𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 || 18+ ✔

𝟖. || 𝐃𝐚𝐝.

Arush POV:

Sara stood in front of me, professional as ever, but there was tension hanging in the air. She was here for work, obviously, yet the unspoken words between us were suffocating.

I’ve always known I screwed things up, but it's only now that I’m truly starting to realize how much. All of it. My anger, my rashness. I fucked everything up, and I didn’t even mean it. Not really.

The image of her flashes in my mind—on her knees between my legs, her lips parted, those beautiful eyes of hers filled with lust. I want to watch her fall apart again, just like she did last weekend, to see her lose herself in that raw desire. But I grit my teeth, pushing the thought away. I can't go there, not right now.

"I'm sorry," I finally manage to say, my voice softer than I intended.

Her eyes widen in surprise. She crosses her arms, her stance defensive. "If anything, it should be me who apologizes." She looks away, her tone laced with regret. "I’m sorry, sir."

When she looks back at me, there’s a forced smile on her lips, one that doesn’t reach her eyes.

"You were right," she continues, her voice steady but distant. "I forgot my place. I got so wrapped up in the wedding, in everything, that I forgot I don’t belong in your world. I'm someone who will never be anything more than a mistress."

She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and I catch the way her fingers tremble, betraying the resolve in her voice. I can feel the pain in her words—the pain I caused.

"I’d much rather we never speak of this again," she adds, her tone bitter. She runs a hand through her hair, her anger returning, sharp and cutting.

A mocking smile curves her lips. "How could I have forgotten, even for one single second, what kind of man you are? A man who wants control? Who thrives on it?"

Fuck. I try to stop the spiral. "I didn’t mean it that way," I blurt out, desperate to make her understand. But I can see it in her eyes—the damage is done.

"You seem to be saying and doing a lot of things you allegedly don’t mean," she snaps, her voice dripping with venom. "Maybe you should try not saying anything at all."

She doesn’t give me the chance to respond. With a sharp turn on her heel, she walks away, leaving me standing there, the weight of my own mistakes pressing down on me like a crushing burden.

Sara's POV :

I joined Neena for lunch, her presence comforting in the midst of my whirlwind emotions. I lift our joined hands to my face, pressing her warm hand against my cheek, seeking some kind of solace.

"I'm sorry, Neena. I've just been busy with work. I should've come to see you," I say, my voice soft with guilt.

She sighs, her gaze piercing through my flimsy excuse. "You didn’t come because you were worried I’d ask too many questions," she replies, not missing a beat.