Chapter 17: Poisoned Promises
The jet touched down in Mumbai just as the sun broke over the horizon, painting the city in shades of gold and gray. Aanya should have felt victorious after sabotaging Rajiv's Singapore deal. Instead, unease knotted in her stomach.
Arjun noticed the silence as they descended the steps onto the runway. "You're not celebrating."
She shook her head. "Victory doesn't taste sweet when it comes with strings attached."
He didn't press, but his eyes lingered on her — protective, searching, as if willing her to lean on him.
By afternoon, news outlets buzzed with headlines: Malhotra Global Singapore Deal Collapses Overnight. The board was in chaos, and Rajiv was livid.
In her temporary office at the shelter, Meera scrolled through the flood of articles. "Rajiv's cornered. The board's demanding answers."
"Good," Aanya replied, reviewing the Singapore documents again. "But he won't sit idle. He'll strike back."
She wasn't wrong.
An hour later, Meera's tablet beeped. She glanced at the screen — and her face drained of color. "Oh no…"
"What is it?" Arjun asked sharply.
Meera swallowed. "Rajiv leaked a story to the press. He claims Aanya is conspiring with an 'unknown foreign investor' to seize Malhotra Global for herself."
Aanya's breath caught. He's painting me as Verma's puppet.
The system chimed.
[Warning!]
Reputation -15 with Board Allies.
Risk of Betrayal: Increased.
Arjun cursed under his breath. "Damn it. This is exactly what Verma wanted — to make you look guilty."
Before Aanya could respond, her phone buzzed. A new message appeared from an unknown number:
Meet me tonight. 9 PM. Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. Rooftop garden.
— M.V.
Her stomach tightened.
Arjun glanced at the screen, his jaw clenching. "Don't go."
Aanya's gaze hardened. "If I don't, Rajiv wins. He'll make sure the board sees me as Verma's puppet — unless I hear what Verma has to say."
Arjun stepped closer, his voice low and fierce. "Then I'm going with you."
The rooftop garden of the Taj was a world of soft lanterns and quiet fountains, the city's chaos muted beneath.
Manav Verma stood near the railing, a silhouette against the glowing skyline. He turned as Aanya approached, his smile calm, his presence magnetic.
"Aanya Malhotra," he said smoothly. "You wear victory well."
She stopped a few feet away, her arms crossed. "And you wear manipulation even better."
His smile widened faintly. "Straight to the point. I like that."
Arjun hovered close behind her, his eyes cold and watchful.
Manav gestured to a table set with wine and delicacies. "Please, sit. I promise the food isn't poisoned."
Aanya arched a brow. "Promises mean little from men like you."
He chuckled, unbothered. "Perhaps. But sometimes, poison comes in prettier forms — a whispered rumor, a planted story. You've tasted Rajiv's venom today, haven't you?"
Her jaw tightened. "That was your plan all along — to make me look complicit."
Manav's eyes gleamed. "Not my plan. My warning. Rajiv knows he's losing ground. He's desperate. And desperate men make dangerous moves."
Aanya's chest burned with frustration. "Then why help me at all?"
He studied her, his gaze sharp yet oddly soft. "Because you're not like him. Rajiv craves power for its own sake. You… you carry fire. You want justice. That makes you far more interesting."
The system chimed.
[Ding!]
Hidden Affection Flag Triggered: Manav Verma.
Relationship Status: Ambiguous.
Risk: High. Reward: Unknown.
Arjun stiffened, stepping closer. "Cut the flattery. What do you want from her?"
Manav's eyes flicked to Arjun, amused. "Everything. But for now… her trust."
Aanya leaned forward, her voice cool. "Trust is earned. Prove I'm not just a pawn in your game."
He reached into his jacket, sliding a USB drive across the table. "Inside — the names of every shell company Rajiv uses in Europe. With this, you'll dismantle the rest of his empire."
Suspicion prickled down her spine. "And what's the price?"
His smile was slow, deliberate. "When the time comes, you'll know. For now, consider it… an investment."
The system flashed.
[Side Quest Available]
Accept Verma's USB and investigate Rajiv's European network.
Risk: Trap Potential — High.
Reward: +30 System Points, Ally Progress Boost.
Aanya stared at the USB. This could destroy Rajiv… or destroy me.
Before she could decide, Manav leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Careful, Aanya. The boardroom is full of wolves. If you stand alone, they'll devour you. Stand with me, and we'll devour them."
Her pulse skipped — not from attraction, but from the sheer force of his conviction.
Arjun's hand brushed her elbow gently, grounding her. His voice was firm. "You don't need him. You have us."
For a heartbeat, torn between Arjun's unwavering loyalty and Verma's dangerous allure, Aanya felt the full weight of the path ahead.
Later that night, back at the shelter, Meera plugged the USB into her secure laptop. Lines of code flickered, data pouring in.
Her eyes widened. "It's real. Rajiv's entire European web — shell companies, bank accounts, secret partners. With this, we can gut him."
Aanya's chest tightened. So Verma wasn't lying.
The system chimed.
[Ding!]
Side Quest Accepted: Poisoned Promises.
Objective: Use Verma's data to cripple Rajiv's European assets.
Time Limit: 72 Hours.
Arjun watched her carefully, arms crossed. "You know he's baiting you."
She nodded slowly. "Yes. But if I don't take the bait, Rajiv wins."
Arjun stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Just promise me one thing — don't let Verma touch your soul. He'll try to make you his."
Aanya met his eyes, the sincerity there almost undoing her. For the first time in years, her whisper trembled. "I trust you, Arjun."
The system chimed softly.
[Trust Bond Established: Arjun Mehra]
Attribute Bonus: +10% Emotional Resilience.
But deep inside, she knew the game had changed. Verma's shadow loomed larger than ever — and every step closer to victory carried the taste of poison.
Meanwhile, in a penthouse high above the city, Manav Verma sipped his wine, watching the rain streak down the glass.
"She took the drive," he murmured.
A figure in the shadows asked, "And when she realizes the price?"
Manav's smile was dark, confident. "By then, it will be too late. She'll already be mine."