The GIRLFRIEND Deal

CHAPTER 76

"Yes, I am dating her. I have been for the past three years.”

The room fell into stunned silence, microphones stopped mid-air, and pens froze above notepads.

Shivaay Singh Oberoi, crisp in a navy suit, no trace of hesitation on his face, sat at the center of the flashstorm that was the Oberoi Enterprises press conference.

The murmurs that followed were a tidal wave.

“Three years?”
“Wasn’t she just spotted with him a few days back?”
“Who is she really?”
“Was the relationship hidden for business reasons?”
“Do we hear wedding bells soon?”

He didn’t flinch. If anything, the chaos made his voice clearer.

“We kept it private for a reason. She is not a public figure. And I wanted her to have the freedom to be herself—without the constant narrative of being ‘my girlfriend’ shadowing her work, her identity, or her name.”

The reporters leaned in, hungry for more.

“Last night, her pictures were circulated while she was at your sister’s wedding and other events. Was this planned?” one asked, flashing a picture of Anika in a lavender saree from Priyanka’s godhbharai.

“That’s not a plan,” Shivaay said, almost smiling. “That’s just love. You’ll find her in every chapter of my life, past, present, and future. So yes, she was there.”

“Why speak now?” another voice asked from the sea of press badges.

He paused, then answered quietly but firmly. “Because staying silent gave people the right to speak for us. And they did. In the most vicious, demeaning ways.”

“She’s been in my life before the world took notice. Always quietly. Always choosing to stay away from the spotlight. That was her decision.”

“But I won’t let anyone imply she got where she is by seducing her way to the top. That’s cheap. And that’s not who she is.”

Flashes erupted again.

“Will the Oberois approve her? Is there pressure from the board? Has this affected business?”

Shivaay leaned back. “The Oberois love her. The board cares about profits, and if they don’t like the woman I love, they can take it up with my resignation. Anything else?”

“Are you already engaged? Is marriage on the cards for the most eligible bachelor?”

“No, we aren’t engaged. Not yet. But when we are, I’ll tell you myself. Because if I can’t say it in front of the world, I won’t deserve her in private.”

Someone in the press laughed nervously. Others kept asking questions, trying to dig deeper. But Shivaay simply looked at the clock, nodded at his PR head, and ended the conference.

“That’s all for today. Thank you for your time.

Flashback – Two Days Ago

The entire family had gathered around the long, elegant coffee table.

Anika sat beside Shivaay, tense but composed. Her hands stayed folded in her lap, even though her heart felt like it was pacing inside her chest.

Tej looked over his glasses. “So they’ve started hinting at ‘mystery girl’ stories again. And this time, they’ve pulled her name from the Janine credits. It’s going to get messy.”

“We can release a statement,” Anika offered. “Saying I’m just a designer from the firm, and—”

“No.” Shivaay’s voice was instant. “You’re not just a designer. And I’m not going to let them question your credibility like that.”