Avyukta's POV

Amalfi was like stardust from afar, scattered lights glistening along the coast. Dad would have dragged me into another charity gala where I'd be faking an angel face.

Pathetic.

I watch the red wine spill into the dark sea as I tilt the glass. Not because I like wasting wine.

But because I like wasting expensive wine. Huh...

Our yacht in the middle of the sea, the night breeze and no pretence for now. It feels peaceful celebrating my birthday here rather than in Mumbai. I heard Swastika walk in, she's the only one who doesn't suck my patience out, and hence my bestie.

"Ou...look, the birthday girl is being a brat again..."

Brat. That was one way to describe me.

I huffed, "I was born as a brat. Thanks for the reminder." Swastika grinned against her wine glass. We both love this banter, "Never a doubt, Avyukta." She looked up at the sky- "I hope, God, you have someone ready for this certified baddie..."

I raised an eyebrow looking at her as I emptied the wine in the sea, "I don't entertain walking 'empty-heads'."

"Not every man is."

"In front of me- every man is."

Her jaw went slack with that exaggerated expression I rolled my eyes at, "It's two AM, Swastika. We have a flight at seven back to the bad air quality of our city..."

Mumbai is always a place that feels like a burden, especially because of the business politics which makes Mumbai less of a labyrinth and traffic and more of a chessboard.

I heard her groan dramatically. I went inside the yacht compartments as my heels clicked on the brown polished wood of the yacht's deck.

By the time we reach Mumbai tomorrow- Dad would have a business strategy as toast for breakfast and I'd be making a pun in my head. Ridiculous.

Hell with that...

---

Vayom's POV

I heard the stutter of the man speaking in front, pointing at a pie-chart on the projector screen in front. He's practically sweating while the AC is at seventeen degrees Celsius. I tapped my fingers once on the mahogany desk of the conference hall. Expensive wood. I like expensive shit.

"- Mr. Singhania, the stocks could-"

I cut him off without raising my voice, "This is a meeting where I gave you my ten minutes to present and you are telling me about the stock predictions instead of the potential and logistics."

I stood up and straightened my charcoal blazer, the smooth Italian wool under my fingertips.

"You are clearly wasting my time."

I walked out. Didn't look behind. I don't have to, I'm the CEO.

I heard Kavya- my assistant- following me into my office.

Through the corridors of glass and steel, I could see the bastard's shadow from the frosted glass. Hriday. The only man who is allowed to.

"Look... someone finally got time to show up..."

I ran a hand in my hair. My office's floor-to-ceiling-window shows the skyline of scattered Mumbai. I looked at him,

"I was busy wasting my time."

He looked at me, raised an eyebrow.

Typical Hriday Raghuwanshi.

"I had an underground run through my sources. Every string of the Uzan group is tangled. All that's suspected is the Rai empire. Your father is right, Vyom."

I exhaled. The Rai empire; the rivalry got them established Uzan group, without declaring it publicly that they owned it. All for what?- to destroy us undercover.

Great. Fucking great, Rai.

I looked at the skyline as I pocketed my hands,

"Uzan is a shell company Rais aren't ready to admit they own."

Hriday nodded, "Apparently- that's what it looks like, Vyom."

"And they somehow know every fucking move before I make it."

Hriday nodded turning towards me, " It means they have someone sneaking into your boardrooms." I gritted my teeth, shaking my head once and slowly,

"Nope. It means I have a fucking traitors inside my den..."

A fucking traitor. Let's play...

✷✷✷

(Hey readers, I hope you enjoyed the prologue. It's my first book as I finally mustered up the courage to show up here and present my story. My english isn't that good, but I try.

If you like it, drop a comment. A little reaction means a lot.

My Instagram account- daring._darling will have sneak-peeks of the story.

Stay tuned, darlings!🍷)