INNOCENCE : An Innocent Lovestory

Chapter : 18

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Mr. Sharma sat alone in his lavish study, the dim light casting long shadows across the dark mahogany desk in front of him. The room was filled with the weight of his thoughts, each one more pressing and dangerous than the last. He leaned back in his leather chair, his hands steepled together as he contemplated his next move. The encounter with Ananya earlier that day had been a disaster, not only because she had defied him, but because she had shown a strength and resolve that unnerved him. She wasn’t the same woman he had once been able to control so easily.

The silence in the room was thick, almost suffocating, as he mulled over his options. He knew that Ananya was the best person to run the company—her strategic mind, her relentless drive, and her ability to handle even the most difficult situations made her invaluable. But that very competence was also the problem. Ananya had grown too powerful, too independent, and it threatened his own control over the business empire he had built. He couldn’t allow her to take over completely; he couldn’t allow her to overshadow him.

Yet, he also knew that without Ananya, the company could falter. He didn’t trust anyone else to handle the intricacies of the business, to navigate the treacherous waters of corporate competition with the same finesse that she did. It was a conundrum—he needed her, but he couldn’t allow her to take the reins fully.

Mr. Sharma tapped his fingers on the desk, the sound echoing in the silent room as he considered his options. Firing Ananya outright would be too risky. It would destabilize the company, and there was no one else with the same level of expertise to step in. But he also couldn’t allow her to continue accumulating power unchecked. He had to find a way to undermine her authority without completely removing her from the picture.

His mind began to form a plan—one that would allow him to retain control while keeping Ananya in her place. He would need to be subtle, careful not to push her too far, but he could begin to slowly erode her power, weaken her position within the company, and ultimately ensure that she was never in a position to challenge him.

First, he would start by isolating her. He knew that Ananya’s strength came not only from her own abilities but from the support network she had built within the company. Over the years, she had cultivated loyalty among the senior staff, and they trusted her judgment implicitly. Mr. Sharma would need to change that.

He would begin by planting seeds of doubt among the board members and senior executives. Quiet, insidious rumors about Ananya’s decision-making, her mental state, her ability to handle the stress of the role—anything that could create uncertainty about her competence. He would encourage them to question her decisions more closely, to push back against her more often. If he could slowly erode their trust in her, it would weaken her position without any direct confrontation.

Next, he would start diverting key responsibilities away from her. Mr. Sharma knew that Ananya thrived on control—she liked to have her hands in every aspect of the business, overseeing operations, making decisions, and ensuring everything ran smoothly. By gradually reassigning some of her duties to other executives, he could limit her influence without making it obvious. He would frame it as a way to lighten her load, to give her more time to focus on “strategic initiatives,” but in reality, it would be a way to cut her out of the day-to-day operations, to dilute her power.

He would also start grooming a potential successor. Someone younger, less experienced, and more easily manipulated. Someone who could be seen as a rising star within the company, who could eventually be positioned as a viable alternative to Ananya. Mr. Sharma knew this would take time—finding the right person, cultivating their skills, and positioning them within the company—but it would be worth it in the long run. Once the board saw that there was another option, someone who could take over if necessary, Ananya’s position would be even more precarious.

Finally, Mr. Sharma would use Ananya’s personal life against her. He had seen the way she had reacted when he threatened to fire her—it had been a moment of raw, uncontrolled emotion, something Ananya rarely showed. He knew that her husband, Rihaan, was a weakness. While she was fiercely protective of him, it also meant that her focus was divided. Mr. Sharma could exploit this by subtly increasing the pressure on Ananya, both professionally and personally. He would find ways to disrupt her home life, to create situations where she was forced to choose between her responsibilities at work and her obligations at home. The more stressed and distracted she became, the more likely she would be to make mistakes—mistakes that he could use against her.

Mr. Sharma allowed himself a small, satisfied smile as the plan took shape in his mind. It was perfect. He could maintain his control over the company while slowly eroding Ananya’s power, all without ever having to confront her directly. By the time she realized what was happening, it would be too late—she would have lost the support of the board, her influence within the company, and perhaps even her will to fight.

He leaned forward, pulling a notepad towards him, and began to jot down the key points of his plan. This would require careful execution, but Mr. Sharma was confident in his abilities. He had built his empire through shrewd, calculated moves, and this would be no different.

As he finished writing, he leaned back in his chair once more, feeling a sense of control and satisfaction return. Ananya had been a formidable opponent today, but in the end, she was still his daughter, and he knew how to handle her. She may have won the battle in the office, but the war was far from over.

Mr. Sharma’s eyes glinted coldly as he gazed at the notepad. He would not allow Ananya to take everything from him. He would not allow her to overshadow him, to challenge his authority. She would learn her place, and if she didn’t… well, he would make sure she had no place left to stand.

Satisfied with his plan, Mr. Sharma stood up from his desk and walked over to the large windows overlooking the city. The lights of the buildings glowed in the darkness, and he felt a renewed sense of purpose. This was his city, his company, his life—and no one, not even Ananya, would take it from him.

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