The Silent Seduction

32. MAHIRA

The evening air was thick with anticipation as I stepped out of the shower, the cool tiles beneath my feet grounding me as my mind raced ahead to the events that were to unfold.

Tonight was no ordinary night; it was the culmination of everything I had worked for, everything I had sacrificed. The board had already whispered the title, but tonight, it would be official—I was to be announced as the next CEO of Kapoor Industries.

But that wasn’t what had my heart pounding against my ribcage like a caged bird. No, tonight was about something else entirely.

As I stood in front of the mirror, my fingers grazed the luxurious fabric of the dark green silk gown that awaited me. Its rich emerald hue glistened in the soft light, the delicate straps barely holding the material to my shoulders, while the intricate strings at the back formed a delicate web that left little to the imagination.

It was elegant, powerful, yet undeniably feminine—just as I wanted to feel tonight. I slipped into the gown, the cool silk sending shivers down my spine as it hugged my curves, transforming me from the stern, collected businesswoman into someone softer, someone vulnerable.

As I fastened the last of my jewelry—a pair of simple diamond studs—I couldn’t help but notice the slight tremor in my hands. I had faced board meetings, led negotiations, and conquered competitors, but the thought of what I had resolved to do tonight filled me with a nervous energy I could barely contain.

I was going to tell Arjun everything. Every thought, every feeling that had been festering within me, gnawing at my resolve. I had made up my mind.

Tonight, I wouldn’t just be given the title of CEO—I would also confront the growing storm of emotions I had kept locked away, too afraid to acknowledge, too afraid to lose control.

But as the clock ticked closer to the time when I’d have to leave, a gnawing doubt settled in my chest. What if he didn’t feel the same? What if he looked at me with that inscrutable expression he wore so well, leaving me to question my every word?

No, I knew Arjun too well for that. He wouldn’t reject me, but the possibility of his indifference scared me more than anything else.

I glanced at my phone, the screen lighting up with a reminder that it was time to leave. My driver was already downstairs, but I decided to drive myself.

The act of focusing on the road might help calm my nerves, or at the very least, give me something else to concentrate on. I grabbed my clutch, took one last look at the woman in the mirror—poised, elegant, yet so vulnerable—and headed out.

The drive to the venue was a blur of city lights and my racing thoughts. By the time I arrived, the grand hall was already buzzing with the hum of conversation and laughter.

Familiar faces greeted me as I walked in, but I barely noticed them. My eyes were scanning the room, searching for one person in particular.

And then I saw him.

Arjun was standing near the bar, engrossed in conversation with a tall, distinguished-looking man whom I recognized as a well-known businessman.

But it wasn’t the man who caught my attention; it was Arjun. He was dressed in a sharp three-piece black suit that seemed to mold to his frame, accentuating the strength in his shoulders and the lean lines of his body.

His hair was tied in a half-bun, a few loose strands framing his face, giving him an effortlessly powerful look. He looked like he belonged here, in this world of power and privilege, but there was something else—a wildness in his gaze, a darkness that simmered just beneath the surface.