guilded secrets :the unmasked queen

Chapter -13

Late at night, Tanisha stood on her penthouse balcony, the city lights stretching endlessly below her.

Her phone buzzed. An unknown number.

She smirked before answering. "Calling me so soon, Lucien?"

A low chuckle. "I see you expected me."

Tanisha leaned against the railing. "You're predictable."

Lucien's voice was smooth, unreadable. "Am I? Or do you just understand me too well?"

Tanisha didn't reply. Because he wasn't wrong.

Lucien hummed. "That little stunt with Sinnea. You didn't just destroy her, you made sure everyone saw it."

Tanisha smirked. "Did you call to compliment me?"

A pause.

Then—"I called to warn you."

Tanisha's eyes narrowed. "Oh?"

Lucien's voice turned serious. "You've caught the wrong kind of attention."

Tanisha's fingers tightened around the railing. "Who?"

Lucien exhaled. "Someone powerful. Someone who doesn't like losing."

Tanisha's mind ran through possibilities. The Agnihotri name had enemies.

But Lucien…

If he was warning her, it wasn't just business. It was personal.

Tanisha's smirk returned. "Let them come."

Lucien chuckled. "I thought you'd say that."

Then the call ended.

Tanisha stared at the dark screen.

She wasn't sure if Lucien was a danger—or an ally in disguise.

But one thing was clear.

This game had only just begun.

---

The next morning, Tanisha entered the Agnihotri estate, where Lucas was waiting for her in the study.

"Sit," he said, pouring a drink.

Tanisha took a seat across from him, waiting.

Lucas studied her. "You handled Sinnea well."

Tanisha smiled. "Of course."

Lucas placed his glass down. "But handling a school scandal and handling the real world are two different things."

Tanisha tilted her head. "What are you saying?"

Lucas leaned forward. "I want to see if you're ready."

Tanisha's expression didn't change, but her heartbeat quickened. Lucas Agnihotri didn't test people for no reason.

He handed her a sealed envelope. "Inside is a problem. Solve it, and we'll talk."

Tanisha took the envelope.

No questions. Just a challenge.

She smirked. Perfect.

---

As Tanisha left the study, she ran into Nathan.

His arms were crossed. "Father's testing you."

Tanisha raised an eyebrow. "You knew?"

Nathan exhaled. "He told me last night." His eyes narrowed. "Be careful."

Tanisha smirked. "Since when do I need to be careful?"

Nathan's voice darkened. "Because if you pass his test, things will change."

Tanisha paused.

Lucas wasn't just seeing if she was capable.

He was preparing her for something bigger.

And Tanisha?

She was more than ready.

The Agnihotri estate was unusually lively today. The staff moved with urgency, setting up an elaborate lunch in the garden. The reason?

Dev Agnihotri was coming home.

Tanisha sat in the lounge, scrolling through her phone. She wasn't the type to fuss over reunions, but she had to admit—meeting her actor-singer brother for the first time would be interesting.

Nathan entered the room, fixing his cufflinks. "Dev should be here soon."

Tanisha smirked. "I hope he isn't as dramatic as his movies."

Nathan shot her a rare amused glance. "Oh, he's worse."

Before Tanisha could respond, the sound of a car pulling up reached her ears.

---

The moment Dev stepped out of the sleek black car, the air shifted.

Dressed in a casual yet effortlessly stylish outfit, sunglasses perched on his nose, he looked every bit the superstar.

Tanisha observed him calmly. So, this was the golden child of the entertainment industry.

Dev pulled off his sunglasses, revealing sharp yet playful amber eyes. His gaze landed on Tanisha, and he grinned.

"So, you're the famous little sister."

Tanisha arched an eyebrow. "And you're the overhyped older brother."

Nathan sighed. "And the chaos begins."

Dev laughed, stepping forward to ruffle Tanisha's hair. "I like her."

Tanisha smacked his hand away. "Touch me again, and I'll replace your hair gel with glue."

Dev gasped dramatically. "Nathan, she's threatening me already!"

Nathan barely glanced up from his phone. "Then stop being annoying."

Tanisha smirked. She liked Dev already.

---

Lunch was an elaborate affair, with Lucas and their mother, seated at the head of the table.

Dev, ever the charmer, entertained everyone with stories from his latest film shoot.

"And then," Dev said, eyes gleaming mischievously, "the director told me to act serious. So, I channeled my 'Nathan' face, and guess what? Perfect shot."

Nathan shot him a blank look. "Your movie got terrible reviews."

Dev placed a hand on his chest. "Ouch. Betrayed by my own blood."

Tanisha chuckled.

For the first time since she arrived at the Agnihotri estate, she felt a sense of warmth.

She had brothers who were brilliant, dangerous, and sometimes annoying—but they were hers.

And no one would take them away from her.

---

Later that night, as Tanisha walked toward her room, she received a message.

ShadowByte: "You had fun today, but don't let your guard down."

Tanisha frowned. ShadowByte—her hacker brother.

Tanisha: "Something happened?"

A pause.

ShadowByte: "Sinnea's been quiet. Too quiet. And Lucien is still watching."

Tanisha's smirk faded.

The warmth of family was a rare luxury.

But in her world, it never lasted long.