She held her ground.
“You’re right,” he nodded thoughtfully. “I won’t remove your family.”
She blinked.
“But let me tell you what I will do.”
He wasn’t loud. That was, somehow, worse.
“The temple.”
A breath.
“I own it. Every stone. Interfere with one more sale, and I shut it down. Permanently. No devotees. No families.”
Her composure slipped. “You can’t…”
“One call to the lawyers.”
“You wouldn’t do that to innocent people…”
“I would do what is required.”
“Those are families.” Her voice rose before she caught it. “Women who have climbed those steps for years. Childrenbrought there before they could walk. You would take that from them to prove a point to me?”
“I would take it from them because you left me no other option.”
“There is always another option.” Her hands lifted in frustration. “Drop the sale.”
“That is not an option.”
“Then we have nothing left to discuss.” She straightened, chin lifting. “Kul Devi Maa will intervene for us.”
His eyebrow rose.
“She will.” Her belief stood firm. “She has protected her devotees for centuries. Long before your family built walls around her. Long before any document claimed ownership.”
Her voice thickened. “She will not let her people suffer because of one NRI owner who has never lit a diya at her feet.”
Something flickered across his expression. Brief. Gone before it could be named.
She saw it.
“Try her,” she challenged. “Go ahead.”
The room stilled.
He studied her face, measuring, containing.
Then, in a tone that gave nothing away. “Interesting.”
A single word.
She did not like the way he said that.
“Since you are so committed to this position…” He let the words settle. “Effective now, you will serve as my personal assistant. Along with your estate duties.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”