Chapter 10: The Boardroom Showdown
The twenty-fourth floor of Malhotra Global's headquarters gleamed like a palace of glass and steel, every surface polished to perfection. To outsiders, it was a symbol of power.
To Aanya, it was the battlefield where her parents' blood had been spilled in silence.
As the elevator doors slid open, her heart thudded once. Beside her, Arjun stepped out with the same calm that had unnerved their attackers days ago.
Meera adjusted her blazer, her expression set like steel. "Remember, Rajiv called this meeting in a panic. That means he doesn't expect you. Use that."
Aanya nodded, but her chest burned with a mixture of dread and fire. She hadn't set foot here since the day she'd been dragged out in handcuffs.
[Ding!]
Task Active: Attend Rajiv's emergency board meeting.
Reward on Success: Strategic Influence Skill, Reputation +15.
Penalty: Permanent blacklisting from Malhotra Global.
She clenched her fists. I won't fail.
The boardroom doors loomed ahead. Desai, their inside man, waited near the entrance, his tie slightly loosened.
"You're sure about this?" he whispered, eyes darting nervously. "Rajiv won't hold back."
"I'm counting on it," Aanya replied softly.
Desai swallowed and pushed open the doors.
The boardroom was a long expanse of mahogany and glass. At its head sat Rajiv Malhotra, her uncle. He looked as he always had — immaculate suit, calm smile — but Aanya could see the cold ambition flickering in his eyes.
Around the table sat twelve executives, murmuring in surprise as they noticed her. Some gasped softly. Others stiffened.
Rajiv's smile froze. His voice was smooth, but carried a sharp edge. "Well. If it isn't the ghost of Malhotra Global."
Aanya stepped forward, her heels striking the polished floor with steady precision. She felt the system's aura flare around her, invisible yet undeniable. The murmurs hushed.
"I'm no ghost, Uncle," she said clearly. "I'm the rightful heir. And I'm here to expose the fraud you've been hiding."
Gasps rippled through the room.
Rajiv leaned back in his chair, folding his hands. "Bold words from a convicted criminal. Remind me, niece — weren't you sent to prison for killing your own parents?"
Her chest tightened, but she forced her chin higher. "Falsely accused. And you know it."
He chuckled softly. "The court disagreed."
Aanya slid the folder across the table. "Then perhaps they'll agree with this."
Desai opened the folder, spreading the documents for all to see. Pages of evidence — shell companies, forged transfers, offshore accounts.
The executives leaned forward, whispers breaking out again.
One man frowned deeply. "Blackthorn Holdings? This… this connects directly to Rajiv's signature."
Rajiv's smile didn't falter. "Lies. Forged papers, no doubt planted by a bitter woman desperate to reclaim what she lost."
Aanya's eyes flashed. "You've been selling Malhotra Global piece by piece to foreign vultures. My parents built this empire to strengthen India's economy, not to line your pockets!"
Rajiv's voice turned sharp. "Enough!" He slammed a hand on the table, the sound echoing. "You have no standing here. You were stripped of all authority when you went to prison."
Aanya's pulse raced — but the system chimed softly.
[Ding!]
Skill Activated: Charisma Surge.
Influence boosted +25% for 10 minutes.
She met each board member's eyes, her voice steady and commanding. "Five years I rotted in a cell for a crime I didn't commit. Five years while he bled this company dry. But today, I stand here with proof. The question isn't whether I belong here. The question is — how much longer will you tie your futures to a sinking ship?"
The room fell silent.
Rajiv's jaw clenched. He turned his glare toward Desai. "You. You brought her here?"
Desai's face tightened, but he lifted his chin. "I believe the board deserves to know the truth."
Rajiv's composure cracked, fury flashing in his eyes. But before he could retort, Arjun stepped forward, his presence like a shadow falling over the room.
"If you touch her, Malhotra, you'll regret it."
Several executives looked uneasy. The aura around Arjun wasn't that of a mere bodyguard. It was sharper, darker — commanding respect without a word.
Rajiv's lips curled. "Who is this? Your new lapdog?"
Arjun's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, the air itself seemed to thicken. "Try me."
Aanya placed a hand on Arjun's arm. "Not yet," she whispered.
Rajiv leaned back again, regaining his mask. "Fine. You want to play? Let's put it to a vote."
He glanced around the table. "All in favor of dismissing this baseless claim and affirming my leadership, raise your hands."
Several hands went up immediately — his loyalists. But others hesitated, their eyes darting between Rajiv's cool confidence and Aanya's blazing determination.
Aanya's heart pounded. Come on…
Finally, one elderly board member spoke. "If what she says is true, then our entire reputation is at stake. I propose we investigate these claims before proceeding."
Murmurs of agreement followed.
Rajiv's smile thinned dangerously.
"Very well," he said smoothly. "We'll investigate. But know this, Aanya — once this farce collapses, I'll see you buried deeper than before."
She met his eyes, her voice like steel. "Then you'd better dig a deep grave. Because this queen doesn't fall twice."
The system chimed.
[Task Complete!]
Reward Unlocked: Strategic Influence Skill.
Reputation +15.
New Subtask: Secure 3 Board Allies before Rajiv's Counterattack.
Later, outside the headquarters, Aanya finally exhaled, her hands trembling slightly.
Arjun touched her shoulder lightly. "You did well."
She turned to him, searching his eyes. "He'll come after me harder now."
His expression didn't waver. "Then let him. He doesn't know what he's truly up against."
For a moment, the world fell away. Just the two of them, standing under the glittering city lights, bound by vengeance and something neither dared to name.
Aanya lifted her chin. "Then tomorrow, we begin securing the board. Piece by piece."
Arjun's lips curved faintly. "And I'll be your shadow every step of the way."
Far above, in the darkened boardroom, Rajiv stood alone by the window, staring out at the city.
His reflection in the glass smirked back at him.
"So… the little queen thinks she can play war."
He picked up his phone. "Double the bounty. And this time… no survivors."