbelief. ’He has never said that to before...’
It wasn’t the first ti she had co to his office unannounced. In the past, Nathaniel had never raised an objection. If anything, he had always welcod her, ordered snacks and coffee for her, and always treated her with patience. But now, he seed as if he was not happy to see her.
Why this sudden shift?
Her gaze flicked to Zara. ’It’s because of her.’
Her chest burned with that thought. She wrapped her fingers around Nathaniel’s wrist.
"Nathaniel," she said with a childish pout, "why are you scolding ? You’ve never spoken to like this before."
From across the room, Zara sat silent, but her eyes were focused on Riya’s hand on Nathaniel’s wrist.
Nathaniel noticed the subtle change in her expression. He twisted his wrist, freeing it from Riya’s grip. "You still haven’t answered . Why are you here?"
A flash of embarrassnt crossed Riya’s features. Being reprimanded in front of Zara stung deeply.
"I—why shouldn’t I co to see you?" she fired back. "I have been happy since morning. Dad is returning soon. Grandma is planning a family dinner. She was going to call you herself this morning, but I told her I’d co and tell you in person. My shoot ended early, so I thought I’d drop by. Was that so wrong?"
Hearing her explanation, Zara gave an unimpressed roll of her eyes.
Riya jabbed a finger in Zara’s direction. "She is here too. Why aren’t you questioning her? Why is it only you scold? You are clearly being biased."
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