Heer gripped the steering wheel and drove toward her office, the city's bustling streets unfolding before her as her thoughts drifted elsewhere.She knew the reality of the business world better than most. Success came with enemies. Power attracted jealousy. Wealth invited threats.
She had dealt with all of it.
Yet today's uneasiness felt different.
As though fate was silently preparing something for her.
Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel as she continued driving toward her office.
A few minutes later, she stopped at a traffic signal.
The red light glowed ahead while the city around her remained restless. Vehicles lined up beside her, their engines humming in the morning air.
But Heer's attention wasn't on the road.
Her mind was occupied by the strange feeling that refused to leave her.
The signal counted down.
Three.
Two.
One.
Green.
The moment the light changed, Heer pressed the accelerator and moved forward.
What happened next took less than a second.
A loud horn pierced through the air.
Her eyes widened.
A truck was rushing toward her.
Fast.
Too fast.
For a brief moment, time seemed to stop.
Then realization struck her.
The truck wasn't losing control.
It was coming straight for her.
Instinct immediately took over.
Without wasting a second, Heer sharply turned the steering wheel. The tires screeched against the road as the car swerved away from the truck's path.
The massive vehicle sped past her, missing her car by mere inches.
A single second later, and the outcome would have been very different.
Her heartbeat thundered inside her chest as she regained control of the vehicle.
The truck continued forward without stopping, disappearing into the traffic as though nothing had happened.
As though it hadn't just attempted to crash into her.
Heer inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself.
For a moment, silence filled the car.
Then her hand instinctively reached for the Trishul pendant resting around her neck.
The Trishul pendant had always been a symbol of strength and faith for her.
Closing her eyes briefly, she pressed a gentle kiss against it.
"Protect me, Mahadev," she whispered under her breath.
The fear slowly faded, replaced by determination.
Whatever had just happened was not an accident.
And Heer knew it.
Someone had wanted to target her.
But if there was one thing Heer Malhotra had never done, it was back down from a challenge.
Opening her eyes, she tightened her grip on the steering wheel and continued driving toward her office, unaware that the storm waiting ahead was far from over.
Even after reaching the office, my mind refused to calm down.
The incident at the signal kept replaying in my head like a broken record. The speeding truck. The screeching tires. The realization that it wasn't an accident.
Someone had wanted to hurt me.
Maybe even kill me.
But fear had never been a part of my personality.
Whatever was coming my way, I would face it.
And I would win.
Straightening my shoulders, I stepped out of the elevator and walked toward my cabin. The familiar sight of my office somehow brought me comfort. I pushed open the glass door and settled into my chair, taking a deep breath.
Before I could gather my thoughts, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," I said.
The door opened, and Pooja practically bounced into my cabin.
A huge smile covered her face.
She looked so excited that I couldn't help but smile back.
"What happened?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Ma'am!" she squealed. "Do you know what happened?"
I shook my head.
"You have officially become the Number One Businesswoman in India!"
For a moment, my brain stopped processing her words.
"What?"
"It's true!" she exclaimed, placing a magazine and tablet on my desk. "Every major business platform is talking about it. Congratulations, ma'am!"
My eyes widened as the reality slowly sank in.
I had done it.
The dream I had spent years chasing.
The dream I had sacrificed countless nights for.
The dream that once felt impossible.
I had achieved it.
A smile spread across my face before I could stop it.
Then another.
And another.
I felt like laughing, crying, and screaming all at once.
I was happy.
Genuinely, unbelievably happy.
The first person I wanted to share the news with was my sister.
Without wasting a second, I grabbed my phone and called her.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
No answer.
A frown settled on my face.
That was strange.
She always picked up my calls.
A few moments later, my phone vibrated with a text message.
"Akka, I'm shopping with my friend. We're buying matching dresses for tomorrow's party. Call you later!"
I chuckled.
Immediately, I replied.
"Fine. But come home before 7 PM. I have a surprise for you."
Her response came within seconds.
"Really? Okay! Eagerly waiting for the surprise!"
My smile widened.
At least someone would celebrate with me tonight.
The rest of the day felt like a dream.
Employees kept coming into my cabin one after another.
Everyone congratulated me.
Some brought chocolates.
Some brought gifts.
Some simply wished me success.
And for the first time in a very long while, I allowed myself to enjoy the moment.
This was my dream.
My victory.
My hard work.
My success.
But amidst all the happiness, a disturbing thought suddenly crossed my mind.
What if my success was the reason behind the attack this morning?
What if someone saw me as a threat?
Someone powerful enough to arrange an accident.
My smile faded slightly.
I didn't know who it was.
But one thing was certain.
I would find out.
And I would protect myself before they got another chance.
Just then, another knock sounded on my cabin door.
I sighed softly.
Probably another person coming to congratulate me.
"Come in," I called.
The door opened.
Pooja stepped inside carrying a bouquet.
My eyes widened immediately.
"Oh my God."
The bouquet was breathtaking.
Fresh white roses filled the arrangement, elegant and beautiful.
I carefully took it from her hands.
"Who sent this?" I asked.
Pooja shrugged.
"It was delivered for you, ma'am."
With a smile, she placed it on my desk and left the cabin.
My gaze immediately fell on a small card tucked between the roses.
Curious, I picked it up and opened it.
My eyes scanned the neat handwriting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Congratulations on your victory, Volcano.
By the way, you're looking really beautiful today.
~ Your Admirer."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then looked at the bouquet again.
An admirer?
I had an admirer?
A nervous laugh escaped my lips.
This was the first time in my life that someone had sent me flowers.
Not for business.
Not for a formal event.
Not as a corporate gesture.
For me.
Just me.
I glanced at the bouquet once again, unable to stop smiling.
But then curiosity slowly replaced my excitement.
Who was he?
How did he know about my achievement so quickly?
And more importantly...
Who was the mysterious admirer calling me Volcano?
I couldn't take my eyes off the screen.
There she was, standing in her cabin, holding the bouquet of white roses in her hands. The happiness on her face was impossible to miss.
A faint smile tugged at my lips.
She had done it.
Heer Malhotra had officially become the Number One Businesswoman in India.
A position people spent their entire lives chasing.
And she had earned it through sheer determination.
The moment I heard the news, I had ordered the roses.
White roses.
Simple. Elegant.
Just like her.
My gaze lingered on her face as she read the note.
Volcano.
The nickname suited her perfectly.
Most people noticed her beauty first.
I noticed the fire.
The fire in her eyes.
The fire in her ambition.
The fire that refused to die no matter how hard life tried to extinguish it.
Even after the truck incident that morning, she hadn't broken down.
She hadn't panicked.
She hadn't hidden herself behind fear.
No.
She had straightened her shoulders and walked into her office like a warrior entering a battlefield.
And that was exactly why she fascinated me.
I leaned back in my chair, watching her expression carefully.
She was trying to figure out who had sent the flowers.
A low chuckle escaped me.
"Good luck with that, Volcano."
My amusement faded as the memory of the truck flashed through my mind.
The attack hadn't been random.
I knew it.
Someone had targeted her.
And whoever it was had just made the biggest mistake of their life.
My jaw clenched.
I picked up my phone and pressed a single button.
"Aryan."
"Yes, boss."
"Come to my office."
"On my way."
A few moments later, the door opened.
Aryan stepped inside.
I didn't waste time.
"Find everything about the truck involved in today's incident."
His expression immediately hardened.
"Yes, boss."
"I want the driver's details. His family. His contacts. His bank records. Everything."
Aryan nodded.
"I want him in the basement within an hour." I said coldly.
"Consider it done."
Without another word, he turned and left to do his job.
I shifted my attention back to the screen.
The live feed showed Heer placing the bouquet carefully on her desk.
She looked genuinely happy.
For a brief moment, I allowed myself to enjoy the sight.
About the camera in her office,a trusted man of mine had been assigned to stay close to her under a different identity. Officially, he worked in her company.
Unofficially, his responsibility was much more important.
To protect her.
To keep an eye on potential threats.
And to ensure that if danger came too close, I would know about it before anyone else.
The small camera installed inside her cabin was one of the many precautions that had been taken.
And today, I was grateful for it.
Because it allowed me to see something few people ever witnessed.
A genuinely happy Heer Malhotra.
My Volcano.
One hour later.
My thoughts about my Volcano were disturbed by the sharp ping of my phone.
Aryan: We found him, sir.
A cold smile tugged at my lips.
On my way, I replied.
Rising from my chair, I buttoned my cuff and headed for the door.
There was unfinished business waiting for me.
The truck.
The driver.
And the person who was foolish enough to think they could lay a hand on her.
Adjusting the cuff of my black shirt, I strode out of my office.
If someone had declared war on Heer Malhotra...
They had unknowingly declared war on me too.
And that was a battle they would never survive.
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