Cracks in the System

The next morning, Malhotra Global buzzed with its usual rhythm of controlled chaos.

Phones rang. Keyboards clicked. Assistants rushed between offices carrying files and tablets.

But inside the strategy department, the atmosphere felt slightly different.

Whispers had started.

All because of one project.

Ira Sharma arrived at her desk early, just like the day before. She placed her bag down and immediately opened her laptop, continuing the acquisition model she had been building the entire night.

The numbers were finally starting to make sense.

A risky structure… but not impossible.

She was halfway through reviewing the financial projections when her screen suddenly froze.

Ira frowned.

Then the spreadsheet vanished.

Her brows slowly furrowed.

She opened the file again.

Empty.

Every formula. Every projection.

Gone.

For a few seconds she simply stared at the screen, processing what had happened.

This wasn't a system glitch.

Someone had accessed her file.

Someone had deleted the work.

Across the office floor, a few employees pretended to work while secretly watching her reaction.

News traveled fast.

Especially when someone new started threatening existing power.

Ira leaned back in her chair.

Then she smiled slightly.

“Interesting,” she murmured.

Instead of panicking, she calmly opened another folder.

Backup file.

Most people in the corporate world trusted systems.

Ira trusted preparation.

Her entire model appeared again on the screen.

But the incident confirmed something.

Someone didn’t want her succeeding.

Meanwhile, on the top floor, Aarav Malhotra was reviewing the morning reports when Kabir walked into his office.

“You should come see this,” Kabir said casually.

Aarav didn’t look up.

“If it's another rumor from the finance department, I’m not interested.”

Kabir leaned against the desk.

“Someone tried to sabotage your favorite strategist.”

That made Aarav pause.

His eyes lifted.

“Explain.”

Kabir shrugged.

“Her project files were deleted this morning.”

Aarav’s expression darkened slightly.

“And?”

“And nothing,” Kabir continued. “She restored everything from a backup in less than two minutes.”

A faint smile appeared on Aarav’s face.

“I expected that.”

Kabir studied him carefully.

“You knew something like this would happen?”

Aarav stood and walked toward the window overlooking the city.

“When someone new enters a company and starts threatening existing influence,” he said calmly, “people react.”

“Still,” Kabir replied, “it’s bold to sabotage a project you assigned personally.”

Aarav turned toward him.

“That’s exactly why I want to know who did it.”

Downstairs, Ira was already moving on to the next part of the strategy.

She didn't bother asking IT for help.

She didn't complain to management.

Instead, she opened the internal access log.

Every file modification inside the system left a digital footprint.

Her fingers moved quickly as she traced the access history.

There.

A user ID.

Someone from the strategy division.

Ira leaned back slowly.

“So,” she murmured.

“We’re playing games now.”

At that exact moment, the office elevator doors opened.

Aarav Malhotra stepped onto the floor.

The room immediately grew quieter.

His presence always had that effect.

His eyes moved across the department once before settling on Ira’s desk.

She didn’t even look up.

Still working.

Still calm.

Still completely unbothered by the pressure around her.

Kabir followed behind him with an amused expression.

“You know,” Kabir said quietly, “most employees would be running to HR right now.”

Aarav watched Ira for a moment longer.

“She won’t.”

“And why not?”

Aarav’s voice lowered slightly.

“Because she prefers solving problems herself.”

As if on cue, Ira finally looked up.

Their eyes met across the office floor.

For a brief moment, neither of them looked away.

Then Ira closed her laptop, stood up, and walked toward his office.

Employees immediately pretended to be busy again.

The glass door shut behind her.

Inside the office, Aarav leaned against his desk.

“You look calm,” he said.

“I am.”

“Your files were deleted.”

“I restored them.”

“Someone in this company tried to sabotage you.”

Ira crossed her arms slightly.

“Yes.”

Aarav studied her carefully.

“And?”

She tilted her head slightly.

“And I already know who did it.”

For the first time, Aarav looked genuinely intrigued.

“You found them?”

“Of course.”

A slow smile spread across her face.

“But I’m not telling you.”

Aarav raised an eyebrow.

“You're not?”

“No.”

“Why?”

Ira stepped closer to the desk.

“Because,” she said quietly, “I’d rather handle it myself.”

Silence filled the office again.

Then Aarav chuckled softly.

“Dangerous,” he murmured.

Ira met his gaze without hesitation.

“You noticed.”

Outside the glass walls, the employees of Malhotra Global continued working.

But none of them realized something important had just begun.

This wasn’t just a competition anymore.

It was becoming a war of intelligence.

And both of them were enjoying it far more than they should.

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