Pays for regular meals for the directors (6)
I believe the answer is:
boards
'pays' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with fundamental existence as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'regular meals for the directors' is the wordplay.
'regular meals' becomes 's' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'for' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (I've seen this in other clues).
'the directors' becomes 'board' (board of directors).
's' put after 'board' is 'BOARDS'.
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for boards that I've seen before include "panels" , "sections of timber" , "Committees or planks" , "Goes on" , "Tread them in the theatre" .)