2. ARJUN

The door closed behind Mahira, and her father left behind her, leaving me alone in the dimly lit office. I stood there, rooted in place, as if the air had been sucked out of the room the moment she left.

There was something about her that unsettled me, something that gnawed at the edges of my control. I couldn’t quite place it, but it was there, a tension, a spark that I couldn’t ignore.

I dragged a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. Mahira was sharp, no doubt about that. She had a hint about what was coming, about the board meeting that would decide her fate as the next CEO.

But did she truly understand the gravity of the situation? Did she know what was at stake, what would be required of her?

I wasn't sure.

I walked to my cabin and walked over to the large window overlooking the city, my reflection barely visible in the dark glass. The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a dusky glow over the skyline.

The office was quiet now, the hum of activity having died down as the day came to an end. But my mind was still buzzing, replaying the conversation with Mahira over and over again.

She had looked at me with those sharp eyes, like she was trying to figure me out. But I wasn’t an open book, and she wouldn’t find the answers she was searching for in me.

My past was a locked box, one that I wasn’t about to open for anyone—least of all her.

A knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to see Neha, my assistant, standing hesitantly in the doorway.

“Sir, the reports you requested,” she said, holding out a stack of files.

“Just leave them on the desk,” I replied, my voice flat.

She walked over, placing the files down gently. I could feel her eyes on me, a mix of curiosity and caution. Everyone in the office knew better than to pry into my business, but that didn’t stop them from wondering.

I had built a reputation here—one of efficiency, of getting the job done no matter what. And that reputation was what kept people like Neha from asking questions they had no business asking.

“Is there anything else you need, sir?” she asked, her voice a bit softer this time.

I shook my head, already turning my attention back to the view outside. “No. That’s all.”

She lingered for a moment, then nodded and left the room, the door closing quietly behind her. I stood there for a few more minutes, letting the silence settle around me like a heavy blanket.

It was moments like these that I craved—moments where I could just breathe, without the weight of expectations and responsibilities pressing down on me.

But those moments never lasted long.

The sharp ring of my phone interrupted the quiet. I glanced at the screen, recognizing the number immediately. Raj Kapoor. I answered the call, bringing the phone to my ear.

“Arjun, I need to see you in my office,” Raj’s voice came through, calm yet firm.

“I’ll be there in a minute,” I replied, ending the call.

As I made my way to sir's office, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was brewing, something that would change everything.

He was a man who didn’t waste time on pleasantries—if he wanted to talk, it meant there was something serious at hand.

When I entered his office, sir was already sitting behind his desk, his eyes fixed on some papers in front of him. He looked up as I walked in, a small, tired smile tugging at his lips.

“Arjun, take a seat,” he said, gesturing to the chair opposite him.

I did as he asked, settling into the leather chair. The room was filled with the scent of polished wood and old books, a testament to the years he  had spent building his empire.

But there was something different about him tonight—an edge, a weariness that I hadn’t noticed before.

“We need to talk about Mahira,” he  began, leaning back in his chair.

I nodded, waiting for him to continue.

“I haven’t told her about the board meeting yet,” he admitted, rubbing a hand over his face. “She has an idea, I’m sure, but I haven’t confirmed anything.”

“That’s a mistake,” I said bluntly. “She needs to be prepared.”

He sighed, his eyes meeting mine. “I know. But I wanted to make sure she was ready, truly ready, before we put her in that position. She’s strong, Arjun, but she’s also my daughter. I don’t want to see her hurt.”

“And you think keeping her in the dark will protect her?” I challenged.

His expression hardened slightly. “No, I think giving her time to come to terms with it on her own terms will protect her. She’s smart. She’ll figure it out.”

I leaned forward, my eyes narrowing. “You know as well as I do that the board won’t be easy on her. They’re expecting a leader, someone who can step into your shoes without hesitation. If she’s not ready—”

“She is ready,” he cut me off, his voice firm. “And you’re going to help her see that.”

There it was. The reason I had been brought into this mess in the first place. I was the one sir trusted to guide his daughter, to mold her into the leader the company needed. But that didn’t mean I had to like it.

“I’ll do what I can,” I said, my tone clipped.

He studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Good. I want you to come with me tonight. We’re going home, and I’m going to tell her everything. You’ll be there to... support her.”

I couldn’t tell if he was asking me or telling me, but either way, I knew there was no point in arguing. I had been roped into this from the start, and now I had to see it through.

“Fine,” I agreed, standing up. “Let’s get this over with.”

The ride to the Kapoor mansion was silent, the tension thick in the air. Sir was lost in his thoughts, his expression unreadable.

I, on the other hand, couldn’t stop thinking about Mahira. The way she had looked at me in the office, the way her presence had lingered even after she had left.

There was something about her that I couldn’t shake, something that pulled at me in a way I wasn’t used to.

When we arrived, the mansion loomed ahead of us, its lights glowing softly in the evening darkness. It was a grand place, a testament to the Kapoor family’s wealth and status.

But to me, it felt more like a gilded cage—beautiful on the outside, but suffocating on the inside.

We stepped inside, the familiar scent of jasmine and sandalwood filling the air. Mahira was in the living room, sitting on the couch with a book in her hands.

She looked up as we entered, her gaze shifting from her father to me. There was something in her eyes—curiosity, apprehension, maybe even a hint of defiance.

“Dad,” she greeted, her voice calm but questioning. “What’s going on?”

Her father sat down beside her, his expression softening. “We need to talk, sweetheart.”

I stayed back, leaning against the wall with my arms crossed. I could feel Mahira’s eyes on me, like she was trying to read something in my expression. But I kept my face neutral, giving nothing away.

“Is this about the board meeting?” she asked, setting her book aside.

Raj nodded. “Yes. It’s time we discussed your future with the company.”

Mahira’s gaze flickered with something—anticipation, perhaps. She had been waiting for this, I realized.

She wasn’t as in the dark as sir  thought. She had been piecing it together on her own, preparing herself for what was to come.

“I knew it,” she said quietly, her voice steady. “I knew something was coming.”

Sir smiled, a mix of pride and sadness in his eyes. “You’ve always been smart, Mahira. But this is going to be different. The board will expect you to step up, to prove that you’re ready to take over.”

Mahira nodded, her eyes shifting to me. “And you?” she asked, her tone almost challenging. “What do you think?”

I met her gaze head-on, feeling the tension between us crackling like electricity. “I think you’re capable,” I said simply. “But capability isn’t enough. You’ll need to be ruthless, decisive. This isn’t just about taking over—it’s about surviving.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, like she was trying to figure me out. But I didn’t give her the satisfaction. I was a closed book, and she wouldn’t find the answers she was looking for in me.

“I’m ready,” she said finally, her voice firm.

I could see the determination in her eyes, the fire that had been ignited. She was prepared to fight for this, to prove herself. But what she didn’t realize was that this fight would change her, just like it had changed me.

“Good,” sir said, patting her hand. “Because the board meeting is in four months. You have plenty of time to prepare, but you’ll need to be at your best.”

Mahira nodded, a steely resolve in her eyes. “I will be.”

There was a silence that followed, heavy with unspoken words. I could feel the weight of it pressing down on us, like we were all standing on the edge of a precipice, waiting to see who would jump first.

Finally, sir stood up, the conversation evidently over. “Arjun will be here to help you prepare,” he said, looking between Mahira and me. “He’s the best there is, and he’ll make sure you’re ready for whatever the board throws your way.”

Mahira’s eyes flickered to me again, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind. She knew this wouldn’t be easy, that stepping into the role of CEO would require more than just skill—it would demand a level of ruthlessness she hadn’t yet been forced to show.

But she was determined. I could see that in the set of her jaw, the way her hands clenched into fists at her sides. She wasn’t going to back down, no matter what.

“Thank you, Dad,” she said, her voice steady. “I won’t let you down.”

Sir smiled, a mix of pride and something else—something darker that I couldn’t quite place. “I know you won’t.”

With that, he turned to leave the room, leaving Mahira and me alone. The silence between us was thick, charged with the unspoken tension that had been there from the moment we met.

I crossed my arms over my chest, watching her closely. There was something about her that drew me in, something that made me want to unravel the layers she kept so carefully hidden. But I couldn’t afford to get distracted—not when so much was at stake.

“I don’t need a babysitter,” she said suddenly, her voice sharp.

I raised an eyebrow, slightly amused by her defiance. “This isn’t about babysitting. It’s about making sure you’re prepared.”

She crossed her arms, mirroring my stance. “And you think you’re the one to do that?”

“I know I am,” I replied, my tone cool.

She stared at me for a moment, her eyes searching in mine for something. Whatever it was, I wasn’t going to give it to her. I had spent years perfecting the art of keeping people at arm’s length, and I wasn’t about to let her break through my defenses.

“Fine,” she said finally, her voice clipped. “But don’t think for a second that I’m going to let you control me. I’m going to do this my way.”

I couldn’t help the small smirk that tugged at the corner of my lips. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, clearly not amused. But I could see the fire in her, the determination that had made sir choose her as his successor.

She was strong, no doubt about that. But strength alone wouldn’t be enough to survive in the cutthroat world of corporate politics.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, turning to leave. “We have a lot of work to do.”

She didn’t reply, and I didn’t wait for one. As I walked out of the room, I could feel her gaze burning into my back, a mix of curiosity and something else—something darker.

The ride back to the office was quiet, but my mind was anything but. Mahira was an enigma, a puzzle that I couldn’t quite figure out.

And that intrigued me more than I was willing to admit. But I couldn’t let myself get too close. I had learned the hard way that getting involved with people only led to pain.

When I got back to the office, the building was almost empty, the hum of activity having died down for the night.

But I wasn’t ready to leave just yet. There was too much on my mind, too much that needed to be sorted out before I could even think about going home.

I headed to my office, the soft click of my shoes echoing in the empty hallway. The familiar scent of coffee and paper greeted me as I stepped inside, but it did little to calm the storm brewing in my mind.

I sat down at my desk, my fingers tapping absently on the polished wood as I stared at the stack of files in front of me.

There was work to be done, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Mahira, to the way she had looked at me, like she was trying to figure me out.

“Arjun, are you still here?”

I looked up to see Neha standing in the doorway, a cup of coffee in her hands. She looked tired, but there was a soft smile on her face, like she was used to finding me here at odd hours.

“Yeah,” I replied, leaning back in my chair. “Just going over some things.”

She walked over, setting the cup down on my desk. “You work too hard, you know that?”

I shrugged, picking up the cup. The warmth seeped into my hands, grounding me in the moment. “It’s what I’m good at.”

Neha chuckled softly, shaking her head. “One of these days, you’re going to have to take a break.”

I gave her a small smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “Maybe.”

She didn’t press the issue, just nodded and left me alone with my thoughts. I took a sip of the coffee, letting the bitterness wash over me.

It was late, and I knew I should go home, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming—something that would change everything.

I stood up, moving to the window that overlooked the city. The lights twinkled below, a sea of endless possibilities.

But for the first time in a long time, I felt uncertain about the future. Mahira was strong, but would she be strong enough to survive what was coming? And more importantly, would I?

As I stood there, staring out at the city, I made a promise to myself. I would protect her, even if it meant getting closer than I was comfortable with. Because in the end, this wasn’t just about her—it was about both of us.

And in this game, there could only be one winner.

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