Raghav knew that unlike his previous conquests, Ananya wouldn't be swayed by charm alone. She valued competence, strength, and respect—qualities he needed to demonstrate to earn her trust. Over the next few weeks, he made subtle moves to infiltrate her world.
Through his influence and financial connections, he orchestrated a situation where Black Cobra Security would be in need of an additional investor to secure a major contract. The deal was too important for Ananya to ignore, and Raghav positioned himself as the only viable solution.
Ananya, of course, was suspicious at first. She met with him in a high-security conference room, flanked by two of her most trusted operatives. Her demeanor was as cold as ever, but Raghav could see the hints of curiosity behind her steely exterior.
"What's your game, Rao?" she asked, her voice sharp. "You could invest in any security firm. Why mine?"
Raghav leaned back in his chair, exuding confidence. "Because I know potential when I see it. You're the best in the business, Ananya. And I don't like backing second-rate operations."
Ananya studied him for a long moment, her eyes narrowing. "You don't strike me as the type who's only interested in business."
"You're right," Raghav admitted, leaning forward. "I'm interested in power. And I think we can help each other."
There was a flicker of intrigue in her eyes, but she masked it quickly. "I don't need help from the likes of you."
"We'll see," Raghav replied smoothly.
"Conquest progress: 30%."
The system's voice echoed in his mind. The real battle had begun.