The meeting had ended, but the tension still lingered in the air, thick and suffocating.
I walked out of the restaurant with my head held high, my heels clicking sharply against the marble floor, every step measured, every breath controlled. But inside?
I was seething.
Not just at him. Not just at his arrogance, his effortless ability to turn a business discussion into a battlefield. But at myself-because despite knowing the kind of man Aditya Singhania was, I still let him get under my skin.
I hated that smug smirk of his. The way he leaned back in his chair, completely unfazed by anything, as if the world revolved around him. The way he twisted every conversation into a power play. And most of all, I hated the way he enjoyed pushing me.
Because he knew I wouldn't back down. And I knew he thrived on that.
I stepped outside, the cool night air hitting my face, a welcome contrast to the suffocating heat of the restaurant. The city stretched out before me, alive with the hum of traffic, neon lights flickering against the dark sky.
I exhaled slowly, rolling my shoulders back, willing the frustration to melt away. But then-
"Leaving so soon, Ms Rajput?"
His voice. Low. Amused. Infuriatingly relaxed.
I closed my eyes for half a second before turning around. And there he was, standing by the entrance, hands casually tucked into his pockets, watching me with that infuriating smirk that made my blood boil.
"I'm not interested in whatever game you think you're playing, Mr Singhania," I said flatly. "I have better things to do." His smirk deepened. "Oh? Like pretending I don't get under your skin?"
I clenched my jaw. Don't react. Don't give him the satisfaction.
"You're mistaken," I said coolly. "You don't bother me, Mr Singhania. You just bore me." His gaze flickered, just for a second. Most people wouldn't notice it, but I did. And for some reason, that felt like a small victory.
He stepped closer, just enough to invade my space, but not enough for me to move back. He was testing limits, waiting to see if I would flinch. I didn't. "Boredom, huh?" he mused. "Funny. You didn't look bored back in there."
I let out a slow, unimpressed sigh. "Maybe that's because I was too busy dealing with an overgrown man-child who thinks arrogance is a personality trait." His lips twitched. "Careful, Ms Rajput. Keep talking like that, and I might think you actually enjoy our little interactions." I crossed my arms. "Enjoy? No. Tolerate? Barely."
He chuckled, the sound deep and rich, like he loved this-loved getting under my skin, pushing me just to see how far I would go. "Good," he murmured, tilting his head slightly. "I'd hate for you to lose interest too soon."
There was something in his tone, something calculated, something that sent a slow wave of irritation down my spine. Because he wasn't done with me. And I wasn't sure if I was more annoyed at him for that-or at myself for not hating it as much as I should.
I took a step back, creating distance, a silent warning. "Stay out of my way, Mr Singhania." His smirk never wavered. "No promises."
With that, I turned on my heel and walked away, refusing to give him another second of my time. But even as I disappeared into the city, I knew one thing for certain.
he enjoyed pushing me.
And worst of all?
The bastard was good at it.
I hated that even now, as I walked further away from that suffocating restaurant, his words still echoed in my mind.
"I'd hate for you to lose interest too soon."
God, the audacity.
A muscle in my jaw clenched as I exhaled slowly, steadying myself. I was not going to let him win. Because this wasn't just about business. This wasn't just about two people who happened to be on opposite sides of a deal. No. This was about control.
About the way he tested my patience, about the way he stepped too close, spoke too casually, as if we were playing a game neither of us had agreed to. I refused to be another name on his list of people he could manipulate.
So, as I reached my car, I forced every last trace of irritation from my face, burying it under the same cold, ruthless indifference I had perfected over the years.
If Aditya Singhania thought I was easy to rattle, he had another thing coming.
This war?
Had just begun.
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