The meeting had ended.
People slowly left the conference room, whispering less now than before.
But Anika wasn't leaving.
She walked straight toward Arman Khurana's cabin.
Without knocking, she pushed the door open.
Arman was standing near the window, loosening his tie slightly.
He turned when he heard the door.
"You should learn to knock," he said calmly.
"You should explain things before doing them."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Explain what?"
"You defending me."
Silence filled the room.
Anika stepped closer.
"You didn't have to do that."
Arman walked back to his desk, placing a file down.
"Yes, I did."
"Why?"
His answer came without hesitation.
"Because they were wrong."
"That doesn't sound like you."
That made him look up.
"And what exactly does that mean?"
"You humiliated me in front of investors the first day we met," she said honestly.
"You bought my project just to prove a point."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"And now suddenly you're defending my reputation?"
Her voice softened but remained firm.
"It doesn't make sense."
Arman studied her face for a long moment.
Then he spoke quietly.
"I don't like incompetence."
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
"No," she said. "It's an excuse."
The air between them grew tense.
Finally, he leaned slightly against his desk.
"You want the truth?"
"Yes."
"I chose you for this project," he said calmly. "If people think you got it for the wrong reasons, it questions my judgment."
She stared at him.
"So you defended me… to defend yourself?"
"Exactly."
The answer sounded logical.
Professional.
But somehow…
Anika felt like it wasn't the whole truth.
She crossed her arms slightly.
"You could've ignored it."
"I don't ignore problems."
"And I'm a problem?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"You're a challenge."
The word lingered between them.
Anika exhaled slowly.
"Well, thank you anyway."
She turned toward the door.
But before leaving, she paused.
"For what it's worth… I'll prove you right."
Arman watched her.
"About what?"
"That choosing me wasn't a mistake."
She left the cabin.
The door closed quietly behind her.
Arman stood there for a moment.
Then he murmured under his breath—
"It already wasn't."