Anshika's POV:

I collapsed onto my chair, the exhaustion finally catching up to me as I glanced around my office. My team had left hours ago, their faces pale with fatigue, but not a single complaint had been uttered. They had worked tirelessly through the night, fixing the chaos that had threatened to sink us. Every hour that passed, I felt a fresh surge of determination, even as the minutes bled into the early hours of the morning.

The designs lay sprawled across the large table in the middle of the room, each one now reimagined, perfected, and far superior to what they had been before. We had undone the sabotage — Rudraksh's pathetic attempt to undermine my hard work — and created something even more remarkable. I could almost picture the astonishment on my clients' faces when they saw what we had accomplished.

But it hasn't been easy. My team and I had meticulously scrutinised each piece, redoing the patterns, adjusting the colours, and enhancing the themes. It was like putting together a puzzle with half the pieces missing, and each correction was a small victory over the mess that had been orchestrated against us. Ashwin had barely left my side, coordinating with the rest of the designers, ensuring that every adjustment was as flawless as possible.

The room was littered with empty coffee cups and discarded fabric samples, evidence of the battle we had fought tonight. I stood up, stretched my aching muscles, and walked over to the designs laid out on the table. My fingers grazed the smooth paper, feeling the satisfaction of a job well done. I could see my reflection in the glass window beyond, eyes fierce, hair a little tousled, but a small smile playing on my lips.

This is what I lived for. Not the easy victories, but the fights that pushed me to my limits — the ones where I had to dig deeper, think faster, and work harder than I ever had before. Aman thought he could break me with a cheap trick, but I had turned his plot into a showcase of my strength and capability. I would not be defeated. Not by him, not by anyone.

The sun was beginning to rise, casting a soft, golden glow over the city skyline. I turned to Ashwin, who was leaning against the wall, half-asleep but still alert enough to catch my eye.

"We did it," I said, my voice breaking the silence.

He smiled, a tired but genuine expression of relief. "Yes, we did. I don't think anyone will even guess there was a problem."

"Good. They shouldn't," I replied firmly. "This is our standard, and we won't let anyone take that away from us."

I picked up my phone and quickly typed out a message to my clients, thanking them for their patience and subtly hinting at the improvements we had made. I wanted them to see the effort, to understand that we hadn't just recovered — we had elevated their expectations. Then, with a sharp exhale, I leaned back in my chair, letting the tension finally leave my body.

But even as I allowed myself this brief moment of calm, a storm brewed inside me. I had a score to settle, and this was far from over. I could still see Aman's smug face from earlier, and it made my blood boil. He thought he had won, but I'd show him exactly who he was messing with.

It was almost laughable, the way he had underestimated me. Did he think I'd just roll over and let his little stunt ruin my reputation? No, I was going to hit back harder than he could ever anticipate. And next time, it wouldn't just be a war of designs. I was going to make sure he knew exactly how outclassed he was.

"Go home, Ashwin," I said, pulling my thoughts back to the present. "Get some rest. You've earned it."

He nodded, gathering his things. "You should do the same, Anshika. You've been here all night."

"I will," I lied. I had no intention of leaving just yet. There was still work to be done, plans to be made, and I needed to be sharp when I faced Aman again.

As Ashwin left, I stood alone in the dimly lit office, staring out at the city waking up around me. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, and I took a deep breath, letting the cold morning air fill my lungs.

Aman's POV:

I leaned back in my chair, a slow, satisfied smile spreading across my lips as I stared at the city lights through the wide glass windows of my office. It had been a long day, but seeing Anshika's reaction earlier had made it all worth it. She had stormed in, her fury palpable, calling me names like "Coward kid" and throwing her empty threats at me. She thought she was intimidating. But in reality, she was just entertaining.

My plan had worked flawlessly. Riya had executed the subtle changes perfectly, just enough to disrupt the designs without making it obvious. Anshika's brand was momentarily weakened, and that was enough to show her where she truly stood. She had always been so sure of herself, so confident that her little fashion empire was untouchable. Well, it was time she learned otherwise.

I sipped my glass of scotch, the amber liquid burning as it went down, but it felt satisfying—like a small victory, a prelude to something bigger. I was playing a game, and the board was set. The first move had been made, and now, it was her turn. I could almost see the wheels turning in her head, trying to figure out how to counter me.

I glanced at my phone, considering whether to call Riya and check in on her. She had done a good job, though I was a little surprised. I knew she was fond of Anshika, but she'd still gone along with my plan without much protest. Maybe she understood, in her own way, that this was just business. Or maybe she just liked stirring the pot every now and then, even if it meant messing with her new bestie.

My office door creaked open, and Kabir strolled in, his usual smirk plastered on his face. "Well, well, if it isn't the evil mastermind himself," he said, dropping onto the couch across from me. "I heard Anshika's company was in chaos today. Nice work, Aman ."

I chuckled, swirling my drink. "Just a little nudge, Kabir. She's always so focused, so poised. I wanted to see how she'd handle a bit of pressure. Turns out, not so well."

Kabir raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that? I mean, she did march into your office and call you a coward to your face. That takes guts."

"Desperation," I corrected, setting my glass down. "It was desperation. She's not used to things going out of control, and it rattles her. I knew it would. She's got that obsessive need to be perfect, and when that doesn't happen, she starts scrambling. That's when she makes mistakes."

Kabir leaned back, considering my words. "And you're hoping she'll make another one? So you can swoop in and... what, take over her company?"

I laughed. "Not yet. This is just phase one. I'm testing the waters, seeing how she reacts. Besides, the marriage is still on the table, and her father is pushing for it more than ever. I need her to see that fighting me is pointless. It'll be much easier if she's already cornered."

"Diabolical," Kabir said, raising an imaginary glass in a toast. "But aren't you afraid you're poking the bear a little too much? Anshika is not exactly known for backing down."

"She's not backing down," I said, a dark smile forming. "She's playing right into my hands. She thinks by working all night to fix those designs, she's won something, but she's just proving my point. She's predictable, reactive. I can use that."

I got up from my chair, walking over to the window, looking down at the city below. The night was calm, serene, a stark contrast to the storm I'd unleashed on Anshika's company earlier. But that was the thing about storms—they could look calm from a distance, but you'd still hear the thunder, see the lightning crack the sky open.

"Here's the thing, Kabir," I said, turning back to him. "Anshika is talented, no doubt about that. But she's also emotional. She doesn't know how to detach herself from the business. She takes everything personally, and that's where she slips up. Today was a small blow, but I'll keep chipping away until she's left with nothing but me to turn to."

Kabir let out a low whistle. "Cold, man. Even for you. What if she actually outsmarts you?"

I smirked, a glint of amusement in my eyes. "Then I'll tip my hat to her. But that won't happen. I know her weaknesses better than she does. I'm playing the long game, and she's already dancing to my tune."

Kabir chuckled, shaking his head. "You're seriously enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Why wouldn't I? It's not every day you get to match wits with someone like Anshika Antil. She's a challenge, and I appreciate that. But she's not unbeatable. Everyone has a breaking point."

I saw Kabir's smirk fade, replaced by a more thoughtful look. "Just be careful, Rudra. You push someone too hard, they're liable to push back."

I turned back to the window, my hands in my pockets, and watched as a storm began to brew over the city, dark clouds rolling in. "Let her try," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, yet carrying a certain finality. "I'm ready for whatever she throws at me."

The storm outside was growing, lightning flashing, and I could almost imagine it was the same storm raging within Anshika right now. I'd given her a reason to fight, and she would, no doubt. But that was exactly what I wanted. Every move she made, every step she took in retaliation, would only bring her closer to the inevitable.

I had planted the seeds of chaos, and now I just had to sit back and watch them grow.

The next morning, I arrived at my office, early as usual, a sense of anticipation buzzing under my skin. The reports were already coming in—Anshika's team had worked through the night, fixing the designs, managing to salvage their presentation. I could almost admire her resilience. Almost. But I had already planned my next move. I wanted to see just how far she could stretch before she snapped.

I had barely settled into my chair when my phone buzzed with a message. Riya. She had sent me a picture—a sleek, elegant new dress design, a part of the collection they had revamped overnight. Beneath the image, she'd typed a simple message:

"She didn't back down, bhai. You're going to have to try harder."

I stared at the message, a slow smile curving my lips. Challenge accepted, Anshika.

I picked up my phone and dialled Riya's number. "Well, looks like they didn't crumble," I said as soon as she picked up. "Good job, Ri. But we're not done yet."

"Aman ," she said, her voice slightly teasing, "are you sure you want to keep this up? Anshika is pretty clever."

"That's why it's fun," I replied. "And I need you to stay sweet with her, keep being her friend. I need her to think she still has an ally, someone on her side. When she's at her most vulnerable, we'll make our next move."

Riya sighed, but I could hear the hint of amusement in her tone. "Alright, Mr. Evil. But don't get too cocky. She's tougher than you think."

I laughed. "That's what makes it interesting. Let the game continue."

As I hung up, I leaned back in my chair.