Kapoor Industries was finally stabilizing after Anaya took charge. The board had grudgingly accepted her leadership, and investors were slowly regaining confidence.
But power was a dangerous thing. Someone always wanted to take it away.
Anaya sat in her office, scanning the latest financial reports. Everything seemed in order, but something felt off.
Her instincts were never wrong.
The phone on her desk buzzed. It was her CFO, Sameer Khanna.
"Anaya, we have a problem," Sameer's voice was tight, urgent.
Anaya's grip on the receiver tightened. "What is it?"
Sameer hesitated. Then, he dropped the bombshell.
"The Enforcement Directorate has launched an investigation into Kapoor Industries for money laundering."
Anaya went still. "That's impossible."
"I thought so too," Sameer said grimly. "But the documents say otherwise. Offshore accounts linked to Kapoor Industries. Large sums transferred through shell companies."
Anaya's mind raced. She had never authorized anything like this.
Someone was framing her.
The Breaking News
By afternoon, the media had latched onto the scandal.
"BREAKING: Kapoor Industries Under Investigation for Money Laundering!"
"Shocking Allegations Against Anaya Kapoor – Is She the Mastermind?"
Journalists swarmed outside Kapoor Towers. Employees whispered in the hallways. The boardroom was in chaos.
And at the heart of it all—Anaya stood alone.
She faced the board, their expressions ranging from concern to barely concealed hostility.
Vikram Sethi was the first to speak.
"You brought this on yourself, Anaya," he said smoothly, feigning disappointment. "Maybe you weren't ready for this position after all."
Anaya met his gaze with ice-cold fury. She knew exactly what he was trying to do.
But before she could respond, another voice cut through the room.
"This is an attack."
Everyone turned.
Aryan stood at the doorway, his presence commanding, his eyes locked on Anaya.
He walked in, slipping effortlessly into place beside her.
"If Anaya was truly behind this, do you think she would have been careless enough to leave such obvious trails?" His voice was calm, but there was an underlying threat.
Vikram smirked. "So you're protecting her now?"
Aryan's lips curled into a dangerous smile. "I always have."
---
Across the city, Avni sat in a private lounge, a glass of wine in her hand. She watched the news coverage, a twisted smile playing on her lips.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
She turned. The mysterious figure who had approached her that night in the bar sat across from her, their expression unreadable.
"You said you wanted Anaya to suffer," the voice continued. "Now, she will."
Avni's heart pounded. She knew she was being used. But she didn't care.
As long as Anaya fell.
As long as revenge tasted this sweet.
---