Chapter : 14

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The night was quiet, the soft hum of crickets the only sound that filled the air. Ananya sat on the balcony, her legs curled up beneath her on the cushioned chair. The sky above was a vast expanse of dark velvet, dotted with countless stars that twinkled like diamonds. The sight had always brought her comfort, a sense of calm that was hard to find in her busy life.

She had spent many nights like this, sitting alone under the stars, letting her thoughts drift with the gentle breeze. But tonight, there was a restlessness inside her that she couldn't quite shake. It gnawed at her, an unease that seemed to come from nowhere, yet refused to leave her alone.

Behind her, through the open balcony door, Rihaan slept soundly in their bed. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, his face peaceful and innocent in sleep. Ananya glanced back at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. Seeing him so at ease usually put her own mind at rest, but tonight, even that wasn't enough.

She turned her gaze back to the sky, hoping the familiar sight would bring her some peace. But the stars, beautiful as they were, couldn't quiet the storm of thoughts swirling in her mind. She couldn't pinpoint the source of her anxiety, but it was there, lurking just beneath the surface.

The night stretched on, and she considered going back inside, maybe lying down next to Rihaan in hopes that his presence would soothe her. But just as she was about to move, her phone, which had been resting on the small table beside her, vibrated. The sudden sound made her jump slightly, breaking the stillness of the night.

She frowned, wondering who could be calling at this hour. Most people knew not to disturb her this late, especially since she valued the rare moments of peace she got in her hectic life. But when she picked up the phone and saw the name on the screen, her frown deepened.

Mr. Sharma. Her father.

Ananya stared at the name for a moment, her heart giving a small, involuntary jolt. It wasn't fear or concern that she felt, but something more complex-something she had long since buried. Her relationship with her father had always been strained, distant. He had never been the warm, loving figure most people associated with fatherhood. To him, she had always been an afterthought, something to be managed rather than cherished.

She sighed, resigning herself to whatever this call would bring. It was rare for him to contact her directly, and when he did, it was never good. She had learned long ago to keep her expectations low when it came to him.

With a steadying breath, she answered the call. "Hello, Mr. Sharma," she greeted him, her voice formal and devoid of emotion.

There was a brief pause on the other end, as if he was deciding how to approach the conversation. When he finally spoke, his voice was sharp, completely ignoring her greeting. "Ananya," he said, the name sounding more like an accusation than a greeting. "Why did you fire Shivya?"

Ananya's grip tightened around the phone, her jaw clenching slightly. Of course. This was about Shivya Khurana, the spoiled daughter of Dhiraj Khurana, a businessman her father had been desperate to keep in good standing with. She had expected this call ever since she made the decision to terminate Shivya's employment, but that didn't make it any easier to deal with.

Shivya had been a nightmare from the moment she was hired. Ananya had only given her the job because of the pressure from her father, who insisted it was a necessary move to keep Dhiraj Khurana's favor. But Shivya had proven to be utterly incompetent, more interested in using her father's name and money than actually doing any real work. Ananya had tolerated it for as long as she could, but when Shivya attempted to sexually harass Rihaan, she had crossed a line that Ananya couldn't ignore.

"I fired her because she was a traitor," Ananya said evenly, keeping her voice steady and emotionless. "She tried to sell an important project file to a rival company. I couldn't allow that, Mr. Sharma."

There was a long pause on the other end, and Ananya could almost picture her father's expression-cold, calculating, weighing her words to determine if there was more to the story than she was letting on. He didn't care about loyalty or betrayal; he only cared about how this affected him and his connections.

"Is that all?" he asked, his tone flat, devoid of any concern for the betrayal she had just mentioned.

"That's all you need to know," Ananya replied coolly. She wasn't about to share the deeper motivations behind her decision. He didn't deserve to know the full story, especially when it came to protecting her business and the people she cared about.

Mr. Sharma let out a slow breath, the kind that was filled with disappointment and irritation. "Do you realize what you've done, Ananya? Dhiraj Khurana is not someone to take lightly. He will be furious, and you've jeopardized my relationship with him. And what about these news headlines? Are you behind those?"

Ananya's eyes narrowed slightly, her mind racing as she tried to determine what he was talking about. News headlines? She hadn't been following the news too closely lately, focused as she was on her own business and keeping things running smoothly. But she had an inkling of what he might be referring to.

"News headlines?" she echoed, her tone carefully neutral. "I'm not sure what you're referring to, Mr. Sharma."

"Don't play dumb with me, Ananya," he snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin. "The headlines about Shivya-her affairs with married businessmen, the exposure of her father's illegal dealings. It's all over the news, and I know you had something to do with it."

Ananya felt a small flicker of satisfaction at his words, though she kept her expression impassive. So, the truth had finally come to light. She had suspected it was only a matter of time before Shivya's reckless behavior caught up with her, and it seemed that moment had arrived. But she wasn't about to let her father know she had anything to do with it, even if she did find a certain amount of pleasure in the chaos it was causing.

"I'm not aware of any such headlines," she said smoothly, feigning ignorance. "This is the first I'm hearing of it."

"Check the news," Mr. Sharma ordered, his voice tight with barely restrained anger.

"Of course," Ananya replied, already reaching for her laptop.

She opened the device and quickly navigated to the news sites, her eyes scanning the headlines. As she expected, they were filled with reports about Shivya Khurana-her name splashed across every major outlet, alongside salacious details of her numerous affairs with high-profile married businessmen. There were photos, text messages, and even leaked emails that painted a damning picture. And if that weren't enough, there were also reports about her father, Dhiraj Khurana, and his illegal dealings, all of which had been meticulously exposed.

A smirk tugged at the corners of Ananya's lips as she read through the articles. It was all unfolding perfectly, exactly as she had anticipated. Shivya had made the mistake of underestimating her, and now she was paying the price. As for her father's illegal activities... well, it was about time the world knew the truth.

"I see what you mean," Ananya said finally, her voice laced with an undercurrent of amusement that she didn't bother to hide. "But I assure you, Mr. Sharma, this is all news to me. I had no part in it."

There was a long, tense silence on the other end of the line, and Ananya could almost hear the wheels turning in her father's mind as he tried to figure out if she was telling the truth. Finally, he spoke, his tone colder than ever. "I see. Well, I'll deal with it."

"Of course," Ananya replied, her voice as smooth as silk. "I'm sure you will."

And just like that, the call ended. No goodbye, no further questions. Mr. Sharma simply hung up, leaving Ananya staring at the dark screen of her phone. She took a deep breath, the satisfaction of a job well done washing over her. The unease she had felt earlier was gone, replaced by a sense of calm and control. Everything was falling into place, just as she had planned.

Ananya closed her laptop and set it aside, her thoughts returning to the night sky. The stars were still shining brightly, indifferent to the chaos below. She leaned back in her chair, feeling the tension drain from her body as she allowed herself to relax.

Mr. Sharma had always underestimated her, always seen her as a tool to be used for his own gain. But tonight, she had shown him that she was no longer under his control. She was the one pulling the strings now, and she wouldn't let anyone-especially not him-dictate her life or her choices.

As she sat there, watching the stars twinkle above, Ananya knew that the road ahead would be filled with challenges. But she also knew that she was more than capable of facing them. She would protect what mattered to her, no matter the cost.

After a while, Ananya stood from her chair and stepped back into the room. Rihaan was still fast asleep, his large body curled up under the covers. She smiled softly as she watched him, her heart swelling with adoration and protectiveness. He was the reason she did everything she did, and she would do it again and again for him.

But, again why?

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