Her Nightmare ✓

| 13 |

P A R I N I D H I

The next morning, a firm knock on the door jolted me from my sleep. I opened the door to find the staff ready to assist with moving my belongings.

They quickly set everything up in my new room, and after freshening up, I dressed in a crisp white chiffon saree before heading downstairs.

Excitement and anticipation bubbled inside me as I made my way to the living room.

Time passed slowly as I waited. Anxiety crept in, making me wonder if Devansh had already left. But my fears were soon quieted when I heard the familiar sound of his footsteps descending the stairs.

Looking up, I saw Devansh engrossed in his phone, dialing a number as he made his way down.

"What's the news?" Devansh's voice cut through the room, urgent and determined.

Although I couldn't hear the response, I could feel the weight of the conversation in his changed expression.

As he reached the bottom step, his eyes met mine. He stumbled, almost losing his balance, but caught himself on the handrail. His gaze never wavered from mine as he regained his composure.

Once steady, his intense stare seemed to challenge me to look away, but I held his gaze, feeling the discomfort it caused.

"Arnav, aside from his brother, who else could possibly protect him? Put pressure on him about the pending project with our company. I'll handle the rest," Devansh ordered, his voice sharp and commanding.

"I need all the details by this evening, no matter what," he added firmly before hanging up and taking his seat at the breakfast table.

Devansh kept his words to a minimum, perhaps to avoid me understanding too much. Little did he know, I was already aware of everything.

With the staff absent, I took it upon myself to serve breakfast, keeping a respectful distance from him as I did so.

"Reshma!" Devansh's voice boomed through the room, making everyone freeze. The staff rushed to gather in the living room, their movements quick and nervous.

"Y-yes, sir," Reshma stammered, her voice betraying her anxiety.

"Where were you all? Do I need to send out invitations to get you here?" Devansh's tone was laced with irritation, and the tension in the air was palpable.

The staff stood silently, heads bowed in respect and fear, the weight of his anger hanging over them.

"I was attending to Anshika, sir," Reshma quickly explained, trying to justify her absence.

At the mention of Anshika's name, Devansh's anger seemed to subside, and he took a deep breath. His tone softened as he addressed Reshma more calmly. "Go back and take care of Ansh."

Reshma hurried off, and her sudden departure left the rest of us uneasy. As the most senior staff member, her absence meant there was no one to handle any immediate issues. I couldn't shake the growing sense of unease, knowing that her absence left us exposed to whatever might come next.

"Come here, Pari... Parinidhi," Devansh's calm voice cut through the silence, making my heart race with anxiety.

I walked over quickly, sitting down as he gestured for me to take a seat. His anger still hung in the air, and I was determined not to do anything wrong.

A maid appeared and placed breakfast in front of me. "Bring the box," Devansh instructed. Another maid rushed off to retrieve it from his room.

Devansh looked at the staff, his gaze cold and commanding. "This is your last warning. Any more negligence will have serious consequences."