INTRICATE

CHAPTER 08

V E D A N   S H E K H A W A T

The Shekhawats had always been businessmen. Vedan's father was one, his grandfather was one and his great-grandfather was probably one too. Business was not a career choice. It was a way of life for them. Without it, their lives would lose all meaning and their existence would have no purpose. He was not being dramatic, no, his grandfather had told him that word for word. Yes, it was that intense.

Vedan had been let off the hook for a while because he was the second son. He didn't have to abide by the rigid rules that his father had set, seeing as he wasn't going to inherit the company. He simply had to refrain from doing anything that would tarnish their family name. It was easy enough and he had never gone out of his way to avoid anything.

Life was all sunshine and rainbows, especially when he was thriving in the soccer world. He didn't have to concern himself with his family and they extended the same favour. There was no love lost between any of them and Vedan didn't have a minute to spare to actually dwell on it. 

His life had been moving at a hundred miles per minute with matches, championship leagues, interviews and sponsorships. Embarrassingly enough, he had done a little bit of modelling during that time and it was coming to bite him back in the ass because the receptionist shut the magazine that she had been reading the moment he walked up to her like it had caught on fire. Her face flushed when she looked up at him. 

"Hello." he greeted politely, saving both of them the embarrassment by choosing to dismiss the incident. "I was informed that my fingerprint authentication would be confirmed today."

"Yes, sir." the receptionist nodded professionally, switching back at an impressive speed. "Please place your hand here. As the COO, you'll have access to every room in the building henceforth."

Chief Operating Officer. The title never failed to amaze Vedan, regardless of how many times he had heard it. Learning how the business world worked from the moment he turned four did have its perks. Thanking her, he made his way up to the eighteenth floor. It was reserved for the COO. The nineteenth floor was reserved for Veer as the CEO and the twentieth floor was a residence for the family whenever they visited. 

At least, that was what it was intended for. His brother didn't care for that formality though. He used it to indulge in other pleasures of his, taking full advantage of the fact that he had his own room. Vedan did too, but he always kept it locked. He didn't trust Veer not to have sex in his room just for his amusement. It was better to be safe than sorry.

Placing his palm on the scanner for the elevator doors to open, he walked into the furnished space. He had spent a week there, and yet, he felt uncomfortable. Almost like he was encroaching on a place that wasn't rightfully his. Vedan took a deep breath as he took a seat, trying incredibly hard not to get distracted by the marvellous view that the glass windows acted as a portal to. He had work to do. A lot of it.

Shekhawat Industries was a conglomerate that comprised three successful companies. One owned a chain of hotels internationally, one was a private equity firm and the last was a real estate company. All of them worked hand-in-hand, so it was relatively easier to manage. 

An hour into his work, the intercom buzzed. Vedan looked up to see that it was his father in the elevator. He allowed him to enter, placing the document that he had been reviewing aside. It was strange for him to make an appearance at all, let alone on a Monday morning. 

"What did you do?" his father demanded, pushing the glass door open. Vedan raised an eyebrow. "Seeing as you're the one who brought it up, shouldn't you be the one with an answer to that question?"

Gaurav Shekhawat was known to bring out the worst in people. Judging by his fuming face, the people who had decided that clearly hadn't heard of Vedan. He slid his phone towards him. "You've been back a week and you couldn't keep it in your pants? Who is she?"