This is a continuation part as I didn't fit this in the last update. This is once again dedicated to December Babies.
...

The Empire collapsed with Mr. Shrikant Malhotra's and the next in line AUB Vivek Malhotra's death.

"Oh my life!!" Niyonika collapsed infront of the huge photographs. "I went out to the mainland only for few days for the wedding shopping and everything has turned upside down in my home."

Manik gulped down his own pain and tried to act like a support to this grieving woman. "Ma." He tried to hug her.

She pushed him away. "Why didn't you die instead of them? My husband and my lovely son are dead because of you. You always wanted your mother's attention and now be happy that he is dead." She wailed out hurting Manik.

His heart wasn't cold as he was still not used to his mother's harsh words. All he wanted was to be treated like her son, a normal mother, but he was unlucky on that part.

He looked at Cabir's stoic face and his regret increased more. He is just a normal guy from a rich family, why didn't he die instead of these valuable and wanted people.

Oh! Little did he know he is going to be the most loved and respected person in his Empire.

After the mourning period, the meeting was conducted by all the Boss of territories keeping the Queen as the decision maker.

"We need a new Boss, Queen. The Empire is not safe as the attacks might increase." One of the leader spoke up.

"No. This mafia world is so dangerous, I already lost my two precious people of my life. I can't lose my son to it. Don't involve him with all the blood." Niyonika cried.

Manik's heart felt heavy with emotions when she cared about him openly for the first time. His mother expressing her concern for him is the only thing mattered to him right now.

What more does he need anyway?

"Make Manik the Boss, he is anyhow a rowdy and rebel." Niyonika's words shattered him.

So, the son she was speaking is not him but Harshad.

A sad smile broke on his lips.

After a brief discussion, it was decided that Mr. Manik Malhotra to be the Boss of Malhotra Empire.

It didn't make him happy or sad as he was just lost. Nothing made sense in his life.

In one of the meeting he came to know that it was not accident but a pre-planned murder by the enemies. And they are the Rathores. They have been competing with them from a long time and has paid the outlanders with drugs to kill his family.

Sad for the Rathores Empire though, as they shall be remembering two people in their life, one is their parents who brought them into this world and the other person is Manik who will kick them out of this world.

Manik who has young blood running in his body didn't hesitate to kill anyone from the Rathore's Empire. It was a sensation that year for the highest number attacks from the Malhotra Empire. Nobody could stop him or his wrath.

Thanks to his best friend, Cabir, who is now his AUB, they together became heartless and began getting their revenge.

"Why are we not attacking the East territories?" Manik questioned his former military head.

"Boss, we don't have the firearms to attack their territory on the East. It's under the Saxena territory." He replied.

Saxena? As in Alya Saxena?

Manik's chest went heavy as soon he remembered her. It was almost a year since he had any time to think about anything except wiping his enemies.

It's high time maybe to finally meet her.

He along with Cabir went to visit Alya Saxena at their mansion. He didn't know how to console that family who has lost their people. It was only Alya and her grandparents living in that place.

As he stepped into the mansion he was surprised to see his mother, Niyonika already inside speaking with them.

Atleast someone from his family is confident enough to face them.

"Welcome, Boss." Alya's grandparents welcomed him.

From Manik to Boss he came a long way.

His eyes immediately looked for Alya as he spoke with them. He was seriously concerned for her.

Finally, his eyes fell on her and she did not look like the Alya he knew before. There was no smile on her face, nor she had warmth in her eyes. She was cold, just like him.

She sat in between them staring everyone without uttering anything.

"So, what brings you here, Boss?" Alya's grandfather questioned him.

He didn't know if it was the right time to speak infront of all the women but still he continued since all of them are directly effected by it.

"I want the access to the Saxena firearms." Manik said straight up.

"Ofcourse, you are going to be Alya's husband. It's your right." He laughed.

"What the fuck?" Manik wouldn't use profanity infront of elders but that evening he couldn't help. He stood up in confusion with their words.

"Didn't the Queen tell you? It has been agreed six months earlier." Her grandparents were surprised and questioned Niyonika.

"What's there to tell him? It's my promise to your family and it's his duty to follow like a good son." She said calmly.

"No. I won't accept it. She just lost the love of her life. How can you even... For God sake think like humans." Manik poured his frustration.

For the first time Alya's eyes softened towards him. Atleast, there is someone who will be on her side.

"Then? Should we leave her with nothing? She is Vivek's widow and we don't want her to stay in the house and limit the Saxena territory growth." Her grandmother spoke.

"Well, I want to run the Saxena Empire alone. I want to be the Boss." Alya spoke for the first time.

Her grandmother laughed. "You and a Boss? We trained you in martial arts so that you would become a first lady for a Boss."

"She has her own life and she can look after the territory." Manik defended for Alya. "As The Boss of Malhotra Empire, I approve Alya Saxena as the Boss for the Saxena territory."

Huge gasps echoed in the hall with his decision.

Her grandfather sighed. "What more can we say, if her fiance wants her to be a Boss."

Manik balled his fists. "I never said I want to marry her."

"Manik!" Niyonika shouted. "Stop insulting me. I have gave them a word trusting that you would agree to it."

"Address me as a Boss, my Queen." Manik's sentence made her tremble.

He pulled this act so that everyone would drop their plan of linking him with Alya. They must know how evil he is and they will stay away from him.

Atleast, it would be less people dying for him. The enemies would understand that he is emotionless and wouldn't target his loved ones.

But Alya's family is built different. "If you won't marry Alya, then we are not giving you the access to the factory."

"Are you serious?" Manik couldn't believe these old man's words.

Before they could argue further Alya stepped into it. "If the argument is about my marriage, don't you think I must speak? After all, I am the Boss of this territory."

All of them waited for her to speak. "I want to marry the Boss only if he will give me Rathore's head as my first wedding gift." She smirked. "In exchange, The Boss will be getting full support from Saxena army, firearms, and the territory fund."

She forwarded her hand towards Manik. "What do you say Boss?"

Marriage with Alya? His childhood dream is getting fulfilled but the only difference is both of them are emotionless. They are feeling empty inside and only thing in their mind is to destroy the Rathore's skin to bone.

"It's a deal." He shook his hand with her.

Now there's no butterflies, heart beats skipping or no feelings. Manik understood it was a mere crush on Alya and that too has died.

He is no longer just Manik. He is The Boss of Malhotra Empire who's turned into a demon in human skin.

As Manik and Cabir came out of the Saxena territory in their Jeep, they were lost in their thoughts with the happenings.

"Manik, what about your father's promise towards the Murthy?" Cabir reminded him about the promise made by his father to Mr. Murthy about his marriage.

"Forget about it, Cabir. It's only we both who know about the agreement. I will speak with Mr. Murthy to cancel it and we all can move forward." Manik said looking at the keys for the firearms factory.

"Is it because you are getting married to your love?" Cabir questioned about his marriage with Alya.

"Love?" Manik laughed. "There's no such thing in Mafia world especially for The Boss."

"Then why are you cancelling the arrangement with Princess Murthy?"

He remembered the night of the debutante of Nandini and shook his head.

"She is innocent for my world. Don't drag her into this mess. Alya and I are already shattered and we want nothing but revenge but Nandini is living her princess life, let her live." Manik reasoned and Cabir agreed.

From the night he met her he couldn't come up with a word to describe her. She is something which he never experienced and now he knew the answer.

"Nandini is happy." And he would let things stay like that instead of dragging her into his world and wiping her happiness like him.
...

How's the update?

Yeah! Finally, the epilogue is done. I will post the sequel in a few hours hopefully.

Do you still have questions about the story?