Kiara didn't sleep that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Reyansh Rathore standing too close, his voice too calm, his eyes too knowing—as if he already owned the outcome.
She hated that feeling.
By morning, she had rebuilt her walls.
By the time she reached the office, she was ready for war.
The conference room was already occupied.
Reyansh stood by the window this time, hands in his pockets, city stretched beneath him like a kingdom. He didn't turn when she entered.
"You're late," he said.
"I'm not working for you," Kiara replied coolly. "So my timing isn't your concern."
He smiled.
Not kindly.
"I told you," he said, turning at last. "You're not working for me."
He slid a file across the table.
She didn't touch it.
"What is this?" she asked.
"A solution," he replied. "For both of us."
Kiara crossed her arms. "You don't do solutions. You do damage."
His gaze darkened for a brief second—so brief she almost missed it.
"Open it."
She hesitated. Then flipped the file open.
Her breath caught.
Contracts. Numbers. Clauses. Her company's name printed in black ink beside his.
"You engineered this merger," she whispered. "On purpose."
"Yes."
No denial. No shame.
"You cornered us," she said, anger rising. "You left us no choice."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I gave you one."
Her fingers tightened around the pages. "Working with you is not a choice. It's punishment."
"Careful," he murmured. "You're assuming this is harder on you than it is on me."
She laughed sharply. "Is it?"
For a moment, Reyansh didn't answer.
The silence stretched—heavy, charged.
Then he leaned closer, just enough that she could feel his presence without him touching her.
"You walked away once," he said quietly. "This time, you won't."
Her pulse spiked. "You don't get to decide that."
His eyes dropped—to her clenched jaw, her tense hands—then returned to her face.
"I already have."
Kiara shoved the file back toward him. "I'll fight this. Legally. Publicly. I won't let you control me again."
Something cold settled into his expression.
"Again," he repeated softly. "You really believe you were ever under my control?"
She froze.
He straightened, all emotion wiped clean.
"This partnership is happening," he said flatly. "You can make it smooth… or ugly."
She met his gaze without blinking. "You underestimate me."
For the first time, something like approval flickered in his eyes.
"Good," he said. "I'd be disappointed if you didn't make this difficult."
As she turned to leave, his voice stopped her at the door.
"Kiara."
She didn't look back.
"This is only the beginning."
Her hand tightened on the handle.
She already knew.
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Continueeee.....