Chapter 2: Shifting Power

The sound of her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor echoed through the grand lobby of Singhania Enterprises, but inside, Isha felt like she was moving through thick fog. Her mind replayed the scene from earlier with Aditya Malhotra—his words, his touch, his smirk. The man was a puzzle, and she hated that he was beginning to get under her skin.

It wasn't just his victory in the Kalpana Tech deal that gnawed at her. It was everything about him—his confidence, his power, the way he had turned her world upside down without even breaking a sweat. She had spent years building her reputation, but Aditya had undone all of it with a single calculated move.

And yet, there was something else. Something more insidious that was pulling at her. Something about the way he looked at her, as if he saw right through her, into a part of her that she'd kept hidden, even from herself.

No, she thought firmly, pushing those thoughts away as she entered her office. Focus on what matters. Focus on the fight.

The office was just as she had left it, the papers scattered across her desk like a battlefield. She slammed the door shut behind her and sank into the plush chair, flipping through the documents with a sense of urgency. There was no time to waste.

She needed to figure out how to counter Aditya's move, how to reclaim what was rightfully hers.

A soft knock at the door broke her concentration.

"Come in," she called, without looking up.

Anjali walked in, her face etched with concern. "Ma'am, there's an update on the Kalpana deal. It's slipping further. Raj said Malhotra's team is already in talks with their board members."

Isha's grip tightened on the papers, a familiar fury flaring inside her. "Of course they are," she muttered under her breath. "He's already a step ahead of us."

"I thought you'd want to know," Anjali continued. "Also, there's a meeting scheduled with Malhotra's team for tomorrow morning. You'll have to attend."

Isha's head shot up at the mention of the meeting. "What meeting?"

"It's a scheduled negotiation," Anjali said, pausing for a moment as if unsure whether to continue. "The thing is, it's at his office. In the Malhotra Tower."

Isha's stomach twisted at the thought of being in that place, surrounded by the power and cold efficiency of Malhotra Group. It was more than just a negotiation—it felt like a battleground. She was walking into the lion's den, and the worst part was, she had no choice.

Stay calm. You've handled worse before, she reminded herself, even as a knot formed in her gut.

"Fine," Isha said, standing up and adjusting her blazer. "I'll be there. Get everything ready."

The next morning, Isha stood in front of the mirror in her penthouse, staring at her reflection. The woman in the mirror looked calm, composed. But beneath the surface, a storm was brewing. She had never backed down from a fight, never allowed anyone to make her feel small. Not even Aditya Malhotra.

Her phone buzzed on the counter, interrupting her thoughts. She checked it quickly—a message from Raj, her lawyer.

We've hit a wall. Malhotra's terms are too steep. We need to shift our approach.

Her heart sank. The stakes were higher than ever, and Aditya had made it clear he wasn't playing by the rules. He wanted to crush her, to push her into a corner where she had no way out.

But she wasn't going to let that happen.

With a deep breath, she grabbed her things and left, determined to go to this meeting and show Aditya exactly what she was made of.

Malhotra Tower was everything she expected: sleek, imposing, and cold. The building towered over the city like a steel giant, its glass windows reflecting the gray skies outside. It felt like stepping into another world—one that wasn't ruled by rules or morals, but by power.

Isha walked through the marble lobby, her heels clicking with authority, every inch the businesswoman she was. She wasn't here to play nice. She was here to fight for her company, to take back control.

When she reached the elevator, she could already feel the tension in the air. The people around her seemed to part in acknowledgment, aware of the battle that was about to unfold between her and the Malhotras. She took a deep breath as the elevator doors slid open, revealing the sleek, modern interior.

Aditya Malhotra's office was on the top floor, and as the elevator ascended, Isha couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation pressing down on her. Every floor brought her closer to him. Every floor felt like one more step toward the unknown.

When the elevator finally dinged, she stepped out into a pristine, open-concept floor—an office that felt both grand and sterile, like a throne room for someone who ruled with cold precision.

She wasn't surprised to see that Aditya was already there, waiting for her. He stood near the large floor-to-ceiling windows, his back to her as he looked out at the city below, the skyline stretching endlessly into the distance.

"Ms. Singhania," he said, without turning around. "I'm glad you could make it."

Isha's jaw tightened at his calm, almost smug tone. She wasn't here to play games. "Let's get this over with," she said, her voice steady, though her heart raced with anticipation.

Aditya turned to face her, his piercing gaze sweeping over her as if he were appraising her, measuring her worth. For a brief moment, she felt a flicker of discomfort, but she quickly pushed it down. He couldn't see her as anything other than a rival, and that's exactly how she planned to keep it.

"We're going to have a lot to discuss," he said, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "But first, why don't you sit down? I think we should start with the basics."

Isha didn't move. "The basics? Is this your idea of negotiation?"

"No," he replied, stepping closer to her, his eyes never leaving hers. "This is my idea of putting you in your place."

His words hit her like a punch to the gut, but she refused to let him see it. She was not weak. She was not afraid.

"I don't take kindly to threats, Aditya," she said, her voice low but unwavering.

He raised an eyebrow, as if amused. "Who said anything about threats?" His voice dropped, becoming softer, more intimate. "I'm simply telling you how it's going to be. This is a game of power, and you've just entered my territory."

She felt it then—the dangerous, suffocating tension between them, thickening the air with every word he spoke. And yet, there was something else, something she couldn't deny. Attraction.

No, she shook the thought away, focusing on the matter at hand. She had to stay sharp, stay focused.

"I'm not here to lose, Aditya," she said, taking a step forward, closing the gap between them. "And I'm certainly not going to let you push me around."

His smirk widened. "We'll see about that, Isha. But just remember—there's only one person who's going to come out on top in this deal. And it's not going to be you."

Before she could respond, the door to the conference room opened, and a team of Malhotra's lawyers and executives walked in. The tension between them was palpable, the silent challenge hanging in the air.

Isha didn't flinch. She was here for the fight.

The game was on.