Rising Phoenix

Chapter 5; The Alpha Challenge

Reyansh’s Perspective:

After our previous encounter, I never anticipated seeing Aanya Miller again so soon. If I hadn't found myself lost in the contemplation of her features, I might not have recognized her at all. As I stood before her, her distant aura caught my attention despite our proximity. It was as if her mind and soul were elsewhere, engrossed in thoughts or perhaps anticipating something entirely different. Though outwardly composed, her intensity focused on Mr. Miller was palpable—a resolute fixation that went beyond mere professionalism or courtesy. It was as if he held a captivating sway over her, drawing her in completely.

I couldn't help but notice the unwavering confidence that emanated from Aanya as I observed her. She carried herself with a certain air of strength that demanded respect. But the fact that this was the same woman I had seen from afar during her trials was difficult to grasp. Back then, I had been unaware of her true nature, and now, I found myself admiring her from a distance, wishing I had known her better. There was something about her, be it her demeanor, her beauty, or the fresh information I had learned, that left an indelible impression on me.

My subconscious whispered that she was not at all what I had initially perceived her to be, but I had no substantial evidence to support or contradict this feeling. Yet, I couldn't shake it off. As I continued to watch her, Aanya finally greeted her father, breaking my reverie, and I suddenly realized that I had been staring at her like a creep. Thank goodness no one else seemed to notice my momentary lapse.

With a cool and collected tone, Aanya addressed her father, devoid of any warmth. I couldn't help but eavesdrop on their conversation, curious about their whereabouts during the past four years and the reasons behind their sudden appearance. There was an air of mystery around Aanya, and her sudden reappearance intrigued me.

Sitting back in my previous seat, I focused my undivided attention on the father-daughter duo. Aanya spoke convincingly, explaining that she needed time in prison to gather her thoughts and determine her life's direction. But there was something in her tone, a tinge of resignation and melancholy, that made me wonder if there was a deeper story behind her unexpected return and her time behind bars. She seemed to have gone through more than she was willing to reveal, and it left me pondering what she had experienced during her time in prison.

Mr. Miller's outburst followed, demanding to know her intentions and desires. With firm determination, Aanya assured him that she wasn't going anywhere and that her plans would be disclosed in due time. As I listened to their conversation, I couldn't help but perceive Aanya as a mysterious character with a hidden past.

A fleeting moment occurred when our eyes locked, and a shiver ran down my spine. Something was captivating about her menacing aura and piercing gaze, leaving me intrigued and slightly unnerved.

Regret settled in, knowing that I might have missed a chance to know more about her during her trial. But at the same time, I couldn't help but appreciate this watershed moment in my life. Aanya's unexpected entrance into Mr. Miller's life had added an air of intrigue and mystery, and I eagerly awaited to witness her narrative unfold. One thing was certain—I would both appreciate and regret this turn of events.

Driven by curiosity, I decided to follow Aanya. She seemed more important to me at that moment than Mr. Miller, and I felt an intense urge to uncover the mysteries that surrounded her past and sudden reappearance.

As she stepped into the lift, I acted on impulse, holding the doors open with my foot and joining her inside. Without hesitation, I pressed the button for the ground floor, and if Aanya was aware of my presence, she showed no signs of acknowledgment. As the other passengers exited, I took the opportunity to stop the lift, turning to face her.

Her demeanor remained unimpressed and calm, even in the confined space with a stranger. "What business do you have with me, Mr. Rout?" she questioned, her gaze unwavering, looking directly into my eyes.

I was taken aback by the fact that she knew my real name, considering I always maintained a certain level of privacy to protect myself in my line of work. Aanya's knowledge of my identity was unsettling and intriguing at the same time. For someone to know my true identity, they must have a powerful associate who had access to that information.

Composing myself quickly, I stepped closer, attempting to intimidate her. "I just wanted to know more about you, Aanya," I replied coolly.

"Ms. Miller," she retorted with a flat voice.

"What?" I was surprised at her cold response.

"You should address me as Ms. Miller. We are neither familiar nor associates, so using my first name is inappropriate," she stated calmly, leaving no room for casual conversation.

"Excuse me, but do you even know who I am? You dare to speak to me like that?" I retorted, taken aback by her boldness and rudeness towards me.

I couldn't help but be appalled by her audacity. Though I appeared calm and composed on the surface, deep down, I couldn't tolerate anyone disrespecting me. I had worked hard to achieve my success, and I demanded respect from everyone around me. I didn't attain this position just to be belittled by some girl who might be connected to the loss of my beloved.

An impulse to assert my power and demand respect surged through me. I took a step towards her, expecting her to back down. However, to my surprise, she stood her ground without flinching, maintaining her composure even as I entered her personal space.

"I am well aware of who you are, what you are capable of, and what your relationship with Mr. Miller was. And I don't think you can command my respect solely because of your business relationships. Because you must earn my respect; I do not respect based on a person's position or status, and I am not terrified of death, which you might use as a threat to demand respect from me." Her words struck me like a bolt of lightning.

Her fearless response caught me off guard, leaving me momentarily speechless. It was clear that she saw through the facade of power and authority, recognizing that true respect couldn't be commanded but earned.

In that instant, I realized that Aanya Miller was unlike anyone I had ever encountered. Her strength and fearlessness intrigued me, drawing me in like a moth to a flame. It was as if she possessed an inherent power that was magnetic, and I found myself unable to resist the pull.

For the first time in my life, I felt an overwhelming attraction and curiosity toward someone, and it both fascinated and unsettled me.

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I got back to my company, my thoughts consumed by her. This is the first time I have felt this strong obsession with anyone. However, I also knew that my obsession was not just about her alpha female status but also the challenge she posed to me.

As a successful businessman, I have always been driven toward challenges, and she is the ultimate challenge for me.

Her strength and resilience are what set her apart from any other woman I have met so far in my life.

But I have to find out if she was this strong before her life in prison or if she became what she is because of the effects of her life experiences in prison. It is important to understand what made her so fierce and dominant.

I picked up my intercom and instructed my secretary to send me all the contacts of all the investigators for the company.

In the underworld, where a significant portion of my business is located, I called my right-hand man Hridhan.

"Clear your schedule and meet at our secret camp asap." I hung up before he could respond.

I'm not in the mood right now to waste time listening to his pointless rambling. Although he is a close friend from my youth and is no less than a brother to me, he occasionally annoys me with his verbosity.

I wouldn't be here if he hadn't been there at the moment of that horrific occurrence. I know I would never be able to get through that period of my life on my own.

He was there with me in that phase to help me overcome it, even though he was more hurt than I was because she is as important to her as she is to me.

We both changed, and her death took a piece of us away.

We both handled that time differently. I suppressed my emotions and became more of a cold guy who hides his pain behind a false grin. He rambles to distract me from his misery, but I know he is in the same boat as me.

I exited my office and approached my secretary, saying, "Send all the information regarding investigators in my mail and cancel all my appointments for the rest of the day."

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When I arrived at our covert camp, Hridhan was waiting for me.

He is always there for me when I need him, which is just one of the many reasons he is right-handed.

"You didn't let me say hello, so there must be a pressing issue. What's going on?" he asked.

"We need to talk," I said while giving him a serious look.

Hridhan nodded before escorting me to my office in the camp.

I quickly locked the door after we were inside before facing him.

I calmed myself by taking a deep breath. Forcing myself to bring up the subject because it takes a lot of willpower.

Since that incident, even though many years have passed, I have never brought up the subject because it is a sensitive one for both of us. Hridhan initially tried to force me to discuss the subject, but he soon realized I didn't want to talk about the incident or that night. But he had the right to know about that night and what happened then, but I never got the courage to initiate the topic. Despite my discomfort, I knew it was important for Hridhan to know what happened to her.

"I need to discuss that night's incident," I said with a serious tone.