Aman's pov:

I leaned back in my office chair, my fingers drumming rhythmically on the desk as I reviewed the latest reports. Numbers and figures blurred together, but my mind was elsewhere—specifically, on a plan I had put in motion earlier that morning. My lips curled into a subtle, satisfied smile.

I had called Riya before heading to the office. She'd answered on the third ring, her voice groggy but curious.

"Morning, Aman. What do you want this early?" she mumbled.

"I need you to do something for me," I said, cutting straight to the point. "Remember those designs Anshika's company is planning to release next quarter? I need you to make some... tweaks."

Riya's interest piqued immediately, and I could almost see the mischievous glint in her eyes over the phone. "Tweaks, huh? This sounds intriguing. What's your angle?"

"Nothing serious," I replied, keeping my tone casual. "Just a few subtle changes. Enough to cause a little... confusion. Think of it as a tiny hiccup in her otherwise perfect world. You're good at that, aren't you?"

She let out a soft laugh, the kind that signalled she was on board. "I knew there was a reason I liked helping you out. Consider it done."

And now, as I sat in my office, I knew Riya would have already put the wheels in motion. I didn't want to cause any real damage, just enough to ruffle Anshika's feathers a little. It was a strategic move, part of a bigger game we were playing. Anshika was brilliant, and she was a formidable competitor, but sometimes she needed to be reminded that I could play just as hard, if not harder.

Next day...

The morning had barely begun, and I was already feeling that familiar rush of excitement—the kind that came with executing a well-laid plan. I leaned back in my office chair, sipping my coffee, as I thought about what was happening at Anshika's company right now. The idea had been simple, but effective—get Riya to make a few strategic changes that would cause a little chaos in Anshika's camp.

It wasn't sabotage, not exactly. Just a nudge to see how she handled a crisis. After all, business was about adaptability, and I wanted to test just how flexible Anshika could be. Plus, watching her get riled up was always entertaining.

The phone on my desk buzzed, and I glanced at the screen to see a message from Riya.

"Good morning, big bro! I did what you asked. The designs are... let's say, slightly different now. 😏 Anshika should notice soon!"

I smirked at the message, feeling a mix of anticipation and curiosity. I had given Riya a few pointers, but she was the one who'd run with the idea and made the alterations. She was sweet and lovely to Anshika, which made her involvement all the more interesting. No one would suspect her of stirring up trouble—not even Anshika.

Riya was always up for a little mischief, especially when it came to me. And I knew she'd had fun with this little assignment.

I typed back a quick response. "Nice work, Ri. Let me know if you hear anything. And don't be too nice—keep her on her toes."

I could almost imagine Riya rolling her eyes playfully as she read the message. She liked Anshika, and I knew she'd make sure to keep things under control. But for now, it was all about seeing how Anshika handled this little bump in her perfect plans.

A few hours later, I was in the middle of a strategy meeting with Kabir when my phone buzzed again. It was Riya, sending a quick update.

"Anshika is at the office now. She looks confused, and she's trying to figure out what happened. 🤭"

I couldn't help but grin. I could picture Anshika's expression—sharp, focused, maybe a little annoyed. She was a perfectionist, and nothing bothered her more than unexpected disruptions.

"Why do you look so smug?" Kabir asked, raising an eyebrow as he caught sight of my expression.

"Just watching a plan come together," I replied, a hint of amusement in my tone.

Kabir's eyes lit up with interest. "Oh? Does this have anything to do with a certain someone whose name starts with 'A' and ends with 'til'?"

"Maybe," I said, not bothering to hide my grin. "Let's just say she's dealing with a little situation right now. I'm curious to see how she handles it."

Kabir chuckled, shaking his head. "You really can't resist, can you? I hope you know what you're doing."

"I always do," I replied confidently, leaning back in my chair.

But even as I said it, a part of me wondered if I'd gone too far. Anshika was smart, and she wouldn't take kindly to being caught off guard. If she figured out what was going on, she'd probably come after me with everything she had.

And for some reason, the thought didn't bother me. It excited me.

It wasn't until later that afternoon that I got another message from Riya. This time, there was a bit more urgency in her tone.

"Okay, so... Anshika is handling it, but she looks really mad. Like, seriously. I didn't expect her to react this way. What did you do, Aman?"

I frowned, suddenly feeling a bit uneasy. I hadn't intended to cause serious problems—just a bit of chaos to shake things up. But if Anshika was really upset...

I picked up my phone and dialled Riya's number. She answered on the first ring.

"Aman, I don't know what you were thinking, but Anshika is in full-on boss mode right now," Riya said, sounding half-amused and half-concerned. "She's trying to sort everything out, but I think she's going to want answers. Maybe from you."

"Well, that was the point," I said, though my confidence wavered just a little. "I wanted to see how she'd handle a curveball."

"Yeah, well, consider it delivered," Riya replied. "But if she asks, I'm playing innocent. I'm not getting in the middle of your little games."

"Don't worry, I won't let you take the fall," I assured her. "Just keep an eye on her and let me know if anything else happens."

"Fine," Riya said, sighing. "But seriously, Aman... be careful. Anshika isn't someone you want to mess with."

I ended the call, feeling a flicker of uncertainty. Maybe Riya was right, and I'd pushed too hard this time. But I couldn't back down now. I'd set this plan in motion, and I had to see it through.

Besides, if there was one thing I knew for sure, it was that Anshika Antil didn't back down from a challenge. If she thought I was trying to test her, she'd come right back at me, fiercer than ever.

And maybe that's exactly what I wanted.

A part of me felt a little guilty. Anshika wasn't just a rival; she was... well, something else. But then again, this was business. And in business, sometimes you had to play dirty.

Around lunchtime, Kabir walked into my office, his expression a mix of curiosity and amusement. "You've been grinning like a Cheshire cat all morning. Care to share?"

"Just a little project I've been working on," I said, feigning nonchalance.

Kabir raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Oh? Does this 'project' happen to involve a certain fashion mogul who you can't seem to stop talking about?"

I shot him a look, but it lacked any real heat. "She's been getting a little too comfortable lately. I thought I'd remind her that she's not the only one with tricks up her sleeve."

Kabir shook his head, but there was a smirk playing on his lips. "You know, for someone who claims not to care, you sure spend a lot of time thinking about her."

I didn't respond, but the truth of his words hit a little too close to home. Maybe I did think about Anshika more than I cared to admit. But that was beside the point. This wasn't about her; it was about maintaining an edge.

After Kabir left, I found myself pacing my office, restless and waiting. I could've checked social media or news feeds to see if there were any whispers about what was happening at Anshika's company, but I didn't. I wanted to hear it from her, to see the look on her face when she realised that I had been behind it all along.

My phone buzzed again, this time with an email notification. It was from Riya, and the subject line simply read: "Update."

I clicked it open, my eyes scanning the message.

"Ran into some issues at Anshika's company. The designs got switched out, and there's a lot of confusion. People are pissed, and she's trying to sort it all out. Looks like your little plan worked."

I let out a slow breath, feeling a rush of adrenaline. The plan had been risky, but it had paid off. Now the only question was how Anshika would respond. Would she retaliate? Or would she take it on the chin and keep moving forward?

I didn't have to wait long to find out. My phone rang, and her name flashed across the screen. I picked up, trying to keep my voice calm and neutral.

"Hello?"

"Don't play coy, Aman," Anshika's voice was sharp, cutting through the line like a blade. "I know this was you."

I leaned back in my chair, letting her accusation hang in the air for a moment. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Save it. I don't know how you did it, but I'll find out," she hissed. "And when I do, you'll wish you'd never started this."

Her tone was furious, but there was something else there too—determination. She wasn't just angry; she was ready to fight back.

"I look forward to it," I replied smoothly. "And Anshika? Next time, be a little more careful. You never know who might be watching."

I ended the call before she could respond, my heart racing. I had provoked her, and she had taken the bait. This wasn't over—not by a long shot. And for some reason, that thought thrilled me.