INNOCENCE

Chapter : 2

Don't forget to vote!!!!
.
.
.
.
Enjoy reading!!!

__________

Ananya walked down the grand staircase of Sharma Manor, her sharp eyes taking in every detail of the opulent interior. She was perfectly ready for another exhausting day, her pristine suit and immaculate hair reflecting her unyielding dedication to her role as CEO of Sharma Industries. As she neared the bottom of the stairs, she saw her father, engrossed in his morning newspaper. Her younger brother was nowhere to be seen, probably still asleep, as was his habit.

Just as she was about to slip out of the house unnoticed, a cold voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Ananya!" her mother called out, her tone dripping with disdain.

Ananya halted but did not turn around. “Yes, Mrs. Sharma?” she responded, her voice steady. Only she knew the pain of addressing her own mother so formally, a wound that never seemed to heal. To call her own mother anything but “Mom” was a wound she bore daily.

"Come home early tonight," her mother commanded without preamble. "The Mehra family is coming for dinner."

Ananya's brow furrowed in confusion. She had never been invited to family dinners, let alone informed of them. "Why do you need me there?" she asked, keeping her tone neutral despite the surprise and hurt that churned within her. She was always excluded from family gatherings, not even allowed to sit with them.

Her mother's next words hit her like a physical blow. "They have a marriage proposal for you."

Ananya's head snapped around so quickly she heard a bone crack, but the pain was nothing compared to the shock and anger that surged through her. She was about to refuse outright, to declare that she would never agree to such an arrangement, but her father's stern voice interrupted her thoughts.

"If you refuse this proposal," Vikram said, not bothering to look up from his newspaper, "you will be fired from your position as CEO. The role will go to your cousin, Arav."

Ananya's blood ran cold. Arav, the orphaned cousin who had always harbored a silent resentment towards her. Ananya couldn’t lose her position, not when she had worked so hard to achieve her goals and prove her worth in a world that constantly sought to undermine her.

Her rage simmered just below the surface, but she forced herself to remain composed. She needed that position. She needed to fulfill her goals. Without another word, she turned and stormed out of the manor, her footsteps echoing in the empty halls.

Once outside, she got into her car and drove towards her office, the familiar route doing little to calm the turmoil within her. She was enraged, to say the least. If only she could get away from here, from this family that seemed intent on breaking her spirit. In her anger, she didn’t realize when she reached her office building.

Ananya stomped inside, her expression like a storm cloud ready to unleash its fury. The employees around her were too scared to even greet her, whispers of caution spreading like wildfire.

" A advise, if you love your life, don't come in front of her for the whole day," one employee whispered to another.

The other just nodded, too scared to even speak.

Ananya stormed into her office and immediately called her secretary, Mr. Dev, into her cabin. Her voice was dark and commanding, and Dev practically ran to her office, his heart pounding in his chest. He knocked once, and upon hearing a curt "Come in," he entered, still panting.

"Yes, ma'am, you called?" he said, trying to steady his breath.

Ananya nodded, her eyes cold and unyielding. "I want all information about the Mehra family within two hours," she ordered.