Chapter 15: Dangerous Liaisons
The night air was heavy with monsoon mist, the neon lights of Mumbai reflecting off wet pavement. From the rooftop balcony of the shelter, Aanya stared out over the city, her mind tangled in the storm of the day's events.
The boardroom had been a partial victory. She had shaken their faith in Rajiv, even gained Kothari's silent nod. But the image of Manav Verma — sharp suit, calm smile, dangerous eyes — lingered like a shadow she couldn't shake.
Arjun stepped onto the balcony, his presence quiet but grounding. He handed her a mug of steaming tea.
"You should rest," he said softly.
Aanya shook her head. "Resting is a luxury I can't afford. Not when Verma has just entered the game."
Arjun's eyes narrowed. "He's not like Rajiv. Rajiv wants control. Verma… he plays a longer game."
Before Aanya could respond, Meera rushed out, phone in hand. Her face was pale. "You need to see this."
She held up the screen. An invitation glowed across it:
Mr. Manav Verma requests your company for a private dinner. Tonight. 10 PM. The Oberoi.
Aanya's brows knit together. "He doesn't waste time."
Arjun's jaw tightened. "It's a trap."
Meera's voice was urgent. "It's an opportunity. If you want to understand him, you can't turn this down."
Arjun's hand clenched around the railing. "And if he tries something?"
Aanya set the mug down, her gaze steady. "Then he'll learn I'm not the woman he thinks I am."
The Oberoi's private lounge was draped in velvet and lit with golden chandeliers. A string quartet played softly in the corner. Aanya entered in a sleek black dress, her presence commanding despite the simplicity of her attire.
Manav Verma stood as she approached, tall and impeccably dressed, his silver cufflinks glinting under the lights. His smile was polite, yet his eyes held a glimmer of mischief — or danger.
"Ms. Malhotra," he greeted smoothly, pulling out a chair for her. "I appreciate your punctuality. Not many would walk into the lion's den so willingly."
She sat gracefully, her chin high. "I don't see a lion. I see a man hiding behind polished suits and carefully chosen words."
His smile widened faintly. "Sharp tongue. I like that."
Arjun lingered a few paces behind her, his expression unreadable. Manav's gaze flicked to him. "Your bodyguard?"
Aanya's lips curved. "My shield."
Manav chuckled. "Interesting. Most powerful women I know don't admit they need one."
Aanya leaned forward slightly. "Most powerful women I know don't get betrayed by their own blood and thrown into prison. Forgive me if I don't play by the usual rules anymore."
For the first time, Manav's smile faltered just a little. He raised his glass of wine. "Touché."
As dinner was served, their conversation danced between civility and veiled threats.
"You know," Manav said casually as he cut into his steak, "Rajiv is useful, but limited. He thinks small — power, money, quick wins. I think bigger. Legacy. Empire."
Aanya met his gaze, her fork paused. "And where does Malhotra Global fit into that empire?"
His eyes gleamed. "At the very center. With you at the helm."
Her chest tightened. "With me?"
He leaned back, studying her like a chess master eyeing his queen. "You have fire, intelligence, and the kind of charisma money can't buy. But you lack an army. I could give you one."
The system chimed in her mind.
[Ding!]
System Alert: Potential Alliance Detected.
Warning: High Risk. Manav Verma's loyalty probability: 22%.
Her heart skipped. An alliance… with the Phantom?
But before she could respond, Arjun stepped closer, his voice low but edged with steel. "And what would that cost her?"
Manav's gaze flicked up at him, amused. "Ah. The protector speaks." He set down his knife and folded his hands. "It would cost her… trust. Nothing more. A small price for the world."
Aanya's lips curved in a cold smile. "Trust is the one currency I don't trade anymore."
Manav chuckled softly. "Then perhaps you'll allow me to earn it."
He slid a sealed envelope across the table.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Proof," he said simply. "Of Rajiv's next move. Tomorrow, he plans to transfer control of Malhotra Global's European branch to a shell company in Singapore. If you intercept it, you'll cripple his expansion before it even begins."
Suspicion flared in her chest. Why would he give me this?
The system chimed again.
[Ding!]
New Side Quest: Verify the authenticity of Verma's information.
Reward: +20 System Points, Negotiation Skill (Tier 2).
Penalty: If false, lose 10 Reputation with Board Allies.
Aanya slid the envelope into her purse. "And what do you want in return?"
Manav's smile was slow, deliberate. "Only that when the time comes, you remember who helped you take your throne back."
Arjun's fists tightened at his sides.
Manav's eyes lingered on Aanya a beat longer than necessary. "A queen needs allies, Ms. Malhotra. Choose carefully… before the court devours you."
Back in the car, silence hung heavy. Aanya traced the edge of the envelope with her fingers, her mind racing.
Meera, checking her tablet, finally asked, "Do we trust him?"
"No," Arjun said instantly. His voice was flat, certain.
Aanya glanced at him. "You didn't even think about it."
"I don't need to. Men like him don't give without expecting blood in return."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "And yet, this could be the strike we need against Rajiv."
Arjun turned to her, his gaze burning into hers. "Just promise me you won't let him pull you into his web."
Her chest tightened. His words were more than a warning — they were personal.
She whispered, almost without meaning to, "And if I start to fall?"
He leaned closer, his voice low, fierce. "Then I'll be there to catch you."
The air crackled between them, charged with an intensity neither dared name.
Far away, in his penthouse, Manav Verma stood by the window, staring at the Mumbai skyline. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he swirled a glass of wine.
"She took the bait," he murmured.
Behind him, a shadowed figure asked, "And if she discovers the trap?"
Manav's smile widened. "Then the game becomes far more interesting."
[Ding!]
Chapter Quest Updated: Dangerous Liaisons
Objective: Verify Verma's Information and Strike Rajiv's Singapore Deal.
Time Limit: 48 Hours.
Reward: +20 System Points, Negotiation Skill (Tier 2).
The war was no longer just about survival.
It was about who could control the board — and Aanya was no longer sure if Manav Verma wanted to be her ally… or her captor.