"Enough of this drama. Put your weapons down and step away from Mr. Om."
Viraj suddenly stood up and shouted angrily at the guards.
All the bodyguards who had surrounded Om with guns pointed straight at him immediately lowered their weapons after hearing Viraj's command and silently stepped back to their original positions.
Seeing this sudden turn, Sanaya was left stunned.
But before she could say anything, Mr. Joshi slowly stood up and walked toward Om, who was still standing there silently with cold eyes fixed on him.
Then Indrajeet spoke calmly,
"I owe you an apology, Mr. Om. I had to play this little game without informing you."
Even after hearing that, Om didn't move.
Only his eyes shifted slightly.
His face still carried no emotion at all.
And that emotionless calmness itself was making both Mr. Joshi and Viraj nervous.
Trying to ease the tension, Mr. Joshi smiled faintly and explained,
"Look, Mr. Om… my granddaughter is a little spoiled. Before you arrived, we were discussing you. I told her that you're the kind of person who could give up his life for his family… and even take someone else's life for them if needed."
He looked toward Sanaya briefly before continuing.
"But she refused to believe me. According to her, nobody in today's world thinks about family like that anymore. Everyone only cares about themselves. I tried explaining it to her, but she wouldn't listen."
A tired smile crossed his face.
"So I told Viraj to let her handle the conversation with you after you arrived. I already knew her personality… and honestly, I expected this exact outcome. Your fearlessness proved her wrong."
Then he lowered his head slightly.
"I truly apologize for dragging you into this little test. But I'm happy to know that I wasn't wrong about you."
After hearing him out, Om finally calmed down a little.
Truthfully, Om had already understood what they were trying to do from the very beginning. That was exactly why he had shown them this terrifying side of himself.
Still…
Sanaya's behavior had genuinely irritated him.
But for now, Om didn't feel like wasting another word on her.
Om quietly sat back down.
At the same time, both Om and Mr. Joshi asked Harsh and Sanaya to leave the hall.
Sanaya glared at Om with burning anger before storming out, while Harsh nervously looked back at his brother again and again before quietly sitting outside the hall to wait for him.
Once they were alone, Mr. Joshi looked toward Om and spoke seriously,
"Mr. Om… now I truly want you to participate in that auction on our behalf. I know you probably prefer Mr. Chauhan over me, but let me tell you something—Mr. Chauhan and I work together. We are business partners."
He leaned forward.
"So I request you… please represent us in that auction and win that competition."
For a moment, Mr. Joshi quietly observed Om, who was listening calmly without interrupting.
Then he let out a small sigh.
"Look, Mr. Om… I know this is selfish on my part. I know I'm asking you to represent my company for my own benefit."
His tone softened.
"But if you don't mind… I'd like to make you an offer. And from my perspective, this offer could benefit both of us. If you allow me… may I present it?"
Om silently nodded.
And somehow, that calm silence of his felt strange to Mr. Joshi.
It almost felt like a lion sitting quietly before attacking its prey.
That invisible pressure alone was enough to make Indrajeet slightly nervous as he continued,
"You won't go there as an employee… or under any contract. Instead… what if I offer you forty-four percent partnership in my Z business?"
Viraj's eyes widened instantly.
Even he was shocked.
Giving away forty-four percent shares to an outsider practically meant handing over nearly half the company. Viraj understood very well what that number meant.
Om would instantly become the largest shareholder in their entire Z business.
And yet…
Even after hearing such a massive offer, Om remained completely calm.
No excitement.
No surprise.
Nothing.
Watching him sit there silently was beginning to unsettle both Viraj and Indrajeet.
Mr. Joshi looked at Viraj once before speaking again,
"Mr. Om, I cannot offer more than this. You understand… I have a family too. But I assure you, with these shares, you would become the biggest shareholder in our Z business."
But before he could continue further, Om interrupted him in a calm, serious voice.
"I accept your offer."
Both Viraj and Indrajeet relaxed for barely a second—
"However…"
The room went silent again.
"I'm more interested in your second offer. So let's not waste time and come to the point that actually matters to me."
The moment Om said that, both Viraj and Indrajeet froze.
The two of them stared at Om as if they weren't looking at a human being anymore… but something far more dangerous.
Indrajeet slowly spoke in disbelief,
"Mr. Om… how did you know I had another offer prepared for you?"
A faint smile appeared on Om's face.
"Sir… I'm starting to understand how business-minded people think."
Then his eyes sharpened.
"So I think it would be better if you came directly to the real point."
Hearing that, Mr. Joshi laughed softly in disbelief.
"Strange… in my forty-eight years of business, I've never met a person I couldn't read."
His smile slowly faded.
"But you, Mr. Om… you're different. You're the kind of man nobody can truly understand."
Then his expression turned serious.
"Fine. I won't waste your time anymore."
The atmosphere in the hall instantly became heavier.
And then Indrajeet finally spoke the name.
"Kamal Thakur."
The moment that name echoed through the room, Om's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You should seriously think about your safety… and your family's safety," Mr. Joshi continued gravely. "After everything that happened at the party, Kamal is completely obsessed with taking revenge on you and your family."
His voice grew lower.
"I'll help you however I can. And yes, I know Kamal is weaker than you in many ways… but when it comes to power and connections, he's dangerous."
He paused before continuing,
"I want you to move your family somewhere safer. I know a security agency that protects my family as well. They can guard your family twenty-four hours a day."
Then he looked directly into Om's eyes.
"And I'm not saying this for business purposes. I genuinely mean it. You saved my life… so protecting yours is my responsibility."
After saying that, Mr. Joshi fell silent.
Om slowly stood up from his seat.
He slipped one hand into his pocket, then walked toward Mr. Joshi with a faint smile and extended his hand.
Seeing this, Mr. Joshi's face lit up with relief and happiness.
He immediately stood up and shook Om's hand warmly.
"Thank you, Mr. Om! I'm glad you agreed to help us. At the auction itself, I'll publicly announce you as a shareholder of the company."
His excitement kept growing.
"And Viraj himself will take you there one day before the auction in our private jet. Your comfort and facilities will be handled personally. You—"
But before Mr. Joshi could finish his sentence—
His entire body suddenly froze.
The next second—
He collapsed violently onto the sofa.
His body had gone completely numb.
Viraj's face turned pale in horror as he rushed toward him.
"Grandfather! Grandfather, are you alright?! What happened?! Someone call a doctor right now!"
At the same moment, every bodyguard in the hall once again raised their guns toward Om.
And then Viraj turned toward him with panic and rage burning in his eyes.
"Mr. Om… what have you done?!"
But on the other side—
Om simply stood there silently…
Staring coldly at Mr. Joshi.