Anshika's POV:

The air in my office was thick with tension, my team running around frantically, trying to salvage what was left of the designs. My eyes flicked over the chaos, my jaw clenched, and my patience fraying with every passing second. I had never seen my designers this distressed, and the scene felt like a personal attack—because that's exactly what it was. Aman had crossed a line, and I wasn't going to let him get away with it.

I grabbed the set of documents from my desk, practically shaking with rage. "Ashwin," I called out, my voice cutting through the commotion. "We're leaving. Now."

Ashwin, who had been trying to make sense of the mess, looked up, startled. "Where are we going?"

"To the lion's den," I said, my eyes darkening. "Sharma Enterprises."

"But Ma'am—"

"No buts," I snapped, already moving towards the exit. "He's not going to sit there and think he can pull this off without consequences. If Aman thinks he can play dirty, he's about to find out just how wrong he is."

I stormed out of the office, my heels clacking furiously against the polished floor, Ashwin scrambling to catch up. The drive over felt like a blur, my anger simmering, threatening to boil over. I barely heard Ashwin's attempts to calm me down. Nothing was going to deter me from this confrontation—not today.

We arrived at Sharma Enterprises, and I was out of the car before it even fully stopped. The towering building gleamed under the sun, a testament to everything Aman had built—and the arrogance that came with it. I marched through the lobby, the receptionist's mouth falling open as she watched me head straight for the elevators. She didn't dare stop me. Even if she wanted to, she could see the fury burning in my eyes.

Ashwin was almost out of breath by the time we reached the top floor. "Ma'am, are you sure about this?" he panted, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. "Maybe there's a better way—"

"This is the only way," I said through gritted teeth. "Aman wants a war. He's going to get one."

The elevator doors slid open, and I strode out, my steps purposeful, my heart pounding in my chest. Aman's office was at the end of the hall, and I didn't hesitate. I pushed the door open without knocking, letting it slam against the wall, and stepped inside.

He was there, seated behind his desk, looking annoyingly calm, almost amused as if he had been expecting me. His dark eyes met mine, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something that almost resembled pleasure. He leaned back in his chair, a slow, deliberate smile creeping across his lips.

"Well, well," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Look who's gracing my office with her presence. To what do I owe the honour, Anshika?"

I didn't waste any time. I marched straight up to his desk and slammed the papers down so hard the sound echoed around the room. "You coward," I hissed, my voice low but filled with venom. "Using your sister to do your dirty work? That's the lowest you've ever sunk, and I didn't think that was possible."

Aman's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with a kind of dark amusement. "Coward? Interesting choice of words, Anshika. I'd call it strategy." He leaned forward, his fingers steepled. "And if my sister wants to help her big brother out, who am I to stop her?"

I felt my blood boil. "This isn't a game, Aman!" I snapped, my voice rising. "You tampered with my designs, sabotaged my work, and you think you can just laugh it off?"

"Sabotage?" he repeated, feigning innocence. "Such a harsh accusation. Are you sure it wasn't just a... design flaw? Happens to the best of us, after all."

The nonchalant way he said it, the way he was so clearly enjoying this, made my skin crawl. "Don't play dumb, Aman. I know it was you. You couldn't stand to see me succeed, so you decided to ruin everything. Typical."

He didn't even blink. "Oh, I see what this is. You're mad because things didn't go your way for once. Poor Anshika, always used to getting what she wants. Well, newsflash—I'm not like the rest of your lackeys. I don't bow down just because you're throwing a tantrum."

I could feel the rage building, threatening to spill over. "This isn't about me 'throwing a tantrum,' and you know it. This is about you being a spineless coward who has to resort to underhanded tricks because he's too scared to compete fairly."

He stood up then, slowly, deliberately, and walked around the desk until he was standing directly in front of me. He was close enough that I could see the sharpness in his eyes, the cruel twist to his smile. "Scared?" he repeated, his voice dangerously soft. "You think I'm scared of you, Anshika? That's adorable."

I didn't flinch. "I think you're terrified," I said, my voice steady. "Because you know, deep down, that if you faced me on even ground, you'd lose. And that's why you have to cheat. That's why you sent Riya to mess with my designs. You can't handle the thought of being outdone by a woman."

Aman's expression darkened, and for a moment, I saw a flash of something in his eyes—anger, maybe, or perhaps annoyance at being called out. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by that same smug smile. "Careful, Anshika," he said, his voice low, almost a whisper. "You're getting a little too bold. It might just backfire on you."

I took a step closer, refusing to be intimidated. "You don't scare me, Aman," I said, my eyes locked on his. "I've dealt with people like you my whole life—arrogant, entitled men who think they can control everything. But I'm not like the others. I won't back down."

He chuckled, a dark, humourless sound. "No, you don't, do you? That's what makes this so much fun." He tilted his head, studying me. "But you're missing the point, Anshika. This isn't just about winning or losing. It's about power. And right now, I have it. You're here, in my office, on my terms. That means I've already won."

I wanted to scream, to lash out, to do something to wipe that smug expression off his face. But I couldn't let him see how much he was getting to me. "Enjoy it while it lasts," I said, forcing a calmness I didn't feel. "Because I'm not done yet. You might have won this round, but the game is far from over."

He leaned in, his face inches from mine, his eyes glinting with a dark amusement. "Oh, I'm counting on it," he whispered, his breath warm against my skin. "Because watching you squirm, watching you fight against something you can't control? That's the best part."

I felt a chill run down my spine, but I refused to back down. "You think you've got me figured out," I said, my voice steady. "But you don't. And when I come back, you won't see it coming."

Aman's smile widened, and he stepped back, spreading his arms as if to welcome the challenge. "I look forward to it, Anshika. Truly, I do. But don't be surprised when you find yourself right back here, facing me, with nowhere left to turn."

I turned sharply, my heart pounding as I headed for the door. But just before I left, I glanced back at him, meeting his gaze one last time. "We'll see who has the last laugh," I said, and then I was gone, leaving him standing there with that infuriating smile still plastered on his face.

But as the door closed behind me. Aman might have won this round, but I wasn't about to let him win the war. And if he wanted to play dirty, then he was about to find out just how dangerous that game could be.

The ride back to my office felt like a blur, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins after that confrontation with Aman . I'd stormed into his territory, thrown his cowardly tactics in his face.

As soon as Ashwin and I stepped out of the elevator and back into the chaos of my company. My designers were still scurrying around, trying to make sense of the disaster Aman and his sister had caused. The office, usually a sanctuary of creativity, now felt like a battlefield—one I intended to reclaim.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and clapped my hands to get everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone," I said, my voice firm and clear, cutting through the noise. "We are not letting this beat us. We've faced worse, and we've come out stronger every time. I need everyone to focus, because we're going to fix this, and we're going to make it even better than before."

My words seemed to spark a renewed energy in my team. There were nods, determined expressions, and a collective sense of purpose. I wasn't just their boss; I was their leader, and tonight, I was leading them into the kind of battle I knew we could win.

I turned to Ashwin, who was looking at me with a mix of concern and admiration. "Get everyone the resources they need. We're staying here tonight if we have to, but we're going to make sure our clients see the best version of our work."

Ashwin nodded, and without a word, he was off, organising the designers, making calls, and ensuring everything we needed was at our fingertips. I took a moment to look around, at the faces of the people I had spent so many long nights with, the people who had put their heart and soul into making our brand what it was.

"Alright," I said, grabbing a sketchpad and a pencil. "Let's get to work."

We dove in, hours melting away as we worked on the designs. The room was filled with the sounds of fabric being cut, sewing machines humming, and the occasional murmur of ideas being exchanged. I could see the stress on everyone's faces, but I could also see the fire—the same fire I felt within me. This wasn't just about salvaging the designs; it was about proving to Aman that he couldn't break us.

Time seemed to blur, the evening stretching into the night. The windows of the office showed the sky darkening, but no one left their desks. Cups of coffee and energy drinks began to pile up, and the soft glow of desk lamps illuminated the workspace, creating a surreal, almost magical atmosphere. We were pushing ourselves to the limit, but there was a strange sense of peace in it too—a unity, a purpose.

I moved from station to station, helping where I could, offering advice, sketching new ideas, and occasionally grabbing a needle and thread myself. I had built this brand from the ground up, and I wasn't above getting my hands dirty to protect it. As the night wore on, the exhaustion began to creep in, but I could see the results taking shape, and that gave me strength.

Somewhere around midnight, Ashwin approached me, his eyes tired but hopeful. "We're getting there," he said, holding up a revamped design. "It's actually... better than before."

I took the design from him, studying it carefully. He was right. The changes we had made, the adjustments, the little details—everything had come together in a way that was sharper, more elegant, more us. I felt a smile tug at my lips. "Better than before," I echoed. "Perfect."

Ashwin hesitated, then said softly, "Do you think it's enough? Do you think they'll like it?"

I looked around the room, at the tired but determined faces of my team, and I nodded. "They're going to love it," I said. "Because we didn't just fix it. We made it ours. Aman tried to undermine us, but all he did was give us a reason to push ourselves harder. This isn't just damage control, Ashwin. This is our victory."

Ashwin's eyes lit up, and he nodded, a small smile appearing on his lips. "You're right," he said, and I could hear the renewed confidence in his voice. "We can do this."

By 2 a.m., we had gone over every design, every stitch, every tiny detail. I gathered my team around, holding up the final piece, and there was a moment of silence as everyone took it in. It was beautiful—more than that, it was powerful.

I held it up, letting the light catch the intricate details. "This is who we are," I said, my voice quiet but strong. "This is what we're capable of, even when someone tries to tear us down. Remember that."

There was a round of applause, quiet but sincere, and I could see the pride in everyone's eyes. We had done it. We had taken something that was meant to destroy us and turned it into something that made us stronger.

I let out a sigh, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. But even as I smiled, even as I felt that sense of accomplishment, I couldn't forget the reason we were here, the reason we had to fight so hard. Aman.

I knew he was probably sitting in his plush office, thinking he had won, thinking he had the upper hand. But this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

As the team started to pack up, I looked out the window, the city lights twinkling in the distance. "Aman Sharma," I whispered, my voice low, almost a growl. "You think you've won, but you have no idea what's coming for you."

I turned back to my team, clapping my hands to get their attention one last time. "Everyone, amazing job tonight. Go home, get some rest. Tomorrow, we present these to our clients, and we show them what it means to work with the best."

There were tired smiles, nods, and as everyone began to trickle out, I felt a sense of pride that no sabotage could take away. We had faced adversity and emerged even stronger. And if Aman thought he could beat me by playing dirty, he was about to learn just how wrong he was.

I stayed behind for a few more minutes, watching as Ashwin gathered the final papers, organising everything with his usual efficiency. "Ashwin," I said, and he looked up. "Get the presentation ready for tomorrow. I want to be prepared for anything."

"Of course," he said, giving me a small, reassuring smile. "We've got this, Anshika."

I nodded, feeling a flicker of gratitude. "We do."

As I finally left the office, stepping out into the cool night air