“I believe your hearing is still good.”

“Your father did not raise you to be like this, Ajay!”

“How he raised me is none of your concern. You are not welcome on Bharat’s premises without my express authorization. When the board meeting and shareholders meetings occur, you’ll be escorted in and escorted out. Do I make myself clear?”

“How dare you—”

“This meeting is over.” He opened the conference room door and spoke to the first employee who made eye contact. “Please get Rafael for me. Now. We need him to escort one of our board members out.”

Uncle Frankie scrambled forward, pushing Ajay out of his way. “Bharat is a symbol in the community, vital for our success. You’re a spoiled child who is running this company into the ground. On my word, I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you don’t take your father’s position!”

He left, slamming the conference doors behind him.

Ajay turned on his brother. “Are you happy? Do you see what you’ve just done by bringing in Frankie, of all people?”

Zail rounded the conference table, his eyes bloodshot. “I had no choice. We’ve only had problems since you became COO. I won’t let you make our situation worse.”

The verbal blow was a staggering one. “Are you seriously blaming me for the attempted takeover? I never thought in a million years my brother would screw with our legacy, our family, because he’s angry over a woman.”

“It’s not just a woman!” Zail planted his hands on Ajay’s shoulders and shoved him two steps back. “Sahar is the key to us ever finishing this software.”

Ajay shoved him back. “You’re the head of the department, and it’s your responsibility to figure out how to fill her gap. If you can’t, then maybe someone should take over for you, too, because you’re just as much at fault.”

“I’m not the one who is sleeping with the enemy. And that makes me wonder how soon you’ll drive the company into the ground, because you just don’t have what it takes.”

The leash on Ajay’s anger snapped and he shoved Zail into the table. “Newsflash, dickhead. Sahar still hasn’t been cleared yet, so if you think I’m sleeping with the enemy, then so the fuck are you.”

Zail roared and tackled Ajay, and they both slammed against the wall. Conference chairs shot in every direction, while the awards on the walls rattled from the sheer force of impact.

His brother was built like a brick wall, Ajay thought as he took a punch to the gut. The pain was momentarily blinding, but he had adrenaline pumping through his body.

He did not have to defend himself to anyone, especially the little kid who used to look up to him and was now trying to undermine him in every way possible.