The morning sun had barely cleared the high-rises of Mumbai when the glass doors of Singhania Corp were thrown open. The atmosphere on the executive floor was always tense, but today, it felt like the air before a thunderstorm.
I walked down the corridor, my tailored suit immaculate, my expression carved out of granite. Behind me, three assistants scrambled to keep pace, their tablets buzzing with live market updates.
I didn't look back as I entered my private office. I threw my briefcase onto the desk and turned to my chief financial officer, who was waiting with a visibly pale face.
"What do you mean we lost the bidding variance for the coastal highway project?" My voice was dangerously low, a calm that my team knew was far worse than shouting.
"Sir, we handled the numbers exactly as planned," the CFO stammered, adjusting his glasses nervously. "Our projections were flawless. But... Malhotra Enterprises pulled a massive move at the last second. They restructured their entire logistical timeline overnight. Kiara Malhotra personally signed off on a revised tariff structure that undercut our primary bid by barely half a percent. They secured the anchor position."
The silence that followed was heavy enough to crush the room. My eyes narrowed into slits as I stared at the digital screen displaying the final market allocations. The name Malhotra Enterprises glared back at me in bold, gold lettering. Right next to it was her name: Kiara Malhotra.
A cold, dark annoyance flared in my chest. It wasn't just about a project; it was about the territory. For the last two years, we had been playing a deadly game of corporate tug-of-war, splitting the city's major contracts down the middle. But Kiara Malhotra was becoming a persistent thorn in my side. She was smart, she was unyielding, and she didn't show fear. And I hated her for it.
"She thinks she can corner my supply chain," I muttered, my jaw clenching as I leaned over my desk, my hands flat against the polished surface. I looked out the massive glass window, staring directly toward the distant tower where Malhotra Enterprises operated. "You're playing a dangerous game, Ms. Malhotra. Enjoy your small victory today, because I won't let you survive in this market for too long. I will dismantle your network piece by piece."
I turned back to my terrified staff. "Get the legal and strategy teams in the war room. Now. I want a counter-proposal for their secondary electronics merger by Monday. If they breathe, I want to know about it."
"Yes, Sir!" the CFO said, practically running out of the room alongside the assistants.
Left alone, I let out a frustrated breath, loosening my tie just a fraction. My phone on the desk vibrated aggressively. I glanced down to see Kabir's name flashing on the screen.
I picked it up, expecting the worst, and I wasn't disappointed.
"Oye, Singhania! I just read the financial tickers," Kabir's voice boomed, completely unbothered by the corporate drama. "What happened, heavy rider? Lagta hai Malhotra Enterprises ne teri nainsukh chheen li
(Looks like Malhotra Enterprises snatched away your peace). Did a girl just take your favourite toy away?"
I leaned back in my chair, running a hand over my face. "Kabir, I am not in the mood for your nonsense today. I have a hundred things to handle."
"Oh, look at him getting angry!" Sameer's voice cut in from the background, clearly on speakerphone. "Don't take his attitude, Kabir. Vaise bhi, Kiara Malhotra ke samne iska attitude chalta nahi hai. She completely wiped the floor with your infrastructure bid, Shivansh. Maan le, woh tujhse behtar hai"
(Anyway, his attitude doesn't work in front of Kiara Malhotra. Accept it, she is better than you).
"Shut up, Sameer," I snapped, though the banter was keeping me from putting my fist through the wall. "Uska luck accha tha that's all. It's a temporary setback. Usse lagta hai ki woh is market ki rani ban sakti hai, par main usse zyada der tikne nahi doonga
(She thinks she can become the queen of this market, but I won't let her survive for too long in the race)."
"Arre, relax, corporate tiger," Kabir laughed. "Ghar ja, thoda thanda paani pi, aur apni Chachi ki kheer kha. Tera dimaag bohot garam ho chuka hai We'll see you at the club this weekend to celebrate your tragic second place."
(Go home, drink some cold water, and eat your Chachi's kheer. Your brain has heated up too much).
"Get lost, both of you," I said, hanging up the call before they could roast him any further. I tossed the phone onto the desk, my mind still looping back to the sharp, decisive strategy Kiara had used against me. I hated her efficiency. I hated her timing. Most of all, I hated that she was the only person in the entire country who didn't back down when I showed my anger.
By the time I arrived back at the Singhania mansion, the sky had turned into a dark indigo, speckled with the distant lights of the city. I stepped inside, consciously trying to drop the corporate armor I wore all day. The grand living room was filled with the familiar, comforting sounds of my family.
"Bhaiya is back!" Ananya yelled from the top of the stairs, immediately abandoning her book to run down.
"Careful, Ananya," Chachi called out from the dining room, walking into the hall with a tray of fresh water and juice. She looked up at me, her sharp maternal eyes immediately picking up on the tension around my shoulders. "Come, beta, sit down. You look like you carried the weight of the entire office on your back today."
"I'm fine, Chachi," I said, forcing a small, reassuring smile as I reached out to take the glass of water. I walked over to where my father, Vikram, and Rohan were discussing something over a laptop.
"Rough day at the exchange?" My father asked, not looking up from the screen but noting my heavy footsteps.
"Just the usual market volatility," I replied smoothly, heading upstairs to change before dinner. I didn't want to bring my corporate grudges into the household, but the irritation was humming under my skin like an electric current.
An hour later, the entire family gathered around the massive mahogany dining table. It was a lively affair, as always. Chachu and Rohan were debating cricket statistics, Diya and Ananya were whispering about a university festival, and Mom was ensuring everyone's plates were constantly overflowing.
Despite the warmth of the room, I was visibly distant. I was picking at my food, my mind still analyzing the Malhotra financial filings I had reviewed before leaving the office. My eyebrows were knit together, my jaw tight.
Mom watched me from across the table, her concern growing with every passing minute. She finally set her spoon down. "Shivansh, beta, what is wrong? You haven't eaten more than three bites, and your face looks like you're fighting a war in your head. Kya baat hai? Kuch pareshani hai?
(What is the matter? Is there some trouble?)"
I blinked, pulled out of my thoughts by my mother's voice. The entire table grew quiet, looking at me. Even my father lowered his glass to listen.
"It's nothing, Mom. Just some business details," I said, trying to dismiss it with a wave of my hand.
"Don't lie to your mother, Shivansh," Chachi said smoothly, setting down a bowl of dal. "You only look this angry when someone manages to break your discipline. What happened?"
I sighed, realizing I couldn't deflect my family when they were united. I set my fork down, my tone turning sharp and laced with corporate venom.
"Malhotra Enterprises managed to manipulate the coastal highway project allocation today. Kiara Malhotra altered their bidding strategy at the absolute last minute to edge us out."
"Ah, the Malhotra girl," my father noted, nodding slowly. "She's exceptionally sharp. Her father built a solid foundation, but she has turned that company into an absolute fortress in record time."
Hearing my father praise her only added fuel to my fire. "She didn't build a fortress, Dad; she got lucky. Her methods are aggressive and entirely uncalled for. Main us Kiara Malhotra ko is race mein zyada der tikne nahi doonga"
(I won't let that Kiara Malhotra survive for too long in the race).
"She thinks she can push Singhania Corp out of the major sectors, but I will make sure she realizes her limits very soon. I'm going to squeeze her company out of the upcoming electronics merger completely."
The table was silent for a moment as my cold intensity hung in the air. But instead of agreeing or showing concern about the business rivalry, Mom looked at me with a gentle, disapproving frown.
"Shivansh, kyu us bechari ke piche pada hai? Mom said, her voice soft and full of affection. "I have seen her on the news and at the charity galas last month. Maine dekha hai usse, mujhe to badi pyaari lagti hai . She works so hard, manages such a massive empire all by herself at such a young age, and she carries herself with so much dignity. There is no need to be so harsh on her."
(Why are you after that poor girl? I have seen her, I find her very lovely)
I stared at my mother, completely stunned. Of all the reactions I had expected, my mother defending my fiercest business rival was definitely not on the list.
Rohan stifled a laugh from across the table, leaning over to nudge Diya, while Ananya giggled behind her napkin.
"Lovely?" I said, my tone dripping with heavy sarcasm as I picked up my napkin. "Mom, the woman is a corporate shark. She doesn't have a 'lovely' bone in her body. If you saw the way she operates in a boardroom, you wouldn't be calling her bechari. She is ruthless."
"She has to be strong because she is managing everything on her own," Chachi chimed in, supporting Mom with a warm smile. "A young woman holding her ground against people like you is commendable, Shivansh. You should show some respect for her hustle."
I closed my eyes for a brief second, feeling completely defeated by the women in my own household. The fact that my family already held so much admiration for Kiara Malhotra was a twisted irony I wasn't prepared to handle tonight.
I pushed my chair back, standing up from the table. "I am glad you all find my competitor so charming. But in the real world, she is a threat to our market share. If you'll excuse me, I have to go through the legal briefs for tomorrow."
"Eat your dessert at least, beta!" Mom called out as I turned away.
"No thank you, Mom. My appetite is completely gone," I replied sarcastically, giving a brief nod to my father before walking out of the dining room and heading back up to my study.
Upstairs, I threw myself into my office chair, opening my laptop. The screen illuminated my face, reflecting the spreadsheets and news articles about Malhotra Enterprises. I stared at a corporate photograph of Kiara Malhotra her posture perfect, her expression unreadable and powerful.
The glass walls of Malhotra Enterprises didn't just reflect the Mumbai skyline; today, they reflected a masterpiece. I leaned back in my leather chair, a slow, rare smirk spreading across my face as I watched the live financial tickers refresh on my tablet.
Malhotra Enterprises: Confirmed Anchor Position.
Singhania Corp: Bid Defeated.
A deep, incredibly satisfying wave of triumph washed over me. For months, Shivansh Singhania had been acting like he owned the entire corporate circuit, stepping into boardrooms with that untouchable, arrogant posture of his.
He was used to everyone bowing down the moment he walked into a room. Well, not today. Undercutting his precious coastal highway project by a mere half percent had taken weeks of late-night calculations, sleepless nights, and absolute secrecy and every single second of that stress was worth it to watch his empire take a hit.
I stood up, walking over to the floor-to-ceiling window and looking down at the city. "This is just the start, Mr. Singhania," I whispered to the glass, my eyes narrowing with fierce determination. "Just wait and watch what this Kiara Malhotra can do to your flawless little kingdom. I'm going to make you lose your mind."
He thought he was the only predator in this jungle. He was about to learn that I didn't just survive in this market; I came to rule it. Squeezing him out of the upcoming electronics merger was already my next target, and I wasn't going to show a single shred of mercy.
The heavy double doors of my office suddenly burst open, completely shattering my cold, plotting silence.
"Out of the way, everyone! Make way for the Queen of undercutting!" Myra shouted, marching into the room with a massive box of premium pastries and dropping it onto my glass desk.
Ishani strutted in right behind her, already holding two iced coffees and grinning from ear to ear. "Oh my god, Kiara ! You actually did it! I saw the news ticker in the elevator and I literally screamed. Tu toh bilkul psycho hai yaar!"
(You are a total psycho, man!) You actually wiped that smug look off Singhania's face!"
I turned around, the intense CEO mask completely melting away as a genuine laugh escaped my lips. "Did you guys seriously buy out half the bakery just to celebrate a contract?"
"Shut up, saali," Myra said, aggressively shoving a chocolate pastry into my hand. "Tera thobda dekh ke lag raha tha tu project ke chakkar mein mar jayegi. But wow, kya lagayi hai tune uski. The entire market is buzzing. Singhania must be throwing a temper tantrum in his tower right now."
(Looking at your face, it felt like you'd die because of this project. What a hit you gave him)
"Oh, absolutely," Ishani cackled, leaning against my desk and taking a sip of her coffee. "Uski toh jal gayi hogi. That arrogant loser always thinks he's god's gift to the corporate world. Pata hai na, woh kitna bada pagal lagta hai apni un tailored suits mein?"
(He must be completely losing his mind. You know how much of an idiot he looks like in those tailored suits?)"
"He's not an idiot, Ishani. He's dangerous," I clarified, sitting on the edge of the desk, though I couldn't stop smiling. "But he's predictable. He thought I'd play safe. He forgot that I don't play by the rules."
"Whatever, bhashan band kar ab," Myra rolled her eyes, teasingly nudging my shoulder. "Tu kitni bhi badi businesswoman ban ja, rahegi toh tu gadhi hi. Look at your hair, it looks like a bird's nest. If the paparazzi photograph you today looking like this, our reputation as your beautiful best friends is completely ruined."
(No matter how big of a businesswoman you become, you'll still remain a donkey.)
"Exactly," Ishani chimed in, throwing a crumpled napkin at me. "Shakal se toh tu bilkul ugly lag rahi hai kaam ke pressure mein. Go wash your face, celebrate with us, and stop staring at that skyline like you're some tragic movie character."
(You look completely ugly because of the work pressure.)
"I love how my victory celebration always turns into a roasting session about my face," I muttered, rolling my eyes but feeling incredibly grateful for the noise.
In the boardroom, I was Kiara Malhotra the ruthless, feared, and untouchable woman who was actively planning the downfall of the most powerful corporate giant in the city. But right here, with pastries smudged on my fingers and my friends shouting insults at me, I was just a girl letting her guard down before the next war.
Shivansh Singhania was going to come back twice as hard. I knew it. But as I laughed at Myra's dramatic stories, a cold spark of anticipation burned in my chest. Let him come, I thought. I am more than ready.
And that's a wrap on this chapter! ✨ What do you think about the dynamic brewing between them? 👀 If you loved reading this, please don't forget to hit that little star to VOTE and leave a COMMENT with your favorite moments! Your support means the world to me. See you in the next one! ❤️
Write a comment ...