The Silent Seduction

21. MAHIRA

The drive back home was a blur. My mind was consumed with the endless tasks awaiting me, the pressure of the looming board meeting just a month away.

But beneath the professional façade, my thoughts kept straying back to him—to that kiss. The memory of his lips against mine, the heat of the moment, it was all I could think about.

I shook my head, trying to focus on the road ahead, but the way his hands had gripped me, the intensity in his eyes… I was losing my sanity.

I pulled into the driveway, expecting to find solace in the familiarity of my home. But as I walked into the living room, my steps faltered.

My parents were sitting there, their faces lit up with anticipation. In my father’s hand was a card. A card I knew nothing about.

"Mahira," my father's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "Come, sit with us."

I hesitated, my eyes narrowing at the mysterious card in his hand. My mother glanced at me with a smile, but there was something else in her eyes. I couldn’t quite place it—concern? Excitement? Whatever it was, it set off alarm bells in my mind.

I walked over to them and took a seat, trying to ignore the sudden flutter in my chest. "What’s going on?" I asked, my voice coming out steadier than I felt.

Before my father could answer, he added, almost offhandedly, "Arjun is on his way."

My heart skipped a beat. "Arjun?" I repeated, more to myself than to them. "Why?"

"He didn’t tell you?" my father asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No," I answered slowly. Arjun hadn’t mentioned anything at the office. Nothing about coming over. Nothing about… us. But then, how could he, when we’d barely exchanged words since that kiss? We’d both been avoiding each other like the plague, but the tension—oh, the tension was unbearable.

"Go freshen up," my mother suggested, her voice too casual, too knowing. "Arjun should be here soon."

I stood up, my mind racing. What was Arjun planning? Why hadn’t he said anything? I hurried to my room, desperate for a moment of solitude.

As I washed my face, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks were flushed, my eyes wide with a mix of confusion and… something else. Something I wasn’t ready to name.

Why are you getting so worked up? I scolded myself. It’s just Arjun. Just… Arjun.

But it wasn’t just Arjun anymore. Not after that kiss. Not after the way his presence seemed to haunt me, even now.

I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself, and changed into something more comfortable. The casual outfit did little to calm my nerves.

Just as I stepped out of my room, I heard the sound of the front door opening. My heart raced as I descended the stairs, each step bringing me closer to… him.

And there he was. Standing in the hallway, looking as composed as ever, yet there was something in his eyes—a flicker of recognition, a flash of memory.

I could feel the pull between us, that undeniable, magnetic force that drew me to him, even when I wanted to run in the opposite direction.

Our eyes met, and for a moment, the world around us faded. It was just us, caught in that lingering haze of our brief touches, our stolen moments.

The way his gaze traveled over me, taking in every detail, sent shivers down my spine. I remembered the kiss—our kiss. And by the way his jaw tightened, I knew he did too.