' The Beginning of Enmity'

Nia

"I just lost my thirty minutes to some random stranger."
I scoffed as I continued to beat the coffee until it turned caramel coloured.

" It wasn't a total waste. He did get you a fair and square deal. It was you who backed out."
Adil nonchalantly said from the other side, his words did hurt, a bit.

I don't get it, he knows every reason why I declined that offer and yet he's showing my fault at this too?

"Adil, I don't think you understand my dream. I don't want my orphanage to be opened at somewhere random--"

"Yeah, I know. It's cause your grandmother's house has a kind of energy to feel safe and sound."

The way he sounded was like 'stop throwing tantrums' kinda vibe. I clenched my fist around the spoon tightly, my vision blurred with rage; I continued to put pressure when a loud thud sound broke me out of trance. Coffee splattered everywhere from my clothes to the floor and a bit on my face.

Shit!
I shrugged off some from my clothes before I walked past the mess to get the mop.

"Believe me, I do want to see your dream come true. But at this rate, it will be a dream forever."
I rolled my eyes at his words, biting my inner cheeks hard enough that I tasted blood.

Dropping the damp cloth ( I use old clothes to clean the floor, that way I make the best out of my expenses on clothes) over the spilled coffee, I ignored his words and paid no heed whatsoever.Meanwhile my pressure cooker also whistled loudly. I hurriedly went to switch off the gas stove leaving the unfinished cleaning.

Oh well, fuck that! I am not good at multitasking.

"You should've accepted his offer. I had high hopes from him." I dropped all the chores and glared at the screen, but he was nowhere but the background chopping noise indicates he's busy with the knife. I was close to losing my mind if he didn't shut up.

"What do you mean by that?"

"His offer was acceptable. At least he would pay--"

"No. Stop." I cut him in the middle, my lips quivered ." What do you mean by you had high hopes?"

The minute I asked him, he went silent.

Does he know him? How did he know? Is he anyhow involved in that coincidental meeting? Did Adil sell me off to that arrogant brat?

"I meant you could've just asked him to preserve the mansion as it is. I kinda hoped he would agree." I sighed out in relief. I was overthinking again.

Adil could never backstab me, he wasn't that type of guy. I have known him since highschool, he's straightforward, chic and doesn't tolerate that type of behaviour, at all. I know for sure, but who knows?

"Maybe!" I added and paused for a while. But, it was Viraj we are talking about, the celebrity-like businessman full of arrogance. By the way he behaved like everything belongs to him, I rarely believe he would do so. Just thinking about him brings back the ick and shivers.

"Trust me, if you'd be there we both would end up in jail." I added and chuckled at the thought.

"Just by your experience my blood boils. If I was there my fist would move faster than my lips." I laughed out loud at his crazy imagination.

"You and fist? I will be glad to see that."

Adil was a sweet person with a charming attitude. He was so down to earth guy and never got into any heated arguments. He was a man with no enemies.

And I was proud of it.

A small smile played around my lips, totally submerged in old memories. I don't know when time flew by talking to him.

_______

Viraj

"I don't care. I need the details now. Dig in the whole information from her birth till now, right now."

The staff flinched when my voice thundered. I shut my eyes tight and tilted my head.

Fuck

"You can leave."

I sighed and leaned back on my leather chair. I was back in my office, a huge pile of files awaiting my presence.

I can't lose this time. I don't want to lose.

Even if it takes millions of trials, I will keep trying until I can prove myself. My phone rang making me sigh out loud annoyed, I reluctantly gave it a peek. I clicked my tongue while running my hands through my hair. After a few more rings I forced myself to pick up the call.

"How did it go?"
My father's grumpy tone immediately got me stiff.

"It didn't go well. I tried but--"

"You failed."

"Not entirely." I argued back at his ridiculous assumption holding back any argumentative words.

"I hope not. I don't want to see my son struggling for a mere piece of land." He paused for a bit, then added."Or are you simply giving up?"

"No, I am not.."

I clenched my jaws tight, holding back my irritation and annoyance as much as I could.

"Good, that's what I expect from you. After all, my blood runs in your veins. You owe me that one."

"I don't owe you anything. Just cause your blood runs in me doesn't mean I will be like you."

"Prove me wrong with all your might,son."

"I will."

He snickered at the end of the conversation, mocking me.

With a sudden knock I scowled at the noise but then John peeked inside, reading my face carefully and walking as I didn't instantly scold him.

"Sir what's wrong?" He asked meekly,I arched an eyebrow at him. His gaze followed towards my hand. That's when I realised I've been holding the paperweight in my fists tightly that my knuckles turned white.

I shook my head at him letting go of the paperweights.

Raghuveer Malhotra, my father who indeed was a successful business man but at what cost? I hated his name from the bottom of my heart. Everytime I represent his company, his name I feel utterly useless and makes me work even harder.
I want to have something of my own. Something that doesn't belong to my father.

I wasn't rebelling against him, or maybe I am but either way I don't want to lose to him.

After all these years of hard work I finally reached where I could own something under my name. I won't let that woman ruin it.

To be honest, I was amused by the bravery she showed, but it pissed me off when she coldly declined my offer. I mean anyone would die to get half of what I had offered her. Yet she so arrogantly stomped down the deal.

I wasn't looting her, she would get what she deserved. It will be beneficial for both of us. But no, woman had to show off her arrogance cheekily.

John cleared his throat to signal his presence.

"What?" I was pissed off at the sudden turn of events.

"You have been quiet since we came back."

"John, you saw what happened. The nerve of her to decline my offer in my face. I didn't speculated it would go wrong in any possible way"

"It was quite a scene." John chuckled as he reminisced obtaining a glare from me.

"It sure was." I sighed out loud."But I don't want to lose that property. "

"Sir, I have a deal." John said and took a seat in front of me.

"What's that?" I perk up my ears, at his words. The way his face radiates confidence, I am quite sure it's something that I had huge interest in, otherwise he wouldn't dare to sit in front of me, eye to eye.

"Not as your assistant, but as Mr. Raghuveer Malhotra's secretary."
He grinned from ear to ear in an evil manner.

"Go on. I am all ears." I chuckled, relaxing my head leaning back to the chair loosening up a bit.

John rarely acts arrogantly but when he does, he definitely got something up his sleeves. He was hired by my father as his secretary but I got him under my wing when I saw his loyalty towards work.

"I contacted the land revenue office to get more information about Miss Nia." John started in a monotonous voice.

"What did you get?"

"Well, I didn't get any when I searched by her name.." I frowned, weird. He took a deep breath and added while smirking . "But when I searched her grandmother's name, I got a lot of new information."

"Like?"

"She might not be the real owner."

*****~~~~~~*****

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