22-12-2025, 08:44 PM
Chapter 17 – The Price of Information (Rohan’s POV)
The next morning, Rohan walked into Largebase Solutions headquarters like he owned the place.
He did — thirty-nine percent of it.
No appointment. No announcement.
Straight to the chairman’s office on the top floor.
The chairman — an older man who had long ago handed day-to-day control to the board — looked up, surprised but not startled. He knew who paid the real bills.
“Rohan. Been a while.”
“Summon Aaravind.”
The chairman pressed the intercom. Minutes later, Aaravind strode in — confident, bruised ego still fresh from the punch.
He froze when he saw Rohan lounging in the guest chair.
The chairman cleared his throat. “Aaravind, meet our largest shareholder. Rohan.”
Aaravind’s face drained of color.
Rohan smiled, cold. “Sit.”
Aaravind sat.
The chairman excused himself quietly. Door clicked shut.
Aaravind found his voice. “Why the drama, sir? You could have—”
Rohan cut him. “You didn’t want to hear who I was. Twice. You got your lesson. Now I’m revealing because I want something.”
Aaravind’s eyes narrowed. “What?”
Rohan leaned forward. “You became CFO this year. No full board meeting yet. You never saw my name on the cap table.” He paused. “Let’s cut the crap. What’s the issue with Prem and Nivisha? Why should I not push charges against you for abusing company resources on a personal vendetta — and strip your title using my influence with the board?”
Aaravind’s jaw tightened. “It’s personal.”
Rohan smirked. “From now on, it’s my personal.”
Aaravind’s eyes sharpened, calculating. “Ooh… so you’re eyeing Nivisha?”
Rohan didn’t blink. “Why not? She’s good. Sharp. Useful.”
Aaravind leaned back, a twisted grin forming. “Every man who sees her eyes her. Maybe I can help. We could… share? A threesome when she breaks?”
Rohan’s voice dropped, dangerous. “You still don’t realise the threat here. I can make you disappear from this building tomorrow. Or I can make you CEO. If you cooperate.”
Aaravind’s grin faded. Interest flickered. “CEO?”
Rohan nodded. “My shares speak loudest. I influence the board. You do exactly what I say — you get the title. Maybe even chairman one day, if you’re useful.”
Aaravind weighed it. Swallowed pride.
“What do you want?”
“Every detail about her. Past. Present. Weaknesses.”
Aaravind smirked, recovering. “Sure. But I want a taste when you’re done.”
Rohan stood, towering. “I don’t share my women.”
He turned to the door.
Aaravind called quickly. “Wait. Fine. CEO title. Nothing else.”
Rohan turned back. “Sit.”
They sat.
Aaravind talked.
College. The rumors he started. The indoor room assault — his failed attempt, Prem’s rescue.
Nivi’s fire — how she deflected him, rose above gossip, dreamed big.
The elopement. The enmity. Prem’s insecurities, overprotectiveness, blind trust once earned.
Then Prakash — the near-bang attempt years ago. “I heard it from Pratap once, when he was drunk. Said Prem trusts too blindly once he lets someone in.”
Rohan’s interest peaked. “How do you know Pratap?”
“Prem came to Largebase through Pratap’s old trading connections. Pratap handles some of our subsidiary stock portfolios. Casual boast when drunk — how Prem turns blind once trust is given.”
Rohan absorbed it all.
The key.
Blind trust.
He had it already — Prem saw him as savior.
Now, the path to Nivi was clear.
As Aaravind finished, Rohan said, “Take back the legal notice? No. Keep the pressure on them. Disturb them more. I’ll tell you exactly what to do and when.”
Aaravind’s eyes glinted with ambition. “And the CEO title?”
Rohan stood. “Do everything I ask — perfectly — and it’s yours. Who knows… play long enough, you might even sit in the chairman’s chair.”
He walked out.
In the elevator down, Rohan’s mind raced.
He had the map now.
Prem’s weakness: overthinking, but blind loyalty once earned.
Nivi’s strength: buried ambition, quiet fire.
The plan crystallized.
Bring the big clients next week, as promised.
Work alongside her.
“Train” her.
Earn deeper trust.
And when the moment was right —
Take her.
Completely.
The dream from last night flashed — red kurta, her begging.
Soon, it wouldn’t be a dream.
The next morning, Rohan walked into Largebase Solutions headquarters like he owned the place.
He did — thirty-nine percent of it.
No appointment. No announcement.
Straight to the chairman’s office on the top floor.
The chairman — an older man who had long ago handed day-to-day control to the board — looked up, surprised but not startled. He knew who paid the real bills.
“Rohan. Been a while.”
“Summon Aaravind.”
The chairman pressed the intercom. Minutes later, Aaravind strode in — confident, bruised ego still fresh from the punch.
He froze when he saw Rohan lounging in the guest chair.
The chairman cleared his throat. “Aaravind, meet our largest shareholder. Rohan.”
Aaravind’s face drained of color.
Rohan smiled, cold. “Sit.”
Aaravind sat.
The chairman excused himself quietly. Door clicked shut.
Aaravind found his voice. “Why the drama, sir? You could have—”
Rohan cut him. “You didn’t want to hear who I was. Twice. You got your lesson. Now I’m revealing because I want something.”
Aaravind’s eyes narrowed. “What?”
Rohan leaned forward. “You became CFO this year. No full board meeting yet. You never saw my name on the cap table.” He paused. “Let’s cut the crap. What’s the issue with Prem and Nivisha? Why should I not push charges against you for abusing company resources on a personal vendetta — and strip your title using my influence with the board?”
Aaravind’s jaw tightened. “It’s personal.”
Rohan smirked. “From now on, it’s my personal.”
Aaravind’s eyes sharpened, calculating. “Ooh… so you’re eyeing Nivisha?”
Rohan didn’t blink. “Why not? She’s good. Sharp. Useful.”
Aaravind leaned back, a twisted grin forming. “Every man who sees her eyes her. Maybe I can help. We could… share? A threesome when she breaks?”
Rohan’s voice dropped, dangerous. “You still don’t realise the threat here. I can make you disappear from this building tomorrow. Or I can make you CEO. If you cooperate.”
Aaravind’s grin faded. Interest flickered. “CEO?”
Rohan nodded. “My shares speak loudest. I influence the board. You do exactly what I say — you get the title. Maybe even chairman one day, if you’re useful.”
Aaravind weighed it. Swallowed pride.
“What do you want?”
“Every detail about her. Past. Present. Weaknesses.”
Aaravind smirked, recovering. “Sure. But I want a taste when you’re done.”
Rohan stood, towering. “I don’t share my women.”
He turned to the door.
Aaravind called quickly. “Wait. Fine. CEO title. Nothing else.”
Rohan turned back. “Sit.”
They sat.
Aaravind talked.
College. The rumors he started. The indoor room assault — his failed attempt, Prem’s rescue.
Nivi’s fire — how she deflected him, rose above gossip, dreamed big.
The elopement. The enmity. Prem’s insecurities, overprotectiveness, blind trust once earned.
Then Prakash — the near-bang attempt years ago. “I heard it from Pratap once, when he was drunk. Said Prem trusts too blindly once he lets someone in.”
Rohan’s interest peaked. “How do you know Pratap?”
“Prem came to Largebase through Pratap’s old trading connections. Pratap handles some of our subsidiary stock portfolios. Casual boast when drunk — how Prem turns blind once trust is given.”
Rohan absorbed it all.
The key.
Blind trust.
He had it already — Prem saw him as savior.
Now, the path to Nivi was clear.
As Aaravind finished, Rohan said, “Take back the legal notice? No. Keep the pressure on them. Disturb them more. I’ll tell you exactly what to do and when.”
Aaravind’s eyes glinted with ambition. “And the CEO title?”
Rohan stood. “Do everything I ask — perfectly — and it’s yours. Who knows… play long enough, you might even sit in the chairman’s chair.”
He walked out.
In the elevator down, Rohan’s mind raced.
He had the map now.
Prem’s weakness: overthinking, but blind loyalty once earned.
Nivi’s strength: buried ambition, quiet fire.
The plan crystallized.
Bring the big clients next week, as promised.
Work alongside her.
“Train” her.
Earn deeper trust.
And when the moment was right —
Take her.
Completely.
The dream from last night flashed — red kurta, her begging.
Soon, it wouldn’t be a dream.
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