Chapter 1: The Rival

Kavya Mehra didn’t believe in office friendships, especially not the fake, smile-through-your-teeth kind that floated around the glass corridors of Veritas Capital. She believed in results—clean numbers, sharp presentations, and clients who trusted her more than anyone else on the floor.

Which is why the very sight of Arjun Rathore across the conference table made her blood simmer.

He was already sitting there when she walked in—leaned back in his chair, one arm slung over the backrest, the very picture of smug confidence. His navy suit looked like it had been tailored to his DNA. The top button of his shirt was undone, revealing just enough collarbone to be distracting, and his hair—God, his hair—looked like it had been tousled by expensive winds.

He glanced at her with that familiar flicker of amusement in his eyes. “Morning, Mehra. Ready to lose today’s pitch battle?”

“Only if you forget how to read numbers overnight,” she shot back, sliding into the chair across from him.

Their colleagues filtered in, papers rustling, the smell of coffee thick in the air. But even as the room filled, the tension between Kavya and Arjun settled like static electricity. Everyone knew about their rivalry. They didn’t just compete; they collided. And each time, the firm benefitted—two of its brightest minds locked in an endless battle for dominance.

The meeting began. Kavya’s team had worked on the FIDEX proposal for weeks. She knew her numbers, knew her narrative, and most importantly—she knew her edge. But Arjun wasn’t one to go down quietly. He poked holes in her projections, twisted her data into new interpretations, and smirked every time he made a point that stuck.

She hated that smirk.

An hour later, the meeting ended with polite applause and backhanded compliments from the senior partners. Kavya gathered her files with controlled precision.

“Strong pitch,” Arjun said, approaching her as the room cleared out. “You almost convinced me.”

“Maybe one day you’ll learn to stop talking and start listening.”

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “But if I did that, I wouldn’t get to see you all riled up. It’s the highlight of my mornings.”

Kavya blinked. Was he flirting? No. This was Arjun. Everything he said was laced with ego and mischief. She wasn’t going to be baited.

“Careful, Rathore. One day, that charm of yours is going to fall flat, and all you’ll be left with is your overinflated sense of self.”

“And yet, you keep looking at me like you’re trying to solve a puzzle. Tell me—what do you think I’m hiding?”

She didn’t answer. She didn’t need to. Because just then, her phone buzzed with an internal memo. Her eyes flicked to the screen. Subject: Project Aurora—Lead Assignment.

She opened it and froze.

To: Kavya Mehra & Arjun Rathore.

From: Rakesh Mehra, Managing Director

Re: Joint Lead Assignment - Project Aurora

“As part of Veritas Capital’s new strategic initiative, the board has selected both of you to co-lead Project Aurora, effective immediately. Your complementary skills are expected to drive success on this critical international expansion. Details to follow.”

Kavya reread the message twice. Co-lead? With him?

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered.

Across the table, Arjun’s phone buzzed at the same time. His brow lifted as he read the memo. “Well, this just got interesting.”

She shot him a glare. “Interesting isn’t the word I’d use.”

“Come on, Mehra. You know we make a great team—when we’re not trying to kill each other.”

“I’d rather take on this project blindfolded than work with you.”

“And yet, here we are.”

He tucked his phone into his pocket and walked past her, brushing her shoulder with his as he did. Her entire body tensed. That contact—barely there, completely accidental—still left heat in its wake.

She turned, jaw tight. “Don’t get comfortable, Rathore. This doesn’t mean I trust you. I haven’t forgotten what happened during the Paragon deal.”

Arjun’s expression turned unreadable for a moment. “I didn’t sabotage you, Kavya. You just never asked for my side of the story.”

She blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. But before she could respond, he was already halfway down the hall, waving a lazy goodbye.

Kavya stared after him, the bitter taste of frustration curling on her tongue.

The past was about to repeat itself. But this time, she’d be ready.

By the time Kavya got back to her office, she was already drafting a list in her head: rules, boundaries, strategies. She couldn’t afford distractions. Not with her career, not with Arjun, and definitely not with the growing heat between them that she refused to name.

Half an hour later, her assistant poked in. “Rathore just dropped off the preliminary notes for Aurora. He said he wanted you to see his angle before the client call tomorrow.”

Kavya took the file reluctantly. Inside were graphs, timelines, risk assessments. She expected arrogance. What she didn’t expect was how meticulous it all was. He’d clearly done his research. It was annoyingly... impressive.

She scanned through the proposal, irritation and intrigue battling inside her. The worst part? His strategy aligned almost exactly with hers.

Great minds think alike, she thought. Or maybe just bitter rivals who couldn’t stop watching each other closely.

The intercom buzzed.

“Conference Room 3B in ten. Internal sync,” Arjun’s voice crackled through.

She rolled her eyes but stood anyway.

This was war. But it was going to be a hell of a battle.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***