Back in the Lion’s Den

The next morning, Ayush walked into Oberoi Industries—but this time, he wasn’t a warehouse trainee.

He was back in the main building, his rightful place.

Or at least, that’s what he told himself.

In reality, the weight of his brother’s silent judgment was suffocating.

Every step he took toward Arnav’s office felt like walking into a cage.

He entered without knocking. Arnav was at his desk, scanning some documents, not even bothering to look up.

"You’re late," Arnav said flatly.

Ayush frowned. "It’s 9:00 AM sharp—"

"9:00 AM is when work starts. If you’re not at your desk before that, you’re late."

Ayush gritted his teeth. "You’re seriously going to micromanage my every move now?"

Arnav finally looked up, his gaze sharp as a blade. "No, Ayush. I’m going to fix you."

Ayush clenched his fists. "You think I’m broken?"

Arnav leaned back, eyes cold. "I think you’re undisciplined, reckless, and impulsive. But that ends today."

Ayush exhaled sharply. "You think putting me back in this office is a favor? It’s just another punishment."

Arnav tilted his head. "You want out?"

Ayush opened his mouth—then stopped.

Did he?

Did he really want to walk away?

For years, he had fought against Arnav’s authority. But after everything—after the attack, after the betrayal, after realizing just how dangerous this world was—he wasn’t so sure anymore.

Arnav smirked, as if reading his mind. "You’re staying."

It wasn’t a question. It was a fact.

Ayush swallowed his pride and sat down.

"Good," Arnav said, passing him a file. "Because your first test starts now."

The Challenge

Ayush flipped through the file, scanning numbers and reports. A new project. A high-risk investment.

And Arnav was handing it to him?

Ayush looked up, skeptical. "You’re giving me a deal worth 50 crores on my first day back?"

Arnav’s smirk was ruthless. "Yes. Because if you fail, it won’t just be your reputation that burns—it’ll be mine."

Ayush’s stomach dropped.

"So this is the game he’s playing."

Arnav wasn’t testing his skills. He was testing his loyalty.

Would Ayush rise—or would he fall again?

Ayush’s jaw tightened.

"Fine," he said, flipping the pages. "I’ll prove you wrong."

Arnav’s eyes gleamed with something unreadable.

"Do that," he murmured. "And maybe… you’ll finally earn your place."

To Be Continued…

Ayush is back in the corporate world—but will he succeed? Or will Arnav watch him crash and burn?