CHAPTER 1
AARAV
"He wants to play with fire?" I chuckle, humorless and sharp. “Fine,” I murmur, more to myself than to her. “I’ll burn him.”
Ms. Hinal sits across from me, slumped like a broken doll. Her mascara streaks down her cheeks in thick lines. And the soft, wet sound of her sobs fills the silence between us. But I feel nothing. Not even pity. She doesn't even deserve that.
“There’s no point in crying now,” I announce, rising from my chair. My voice is calm—too calm, almost deadly.
I walk around the desk and stop just beside her. The cold air surrounds us. She stiffens under my scrutinizing gaze. I lean in, close enough for her to feel the chill in my voice as I whisper, “You opened your legs to a thief. That makes you one too.”
She jerks back slightly, fear shining in her eyes. She begins to reason out. "Sir, I—" I raise my hand, stopping her from speaking further. There's no point in arguing with me now.
“You’re fired.” My voice cuts through the thick silence—icy and sharp, as I straighten up.
“Sir—no!” she gasps, voice cracking. I ignore her, already turning back toward my seat.
“Please,” she stammers again. Instead of pity, irritation fills me as she begs for the job.
I shake my voice and stand in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. The dark night basks over the city. Skyscrapers pierce the darkness. The light from them scatters around like a constellation.
I adjust the cuffs of my shirt and glance at her over my shoulder. “There’s no room for sympathy when it comes to betrayal. You knew the rules.”
But it’s not just about rules. It’s about trust. Loyalty. And stupidity. She stares at me, stunned. Her lips part like she wants to argue, but the words never come. She looks like she’s finally realized what she’s done. What it cost her.
“You can’t just fire me,” she manages to whisper, shaking her head. “You—”
“Oh?” I arch a brow as I turn around and walk to my desk. The silver surface shines under the bright light of the room.
“And why not?”
“If I stoop to your level,” I say slowly, “I’ll make sure you never work again, Hinal.” I lean forward, elbows on the desk, and sigh. Threat laces my voice, sharp and cold.
“It’d be better if you left now. While I’m still being... kind.”
Her face drains of color. She stands quickly, almost knocking the chair over, and rushes out the door without another word.
Good. At least she had enough brains to recognize mercy when she saw it. But I’m not really thinking about her anymore.
It’s him. Vikram fucking Khanna.
She slept with him. Normally, I wouldn’t give a damn about my employees’ personal lives. Who they sleep with is none of my business. But this—this is different. Her ignorance cost me a 200-crore deal.
Anger surges in me as I remember her stupidity.
That bastard used her. Manipulated her. He knew she was my secretary, that she had access to sensitive information and he played his cards well.
He seduced her, planted himself in the perfect spot to steal what he needed, and she handed it over on a silver fucking platter.
Now he’s sitting somewhere, smug, thinking he’s outplayed me. Again. But this time... he won’t walk away. This time, I won’t let him.
A sharp knock snaps me out of my thoughts.
I look up as Samarth walks in. My old friend, the only man I’d ever trust with both my back and my secrets. Well, apart from my family, of course.
“You called?” he says casually, taking a seat across from me.
I nod and exhale heavily, my patience running thin.
He sits, one leg crossed over the other, like we’re discussing vacation plans and not the dismantling of a man’s life.
“Let me guess,” he bemuses, a strategic glint lingering in his eyes. “We’re finally going to ruin him?”
I chuckle, a dry sound reverberating through the almost empty room. “Fulfilling your wish.”
He’s been pushing this for a year now. Telling me to go after Vikram. That enough was enough. But I’ve always waited. Calculated. I’m a patient man. But patience runs out eventually.
“Fucking finally,” he smirks. “Took you long enough.”
This isn’t just about a stolen deal. It’s not even just about Hinal’s betrayal. This is about a history that goes far deeper than corporate games.
Back in college, he was the golden boy. The center of attention. Everyone adored him or feared him. I was the quiet one. The kid no one noticed. Or worse, the one they mocked. He made sure of that.
But I didn’t fight back. Not then. Because life at home was already hell, and I didn’t have the energy to battle both. My father's illness. My mother’s silence.
The endless nights of feeling like a ghost in my own house and what Vikram did was just noise compared to that. But we’re not kids anymore.
This isn’t his playground. And I’m not the same boy.
“I want him to feel it,” a whisper escapes me, my voice low. “I want him to lose everything he’s built. I want him to remember my name when he's begging people for mercy.”
Samarth leans forward, his expression serious now. “Already started digging. There’s dirt. A lot of it. He’s been playing dirty for a long time. No one’s ever called him out on it.”
“They will now.” My voice comes like a command, heavy and raw.
I run a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. My jaw clenches, and I let the fury settle deep in my chest. It’s cold now. Controlled. “When we’re done, he won’t be able to crawl his way back up.”
Samarth nods. “I’ll get the team ready.”
“No,” my voice booms across the walls. “We’ll go to him. Personally.” My jaw clenches as cold rage consumes me. He will beg me for mercy.
His brows lift, unsure of my decision. “You sure?”
I button my blazer, straightening to my full height. “Get the chauffeur. Tell him we leave at ten.”
He doesn’t argue, just gives me a nod before disappearing. And I’m left standing in my office, looking out the glass wall into the city below.
Vikram Khanna lit the fire. But I’m the one who’ll burn the whole damn forest down.