Dev Singh Oberoi is a billionaire and the secret king of mafias, feared and respected in both the business and criminal underworld. His life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Naina Agarwal, a breathtakingly brave young woman from a promine...
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Dev Singh Oberoi's POV
The dim light flickers overhead, casting long, haunting shadows against the cold stone walls. The scent of blood clings to the air, thick and metallic, merging with the fear radiating from the man tied before me. He trembles, his breath shallow and erratic, sweat dripping from his brow, his eyes wide with terror.
I watch him. Silent. Unfeeling. Detached.
This is not my first time in a room like this, nor will it be my last. Power demands sacrifice, and fear is a more effective weapon than any blade. This man dared to defy me-thought he could steal from me and walk away unscathed. A foolish mistake. A mistake that will cost him everything.
"Please..." His voice cracks as he whimpers, his entire body convulsing with fear. "Please, sir... I swear I didn't mean to-"
I tilt my head, my lips curling into something that might resemble a smile if it weren't so cruel. "Didn't mean to?" I echo, my voice low, edged with quiet menace.
Reaching for the knife on the table beside me, I let my fingers run along its edge. The blade catches the dim light, and his breathing hitches. His pulse quickens. His ragged sobs fill the silence, but I remain unmoved.
"You should have thought about that before you decided to cross me," I murmured, stepping closer.
He flinches as I press the cold steel against his cheek, the sharp edge drawing a thin line of blood. His entire body shakes violently, his cries turning into desperate pleas. But I am not a man who shows mercy. I am not a man who forgives.
I am Dev Singh Oberoi.
With a swift motion, I drag the blade down his face. The sharp sting of flesh splitting fills the room with his agonized screams, his body convulsing as he fights against the ropes holding him in place. I watch, unaffected, as the blood seeps from his wound, trailing down his face like crimson tears.
"You thought you could betray me and walk away?" I whisper, leaning in until he can feel the warmth of my breath against his skin. "You thought I wouldn't come for you?"
His eyes are wide with horror, his lips trembling too much to form words.
I smirk.
"Wrong move."
The finality in my voice is the last thing he hears before I silence him permanently.
The room falls into an eerie stillness, the only sound the slow, rhythmic drip of blood pooling onto the concrete floor. I wipe my hands clean, discarding the knife with a casual flick of my wrist. There is no satisfaction in this, no pleasure. Just necessity.
A knock on the door breaks the silence.
"Sir," Raj's voice is calm, professional. "Your meetings are scheduled. And the university event-your sister will be there."
I exhale slowly, my patience already running thin. Meetings. Deals. Appearances. The weight of my empire never ceases pressing down on me. But Preeti... she matters. If she is expecting me at the university, I will go.
"Fine," I mutter, adjusting my cufflinks. "Make sure everything runs smoothly."
Raj gives a curt nod and steps aside as I walk past him, leaving behind the lifeless body without a second glance.
---
The air feels different tonight, like something important is about to happen. Raj walks quietly beside me, calm and steady as always, his presence a silent anchor to my racing thoughts.
"Sir," Raj's voice breaks the silence. "The event is starting. Everything is ready."
I nod, barely listening. His words don't catch my attention like they usually do. My mind is elsewhere. I'm already looking ahead, waiting for something I can't quite explain.
"I need it all to go perfectly tonight, Raj," I say quietly, the tension clear in my voice. "Nothing can go wrong. You understand?"
"Yes, sir," Raj responds without hesitation. "The students are in their spots, security is tight, and we're ready for your arrival."
I give a small nod. His professionalism is always on point, but tonight, it feels like nothing matters. The usual routine-this event-is nothing more than a distraction. I need something more, something different.
The car pulls up to the university, and I feel a strange sense of unease. I've been to these events countless times before. The same faces, the same smiles, the same speeches. But tonight, I sense a shift. The air feels charged, like something or someone is waiting to change everything.
Raj opens the door, and I step out, scanning the crowd. The usual polite murmurs follow me as I walk through the crowd, my presence demanding respect without a word. I'm used to this-the way people move aside when I approach, the way they admire me, or maybe fear me. But it's all meaningless.
I notice the principal right away. His smile is too wide, too eager. He's trying too hard to impress me. "Mr. Oberoi, it's an honor to have you here. We've made sure everything is perfect for your comfort."
I give him a quick nod, my eyes already elsewhere. His words fall away as I turn my focus to the stage. This event doesn't matter to me. The noise, the speeches, it's all just background.
I follow him, barely paying attention to the noise around me. These events are routine, predictable-a necessity to maintain the illusion of a respectable businessman. But tonight... tonight feels different.
As I take my seat, my gaze scans the stage, indifferent at first. Performances begin-bright colors, rhythmic movements, meaningless entertainment. And then...
I saw her.
A girl.
A vision.
A storm wrapped in silk.
She stands beside Preeti, her presence commanding in a way I can't explain. It isn't just her beauty-though she is breathtaking. It is something deeper. Something that makes my blood run hot and cold at the same time.
And then she begins to dance.
I have seen countless performances before, yet none have ever held me captive like this. Her movements are fluid, hypnotic-like poetry in motion. Her body sways with an effortless grace, each step precise, each turn deliberate. She is fire and ice, a contradiction I can't look away from.
The world around me fades. The noise, the people, the event itself-all of it ceases to exist.
There is only her.
A slow, unfamiliar heat coils in my chest, a sensation so foreign it unsettles me. She is nothing like the women who throw themselves at me. She isn't seeking attention, isn't performing for praise. No, she is lost in her own world, dancing as though nothing else matters.
I clench my jaw, my fingers tightening around the armrest of my chair. I don't like this feeling. This lack of control. This strange, consuming need to know more about her.
Who is she?
The performance ends, applause erupting around me, but I remain still, my gaze locked onto her as she steps off the stage. She has no idea what she has just done-no idea that she has caught the attention of a man who does not let go of what he wants.
And I want her.
I lean back in my chair, my mind already calculating. This girl-whoever she is-will soon learn the weight of my obsession. Because once Dev Singh Oberoi desires something...
