Chapter 14: The Phantom's Hand
The Malhotra Global boardroom gleamed with polished mahogany, floor‑to‑ceiling windows casting the Mumbai skyline in stark daylight.
For Aanya, it felt like stepping back into a battlefield she'd been forced to abandon five years ago.
She walked in, head held high, every step echoing on the marble floor. Meera followed with a briefcase, and Arjun — calm, unreadable, but radiating quiet strength — shadowed her as if daring anyone to make a wrong move.
Around the oval table sat the directors — powerful men and women, their gazes sharp, their whispers hushed. At the head of the table, Rajiv Malhotra sat like a king upon a stolen throne. His tailored suit was immaculate, his smile faint but laced with venom.
"Well, well," Rajiv said smoothly. "The prodigal niece returns. I trust prison taught you humility?"
Aanya's lips curved in a cold smile. "It taught me patience. And how to spot a rat."
A ripple of murmurs spread across the room. Rajiv's eyes glinted. "Careful, Aanya. This board does not respond well to slander."
She met his gaze without flinching. "Then let's deal in truth."
Meera placed the briefcase on the table, opening it to reveal neatly stacked documents. "We have evidence tying Rajiv Malhotra to fraudulent transfers via Blackthorn Holdings. Accounts created with internal credentials — provided by none other than your trusted CFO, Mr. Rakesh Sharma."
Gasps broke out. All eyes turned to Rakesh, seated two chairs down. His face was pale, sweat already forming on his brow.
Rajiv's smile didn't falter. "Rakesh?"
Rakesh's voice shook. "It's… true. The accounts exist. The transfers… I authorized them. Under Mr. Rajiv's orders."
The boardroom erupted in chaos.
One director slammed his palm on the table. "Rajiv, is this true?"
Another muttered, "If this leaks to the press, our stock will crash."
Rajiv raised a hand, his tone calm. "Lies. All lies. A desperate attempt by a convicted criminal to regain relevance."
"Convicted," Aanya shot back, her voice cutting through the noise, "because you and Rakesh planted the evidence against me."
The system chimed in her mind.
[Ding!]
Skill Activated: Boardroom Authority (Tier 1).
Influence of spoken words increased by 25%.
Her gaze swept the table. "You all know my father built Malhotra Global on integrity. Ask yourselves — is Rajiv protecting that legacy, or selling it piece by piece for his own gain?"
The directors shifted uncomfortably. Doubt flickered across their faces.
Rajiv leaned back, steepling his fingers. "Touching. But do you really think one trembling CFO and a few pieces of paper will topple me? I control the overseas expansion deal. With it comes billions. Do you want to gamble that away on her word?"
Before anyone could answer, Rajiv's phone buzzed. He glanced at it, then smiled faintly. "In fact, gentlemen and ladies, allow me to share some… news."
He tapped the screen, projecting a live feed onto the boardroom's display.
A press conference was underway. A suave man in a grey suit stood at a podium, cameras flashing around him. The caption read: Blackthorn Holdings Announces Strategic Partnership with Malhotra Global.
The man at the podium smiled, his voice confident. "I, Manav Verma, am proud to announce our alliance with Rajiv Malhotra. Together, we will expand into Europe and Asia, setting a new global standard."
Gasps filled the room.
Aanya's blood ran cold. M.V.
The system chimed ominously.
[Warning!]
Hidden Enemy Confirmed: Manav Verma — The Phantom Investor.
Influence Level: A+.
Threat Rating: Extreme.
Rajiv's smile widened. "You see? While my dear niece was busy playing detective, I was securing our future. With Mr. Verma's backing, Malhotra Global is unstoppable."
One director whispered urgently, "Manav Verma… he controls half the logistics sector. His support guarantees profits."
Another muttered, "We can't oppose this. It's too risky."
Aanya forced her voice steady. "Manav Verma isn't backing Malhotra Global. He's buying it. Piece by piece, until nothing remains of the company my parents built."
Rajiv chuckled. "Fearmongering, Aanya. A bad look for someone already tainted."
The board members exchanged uneasy glances. The tide was shifting — and not in her favor.
Arjun leaned down slightly, his breath brushing her ear. "They're wavering. You need a strike, now."
Her mind raced. Think. What would Father do?
Then it clicked.
She turned to the display. "Mr. Verma speaks of partnership. But has anyone checked Blackthorn Holdings' debt records?"
The room stilled.
She tapped her tablet, and with a flick, projected another document. "Because according to this — Blackthorn is drowning in over 800 crore of hidden debt. If you tie Malhotra Global to them, that debt becomes ours."
Murmurs turned to alarm. One director hissed, "Is this true?"
Meera stepped forward. "Verified through independent auditors."
The system chimed.
[Ding!]
Persuasion Success Rate increased by 35%.
Aanya's voice rang out, firm and clear. "So, board members, the choice is yours. Stand with Rajiv and watch Malhotra Global sink under Verma's debt… or stand with me, and restore the company to what it was meant to be."
The room erupted again, this time with frantic debate.
Rajiv's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. For the first time, the mask slipped.
"You think you've won?" he hissed under his breath. "You've just declared war."
Aanya met his glare, her eyes blazing. "Then let's see who survives the battlefield."
[Ding!]
Subtask Progress: Board Allies Secured — 1/3
Ally: Raghav Kothari
Time Remaining: 2 Days, 3 Hours
As the meeting adjourned in chaos, Aanya felt Arjun's steady presence beside her.
"You just painted a target on your back," he murmured.
She glanced at him, her chin high. "Let them come."
But deep inside, she couldn't shake the image of Manav Verma's confident smile.
The Phantom Investor had revealed his hand. And she knew this war was only beginning.
Far across the city, Manav Verma swirled a glass of wine in his penthouse. His phone buzzed with Rajiv's call.
"She exposed the debt," Rajiv snapped. "She's dangerous."
Manav's lips curved into a slow, cold smile. "Good. I like dangerous. Let's see how dangerous she becomes… before I crush her."