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Chapter 21 - Chapter 19 – The Smile That Cuts

The day after the boardroom showdown, Aanya expected silence.

Or chaos.

What she didn't expect… was a message request from Sanya Mehra.

"Lunch? 1 p.m. Rooftop cafe. No tricks. Just girl talk."

Girl talk?

She scoffed. But curiosity — and maybe a bit of recklessness — won.

—At exactly 1, Aanya arrived.

Sanya was already there. Designer sunglasses. Lipstick like blood. Smile too sweet.

"You came," Sanya said, sipping her drink.

"Get to the point," Aanya replied, staying standing.

Sanya pouted. "No need to be so tense. I just thought we should… talk. Woman to woman."

"I don't talk to women who leak photos."

That smile again. Sharp. Dangerous.

"Oh, sweetheart," Sanya said softly. "You think I leaked them? If I wanted to destroy you, I wouldn't be so obvious."

Aanya narrowed her eyes. "Then who?"

A pause. A long sip. Then—

"Someone who knows you better than me.""Someone who's very close to Riaan.""Someone who's been waiting for this fall."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Sanya stood, brushing invisible dust off her dress.

"Riaan's not just battling the board," she said. "He's about to be betrayed by someone he calls family."

She stepped closer, lowering her sunglasses.

"And when it happens, don't say I didn't warn you."

With that, she walked off, heels clicking like a countdown.

Aanya stood frozen.

Family?

That could mean only one thing.

Kiaan Khurana.

Riaan's cousin. His CFO.The man who smiled in meetings but always stared at her a second too long.

The one who said:

"He doesn't deserve the company. Or you."

Her pulse spiked.

Riaan didn't know.

And now…

Someone was about to stab him in the back.

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