Chapter 16 — The File
Two hours later, Samuel arrived personally at the penthouse.
The thick file in his hand already told Veeresh one thing—
Poornima Rathore was far more complicated than she allowed the world to see.
Samuel placed the documents on the table carefully. “Everything we could gather within two hours, boss.”
Veeresh sat down silently and opened the file.
The first page carried her photograph.
Poornima Rathore.
Age, education, business records.
Then the details began.
His expression slowly darkened as he continued reading.
Status inside Rathore family:
Emotionally neglected. Considered unwanted within the family structure. Limited involvement in core family decisions despite contributing financially through her independent businesses.
Veeresh’s jaw clenched.
Unwanted child.
The phrase irritated him more than expected.
He flipped the page.
Marriage Alliance:
Marriage fixed with Rakesh Dreewan.
Veeresh froze.
For the first time in years, genuine shock crossed his face.
Rakesh Dreewan.
His cousin.
The same man Veeresh barely tolerated.
The room suddenly felt colder.
Samuel carefully stayed silent.
Veeresh continued reading.
Medical & Psychological Observations:
Chronic insomnia
Dependency on sleeping pills
Recurring panic attacks
Anxiety episodes triggered by emotional stress
Highly functional in public despite psychological strain
His eyes hardened.
Last night wasn’t drama.
She truly hadn’t slept peacefully in a long time.
The memory of her quietly saying “I didn’t take sleeping pills also to sleep…” replayed in his mind.
Veeresh flipped another page.
Lifestyle & Habits:
No smoking
No alcohol dependency
No history of substance abuse
Minimal social circle
Rarely attends parties or public events unless necessary
“So yesterday was unusual,” Veeresh murmured.
Samuel nodded carefully. “Looks like she drank only because of emotional stress.”
Veeresh already knew that.
Then came another section.
Professional Background:
Founder of multiple restaurant chains
Entire business built independently
No financial or strategic support from Rathore family
Known for aggressive business discipline and perfectionism
Strong leadership reputation among employees
A faint smirk appeared on Veeresh’s face despite himself.
“She built everything alone.”
“Yes, boss.”
Then his eyes landed on the final note.
Special Skills:
Professionally trained scuba diver
Advanced underwater survival certification
Veeresh leaned back slightly, genuinely surprised now.
“Scuba diving?”
Samuel nodded again. “Seems she trained abroad during university years.”
Veeresh closed the file slowly.
Poornima Rathore kept becoming more interesting with every page.
Broken but functional.
Neglected but powerful.
Soft enough to cry in his arms.
Strong enough to build an empire alone.
And worst of all—
She was engaged to a Dreewan.
Veeresh’s expression darkened dangerously.
Because after last night, the idea of Poornima belonging to another man suddenly felt unacceptable.
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