The Silent Seduction

18. ARJUN

I slammed the door to my office shut, leaning against it for a moment as I tried to steady my breath. My heart was pounding, a chaotic rhythm that seemed to echo the turmoil inside my head.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to erase the image of Mahira’s face from my mind—the way she had looked at me, the way her eyes had searched mine for something I wasn’t ready to give.

Why did I let myself get so close? Why did I stand there in her cabin, letting the scent of her perfume fill the air between us, allowing the heat of her body to seep into my skin? It was reckless. Stupid. The kind of mistake I should never make, especially with her.

I pushed away from the door, crossing the room to the window. The city stretched out before me, the skyline sharp against the evening sky.

I tried to focus on the view, but all I could see was Mahira—her eyes, her lips, the way she had smiled at that bastard, Rohan.

A low growl escaped my throat as I remembered the way she had laughed at something he’d said, the way her eyes had sparkled with genuine amusement.

She liked his company. Hell, she even seemed to enjoy talking to him. And why wouldn’t she? He was charming, successful, the kind of man who could easily sweep a woman off her feet.

But it was more than that. It was the way she had looked at him, the way she had leaned in when he spoke, the way she had completely forgotten about me sitting right there, watching every moment with a bitterness that made my chest ache.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. Why did it bother me so much? Why did I care that she was laughing with someone else, that she seemed to be enjoying herself with another man? I shouldn’t care. I had no reason to.

But the truth was, I did care. More than I wanted to admit. More than I could admit.

I turned away from the window, pacing the length of my office as I tried to make sense of the chaos in my mind.

I thought back to every moment I had felt that bitter sting of jealousy, every time I had watched her with someone else and felt my stomach twist with something I refused to name.

I remembered the way she had looked at Rohan during the meeting, the way her eyes had lit up when he praised her work. It had taken everything in me not to grab her, not to pull her into my arms and make her see that she didn’t need his approval, that she didn’t need anyone but me.

But why? Why did I care so much about her? Why did I feel this possessiveness, this need to claim her as mine? It wasn’t just attraction.

It was something darker, something that clawed at my insides, something that threatened to consume me if I let it.

I let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through my hair as I thought back to that moment in her cabin earlier today. I had been so close to losing it, so close to crossing a line I couldn’t uncross.

Her scent had wrapped around me, her body so close that I could feel the heat radiating off her skin. And for a brief moment, I had almost given in. I had almost kissed her right there, almost let the storm inside me take over.

But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t let myself. Because kissing Mahira would mean admitting that she had a hold on me, that she could get under my skin, that she could make me feel things I wasn’t ready to feel.

I slumped down into my chair, rubbing a hand over my face as I tried to push away the memories of her—her laugh, her smile, the way she had looked at me with those damn eyes that seemed to see right through me.

What the hell was I doing? I couldn’t let myself get caught up in this. I couldn’t let her get to me. Because if I did, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop. I would want more, and that was dangerous.

It was dangerous to want someone like Mahira, someone who was just as broken as I was, someone who could tear me apart if I let her.

But the truth was, she was already under my skin. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get her out. She was like a splinter lodged deep inside, impossible to remove, and every time I tried, it just dug in deeper.

I thought back to the way she had looked at me when Rohan left, the way her eyes had softened for a moment, as if she wanted to say something, but couldn’t find the words.

I had seen that look before, that flash of vulnerability she tried so hard to hide. And every time I saw it, it made me want to protect her, to pull her close and shield her from everything that could hurt her.

But that was the problem. I wasn’t supposed to protect her. I wasn’t supposed to care. I was supposed to keep my distance, to treat her like any other colleague. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t stay away, no matter how hard I tried.

Because every time I looked at her, I saw a reflection of my own darkness, my own pain. And it scared the hell out of me.

I slammed my fist against the desk, the sharp pain in my knuckles grounding me, pulling me back from the edge. I needed to get a grip. I couldn’t let myself spiral out of control. Not now. Not when everything was on the line.

But as much as I tried to convince myself to stay away, I knew it was only a matter of time before I gave in. Because Mahira was like a storm, unpredictable and dangerous, but impossible to resist. And I was caught in the eye of it, unable to escape.

The truth was, I was already too far gone. And the more I tried to deny it, the deeper I sank into the darkness.

I sighed, leaning back in my chair as I stared up at the ceiling. I needed to focus. I needed to push all thoughts of Mahira out of my mind and concentrate on the work at hand.

But no matter how hard I tried, she was always there, a constant presence in my thoughts, a reminder of everything I couldn’t have.

And that was the cruelest part of all. Because no matter how much I wanted her, I knew I could never have her. Not the way I wanted to. Not without destroying us both in the process.

But even as I sat there, trying to convince myself to walk away, I knew it was already too late. Because deep down, I didn’t want to walk away. I didn’t want to stay away from her.

I wanted her.

And that terrified me more than anything else.

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