Raj appeared on the screen. She wore a slim-fit black dress that hit right above the knee. A cream-colored tweed jacket with a siren-red stripe along the lapels and cuffs completed her outfit.

Always looking like a boss, he thought.

“Good afternoon,” she said in her clear, cultured voice. “My name is Rajneet Kaur Hothi, and I am the founder and CEO of RKH Collective.” Ajay held his breath as she began.

You got this, Raj. Make them regret every moment they doubted you.

“As all of you have read, an article was released this morning questioning my character, my upbringing, and the way I conduct my business. The article was obviously written by a man.”

A flutter of laughter echoed through the crowd. “I’ve never been one to apologize for my life choices, and I don’t intend on starting now. However, because the article made some serious implications about innocent parties, and it could potentially affect the lives of my employees, I am here to provide some context for you.

“The content for this article came from three different sources, all of whom have been confirmed. The first is my brother, an estranged family member interested in . . . interested in bringing to light a past I’ve kept hidden for far too long. The second is my ex-husband, Robert Douglass the third. Robert is an employee of WTA. He recently acquired a job with them after he sold them information about Bharat that I was personally working on as a part of an RKH–Bharat partnership.”

“Holy shit,” Bhram, Ajay, and Zail said in unison. They looked at each other, goggling, and then back at the screen.

The audience of reporters rushed with questions. She raised a hand and silence descended. “Questions at the end, please. Now, Robert’s activity has been confirmed through video footage. That leaves the last source. This person was working with Robert and is part of an ongoing investigation.”

“She went all in,” Zail said. “Did she tell you she was going to do this?”

“No, but she has to have a really good reason for it,” Ajay said. “Watch.”

Raj brushed her hair over her shoulder. She looked strong and confident. Her elegance was a magnet, and she looked regal standing in front of the microphone. “You can try to villainize me when I’ve lived my life according to my own terms, and you can judge my company while ignoring the tech giant in the room. This tech giant which we all know has affected my business and, in my opinion, is attempting to smother and crush innovative, competitive, and life-altering geniuses like those at Bharat. I have no intention of defending myself against tired stereotypes and sexist allegations. With that being said, I can now take some questions.”

Bhram whistled. “She just challenged the big boys.”