The Silent Watchers

The black SUV pulled into an abandoned warehouse district on the outskirts of the city.

Avni’s fingers trembled slightly as she tightened her grip on her purse. She had to be perfect. One wrong move, one hint of hesitation, and Devraj would know this was a setup.

As she stepped out of the car, the cold night air sent a chill down her spine.

A few feet away, standing near a dimly lit entrance, was Devraj Malhotra.

His expression was unreadable, his stance relaxed. But Avni knew better—this man never relaxed. Everything he did was calculated.

And right now, he was trying to calculate her.

Unknown to Devraj, a second black car was parked nearby—just far enough to remain hidden.

Inside, four pairs of eyes were fixed on the scene.

Arnav’s grip on the steering wheel was iron-tight.

Anirudh had his phone open, tracking Avni’s location.

Ayush clenched his fists. "I don’t like this."

Aryan, uncharacteristically serious, muttered, "None of us do."

But there was no turning back now.

Devraj’s Offer

"Brave of you to come alone," Devraj said as Avni approached him.

She forced a smirk. "I don’t need babysitters."

His lips curled in amusement. "Good. Then let’s talk inside."

Her stomach twisted, but she nodded. She had to go all in.

Inside the Trap

The warehouse was nearly empty except for a single table and two chairs in the center.

As Avni sat down, she noticed three armed men standing in the shadows.

Devraj leaned forward. "So, tell me, Avni… are you truly ready to leave the Oberois behind?"

She let out a bitter laugh. "I already have."

"Good." His eyes darkened. "Because once you cross this line, there’s no going back."

Avni tilted her head. "And what exactly does 'crossing the line' mean?"

Devraj studied her. Then he placed a file on the table and slid it toward her.

"Sign this," he said.

She hesitated before flipping it open. Her breath caught.

The document legally separated her from the Oberoi family. It also transferred a significant portion of Oberoi shares—her shares—to Devraj.

Her pulse raced.

This was it. The final test.

Outside: The Breaking Point

Inside the car, Ayush’s patience snapped. "He’s making her sign something! We can’t wait any longer!"

Anirudh’s eyes burned with rage. "If she signs, Devraj will legally own part of our company."

Aryan moved forward. "We have to go in—now."

But Arnav didn’t move. His gaze was locked on Avni through the warehouse window.

"Not yet," he said coldly. "She has to stall him for one more minute."

The Ultimate Bluff

Avni exhaled slowly and picked up the pen.

She brought the tip to the paper—then paused.

Devraj’s eyes narrowed. "Is there a problem?"

She smirked. "What guarantee do I have that you won’t just use me and throw me away?"

Devraj chuckled. "You’re smart. I like that."

He leaned back. "Alright, Avni. If you want guarantees, let’s make it official." He snapped his fingers, and one of his men stepped forward with another document.

Avni’s heart pounded.

She had stalled long enough.

Before Devraj could say another word, the warehouse doors burst open.

The Attack Begins

Arnav walked in first, his presence electrifying the air. His eyes were locked on Devraj, his expression a mask of lethal calm.

Behind him, Ayush, Anirudh, and Aryan followed, their gazes burning with rage.

Avni shot up from her seat. "Took you long enough."

Devraj’s expression didn’t change—but his grip on the table tightened.

"So," he murmured, "it was a trap."

Arnav smirked. "What gave it away?"

Devraj exhaled, standing slowly. "I have to admit… I didn’t think you had the guts to play me like this, Avni."

Avni crossed her arms. "You underestimated me. Big mistake."

Devraj chuckled. "Perhaps. But the question is… who’s really trapped here?"

He snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, more armed men emerged from the shadows.

The Oberois tensed.

And just like that—the real battle began.

To Be Continued