Aarohi barely slept that night. Her mind kept racing, replaying the events over and over — the cold, indifferent way Rohit had spoken, the way he had controlled every moment of their encounter. She could still feel the weight of the pen in her hand, the sensation of her signature sealing her fate.
When the sun finally rose, Aarohi knew she couldn't waste any more time. Her family needed her. But even as she dressed in her usual professional attire, a part of her wondered if she was walking into a trap. And if so, how long it would take for her to escape.
By the time she reached Nair Corporation, the feeling of dread had settled deep into her chest. The glass doors parted with a soft hiss as she stepped inside, greeted by the cold, polished beauty of the building. Everything here screamed power. It was like a machine designed to make people bend to its will.
"Ms. Malhotra," a voice interrupted her thoughts, and she turned to see Amit, Rohit's assistant, standing a few steps away with a faint, polite smile on his face. "Mr. Nair is expecting you."
Her stomach twisted. She didn't need to be told where to go — she knew it was time to face him again. Amit led her through the sleek hallways to a private elevator. It was as if the building had been designed to remind everyone who worked there that they were mere ants in the shadow of a giant.
The doors of the elevator opened, and she stepped out into the same luxurious office she had seen yesterday. But this time, the mood was different. Rohit wasn't sitting behind his desk waiting for her. Instead, he stood by the large windows, staring out over the city. He looked like a man who had everything in the world and still found it lacking.
"Ms. Malhotra," he said without turning around. "I hope you slept well. We have much to discuss."
She walked in slowly, eyes flicking around the room. The overwhelming smell of expensive cologne mixed with the scent of fresh coffee. A small part of her wanted to walk out. But another part of her knew she couldn't. Not yet. Not when everything was on the line.
Rohit finally turned to face her, his dark eyes locking with hers. "Do you know what's at stake, Aarohi?" he asked, his voice calm, controlled. But underneath, she could hear the power that lay beneath every word. "I didn't sign you on for your expertise alone. I signed you on because I know how strong you are. I need someone who can keep up with me. And right now, you're failing that test."
Aarohi narrowed her eyes. "I'm here to help your project. That's it."
His lips curled into a faint smile. "Is that all you think this is about? Helping my project?" He took a step closer to her, his presence overwhelming. "You see, I don't just need you to work. I need you to trust me. I need you to submit."
Her breath caught. He could see it. The way his words triggered something inside her, something she didn't want to acknowledge. Something dangerous.
"I'll do what needs to be done," Aarohi said, taking a step back to put some distance between them. "But I won't submit to you."
Rohit's smile deepened, but there was no warmth in it. Just cold, calculating amusement. "We'll see, won't we?"
He gestured for her to follow him as he turned back to his desk, picking up a few documents from the top of a pile. "I have a task for you. A test. I want you to prove that you're more than just a pretty face and an ambitious woman."
Aarohi crossed her arms over her chest. "I didn't come here to be a pawn in your game."
Rohit raised an eyebrow. "You're already a pawn. You just don't know it yet."
He turned to face her fully now, eyes intense. "I'm giving you one chance. You'll be working with me on something bigger than you've ever imagined. But in return, you need to learn what it means to be truly powerful, Aarohi. You need to learn how to control the game. And that means you have to play by my rules."
Aarohi's pulse quickened. She wasn't sure whether it was anger or fear, but her chest tightened. She had thought she knew what she was walking into, but the reality was much darker. Much more dangerous. Rohit was no ordinary man. He wasn't asking her to help him. He was asking her to give in.
And as she looked at him — really looked at him for the first time — she realized something: Rohit wasn't just powerful. He was an enigma. A man who had control over everything and everyone around him. And somehow, she had fallen into his web. The question now was, how long would it take for her to escape?
The day dragged on for Aarohi Malhotra as she tried to focus on the task at hand. But every time she tried to push the thoughts of Rohit Nair out of her mind, they came rushing back. His eyes, dark and unyielding, seemed to haunt her. His words, his promises, the way he'd claimed her life as his own — they all weighed on her shoulders like an invisible chain.
She had expected this. The power games. The dominance. What she hadn't expected, though, was the way it made her feel. The intensity of his presence, the way he made her question her own strength. It unsettled her in a way she couldn't quite explain. She was used to being in control of her life, but with him, she felt like she was losing her grip.
By the time she arrived at Nair Corporation the next morning, she was already mentally exhausted. She had to focus, she told herself. Her family was depending on her, and she couldn't afford to let emotions cloud her judgment. But as the elevator doors opened and she stepped into the high-rise building, the air seemed heavier, more oppressive than before. The atmosphere was always tense here — like a powder keg waiting to explode.
Amit, Rohit's assistant, was already waiting for her in the lobby. "Good morning, Ms. Malhotra," he greeted, his tone polite but distant. He seemed to always be the same — calm, composed, and always carrying out his duties with a sense of purpose.
"Morning, Amit," Aarohi replied, her voice a little more strained than she intended. "Where is Mr. Nair?"
Amit's expression remained neutral. "He's expecting you. Please follow me."
The walk to Rohit's office felt longer today. Every step seemed to echo in the cavernous hallways, amplifying her nerves. And when they reached the door to his office, Aarohi felt her heart race. She didn't know what he wanted from her this time, but she had a feeling it wouldn't be easy.
She stepped inside, and there he was — Rohit Nair, leaning against the large window, staring out over the city. As always, he exuded power and control, his every move deliberate, calculated.
"Ms. Malhotra," he greeted without turning around. His voice was low, the kind of voice that could command the room without effort.
Aarohi's heart skipped a beat. "You wanted to see me?"
Rohit finally turned to face her, and the predatory look in his eyes sent a chill down her spine. "Yes. I've decided to give you a test," he said, his voice dripping with authority. "A task that will require you to prove you're more than just someone who knows how to negotiate. I need to know if you have the strength to play this game."
Aarohi frowned. "What do you mean?"
He pushed off from the window and walked over to his desk, where a thick file was waiting for her. "This," he said, "is an important project I'm working on. A high-stakes venture that could make or break everything. I need you to help me finalize the details. There's a partner I need to convince, but they're not exactly easy to deal with. I want you to go and handle it."
Aarohi looked at the file. "And what exactly do you want me to do?"
Rohit smiled — that cold, calculated smile that made her stomach tighten. "Convince him, however you see fit. Persuade him to agree to the deal. The way you handle this will show me if you're capable of what I need."
Aarohi didn't like the way he phrased it. "You want me to convince someone… by any means necessary?"
His smile deepened. "Exactly."
She didn't know why, but a cold shiver ran down her spine. There was something about the way he spoke that made her uneasy. The fact that he was asking her to use any means possible felt… wrong. But she couldn't back down. Not now. Not when everything was on the line.
"I'll do it," she said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her.
Rohit's expression turned serious. "Good. But remember, failure is not an option. If you fail, there will be consequences."
Aarohi met his gaze, her resolve hardening. "I don't fail."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her confidence. "We'll see. We'll see how far you'll go to get what you want."
His words lingered in the air, the weight of them pressing down on her. As she turned to leave, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something far more complicated. Rohit was playing a game, and she was the pawn. But she wasn't about to let him win without a fight.
Continue.....