"Is she one of your hotel staff?" Neil Goyal asked, eyeing the young woman who'd just arrived at Munich Airport.
"Which department are you from?" Kunaal Thakur demanded. "Why'd they send just you?"
"Hello, Mr. Thakur, I'm a part-time worker at your hotel," she said, catching her breath. "I'm a student at LMU Munich, from a modest family here in Germany, so I took this job to support myself."
Kunaal frowned. "If they're that busy, why not send someone experienced? Who authorized this?"
"The Chairwoman," the girl replied. "She said to just bring you back, no fuss."
"Your mom really doesn't care about you," Neil teased, though he was wary of Kunaal's mother, Anjali Thakur.
Anjali, a formidable businesswoman, had built the Thakur Hotel Group alongside Kunaal's father, Vikram, from nothing into India's largest hotel chain, with properties from Delhi's elite districts to small-town lodges.
This Munich trip coincided with the opening of the Thakur Group's 300th hotel, a grand event rivaling Oktoberfest, with global celebrities attending. Anjali was overseeing it personally, leaving little time for her son's antics.
"Great timing, Kunaal," Neil said, smirking.
"Shut up," Kunaal snapped. "We're here for business, not my mom's event. We'll just stay at the hotel."
"What's your name?" Neil asked the girl, his eyes lingering on her striking features.
"Anna… Weber," she said, slightly flustered.
"Nice to meet you, Anna," Neil said, flashing a grin. "Got Instagram?"
"Enough, Neil!" Kunaal groaned. "Let's go. You're hopeless."
Anna, driving the hotel's Mercedes V-Class, fumbled with the sliding door's button. "Here, give me the keys," Kunaal said. "I'll drive."
"But… I could get fired," Anna protested.
"If you drive, we won't reach the hotel till midnight," Kunaal said. "German highways are no joke. I won't tell my mom, don't worry."
"Why stress about a part-time job?" Neil said, leaning back. "You're at LMU—must be smart, right?"
"My family isn't well-off," Anna said firmly. "This job helps me pay for college. I'm here on a scholarship, carrying their hopes."
"Impressive," Neil said, genuinely intrigued. "Top student, then?"
"I was my school's valedictorian," Anna admitted, her cheeks flushing.
"As expected," Kunaal muttered, starting the engine. "My mom only hires overachievers, even for odd jobs."
"Scholarship or not, you're cool," Neil said, his tone playful but sincere.
"Focus, Neil," Kunaal said. "We're here to inspect Munich 1860, not flirt."
"Right," Neil said, snapping back. "We're checking out Munich 1860 to see if it's worth acquiring."
"You're buying Munich 1860?" Anna asked, surprised, her Bayern Munich jersey catching Neil's eye.
"We've scouted others—Duisburg, Ingolstadt," Kunaal said, navigating the Autobahn with ease. "They had issues. Munich 1860's our last stop before we decide."
Neil's gaze lingered on Anna's jersey, her poise, her sharp blue eyes. She was stunning, and he felt a pull—not just to buy the club, but to stay in Munich, closer to her, even though she was clear about focusing on her studies and avoiding romance.
Germany's Autobahn had no speed limit, and Kunaal's steady driving got them to the Thakur Hotel quickly. The hotel, a "7.0" edition celebrating the group's European expansion, was beyond luxurious—think a top-tier Ritz-Carlton, elevated further.
At the entrance, they ran into Anjali Thakur, commanding the lobby. "Mom… I'm here," Kunaal said, voice tight.
Anjali glanced at him, unimpressed, saying nothing. "Auntie Anjali, good to see you!" Neil said, forcing a smile. "Take care of us, yeah?"
"If I cared for you, I'd scold you like your mother would," Anjali said sharply. Unlike Anjali, Neil's mother, Rhea Goyal, was a warm housewife from a powerful family, doting on Neil, which fueled his boldness. Anjali, however, had no patience for spoiled heirs.
"Auntie, I'm here to work hard with Kunaal," Neil said, his charm disarming. "We'll make you proud."
Anjali's cold stare suggested she doubted them. "You haven't eaten, have you? Join me."
They opted for Indian cuisine from the hotel's Michelin-starred kitchen—simple dal, roti, sabzi(vegetable curry) and biryani. Over dinner, Anjali probed. "So, you're dabbling in football?"
"We're planning to buy a club and run it," Kunaal said. "Munich 1860's our final prospect."
"Have you analyzed the policies? Budgeted funds? Decided on share control?" Anjali asked.
"I've researched, and we've got preliminary data," Kunaal said. "We need to inspect Munich 1860 to confirm."
Anjali nodded, silent. After dinner, they retired. Kunaal slept early, but Neil lay awake, Anna's image in his mind. Her beauty, her drive, and that Munich 1860 jersey fueled his resolve to buy the club—not just for Indian football, but to stay near her, despite her focus on college.
The next morning, Kunaal dragged a groggy Neil to the hotel's Rolls-Royce Cullinan, heading to Munich 1860's headquarters. They toured the Grünwalder Stadion, the club's historic home. Kunaal noted its financial deficits and bankruptcy risk, requiring significant investment to stabilize.
On the drive back, Neil was quiet. "If Munich 1860 doesn't work, we can look elsewhere," Kunaal said. "Germany's taxes are high. We don't need to commit here."
"No," Neil said firmly.
"What?"
"It has to be Munich 1860."
"Why?" Kunaal asked, sensing something new in Neil's tone.
Neil hesitated, then grinned. "It's the right club. Plus, staying in Munich… let's just say it's appealing." Anna's face flashed in his mind, though he kept that to himself.
Kunaal groaned, half-laughing. "You're impossible. But if you're set on it, we'll make it work"