Page 107 of Claimed By the Maharaja
The worker’s face flushed with humiliation.
Something inside Yamini snapped, and she stepped forward.
“Mr. Sharma,” she said gently to the worker, “could you show us the ventilation unit you upgraded last month?”
Relief flooded the man’s face as he nodded eagerly and led her a few steps away.
Tina’s heels clicked sharply behind them.
“What are you doing, Miss Dhar?” Tina demanded.
Yamini turned. “I’m helping.”
“Your help isn’t needed here,” Tina said. “Do your job and stick to photography.”
“I am doing my job,” Yamini replied. “Photographing the human side of the project.”
“This is not a social documentary,” Tina snapped. “This is a government-backed environmental compliance initiative.”
“And humiliating workers improves compliance?” Yamini asked.
The surrounding staff went silent.
Tina’s face reddened.
“Know your place, Miss Dhar,” Tina hissed.
“My place,” Yamini said, “is here to do my job.”
Tina inhaled a noisy breath. “That’s it. You are fired! Leave immediately.”
Yamini didn’t move.
“I wasn’t hired by you,” Yamini reminded her. “So you cannot fire me.”
Tina’s eyes flashed with fury.
“Oh, I absolutely can,” she said. “There’s enough proof to back my claims. I’ll speak to His Highness directly.”
Yamini held her gaze. “You’re welcome to try.”
Tina’s nostrils flared. “I don’t need to try,” she said coolly. “His Highness listens to me.”
A subtle murmur rippled through the team and the workers.
Tina then looked at Yamini with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m sure even you must have heard of it, Miss Dhar,” she said. “It’s not official yet. But there’s a certain understanding between His Highness and me.”
Yamini knew Tina was referring to the rumors and gossip that tied Tina to the Jogra maharaja. It was ironic that Yamini was the one who had taken pictures of them standing together at the environmental event.
“I see,” Yamini said. “Then have him fire me.”
Hearing the challenge in Yamini’s voice, Tina Mehta spun sharply and marched toward the administrative wing.
Yamini watched her go, both annoyed and faintly amused.
She finished reassuring the older worker and took a few more pictures before she went to the administrative block.
As soon as the royal security guards saw her, they straightened immediately.
