The Silent Seduction

23. MAHIRA

The day was still young, yet the weight of responsibility pressed down on me like a suffocating blanket. The upcoming board meeting, set a month from now, hung over my head like a guillotine, each tick of the clock a reminder of how much was at stake. There was no room for error—every detail had to be perfect.

I paced my office, the heels of my shoes clicking sharply against the polished floor, as I gave instructions over the phone.

My words were clipped, precise, leaving no room for doubt or hesitation. The people on the other end knew better than to question me. They knew what was expected.

"Make sure the presentation is flawless, and have it on my desk by tomorrow morning," I commanded, my tone leaving no room for negotiation. "And I want confirmation on every attendee by the end of the day."

My colleague assured me that everything would be handled, but I hardly heard them. My mind was elsewhere, tangled in the events of the previous day.

The invitation card, delivered so casually by my father, had felt like a bomb being dropped into my lap. Attending the event was one thing, but doing so with Arjun was something else entirely.

Arjun... He was a complication I hadn't anticipated. There was a darkness in him that both fascinated and unnerved me, a pull I couldn't resist no matter how much I tried.

The kisses we had shared were not mere accidents—they were charged with something more, something that defied explanation. But it was also something neither of us could fully embrace, not yet.

I ended the call, slipping my phone into my pocket as I turned back toward my desk. It was then that I noticed Arjun standing in the doorway, his presence so commanding that it was impossible to ignore. How long has he been there, watching me? What had he heard?

"Arjun," I greeted, struggling to maintain an air of composure as I moved behind my desk, using it as a barrier between us. "I didn't hear you come in."

"I knocked," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine. "But you were preoccupied."

He stepped into the room, his movements deliberate, almost predatory, as he placed a stack of files on my desk. His eyes were locked onto mine, unblinking, filled with an intensity that made my pulse quicken.

It was a look I had seen before, one that spoke of barely contained control, of something dark and dangerous lurking just beneath the surface.

"These need your attention," he said, his voice calm but firm, as though daring me to look away.

I nodded, reaching for the files. But as I did, my foot caught on the edge of the desk, and I stumbled, a sharp pain shooting up my leg. I winced, trying to catch myself, but the world tilted dangerously.

Before I could react, Arjun was there, his arm wrapping around my waist and pulling me back against him. The suddenness of it, the strength in his grip, sent a jolt of awareness through me, my heart pounding as I realized just how intimately we were pressed together.

"Careful," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear, his voice sending a wave of heat through me. His hand on my hip tightened, anchoring me to him, his chest firm against my back.

I froze, the proximity overwhelming, every nerve in my body on high alert. His hold was firm, possessive, as though he was claiming me in that moment, and I found myself leaning into him, my body betraying my thoughts.

For a long moment, neither of us moved. The tension between us crackled like electricity, and I could feel his heartbeat against my back, steady and strong, matching the rapid pace of my own. His grip on me didn't loosen; if anything, it tightened, as if he couldn't bring himself to let go.