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The office was buzzing with activity as the team worked late into the night, finalizing the new collection. The atmosphere had shifted, the tension palpable but accompanied by a strange sense of excitement. There was no time for weakness or second-guessing. The game was on, and I was determined to play it on my terms.

Nandini had left earlier that evening after giving me one last reassuring smile. She knew I needed time to focus, and she was giving me space to do just that. But I could feel her presence even in her absence. Her unwavering support was my anchor, the one thing that kept me grounded as the storm of betrayal brewed just beyond the horizon.

The clock on my desk ticked steadily, each second pulling me closer to the day when Cabir's game would be exposed for what it was. The irony wasn't lost on me. Cabir, my own flesh and blood, had turned his back on me. But in the end, it wasn't about family-it was about business. And in business, there were no favors, no exceptions. Just cold, hard competition.

I leaned back in my chair, staring out of my office window, the city lights twinkling like distant stars. Everything seemed so far away, almost surreal. How had things come to this? I'd built this empire from the ground up, and now someone who should have been my ally was trying to tear it all down.

I couldn't afford to let this distraction take me off course. Not when I had worked so damn hard to get here. Malhotra Enterprises was my life, and Cabir's petty vendetta wasn't going to ruin it.

My phone buzzed on the desk, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was Karan.

**"Boss, we've just received intel. Cabir's next move is underway. He's already set up a meeting with our biggest competitor."**

I clenched my jaw. **"He's moving fast. I want a full report on everything. Locations, timing, who's involved-everything."**

Karan didn't waste any time responding. **"I'm on it."**

I stood up, pacing the length of the office, my mind racing. Cabir thought he could outsmart me, but he had underestimated one thing: my ability to adapt. I'd been in this game long enough to know how to play it. And now, it was time to show him why you never, ever underestimate Manik Malhotra.

I heard footsteps approaching, and my thoughts shifted. I didn't need to look up to know who it was.

Nandini.

She stood in the doorway, her presence filling the room with warmth and calm. Her eyes locked with mine, and I could see the concern etched on her face. She didn't have to say a word; I could feel her asking, *"Are you okay?"*

I nodded, offering a faint smile. "I'm good."

She didn't buy it for a second. Walking over, she stood by my side and placed a gentle hand on my arm. "I know it's hard, but you're not alone in this. Whatever happens, we'll face it together."

Her words, simple yet powerful, were the reassurance I needed. She was right. I wasn't alone. I had her, and I had the strength to see this through.

Taking a deep breath, I turned back to the window, my gaze narrowing. **"I know he thinks he's already won. But he's wrong. The game's just getting started."**

Nandini stepped closer, wrapping her arms around me, her warmth seeping into my very soul. I closed my eyes for a moment, allowing myself to savor the peace she brought. I didn't need to say anything. She knew me better than anyone.

The sound of my phone ringing broke the silence, and I immediately answered without checking the ID.

**"Manik, we've got a problem,"** Karan's voice crackled through the line.

**"What now?"** I asked, my tone sharp.

**"Cabir's move is bigger than we thought. He's involved more than just a few competitors. It's a whole network, and they've already begun to leak our designs."**

My pulse quickened, but I remained composed. **"Where's the leak?"**

**"We're tracing it now, but it's already been distributed to some buyers. It's going to hit the market soon, and if we don't act fast, it could ruin our release."**

Damn it. This wasn't just a sabotage-it was a calculated, malicious attack meant to destroy everything I had worked for. But there was one thing Cabir didn't realize: I never backed down from a fight.

**"Shut it down. Block every possible route. Get our lawyers involved. I want every penny of damages. This isn't just about the collection anymore; this is war."**

Karan hesitated for a moment. **"Got it, Boss. We'll handle it."**

I hung up the phone, my mind already racing through the next steps. It was time to play dirty. If Cabir wanted to make this personal, then I would show him just how ruthless I could be.

Turning to Nandini, I saw the concern still lingering in her eyes. But there was something else too. Something I couldn't ignore.

**"I'll fix this,"** I said, my voice low but filled with resolve.

Nandini didn't respond immediately. She simply nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. I could feel her support, even in silence.

**"We will fix this,"** she said softly.

Her words strengthened my resolve. Cabir had made his move, but he had no idea who he was really up against. This wasn't just about business-it was about everything I had built, everything I stood for. And I wasn't going to let him tear it down without a fight.

Tomorrow was the beginning of the end for Cabir.

And I was ready.

The next morning arrived with the weight of impending battle hanging over me. I had barely slept, too consumed by thoughts of what Cabir was plotting and how to counter it. The night had felt long, every tick of the clock reminding me that time was slipping away, and I couldn't afford to make any mistakes now.

The office had already woken up to the storm. My staff was busy finalizing the remaining pieces for the new collection, their focus sharp, but there was an underlying tension in the air. Everyone knew something was off, but they didn't know the full extent of it. They didn't know about the betrayal from within the family, the shadow lurking just behind the next corner, waiting to strike.

I entered the conference room with Karan and the head of security, Arjun, already present. The room fell silent as I took my seat at the head of the table. I could feel the collective breath of the team, a mixture of anxiety and anticipation.

"What's the status?" I asked, cutting straight to the point.

Karan cleared his throat and began. "We've traced the leak back to a third-party supplier, Manik. But the designs have already been sent out to several buyers-some of whom are our biggest competitors. We've got a rough idea of who's involved, but we need to move fast. If the designs hit the market, it's going to be a mess."

I clenched my fists. This was worse than I expected. Cabir hadn't just stolen our designs-he was positioning himself to profit off them. This wasn't just sabotage; it was an all-out attack on everything I had built.

"We need to stop the leaks before they go any further," I said, my voice cold and steady. "Arjun, what are we looking at in terms of security on our end?"

Arjun nodded. "We've increased surveillance across all our distribution channels. The IT team is on it. We're blocking any attempts to send out further designs, and we're monitoring all incoming communications from suppliers. But it's a race against time, Sir."

I exhaled sharply. "And Karan, I need every detail on those buyers-who they are, where they're located, who's behind them. If this goes public, it'll tarnish everything. I want to hit them where it hurts."

Karan nodded. "Understood. I'll get the full list of buyers and competitors involved in the next two hours. We're already working with legal to prepare a cease-and-desist. Once we have the information, we'll proceed with the lawsuits. We'll make it expensive for anyone trying to profit off our work."

"Good," I said. "Let's make them regret this."

I could feel the intensity building in the room. This wasn't just about protecting the collection-it was about sending a message to anyone who thought they could take me down. They were going to learn the hard way that crossing Manik Malhotra came with a price.

I knew Cabir would be watching, waiting for me to react. But I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flinch. I would hit back with everything I had, but I would do it strategically. I would outsmart him. That's the only way to win.

Karan and Arjun exchanged a few more words, confirming our course of action, before they left the room to handle the details. I was left alone, staring at the half-completed plans for the new collection on the table before me. The designs, the hard work, the countless hours we'd invested in this-it was all on the line.

As I sat there, lost in thought, my phone buzzed again. This time, it was Nandini.

**"I'm thinking of you. Don't let this affect your peace. We'll get through this."**

Her message was simple, but it cut through the tension like a knife. I couldn't afford to let my emotions cloud my judgment, but in that moment, I let myself take a breath and feel the weight of her support. I needed that more than ever.

I tapped out a quick reply. **"I will. I'm not backing down. This ends today."**

Just as I was about to set the phone down, a message came through from Karan.

**"We've got a lead on Cabir's meeting location. It's set for 3 PM today at a private venue. We're sending someone to follow."**

I felt my pulse spike. The timing was impeccable-Cabir had been planning this move for a while. But what he didn't know was that we were ready. The trap was set.

I stood up, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Get the car ready. We're going to pay Cabir a visit."

Nandini had insisted I keep a cool head, but today wasn't the day for diplomacy. If Cabir wanted a war, then I'd be the one to show him how it's fought.

By the time I arrived at the venue, I was already a step ahead of him. I had my people in position, every exit covered, and a legal team on standby. There was no way I was going to let him pull any more moves without consequences.

The moment I walked into the building, I could sense the tension in the air. I wasn't here to negotiate or make deals-I was here to send a message. I approached the meeting room, pushing the door open with purpose, and found Cabir seated with a few of our competitors, all of them looking a little too comfortable.

I wasn't here to talk.

I walked in, my footsteps echoing through the room. Their eyes flicked up, and I could see the surprise in Cabir's face. He hadn't expected me to show up this soon.

"Looks like I've found you, Cabir," I said, my voice like steel.

The silence in the room was thick, but I wasn't backing down now.

"I hope you're ready for the consequences of your actions."

* * *

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