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 accuratelyāa 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?" Kiaraās voice jolted her out of her daze.Saira blinked, realizing sheād been staring at a display of shoes for the past five minutes without moving an inch. āHuh?āKiara cocked her head, arms full of hangers draped with vibrant fabrics. āSaira, whatās going on with you today? Youāve zoned out like five times already. Are the mannequins whispering business plans or are you just lost in la-la land?āSaira tried to laugh it off. āJust tired, I guess.āāLiar,ā Kiara sing-songed, narrowing her eyes. āYouāve been weird ever since breakfast. Youāre 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 forearmsāveins Saira couldnāt 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 thenābut 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
ā¦Her eyes were wide, lips trembling for something that made her chest tighten and her knees threaten to buckle.But still, she didnāt say it.Didnāt say stop.Didnāt say donāt.Instead, her silence gave him permission. Again.Rajās lips hovered inches above hers, his breath warm and ragged against her skin. He could feel her pulse jumping beneath his fingersāerratic, desperate.āIām not the boy who used to torment you,ā he whispered roughly. āBut Iām still the man who wants to ruin you.āSairaās breath hitched, her eyes fluttering shut for half a second at the confession.The darkness he no longer tried to hide.And somehow, it didnāt scare her.āIām already ruined,ā she whispered back, barely audible. āJust not by you.āThat broke something in him.With a guttural groan, Raj crushed his mouth to hers againāharder 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. Rajās gaze darkened as he slowly leaned in, his body caging Saira against the wall. His eyes traced every flicker of emotion on her faceāher 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 herātoo close. āRajā¦ā she said softly, not quite sure if it was a warning or a plea.He didnāt answer.His eyes traveledāslowlyāfrom her eyes to her lips, then back up again.He didnāt need to say a word. She knew what he wanted. āSay something,ā he breathed. āSay stop. Say donāt. Just say anything.āHis hand lifted, hesitating in the air before his fingers gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. āTell me to stop,ā he said, gaze locked with hers. āAnd I will.āSaira 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 companyās 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 Kiaraās upcoming birthday. He listened intently, nodding at certain details while dismissing others with a mere flick of his fingers. āSo,ā Raj said, voice firm, āI want this event to be unforgettable. Nothing overdone, nothing tacky. Just pure class.āThe manager nodded attentively. āOf course, Mr. Raj Since Miss Kiara is turning 21, we propose an exclusive rooftop soirĆ©e 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.āR
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. āOr should I make you?āSaira'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. āSay it.āHer 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 endāsmooth, confident, and as annoyingly familiar as ever.āAlexander,ā she said, tone flat. āHow did you get my number?āA low chuckle came through the line. āStraight to the point. No āhelloā? No āhow have you been?āāShe sighed. āI donāt do pointless conversations. Answer the question.āāStill as blunt as ever,ā he mused. āAlright, if you must knowāI had some help.āShe tapped her fingers against the table, waiting.āAarav.āSairaās expression remained impassive, but internally, the pieces clicked together. So thatās why Aarav had suddenly called last night after disappearing for so long. She hadnāt bothered answering, and now, she knew why.Her voice was cool. āYou expect me to believe Aarav just handed you my number?āAlexander let out a small laugh, as if amused by her skepticism. āNot exactly. Letās just say he pointed me in the right direction.āSaira wasnāt surprise
The sleek black car smoothly pulled into the private parking area beneath Malhotra Enterprises. The driver, accustomed to the silence between his boss and the lady sitting beside him, brought the vehicle to a gentle stop.Raj sat on one side, legs crossed, his dark eyes fixed on his phone screen. His presence was as commanding as everādressed in an impeccable black suit, exuding quiet dominance.Saira, seated beside him was already gathering her files, acting completely unbothered by his presence.The driver stepped out first, quickly circling around to open Rajās door. Without a word, Raj got out, adjusting his cufflinks, his movements smooth and deliberate.Saira inhaled sharply before following, clutching her files tightly against her chest as she stepped onto the pavement.They walked in sync toward the private lift, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the underground parking area. The moment the elevator doors slid open, they entered.Just the two of them.The doors shut. The
Saira emerged from her room, feeling refreshed after her morning routine. The air inside the Malhotra estate was crisp with the scent of fresh flowers from the garden, and the distant chirping of birds added to the peaceful ambiance.She stepped into the hallway just as Rajās door swung open.Raj had stepped out of his room at the same time. His gaze instantly flickered to her, his movements pausing for a fraction of a second.Their eyes met.Raj, dressed in his usual sharp black suit, leaned casually against the doorframe. His expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of something calculating in his gazeālike a hunter who had spotted his prey.Saira, unaware that he had overheard her, simply smiled politely. "Good morning, Raj."Then, without waiting for a response, she walked past him, heading straight to the dining area.Raj watched her go, his jaw tightening. Last night. He hadnāt forgotten. The call. The late-night whispers. The damn smile on her face this morning.Who th