The next morning, Anika didn't sleep.
She replayed the humiliation again and again.
The mocking clap.
The subtle insults.
The investors pulling back.
Her phone buzzed at 9:12 AM.
It was Mr. Sethi — the primary investor she was pitching to.
Her heart leapt.
"Good news?" she answered quickly.
Silence.
Then a sigh.
"Ms. Kapoor… I'm afraid we won't be moving forward."
Her grip tightened.
"What? But yesterday you said—"
"There's been a change in ownership."
Her stomach dropped.
"What do you mean?"
"The company has been acquired early this morning."
Acquired?
"By whom?"
A pause.
"Mr. Arman Khurana."
The world went silent.
The line felt heavy in her hand.
"He what?"
"The deal closed at 7 AM. We no longer have authority to invest in independent proposals. I'm sorry."
The call ended.
Anika stared at the blank screen.
He didn't just question her.
He erased her opportunity.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
This wasn't business.
This was revenge.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Khurana Group Headquarters
Top Floor
Floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooked the city.
Arman stood with a cup of black coffee, expression calm.
His assistant spoke behind him.
"The acquisition is complete, sir. The board has transferred control."
"Good."
"And… Ms. Anika Kapoor has been informed."
A small pause.
For a second — just a second — something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
"Send her an appointment."
"Sir?"
"Offer her a meeting."
His assistant hesitated. "Should we blacklist her firm instead?"
Arman's voice turned dangerously smooth.
"No."
He set the coffee down.
"I want her in my office."
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Two hours later.
Anika stormed into Khurana Group's lobby.
Glass walls. Polished floors. Security scanning her like she was insignificant.
But she didn't feel small.
She felt furious.
She was escorted to the top floor.
The doors opened.
Arman Khurana sat behind a massive mahogany desk.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Like he hadn't just destroyed months of her hard work.
She didn't sit.
"You bought the company."
"Yes."
"Why?"
He leaned back slightly.
"Because I could."
Her nails dug into her palm.
"You ruined my deal."
"No," he corrected calmly.
"I redirected it."
Her laugh was sharp.
"This is pathetic."
His eyes darkened.
"You embarrassed me publicly."
"You attacked my work publicly."
Silence.
Tension thick enough to cut.
"You wanted an apology?" she said bitterly.
"Congratulations. You've punished me. Happy?"
Arman stood up slowly.
He walked around the desk.
Closer.
Closer.
Until only inches separated them.
"You think this is punishment?" he asked softly.
Her breath hitched — but she refused to step back.
"Then what is it?"
His voice dropped.
"A proposal."
She frowned.
"What?"
"I've acquired that company. Which means I now control the project."
Her heart pounded.
"And?"
"And I want you to design it."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"You must be joking."
"You'll work under my supervision," he continued smoothly.
"A six-month contract."
Her jaw clenched.
"You destroy my opportunity… and then offer me a job?"
"It's not a job."
He leaned closer.
"It's a challenge."
Her pulse betrayed her.
"I don't work for arrogant men."
His gaze held hers intensely.
"You don't have investors anymore."
Silence.
He had cornered her.
Strategically.
Perfectly.
"And if I refuse?" she asked quietly.
His lips curved faintly.
"Then your firm collapses."
There it was.
Power.
Control.
War.
Anika swallowed her pride.
But her eyes burned with fire.
"You think you've won."
Arman's expression didn't change.
"I always win."
She stepped back slightly.
"Six months," she said coldly.
"And after that, I walk away."
He extended his hand.
"Deal."
She stared at it.
Then placed her hand in his.
The contact was brief.
Electric.
Dangerous.
Neither of them realized—
They hadn't just signed a contract.
They had signed the beginning of their downfall