THE TYRANT'S ENMITY | 18+

2.

• V I R A A J A G N I H O T R I •

The sound of my boots echoed through the cold, sleek hallway of the Agnihotri headquarters. The dimly lit corridors, furnished with marble and glass, reflected the stillness of the night-a stillness I had long grown used to. This place was mine now. No longer just my father's legacy; it was my kingdom.

I adjusted my cufflinks, a mere formality in a world where power wasn't gained by appearances. The recent events had tested me, but I thrived under pressure. The weight of my father's sudden death had almost crushed me, but I stood taller because of it. Weakness wasn't a trait I could afford, not in this cutthroat business where betrayal lurked at every corner.

I had inherited more than just the Agnihotri empire; I had inherited the underworld connections, the debts, and the enemies that came with it. But the thing about enemies is that they make you stronger. They fuel the fire inside you, forcing you to evolve, to adapt. And that's exactly what I had done.

As I stepped into my office, my eyes flickered across the dark room, landing on the chair behind my desk. A man sat there, waiting patiently. Zain Malik. The man who had once been a trusted ally but had now become nothing more than a thorn in my side. He'd tried to betray me-tried to steal my business, my legacy-and I wasn't one to let anyone get away with that.

"Zain," I greeted him, my voice cool and measured. "I see you've come to make your final request."

Zain looked up, his eyes bloodshot and his demeanor slightly unsteady. I knew he'd been drinking; it wasn't a good sign. He was nervous, and that was exactly what I wanted. The moment you show fear, the game is already over.

He licked his lips before speaking, trying to regain his composure. "Viraaj... I don't want this to end like this. We can still work together. We can still-"

I cut him off, my voice sharp. "Save it. You've made your move, Zain. You thought you could double-cross me and walk away unscathed, didn't you?"

He swallowed hard, his face going pale as he realized what I meant. He had crossed a line that could never be undone. I'd given him a chance to back out. I'd given him an ultimatum, but he had chosen greed over loyalty. And now, he was paying the price.

"You're a businessman, right?" I asked, circling behind him slowly. "Then you should understand that betrayal is the one thing you can never come back from."

His eyes darted nervously to the door, but he knew it was too late. The guards I'd placed around the building were too loyal to let anyone leave alive once they'd made a fatal mistake.

I leaned in close, letting the silence stretch between us. "In my world, Zain, we don't forgive. We don't forget. And when you try to take what's mine, you lose everything. Including your life."

He opened his mouth to protest, but I didn't give him the chance. I raised my hand, and the door opened. One of my bodyguards, Vinay stepped in, his face impassive as always. He moved swiftly, his hand reaching for the sleek, black gun holstered at his side. The metal gleamed in the low light.

"Take care of it," I said simply, my voice devoid of any emotion.

Zain's eyes widened in shock, the realization hitting him full force. "No! You don't have to do this! I... I'll fix it! I swear, I'll fix everything!"