“I own my reasons.”

Their first real one-on-one meeting is quiet. Clinical. She speaks only when needed, takes notes by hand, listens like she’s being hypnotized.

But every word he says — she stores.

He begins to notice how she never flinches around him. Never fumbles. Never tries to impress. And for a man used to power games and fragile egos — it unsettles him.

Late one evening, after most of the office is empty, Meher enters the executive floor to deliver a document. Aaryan is alone, leaning against the bar with a glass of whisky in hand. The city glows behind him — a kingdom he rules with iron.

He doesn’t turn when she walks in.

“You work late,” he says quietly.

“So do you,” she replies, placing the file on the table.

“I own this place.”

“I own my reasons.”

He turns, finally facing her — curious now. She doesn’t meet his eyes. Not completely. Just enough to tease.

“Where did you learn to stay this calm?” he asks.

Meher shrugs softly. “Some people were born into storms. Calm is just a mask.”

He doesn’t answer. Just stares at her for a moment too long.

The next day, Kabir notices it too.

“She’s different,” he tells Aaryan in the elevator. “Not scared. Not impressed. Too consistent.”

Aaryan doesn’t respond. But later that day, he assigns Kabir to track her background deeper — real-time surveillance.

Meanwhile, Zara meets Kabir at a charity event hosted by Rathore Empires. She’s wearing a black gown, sipping champagne, and laughing too loudly. He watches her from across the room — uninterested at first. But when she challenges him during a Q&A session with brutal honesty, his amusement begins.Their banter is sharp, hostile — but under it, something pulls. Neither admit it.

But Zara tells Meher later, “That man’s eyes are made of locked doors. I want to know what’s inside.”

Meher only smiles. “You like him.”

Zara: “And you still call yourself not in love with your boss?”

Meher’s eyes turn serious. “I’m not in love. I’m in control. Love is for people who can afford to lose.”

Later that night, in her real office — hidden from the world — Meher receives an alert.

“Rathore Empires surveillance confirmed. They’re looking into you.”

She smiles, closing the laptop slowly.

“Finally,” she whispers. “He’s noticing me.”

In her mind, the game has just started.

But what neither of them know is this:

They aren’t just obsessed with each other.

They’re about to destroy every piece of power that stands between them — until all that’s left is one crown.

-TBC-

 MAIN CHARACTERS (Updated):

🔥 Aaryan Veer Rathore – 32

CEO of Rathore Empires (Rank #2)

Royal Mafia King, dark-hearted, possessive

Doesn’t tolerate disloyalty, doesn’t believe in love

But his life is about to be ruined beautifully

🌸 Meher Arora – 26

Innocent junior analyst at Rathore Empires

Secretly the #1 CEO of M.S. Global Holdings

Silent observer, secretly obsessed with Aaryan

Her smile hides her empire

💃 Zara Shaikh – 26

Meher’s bold best friend and roommate

Sarcastic, fiery, and loyal

Secretly starts falling for Aaryan’s right-hand man

Only person who knows Meher’s true identity

🕶️ Kabir Malhotra – 34

Aaryan’s right-hand man

Calm, ex-military, suspicious of Meher

Deadly with weapons, quiet with emotions

Has a painful past, but slowly falls for Zara

👑 Maharani Devyani Rathore

Aaryan’s mother, Queen of Rathore estate

Elegant, traditional, strict about royal bloodline

Wants Aaryan to marry a royal girl

💼 Rajeev Arora

Meher’s father – a sweet, retired professor

Doesn’t know his daughter owns half the business world

Hey,

I hope you Like my novel and give positive feedback.

It's a short story with twisted ML and FL.

Give lots of love guzzs

Soon I will finish this novel.

See you soon Honeybuns...

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