Chapter 27: The Leaked Footage

Aman's mind whirled as he processed Nisha's words. Someone had leaked early footage from the film—footage that could easily be twisted by the media to fit Rajeev's destructive narrative. The thought of Rajeev's smirk as the leak spread across the industry ignited a fire in Aman's chest. He knew they were playing a high-stakes game, but this move was a blatant attack on everything he had built.

"We need to shut this down, now," Aman said firmly, his voice steady but carrying an underlying tension.

Nisha nodded, her expression reflecting the urgency of the situation. "I've already initiated a lockdown on the set. Everyone will be questioned, but we'll need to be discreet. If word gets out about an internal investigation, it could fuel the rumors even more."

Aman exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair as he thought. The crew was loyal, or so he had believed. But Rajeev had a way of exploiting weaknesses, turning even the most trusted allies into tools for his schemes. It wasn't just the footage at risk—it was the trust within the team.

"Let's handle this quietly," Aman finally said. "I don't want any more attention drawn to us. The media's already circling like vultures, and I won't give them more to feed on."

As Nisha left to start discreetly gathering information, Aman's thoughts drifted to the one person who seemed completely unbothered by the chaos—Rajeev. He was out there, somewhere, watching, waiting for everything to crumble. Aman knew he couldn't just play defense forever. Sooner or later, he'd need to strike back.

---

Later that day, Aman called Riya and Arjun into his office. Both of them had heard whispers about the leak, and their faces showed the strain of the ongoing pressure.

"We've got a problem," Aman said, cutting straight to the point. "Someone's leaked some of our early footage. We're handling it, but I wanted you two to know because it might hit the media soon."

Riya's face paled slightly, while Arjun's eyes narrowed in anger.

"Who would do something like this?" Arjun asked, his voice tight. "After everything we've been through already, this just feels... wrong."

Aman leaned forward, his eyes serious. "Rajeev is behind this, no doubt. He's working from the shadows, trying to dismantle everything from within. I need you both to stay focused and not let this shake you. We're stronger than him."

Riya nodded, though her hands fidgeted nervously in her lap. "I trust you, Aman. But it's hard not to feel like everything is unraveling. First the media attention, now this... I'm starting to wonder if we'll even make it to the finish line."

Aman's gaze softened. "We will. I've faced challenges like this before, and we've always come out on top. Rajeev is trying to break us because he knows this project has the potential to be something great. He's scared of that."

Arjun crossed his arms, his face resolute. "I'm not going anywhere. If Rajeev thinks a few leaks are going to stop me, he's wrong."

Aman smiled slightly at Arjun's determination. "Good. That's the attitude we need right now."

---

The next few days passed in a tense haze. The investigation into the leak continued, with Nisha and Aman working tirelessly behind the scenes. The crew was on edge, rumors of a mole spreading like wildfire. Every glance, every whispered conversation seemed suspect.

But Aman stayed focused. He couldn't afford to lose control, not with Rajeev tightening his grip.

Then, late one night, as Aman was going over production notes in his office, his phone buzzed. It was a text from Nisha.

"We've got a name. Meet me at the studio."

Aman's heart rate quickened. He grabbed his jacket and headed out, the quiet corridors of the set feeling even more oppressive under the weight of the latest revelation.

When he arrived at the studio, Nisha was waiting for him, standing by the door with a folder in her hands.

"Who is it?" Aman asked, his voice tense.

Nisha hesitated for a moment before speaking. "It's Vikram."

Aman blinked, taken aback. Vikram had been with him since the early days of his career. He was one of the assistant directors, a guy Aman had trusted implicitly. To hear his name associated with the leak felt like a punch to the gut.

"No," Aman said, shaking his head. "That doesn't make sense. Vikram's been with us for years. He wouldn't do something like this."

Nisha handed him the folder. "I didn't want to believe it either, but the evidence points to him. He's been in contact with one of Rajeev's associates. They've been exchanging emails for weeks."

Aman opened the folder, scanning through the pages. It was all there—messages between Vikram and one of Rajeev's people, plans to leak footage, discussions about payment.

He slammed the folder shut, his jaw clenched. "Why?"

Nisha's expression was grim. "Rajeev offered him a lot of money. More than Vikram could ever hope to make working on this film."

Aman felt a wave of anger surge through him, but he forced himself to stay calm. This was what Rajeev wanted—for him to lose control, to make a rash decision. But Aman wasn't going to give him that satisfaction.

"We'll deal with this," Aman said, his voice steady despite the storm brewing inside him. "Vikram is done. We'll cut him from the production quietly, and we'll make sure he never works in this industry again."

Nisha nodded. "I'll take care of it."

As she left to handle the situation, Aman sat down at his desk, running a hand through his hair. He had always prided himself on being able to read people, to know who he could trust. But Vikram's betrayal shook him in a way he hadn't expected.

Rajeev had managed to plant a seed of doubt in the one place Aman had thought was secure—his own team.

---

Aman spent the next few hours in his office, deep in thought. He couldn't afford to let Rajeev win. The leak was a setback, but it wasn't the end. He still had Riya and Arjun, still had a crew that believed in the project. And most importantly, he still had the determination to see this film through, no matter the obstacles in his path.

Rajeev wanted a war, and Aman was ready to give him one.