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With a clenched jaw, Ranveer followed him out.
In the conference room, Ranveer found his department heads gathered, including Maya, looking radiant in another sari. Their eyes met and her lips quivered as if conveying a silent message. Ranveer showed no reaction and turned to Aman accusingly.
“What's going on?”
“We want to celebrate with a small cake for your wedding. Please allow it, Boss,” Aman revealed.
Ranveer was shocked. Though they had wanted to celebrate his birthday before, he'd always refused. This time they went ahead regardless.
“Maya agreed to it,” Aman added carefully.
Ranveer's jaw tightened as he shot his wife an unhappy look. So, this was why she had come - to put on a show for his staff. A cake was wheeled in and his employees began singing and clapping excitedly.
Though irritated, Ranveer moved to Maya's side to slice the cake for appearance's sake. As soon as he started to pull back, she insistently broke off a piece and raised it to his lips. Annoyed but unwilling to cause a scene, he reluctantly opened his mouth and allowed her to feed him the cake. When she held out another bite expectantly, he took the fork and reciprocated - no need to air their marital troubles publicly.
His actions were mechanical, without any of the playful intimacy such a moment should hold between newlyweds. Maya's eager smile faltered slightly but she hid it well, keeping up the facade.
They accepted a bouquet from the staff with Maya voicing thanks for their wishes.
“Enjoy the cake everyone,” Ranveer dismissed briskly, then turned to murmur coldly to his wife, “Go home. Thanks for the show here.” The subtext was clear - he felt she was putting on an act for the audience of employees.
Her brows shot up in affront. “You think I'm faking this?” she whispered angrily, stung that he could believe her joy insincere.
“I'm done judging,” he bit out. “Just go, I have work to do.” He turned on his heel and left out.
Maya followed him to his office. “You can blame me, Ranveer, but I didn't come for cake or show. I came to see you.”
“You saw me. Now leave,” he said coldly.
“I won't,” she shouted. “Not until you forgive me.”
Ranveer leaned back, enraged. “I didn't hear an apology yet, so what should I forgive, Maya Bajaj?”
“Malhotra,” she added.
He bit his cheek, suppressing the urge to grab her roughly and kiss her senseless like never before. Yes, she was his now, in every way. She was Maya Malhotra. And no one would ever be able to separate that identity from her henceforth. But he kept his expressions tight.
“I want to apologize for last night.” She kept her voice low and her gaze fixed on him.
“I didn’t ask you to apologize. Neither this place or time is right. Go home. We’ll talk tonight.”
“No, I won't leave until you forgive me,” she insisted stubbornly.
Ranveer sighed, attending to his work. “Make yourself comfortable then.”
Frustrated but determined, Maya sat on the couch waiting and hoping he would at least look at her again soon.
Chapter 49
Bajaj House
The news of Ranveer's marriage to Maya was unbearable.
“No, this can't be true. He can't do this to me,” Adira screamed, throwing her phone violently against the wall. She hadn't even considered he would take such a drastic step so quickly.
“Adira, calm down,” Vivek tried to restrain her as she lashed out, tearing down curtains and sending a lamp crashing.
When he grabbed her arm, she shoved him back angrily. “Ranveer is mine. I need to see him; ask why he did this. Maya came between us. I'll kill her, I swear it.”
