A sharp knock pulled Ira out of her thoughts. Without looking up, she called out crisply,

“Come in.”

The faintest sound of polished shoes echoed across the floor. She could sense who it was even before raising her eyes — his presence was that undeniable.

Reyansh Khanna stepped closer, face perfectly calm, but there was an almost challenging glint in his gaze.

“I hope your team has reviewed the merger proposal, Ms. Verma,” he began, tone polite but edged with a faint coldness.

She straightened her shoulders. “We have. But there are points that are unreasonable. I think you already know that.”

His lips curved in the smallest, most unreadable smile. “Unreasonable for you, maybe. For me, they’re necessary. If you can’t handle this, maybe you aren’t prepared for this partnership.”

Woah. Ira felt a flash of heat in her chest. Did he just question her capability?

Her voice did not shake. “I’m fully prepared, Mr. Khanna. But don’t expect me to sign anything blindly. I protect my people. If that’s a problem for you, then you might want to rethink your side of the deal.”

Something shifted in his eyes, though his face stayed perfectly still.

“Protecting your people is admirable,” he replied slowly. “Let’s hope your confidence matches your execution. We’ll see.”

And without waiting for another word, he left the cabin, leaving the air behind him practically humming with tension.

Ira blew out a sharp breath, fists curling at her sides.

Oh God, he is rude. Who talks like that? I have heard he loves challenges, but that doesn’t mean you’ll talk to someone like this. How will I even deal with him if this partnership happens? We’ll be working side by side...I hate him already.

---

On the other side of the glass corridor, Reyansh walked away, replaying her voice in his head — the steady confidence, the calm yet forceful answers, the way she refused to be shaken.

Powerful, he thought. Exactly the kind of businesswoman people warn you about.

For a moment, thinking about her had even blurred the memories of his own heartbreak. But then, like a knife, the thought came slicing back —

What are you doing, Reyansh?

It’s just professional. It has to stay professional.

He clenched his jaw, eyes narrowing, pushing away the tiny flicker of warmth trying to slip through the cracks of his guarded heart.

---

To be continued...