The Veil Of Vengeance

2. The Party

Sara sighed, swirling the drink in her glass as she leaned against the wall beside her brother, Arjun. The music and chatter of the party filled the air, but it did little to ease her boredom.

"This is so dull." Sara whispered to Arjun, rolling her eyes. "Why do these business parties always feel the same?"

Arjun chuckled, nudging her playfully. "It's the same old people, the same old conversations. But hey, at least the food's good."

Just as Sara was about to respond, a waiter rushed by, struggling to balance a tray of drinks. Suddenly, he stumbled, and one of the glasses tipped over, spilling its contents onto Sara's dress.

"Oh my God!" Sara gasped, looking down at the spreading stain on her dress.

"I'm so sorry, ma'am!" the waiter stammered, panic in his eyes. "I didn't mean to-"

Sara raised a hand, her tone calm despite the mess. "It's alright, really. Accidents happen."

The waiter nodded, relieved by her kindness. "Thank you, ma'am."

Sara quickly excused herself, making her way toward the washroom to clean up. As she hurried down the corridor, she rounded a corner and collided straight into someone's chest.

"Oh!" Sara stumbled back, catching her balance. She looked up and felt her breath hitch. The man before her was incredibly handsome-tall, with sharp features and a presence that was hard to ignore.

For a moment, she found herself staring, lost in the intensity of his gaze. But as she snapped back to reality, Sara shook her head, embarrassed.

"I'm so sorry!" she blurted out, stepping aside quickly.

The man gave a faint smile, his eyes lingering on her for a second longer. "No harm done."

Without waiting for more, Sara rushed past him, her cheeks burning as she made her way to the washroom. She couldn't help but glance back once, her mind still reeling from the unexpected encounter.

Inside the washroom, Sara tried to clean the stain on her dress, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the stranger. Handsome, mysterious, and just a little bit dangerous-the kind of man who would be hard to forget.

On the other hand, Shubman stood in the corridor of the venue, deep in conversation with his business partner. He was focused, discussing the latest deal that could elevate his company's standing. His demeanor was sharp, and his aura commanded respect.

"So, once the merger is finalized, we can-" Shubman's words were abruptly cut off as someone bumped into him, almost knocking him off balance.

"What the-" Shubman began, anger flaring in his eyes as he turned to the person who had dared interrupt him. But the moment his gaze fell on her, his words died on his lips.

It was a woman, her wide eyes filled with shock and apology. She was stunning, her presence pulling him in like a magnet. Shubman's initial anger evaporated, replaced by a strange, unexplainable pull.

"I'm so sorry," Sara said quickly, her voice flustered as she looked up at him. "I wasn't paying attention. I didn't mean to-"

Shubman barely registered her apology. He was lost in her soft features, the way her hair framed her face, and the subtle grace in her every movement. He couldn't tear his eyes away, thoughts swirling in his mind. Who is she?

Before Shubman could muster a response, Sara hurried past him, still embarrassed by the collision. Shubman watched her disappear down the hall, his thoughts lingering on the brief encounter.