Page 77 of Yes Boss
No apology. No evasion. Just that single word.
His eyes narrowed. “The job. That was planned too?”
A slight flush colored her cheeks. “I thought it wise to... evaluate you before agreeing.”
“Evaluate me.” The words tasted bitter.
All those months of working together. Of noticing her. Wanting her. Fighting his attraction. While she’d been what? Studying him? Like a specimen in a glass?
“I wanted to know the man behind the reputation,” she said simply.
“And?” His voice dropped lower. “Did I pass?”
For the first time, shyness flickered across her face. “I—”
Vikram snorted from the sofa. “And here I thought Raghav was rebelling. Turns out he’s still the perfect son, falling for exactly the girl they picked.”
“Vikram,” their mother hissed.
The tension broke.
Raghav became aware of their audience—both sets of parents watching with barely concealed smugness. His grip on Ishani loosened slightly. He didn’t release her.
“You could have told me,” he said, voice for her alone.
Ishani’s mouth curved into that knowing smile. “And miss seeing the great Raghav Khanna completely blindsided? Never.”
“I believe some explanation is in order,” Pushkar said, sitting straighter. “Raghav, we selected you for our daughter months ago. Your reputation, your values, your business sense, all made you an excellent candidate.”
Kavita smiled warmly. “We made the introduction. Everything else,” she gestured to his hand still on Ishani’s waist, “developed naturally.”
“Naturally,” Raghav scoffed. “There was nothing natural about her appearing as my secretary.”
“Executive assistant,” Ishani corrected.
“That was Ishani’s idea,” Gayatri said with pride. “She insisted on knowing the real man before agreeing to any arrangement.”
“She wanted to see if you were an asshole when no one was looking,” Vikram translated helpfully.
“I wanted to observe how you handled pressure,” Ishani clarified, turning to face Raghav fully. “How you treated people who couldn’t benefit you. How you wielded power when you thought no one was watching.”
Her directness made heat curl in his stomach.
“And did I pass?” he asked again, voice dangerous.
Her chin lifted. “Would I be standing here if you hadn’t?”
The simple question sent something spiralling through him. He didn’t dare name it, not in front of their parents watching so keenly.
Of course. Ishani would never have allowed herself to be matched with someone who didn’t meet her standards. The past week—heated kisses behind closed blinds, her body against his desk, her fingers in his hair—none of it had been impulsive on her part.
“Ishani has always been thorough,” Pushkar commented. “When she was seven, she interviewed all her dance teachers before selecting one.”
Kavita nodded approvingly. “You researched every business school. Three spreadsheets of comparative data.”
“This isn’t about spreadsheets,” Raghav said, eyes on Ishani. “This is about deception.”
“Strategy,” she countered. “I needed information you wouldn’t provide in traditional courtship.”
