Chapter 2

The beginning

Samhita stepped into the lavish mansion, the cool air brushing against her skin as she made her way through the grand entrance. It had been a long day, filled with meetings, plans, and tactical discussions, but nothing felt more comforting than returning home. The familiar scent of jasmine and sandalwood drifted in the air, mixing with the rich aroma of the evening’s dinner. She loosened her jacket and tossed it aside as she made her way through the grand hall. Her heels clicked against the marble floors, echoing in the otherwise quiet house.

She was almost to her room when a soft voice called her name from the side. Her mother, Ahana, stood in the doorway of the sitting room, her gentle smile lighting up the entire space. Despite the dangerous world Samhita lived in, her mother was the one constant source of warmth and peace. Ahana was the calming force, the one who kept their family grounded amidst the chaos of the mafia world.

Samhita’s lips curved into a playful smile as she walked toward her mother. Without a word, she leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her mother’s cheek. “Hey, Ma,” she murmured, feeling the familiar embrace of her mother’s love.

Ahana’s arms wrapped around Samhita in a gentle hug. “How was your day, my love?”

“It was fine,” Samhita replied, pulling back slightly. “A bit too much paperwork, but nothing I can’t handle.”

Her mother chuckled softly. “Always the tough one.”

Samhita smirked. “You know it.”

As they stood there in the quiet of the hall, a playful thought crossed Samhita’s mind, and she couldn’t resist teasing her mother. “So, Ma, tell me. Who does Dad love more—me or you?” She raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with mischievousness.

Ahana smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she shook her head. “You know your father loves us both equally, Samhita. Don’t be silly.”

“Hmm, I’m not so sure,” Samhita teased, tilting her head. “I’m his favorite, right?”

Before Ahana could respond, Samhita took a step back, giving her mother a cheeky grin. “Anyway, I’m off to my room. I’ve got work to do.”

With that, she turned and made her way down the corridor toward her room, the sound of her footsteps echoing in the silence of the mansion. She could almost hear her mother’s voice calling after her, but she didn’t stop. Samhita was determined to prove that she was her father’s favorite. After all, she was the one who had inherited his cunning mind, his sharp instincts, and his ability to lead.

As she entered her room, she quickly shed the weight of the day—the tailored blazer, the heels, the formality of being the princess of the mafia. It was time to relax. She moved to the bathroom, where the steam from the shower soon enveloped the room, washing away the tension. Samhita let the hot water cascade over her, each droplet a brief moment of peace in a world that rarely allowed her such luxuries.

When she stepped out, the soft cotton of a comfortable t-shirt and jeans replaced the sharp lines of her usual attire. She felt at ease, slipping into the familiar comfort of her clothing, as if shedding the weight of her dual existence—the mafia princess and the woman who fought for control in a world where power was everything.

Just as she was about to sit down, there was a knock on her door. She opened it to find one of the servants standing there, a nervous look on his face. “Miss Samhita, your father is calling for you. He’s in the meeting room.”

Her heart skipped a beat. The meeting room could only mean one thing—something serious was happening. Samhita quickly nodded, her mind already racing. “I’ll be there in a moment.”

She made her way to the meeting room, her steps quick and deliberate. As she entered, the room fell silent. Her father's closest and most trusted men were gathered around the large table, their faces serious and respectful as they acknowledged her presence.

Samhita’s gaze immediately found her father, seated at the head of the table. His usual calm demeanor was replaced by a deep crease of tension across his forehead. Something was off.

“Father,” she said softly, her voice steady as she approached him. “What’s going on?”

Her father, Adrial Williams, looked up at her with a mixture of concern and authority. “Samhita, there’s an issue with the diamond,” he said quietly, his voice tight. “It’s not just a matter of losing it. There’s a chip inside it—data that could expose everything. Our entire empire, our connections... everything.”

Samhita’s brow furrowed as she processed his words. “The diamond? Is this really that big of a deal?” She tilted her head, her voice dripping with confidence. “We’ll send our best team. Maybe even some members of Titan. This is something we can handle.”

But her father shook his head, the tension in his eyes deepening. “It’s not that simple, Samhita. The diamond isn’t just any ordinary jewel. It’s connected to the Royal family. Their security is unlike anything we’ve ever encountered. If we make a move too fast, it could all unravel. I can’t risk you being caught in the middle of it.”

Samhita’s eyes narrowed, the challenge lighting up in her. “You know I can handle myself, Father. We’ll send Titan, and I’ll lead them. We won’t fail.”

Adrial’s expression hardened. “No, Samhita. I can’t take that risk. Agastya Singh Rathore—he’s the one behind the Royal family’s security. If anyone can get to us, it’s him. He’s too powerful, too intelligent. I won’t risk losing you over this.”

Samhita stood still, her gaze unyielding as she met her father’s eyes. "I don’t care how powerful he is, Father. I’ll go with my team. I won’t let this slip through our fingers."

There was a long pause. The room was silent, the weight of the situation pressing down on everyone. Finally, Adrial sighed. “You’re stubborn, Samhita. But I trust you. If you’re going, then you’ll take three members of Titan with you. No more, no less.”

Samhita nodded, satisfied for the moment. “Thank you, Father. I’ll make sure nothing goes wrong.”

She left the meeting room, her thoughts already turning to the mission ahead. She needed to make a plan, and fast. As she reached her room, she sat down at her desk, dialing the number of Titan’s leader.

“Titan,” she said when the phone was answered. “I need a meeting—immediately.”

Minutes later, the members of Titan, her most trusted team, gathered on the call. Samhita outlined the mission details, her voice firm and commanding. "We’re going after the diamond. We need to move quickly and smartly, but we also need to be careful. Agastya Singh Rathore won’t make this easy, but we’re prepared for whatever comes our way."

Her father’s warnings echoed in her mind, but she was ready. This was her fight, and she wasn’t going to back down.

As she prepared for the storm that was coming, one thing was certain: this time, she would be the one in control. And no one, not even Agastya Singh Rathore

***

A week had passed since Samhita set her sights on Agastya, and in that time, she had meticulously gathered every piece of information on the Royals and their operations. She had mapped out their security protocols, alliances, and even personal weaknesses. The game had changed, and she was ready to make her move.

Samhita sat at her desk, the weight of the plan pressing down on her shoulders, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She leaned back in her chair, staring out the window at the darkening sky, the cool night air drifting in. Her father’s words still lingered in her mind: "Agastya Singh Rathore... he’s too powerful, too dangerous."

A small smirk tugged at her lips. Agastya Singh Rathore. The name echoed in her thoughts, a challenge, a puzzle, a target. He was the king of Rajasthan, the most influential businessman in India, and by all accounts, a man who had everything under control. A man who knew how to play the game and never lost.

She couldn’t deny the respect she felt for him, even if she wasn’t about to let it show. His reputation as a manipulator, someone who could read people and situations better than anyone, made him a formidable foe. But that was all he was—a foe.

"But how is he going to defeat me when I’m the one who holds all the cards?" she thought, her fingers tapping against the desk as she mentally mapped out her next moves.

She couldn’t let the fear of him cloud her judgment. Samhita had never been one to back down from a challenge. Her whole life, she'd been surrounded by power, by people who commanded respect—her father, her mafia allies, her team. She’d learned early on that power wasn’t just about strength; it was about knowing your enemy and using their weaknesses against them. And Agastya Singh Rathore? He had his weaknesses, too.

Her mind raced, thinking about the stories she had heard of him. Cold, calculating, always steps ahead. But she wasn’t someone who could be easily outmaneuvered. She had Titan by her side, a team of loyal, skilled individuals who could match anyone’s moves. If anyone could take down the king, it was her. Her father may not trust her judgment, but she knew better than anyone—this was her fight to win.

Samhita stood up abruptly, her thoughts now racing faster than before. "If I can’t outsmart him, I’ll outplay him," she mused, her hand instinctively reaching for the dagger on her belt, the one she always carried, a symbol of her readiness to strike when the time was right. But it wasn’t just about physical power—it was about control, knowing when to strike and when to wait.

"He may be the king of Rajasthan, but I don’t play by his rules. I make my own."

She leaned forward, glancing at her phone, where she’d saved every scrap of information on Agastya—his business dealings, his moves, his allies, his habits. Every piece of intel she could find. She had to know everything. No detail was too small. It was the only way she could truly understand his mind. To defeat the king, she had to become the queen of this game.

Her fingers hovered over the phone screen, dialing Titan’s number once more. She couldn’t do this alone. Not this time.

The phone clicked, and Titan’s leader answered. Samhita’s voice was calm but firm. “I need more intel on Agastya. Everything you can find. His every move, every weakness. And I need it now.”

She wasn’t just going to defeat him she was going to crush him, strip away his power and make him realize that even the king of Rajasthan could fall. And when that moment came, she would stand over him, victorious, the one who bested the impossible.

I will be the one to bring him to his knees."

Her gaze shifted to the dark sky outside, where the stars were hidden behind thick clouds. But in her mind, she saw only one thing—Agastya Singh Rathore, the man who would become her next conquest.