Love, Lies & Lattes

In the following days, Kiara threw herself fully into her work, determined not to lose ground to Rohan Kapoor and his polished corporate charm. Customers poured into Brew-tiful Days, intrigued by the escalating café rivalry. Business was booming—but so was the pressure.

Kiara’s café buzzed with activity one busy afternoon when Meera hurriedly nudged her.

"Kiara, Arjun Mehra just walked in," Meera whispered urgently. "This could make or break us."

Kiara turned sharply, heart racing. Arjun Mehra was Delhi’s notoriously tough food critic—capable of crowning or crushing reputations overnight. Taking a calming breath, she plastered on her best professional smile and approached confidently.

"Welcome to Brew-tiful Days, Mr. Mehra," she greeted politely, offering him a menu. "We’re delighted to have you here."

He barely glanced at the menu, instead studying her carefully. "I've been following the rivalry," he said neutrally. "I hope your coffee speaks louder than your arguments across the street."

Kiara bit back her initial response, forcing a courteous smile. "It certainly does. May I suggest our signature cappuccino paired with a freshly baked chocolate croissant?"

He nodded, intrigued. "Impress me."

She turned to Meera, signaling urgently. Within minutes, Kiara carefully served the critic, holding her breath as he tasted thoughtfully. His expression revealed nothing.

Just then, the café door swung open again, and her heart sank instantly.

Rohan Kapoor strode casually inside, confidence radiating from every step. Kiara tensed, instantly suspicious. He caught sight of her, offering an annoyingly friendly smile.

"Fancy seeing you here, Ms. Sharma," he greeted lightly, before noticing Arjun. "Mr. Mehra—perfect timing."

Arjun raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Rohan’s appearance. "Is there something you need, Mr. Kapoor?"

Kiara silently prayed he wouldn't sabotage her café review. Rohan’s presence alone was unsettling enough.

"No," Rohan answered smoothly. "Just making sure our critic enjoys a fair tasting. I'd hate for bias to influence such an important review."

Kiara clenched her jaw, glaring discreetly at him. "There's nothing unfair about it, Mr. Kapoor. My café speaks for itself."

He met her gaze calmly, amusement flickering briefly before fading into seriousness. "We'll see."

Arjun, sensing tension, finished his pastry quietly and rose from his seat, scribbling notes.

"Ms. Sharma," he said, voice unreadable, "Thank you for the coffee. I'll reserve final judgment until I've sampled both cafés."

As he left, Kiara exhaled shakily, eyes darting back to Rohan. She stepped closer, voice cold and sharp. "Are you done playing games?"

He leaned in, the humor gone from his expression. "Not even close. I meant what I said—this review should be fair."

She crossed her arms defiantly. "Funny. I thought fairness wasn’t in your corporate vocabulary."

His eyes darkened slightly, posture rigid. "Careful, Ms. Sharma. I can respect your fight, but push too hard, and you'll find yourself in deeper water than you can handle."

Kiara lifted her chin stubbornly, meeting his challenging stare head-on. "Bring it on. I can swim."

He gave her a long, unreadable look before turning abruptly and walking away. Kiara stood firm, adrenaline coursing through her veins, her resolve hardened.

This wasn't just about coffee anymore. It was war—and she had no intention of losing.