The Obsession begins

The sound of polished leather shoes echoes across the marble floors of Rathore Empires, one of India’s most powerful corporate empires. Security bows silently as Aaryan Veer Rathore enters — tall, sharply dressed, and utterly untouchable.

His expression remains cold as he walks through the hallway, flanked by his right-hand man, Kabir Malhotra. There’s a quiet violence in his steps — the kind that only men raised by both royalty and war carry. In his world, mercy is weakness. His empire, second only to one competitor, is an obsession he can’t let go of.

Aaryan's eyes flick toward a young employee walking past — delicate, dressed in ivory, head bowed, carrying files. Meher Arora. He notices her only for a moment. Something about her is... unnervingly quiet. But he moves on.

In her cubicle, Meher keeps her gaze low, fingers typing without looking. Her presence is invisible, by design. But beneath that soft expression is the mind of a strategist. Because unknown to anyone here, she is not a junior analyst.She owns more of this city than Aaryan Veer Rathore does.

The youngest hidden CEO in the world, ranked #1 on the global business charts — Meher S. Arora. She has another name. Another office. Another empire. But here, she blends like a whisper in silk.

And her eyes? Always on him.

Every detail of his schedule, his moods, his voice patterns — she knows them. She studies him. Watches the way he speaks only when necessary. Watches the flick of his wrist when he signs contracts. Watches the way women crave his gaze and never receive it.

She’s watched for thirteen months, nine days, and seven hours.

And he hasn’t truly seen her. Yet.

That night, Meher walks home with Zara — her roommate and only friend who knows the truth.

“He noticed you,” Zara says while unlocking the door.

“He always does,” Meher replies calmly, slipping off her heels. “He just doesn’t understand why.”

Zara scoffs, tossing her bag. “You’re running half the country and playing mouse in his office.”

“I’m not playing mouse,” Meher says. “I’m studying the predator.”

Zara pauses. “You're obsessed.”

Meher’s voice softens to a whisper. “He’s not the only predator in this story, Zara. I just hide it better.”

Back at Aaryan’s estate, he reviews documents by the fireplace, but his mind drifts — to her. That girl with the soft voice and calm face. Too perfect. Too quiet.

He remembers when she dropped a file a few days ago. Instead of panicking, she had apologized without blinking, and even then — smiled. As if she had meant to do it.

He doesn’t like not knowing things.

“Background on Meher Arora?” he asks.

Kabir replies the next morning, handing over a file. “Average background. Degree from a small private college. Works here a year now. Parents retired. Clean.”

“Too clean,” Aaryan says under his breath.

In the following days, things shift subtly.

Meher gets assigned to work directly under Aaryan on a new investor project. It isn’t random — she orchestrated the transfer silently, moving people like chess pieces.

-TBC-

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