The drive back to the Malhotra mansion was a storm of silence.Raj’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel. Saira sat beside him, wrapped in Adrian’s jacket—an insult he couldn’t tolerate. Every second it stayed on her shoulders, his fury deepened.As soon as they pulled into the mansion driveway, Raj stepped out, opened her door, and without a word, peeled Adrian’s jacket off her. The gesture wasn’t harsh, but it wasn’t gentle either—it was possessive. He didn’t speak, didn’t explain. Instead, he shrugged off his own and draped it over her, the warm scent of sandalwood and raw power surrounding her.Saira blinked, lips parting in surprise. His eyes held hers—burning, unreadable.When they entered the house, Raj didn’t let the staff near her. He swept her up in his arms before she could protest.“I can walk—” she murmured.“No chance.” His voice was a low, obsessive growl. Her soft hands gripped his shirt, clinging to him as he strode through the hallway, In her room, he sat her
The Vaughan Villa stood tall, its white marble walls glowing under golden lanterns. As Raj’s shiny black car stopped at the entrance, Saira felt nervous. The huge house, with its tall pillars and big gardens, looked rich and powerful. The party inside was going to be fancy, and she wasn’t sure she was ready.Raj got out first, looking sharp in his black tuxedo a vision in black with his signature dominance stitched into every stride. He held out his hand, his eyes sparkling. “Ready to shine, angel?”Saira gave a small smile, her stomach full of butterflies as she took his hand. “I don’t know if I can handle all this attention.”He squeezed her hand. “You’re perfect for it. Trust me.”They walked into the ballroom. Sparkling chandeliers hung like stars, lighting up the shiny marble floor. The room was full of soft chatter, clinking glasses, and quiet music from a small band. But the people made Saira’s heart race.There were only about fifty guests, but each one looked important. Saira
The boutique glowed with soft chandeliers and velvet carpet underfoot, a luxurious haven in the heart of the city. But while Kiara was darting from one dress rack to another like a woman on a mission, Saira might as well have been floating in a dream.Or more accurately—a memory.A single kiss.Chocolate-flavored lips. A warm mouth. A hand that held her like she was something fragile… and then, suddenly, not fragile at all."You ready?" Kiara’s voice jolted her out of her daze.Saira blinked, realizing she’d been staring at a display of shoes for the past five minutes without moving an inch. “Huh?”Kiara cocked her head, arms full of hangers draped with vibrant fabrics. “Saira, what’s going on with you today? You’ve zoned out like five times already. Are the mannequins whispering business plans or are you just lost in la-la land?”Saira tried to laugh it off. “Just tired, I guess.”“Liar,” Kiara sing-songed, narrowing her eyes. “You’ve been weird ever since breakfast. You’re totally b
After the emotional chaos of last night, the morning air was unusually calm. Golden sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting warm patterns across the glossy floors of the breakfast hall. The clink of cutlery blended with the soft rustle of curtains fluttering in the breeze. The table, adorned with buttery croissants, golden scrambled eggs, and an aromatic swirl of cinnamon coffee.Raj sat at the head of the table, dressed immaculately in a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled just enough to show the veins along his forearms—veins Saira couldn’t help but notice. He sipped his black coffee, scrolling through his phone, the picture of calm control.Saira sat diagonally across, picking at her toast. Her fingers moved absently, her mind clearly elsewhere. She stole glances at Raj now and then—but little did she know, each one was being returned when no one else was watching.Kiara, seated beside Raj, was completely unaware of the subtle war of glances happening around her. She happ
…Her eyes were wide, lips trembling for something that made her chest tighten and her knees threaten to buckle.But still, she didn’t say it.Didn’t say stop.Didn’t say don’t.Instead, her silence gave him permission. Again.Raj’s lips hovered inches above hers, his breath warm and ragged against her skin. He could feel her pulse jumping beneath his fingers—erratic, desperate.“I’m not the boy who used to torment you,” he whispered roughly. “But I’m still the man who wants to ruin you.”Saira’s breath hitched, her eyes fluttering shut for half a second at the confession.The darkness he no longer tried to hide.And somehow, it didn’t scare her.“I’m already ruined,” she whispered back, barely audible. “Just not by you.”That broke something in him.With a guttural groan, Raj crushed his mouth to hers again—harder this time, reckless. His grip on her wrists loosened, and she wrapped her arms around his neck instinctively, as if her body had been aching for this. For him.He lifted her
The air between them crackled with tension, thick and heady. Raj’s gaze darkened as he slowly leaned in, his body caging Saira against the wall. His eyes traced every flicker of emotion on her face—her parted lips, the rapid rise and fall of her chest, the way her breath hitched when his thumb brushed her wrist.Saira stood frozen, her back almost brushing the wall, her heart racing like it wanted out of her chest. Raj stood in front of her—too close. “Raj…” she said softly, not quite sure if it was a warning or a plea.He didn’t answer.His eyes traveled—slowly—from her eyes to her lips, then back up again.He didn’t need to say a word. She knew what he wanted. “Say something,” he breathed. “Say stop. Say don’t. Just say anything.”His hand lifted, hesitating in the air before his fingers gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Tell me to stop,” he said, gaze locked with hers. “And I will.”Saira swallowed. She knew what was coming. She knew she should say something. But her
The luxurious conference room of Zenith Events buzzed with quiet efficiency. The walls were lined with digital screens displaying past projects, extravagant events captured in high-resolution images. The sleek modern space exuded sophistication, perfectly matching the company’s reputation as one of the best in the industry.Raj leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on the manager presenting the theme options for Kiara’s upcoming birthday. He listened intently, nodding at certain details while dismissing others with a mere flick of his fingers. “So,” Raj said, voice firm, “I want this event to be unforgettable. Nothing overdone, nothing tacky. Just pure class.”The manager nodded attentively. “Of course, Mr. Raj Since Miss Kiara is turning 21, we propose an exclusive rooftop soirée at the Celeste Grand. A fusion of luxury and entertainment. A private affair, but with an electric atmosphere. Live music, interactive experiences, and customized elements to fit her personality.”R
Saira's silence seemed to fuel Raj's passion, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity as he gazed at her. He didn't wait for her to respond, his fingers deftly undoing the buttons of her skirt, his touch sending shivers down her spine."'Answer me' he growled, his breath hot against her ear. “Or should I make you?”Saira's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. She wanted to resist, to push him away, but the way he was touching her, the way he was looking at her, made her feel like she was melting into his hands.She knew Raj. Knew how possessive he could get. Knew that pushing him further would only ignite something far more uncontrollable.His lips brushed against her ear, his voice turning into a low growl. “Say it.”Her hands gripped the edge of the desk, knuckles turning white. The air between them was thick with tension, her silence driving him to the edge.Then, just when his patience was about to snap, she spoke."Im yours," she whispered, her
Saira leaned back in her chair, phone pressed to her ear. Her brows furrowed slightly at the voice on the other end—smooth, confident, and as annoyingly familiar as ever.“Alexander,” she said, tone flat. “How did you get my number?”A low chuckle came through the line. “Straight to the point. No ‘hello’? No ‘how have you been?’”She sighed. “I don’t do pointless conversations. Answer the question.”“Still as blunt as ever,” he mused. “Alright, if you must know—I had some help.”She tapped her fingers against the table, waiting.“Aarav.”Saira’s expression remained impassive, but internally, the pieces clicked together. So that’s why Aarav had suddenly called last night after disappearing for so long. She hadn’t bothered answering, and now, she knew why.Her voice was cool. “You expect me to believe Aarav just handed you my number?”Alexander let out a small laugh, as if amused by her skepticism. “Not exactly. Let’s just say he pointed me in the right direction.”Saira wasn’t surprise