Vivian approached me, his steps deliberate and heavy, and said in a cold, dark tone, "Are you planning to put on this drama in front of the whole world too?"
Confused and a bit startled, I asked, "What drama?"
Vivian pointed at my mangalsutra, his e...
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Karan had come to the office today for another deal. The deal had just concluded, and I was back in my cabin, going through some paperwork when Raj reminded me of the next meeting. I rose from my chair, each step toward the conference room steady and deliberate, though my mind was already preoccupied with thoughts of the meeting.
The moment I pushed the door open, my eyes landed on Aarini, and something inside me snapped. There she was, sitting beside Karan, laughing like they were sharing the world's most hidden secret. My pulse quickened, a seething rage bubbling just beneath the surface. My fists clenched involuntarily, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to keep my composure.
What the hell does she think she's doing? I couldn't tear my eyes away from her. The way she smiled at him, as if I didn't exist, as if my claim on her meant nothing-every nerve in my body screamed in anger. My thoughts darkened with each passing second. I imagined storming over to them, yanking her out of that chair, and dragging her away from his presence. The urge to mark my territory was overwhelming, primal.Every instinct in me screamed to assert my dominance right then and there-to take her right on this table, in front of Karan, and make her moans echo in his mind forever. I could make her scream right here, right now, I thought. Make her beg in front of him, so he knows she's mine and only mine. But that thought, as intoxicating as it was, came with a deep sense of conflict. Aarini wasn't a toy for my amusement, despite how much I wanted to assert my dominance. She was meant for tenderness, for love-a love that I wasn't sure I knew how to give. But these thoughts... these damn thoughts... they were consuming me, and I couldn't control them.
Aarini must have felt the weight of my gaze because she suddenly looked away, her laughter dying on her lips. She bowed her head slightly, avoiding eye contact, as if she knew she was in trouble. Good, I thought, my fury simmering beneath the surface. She should know what she's doing to me, what it means to provoke me like this.
"Speak, Vedant. What did you want to discuss?" I didn't even bother masking the coldness in my voice. My eyes, still fixed on Aarini, dared her to look up, to face the storm she had stirred within me.
Vedant, blissfully unaware of the tempest brewing inside me, started, "We're planning to open a branch of Tri S Fox in Germany. We'll need you to join us, and we'll also be inaugurating Bhatt's branch there."
My attention was divided, but I forced myself to focus on Vedant. "How long is the trip?"
"A week, maybe more," Vedant responded, his tone matter-of-fact.
"Alright, take two heads from Bhatt's group with you," I said, already deciding how this would play out.
"But brother, your presence is essential for the Tri S Fox opening. You'll need to be there," Vedant insisted.
I couldn't deny the necessity, though my mind was elsewhere. "Fine, I'll go. But two heads will accompany me."
The room seemed to hold its breath. Everyone there, especially the women, perked up at the chance to be chosen. Their eagerness was almost palpable, and I could see the anticipation in their eyes. But my decision was already made.
