A Glimpse of Red

Game behind the scene

Ram Singh entered Nitya's office in the luxurious Parisian hotel with an air of pride. His expression was subtle, but Nitya's sharp eyes caught it instantly. She didn't miss details, especially when something about her trusted lieutenant was off. He handed her a file and said, "Hukum, the meeting with the dean of Sorbonne University is scheduled for 1 p.m."

Nitya barely nodded, her focus already on the contents of the file. Rawal Enterprises-it was impressive, to say the least. The staggering growth, the sheer expanse of their ventures across industries, and the absence of competitors in their sectors piqued her curiosity. In the cutthroat world of business, no empire was immune to rivalry. Yet here were the Rawals, untouchable. Something didn't sit right.

Her voice was calm, but there was a sharpness to it as she asked, "The other file, Ram Singh?" . Ram Singh's face faltered, the confidence he entered with melting away. "Yuvrani... this is all I found. There is no other file." Nitya let out a dangerous, low laugh, one that sent a chill through the room. "No other file?" Her gaze bore into Ram Singh's as he fumbled to explain. "Hukum, Maharaj sa-" . She cut him off, her eyes dark as she spoke. "Your loyalty lies with whom, Ram Singh?" . "With you, hukum," he stammered. Her expression hardened. "No. Your loyalty is with the throne. And I am the Yuvrani. So your loyalty is with me-not my retired father."

Ram Singh's face paled. He understood the gravity of her words. "My apologies, Hukum. I will send the missing file shortly, and I will also accept any punishment you deem fit." Nitya leaned back, her gaze cold but calculated. "Tomorrow, 11 p.m. Be ready, Ram Singh. I will decide your punishment then, and perhaps it will help me calm my mind even its temporary."

As he left, the file she had requested arrived in her inbox. The subject line was simple: Black World. Nitya opened the file and her eyes scanned through its contents. It listed the black market dealings, the underworld connections, and the undeniable evidence of Rawal involvement. A faint smile tugged at her lips as she realized that while Rawal Enterprises flourished in the legitimate world, they had strong roots in the underworld as well-just like her.

But she operated under the alias Red Rose, a name whispered in dark corridors but known to very few. This gave her an advantage. Now she needed to understand how deep Pratham Singh Rawal was in this shadowy world-and more importantly, why her father had been hiding it from her.

---

By the time the dean of Sorbonne University arrived at her office for his routine report, Nitya had already shifted her focus. The man was clearly nervous, his hands trembling slightly as he held his notes. He was well aware of the power Nitya wielded, and no one wanted to get on her bad side.

Nitya leaned back in her chair, her voice cutting through the tension. "How's the weather at the university?"

The dean cleared his throat, trying to steady himself. "Your Majesty, all is well. Ishaan is as brilliant as ever-charming and incredibly intelligent, though there's a... darker side to him at times. Ishika, on the other hand, is beauty with a saint's heart. She's warm, compassionate, and we're proud to have them both here. No need to worry about their academics; they're excelling."

Nitya waved her hand dismissively, a signal that he was dismissed. The dean, visibly relieved, hurried to leave the office. He thanked his stars for escaping the intimidating presence of the Rajput princess.

---

Later that evening, as the city lights of Paris began to flicker, Nitya received a message from Ranveer, her business aide. It was about a meeting request from Pratham Singh Rawal, set for the following day at lunch to discuss the Bhumi project.

Normally, Nitya would have passed such a meeting onto her subordinates. She rarely met people in the early stages of negotiations. She preferred to keep her distance until the final decisions were to be made. But something about Pratham intrigued her. It wasn't just the business-it was the mystery of him, the Rawal empire, and their connections to the underworld that pulled her in.

Against her usual practice, Nitya replied with a simple message: I'll attend.

As she closed her phone, she looked out over the Paris skyline. The chessboard was set, and the next move belonged to her. The meeting with Pratham would reveal much-and she had every intention of staying ten steps ahead.