Chapter : 20

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The sun was just beginning to rise when Ananya woke up, her mind still buzzing from the events of the previous night. The business party had been a success, and she had skillfully managed to keep both her father, Mr. Sharma, and Dhiraj Khurana at bay. But today was a new day, and she knew she couldn’t let her guard down.

She turned her head slightly to find Rihaan still asleep beside her, his face calm and innocent. A soft smile tugged at her lips. He had been so excited about attending the party, and despite the challenges, he had behaved wonderfully. But now, it was time to get back to work, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. She knew how much Rihaan hated being alone, and with the recent threats from her father and Dhiraj, she didn’t feel comfortable leaving him behind.

As if sensing her thoughts, Rihaan stirred awake, his eyes fluttering open. He blinked a few times before his face lit up with a big grin. “Good morning, Anya!” he said cheerfully.

“Good morning, Rihaan,” Ananya replied softly, brushing a strand of hair away from his face. “Did you sleep well?”

Rihaan nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! I had a dream about the party. It was so much fun! Can we go to another one soon?”

Ananya chuckled. “Maybe, but for now, we have to get ready for the day. I have to go to the office, and you…” She hesitated, not wanting to leave him alone. “…You can come with me, if you want.”

Rihaan’s eyes widened in excitement. “Really? I can come to the office with you?”

Ananya smiled and nodded. “Yes, but you have to promise to be on your best behavior, okay?”

“I promise!” Rihaan said, practically bouncing out of bed. “I’ll be a good boy!”

With that, they both got ready for the day. Ananya chose a sleek, professional outfit—a fitted black blazer and matching pants that exuded confidence and authority. She tied her hair into a neat bun, her expression hardening as she mentally prepared for whatever the day might throw at her. Rihaan, on the other hand, picked out a simple yet comfortable outfit—a pair of jeans and a blue shirt that complemented his cheerful personality.

As they left the house, Rihaan’s excitement was palpable. He couldn’t stop talking about the party, about the things he had encountered, and about how much he loved spending time with Ananya. She listened patiently, smiling at his enthusiasm, but her mind was already at the office.

When they arrived at Sharma Industries, Ananya was greeted by the usual flurry of activity. Her employees moved with purpose, their focus on their tasks, but as soon as she entered, their attention shifted to her. There was a mix of admiration and respect in their eyes as they greeted her.

Rihaan, holding her hand, looked around in awe. The office was massive, with glass walls, modern decor, and a sense of efficiency that matched Ananya’s personality. He had often been here, but every time, he found something new to marvel at.

Ananya led him to her office. She gestured for Rihaan to sit on the couch, where he immediately began to play with the soft toys he had brought along.

Just as she settled into her chair and began going through her morning emails, her phone buzzed. She glanced at it, her eyes narrowing as she read the alert.

“Security breach in Sector 3 of the main office. Unauthorized access detected.”

Ananya’s heart skipped a beat, but her face remained composed. She knew that Sector 3 was where the company’s most sensitive information was stored—financial records, contract details, and strategic plans. Whoever was behind this was either incredibly bold or incredibly stupid.

“Dev, inform security to lock down Sector 3 immediately. No one gets in or out without my authorization,” Ananya ordered on the call, her voice sharp. Dev nodded, quickly making the necessary calls.

Ananya stood up, her mind racing. If someone was trying to breach her company’s defenses, they wouldn’t get far. She had made sure of that. But she needed to be there, to oversee the situation personally.

She marched out of the boardroom, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floors as she made her way to Sector 3. Her security team was already on high alert, and as she approached, the tension in the air was palpable.

“Status report,” she demanded as she entered the secure area.

One of the security heads, a burly man with a no-nonsense demeanor, stepped forward. “We’ve detected unauthorized access to the system, but the intruder hasn’t gotten far. They’re stuck in a loop, unable to break through the final firewall.”

Ananya nodded. “Good. Lock down all external access points and isolate the compromised system. I want to know who’s behind this.”

As the team worked to secure the area, Ananya’s phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from her contact within the industry, someone who had their ear to the ground for any unusual activity.

“Khurana made a move this morning. He’s trying to buy out key suppliers and disrupt your supply chain.”

Ananya’s eyes narrowed. So, Dhiraj Khurana had decided to strike again, and this time, he was going for a direct hit on her operations. It was a bold move, but also a desperate one. If Khurana thought he could destabilize her company by cutting off supplies, he was sorely mistaken.

“Dev, get the procurement team on the line. I want them to secure backup suppliers immediately,” Ananya ordered, her voice calm but filled with authority. “And send a message to Khurana—let him know that we’re aware of his little game.”

She ended the call and turned her attention back to the security breach. Whoever was trying to infiltrate her systems was persistent, but they were also predictable. They were using a method she had encountered before, one that reeked of amateurism.

“Isolate the signal and trace it,” Ananya ordered. “I want to know where this attack is coming from.”

The tech team quickly followed her instructions, and within minutes, they had a location.

“It’s coming from an external source, not far from here. We have the IP address and can pinpoint the exact building,” the lead technician reported.

Ananya smirked. “Perfect. Send the location to our security team and have them pay a visit. I want whoever is behind this brought in for questioning.”

As she walked back in her office, Rihaan sat quietly on the couch, occasionally glancing up at her with a curious expression. He didn’t fully understand what was going on, but he could sense the tension in the air.

“Anya,” he said softly, breaking the silence.

She looked up from her laptop, her expression softening when she saw the concern in his eyes. “Yes, Rihaan?”

“Are you okay? You look… angry.”

Ananya paused, debating how much to tell him. She didn’t want to burden him with her problems, but she also didn’t want to lie. “I’m okay, Rihaan. I just have a lot of work to do today. But don’t worry—I’ll handle it.”

Rihaan nodded, though he still looked a little unsure. “Okay. If you need help, I can… I can try to help.”

Ananya smiled, touched by his offer. “Thank you, Rihaan. That means a lot to me. But right now, the best way you can help is by staying here and being a good boy, like you promised.”

Rihaan smiled back, his worries easing. “I will. I promise.”

As the morning went on, Ananya kept herself busy, coordinating with her team to ensure everything was running smoothly. She was in the middle of a conference call when Dev rushed into her office, his face pale.

“Ma’am, there’s a problem,” Dev said, his voice shaky.

Ananya quickly ended the call and turned her full attention to Dev. “What happened?”

He took a deep breath before speaking. “We just received a letter from Mr. Sharma’s lawyer. He’s challenging your position as CEO, claiming that you’ve been mismanaging the company’s funds and making decisions that have put Sharma Industries at risk. He’s calling for an emergency board meeting to discuss your removal.”

Ananya’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly regained her composure. “He’s trying to force me out,” she muttered, more to herself than to Dev.

Dev nodded, worry etched on his face. “What are we going to do?”

Ananya’s mind raced. She knew Mr. Sharma was capable of underhanded tactics, but she hadn’t expected him to move so quickly. The timing couldn’t have been worse, with Dhiraj Khurana’s attempts to sabotage the company from the outside.

But she wasn’t about to let them win.

“Prepare the necessary documents to prove my management of the company has been nothing short of exemplary,” Ananya instructed. “We’ll counter his claims with facts and data. And schedule that emergency board meeting for tomorrow. I’ll face him head-on.”

Dev nodded and hurried out of the room, leaving Ananya alone with her thoughts. She couldn’t afford to show any weakness, not now. She had to stay strong, not just for herself, but for everyone who depended on her.

As she turned back to her laptop, she heard a soft voice behind her.

“Anya?”

She looked up to see Rihaan standing by her desk, holding one of his soft toys—a small, stuffed lion. He looked worried, his innocent eyes searching hers for reassurance.

“Is everything okay?” he asked quietly.

Ananya forced a smile, trying to keep her voice steady. “Yes, Rihaan. Everything is going to be okay.”

But deep down, she knew that the battle had only just begun.

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