Twin Inferno

2.encounter with cinderalla

Esha s POV:

I got from bed stalking rudra on instagram.it was one of my favourite hobby.i don't just stalk his comments and people who tag him but verify each and every followers and people he follows.

I wasn't some mindless stalker.I was far too calculating for this.

Most women who got near Rudra were eager to flaunt it, post selfies with cryptic captions, or share stories with their friends. I knew how to infiltrate those spaces without raising suspicion, positioning myself as a concerned friend or just another follower admiring Rudra from afar.

This morning, as i sipped my coffee, her eyes narrowed on a recent post. Some girl—Anika—had been tagged with Rudra at an upscale café. The caption read, “Business meeting or something more? 👀 #CaféDays #RudraSinghania.”

My blood boiled, but I quickly calmed herself, forcing my emotions under control. I clicked on the girl’s profile. Anika was an aspiring model, not too hard to deal with.

Without hesitation, I followed a series of connections. Anika’s recent story showed her sitting with friends, chatting about her recent “date” with Rudra. I chuckled darkly. As if.

Sliding into Anika’s DMs was too obvious, but I had other ways. I quickly crafted a fake account, her fingers moving swiftly across the screen. Within minutes, I sent a message to Anika’s friends—an anonymous tip about Anika’s messy love life with “proof” of her multiple hookups. The girls were gossip-hungry. In less than an hour, rumors would spread like wildfire. Girls like Anika crumbled under social pressure, and by the end of the day, Rudra wouldn’t even be a memory to her.

My thoughts drifted to Rudra. He had no idea how deeply I was involved in his life. But I preferred it that way. Let him stay in the dark. He would be mine, eventually. No woman could keep him.

I leaned back and opened Rudra’s profile once more, admiring his latest post. He was a vision of power and authority, standing in his office, a deep scowl across his face. Perfect.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. It was Ehaan. “dont forget the business gala tonight. Be there.”

Siya s POV:

I adjusted my dress nervously, feeling completely out of place at the high-profile business gala. I wasn’t supposed to be here—just an invite that landed in her inbox by accident. My mother had once worked for the Singhania family, which loosely tied me to the elite circles, but i hardly ever ventured into their world.

My plan was simple: stay low, avoid any unnecessary attention, and leave as soon as possible. But things rarely went as planned.

I was about to grab a drink when someone bumped into her from behind. The champagne glass I was holding slipped out of my hand, shattering on the floor. My heart sank as all eyes turned toward her. Before I could apologize, an irritated voice broke the silence.

“Are you blind?” Ehaan Malhotra sneered, glaring down at me. His sharp features and piercing gaze made him impossible to ignore, but his arrogance was palpable.

I bristled. “It’s not my fault you weren’t watching where you were going.”

His eyes scanned me from top to bottom "do you even belong here?"he asked smirking

My crossed her arms, with my chin held high. “I could ask you the same thing. But I guess people like you are too used to getting away with anything.”

His smirk faltered, the playful arrogance turning to something darker. “You don’t know anything about me, cindrella"

"Siya Kapoor"

Both of us turned, and there he was—Rudra Singhania. The air seemed to change when he entered the space. He was taller, broader, more imposing than I had imagined, with a commanding presence that silenced the room. Ehaan’s jaw clenched, his obvious hatred for Rudra simmering just below the surface.

My was breath caught as Rudra’s cold, calculating eyes flickered between me and Ehaan. His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than necessary, and it sent a shiver down my spine.

"She is my guest..do you have any problem?"he asked looking at ehaan

Ehaan’s lips curled in a sneer. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

Rudra raised an eyebrow, his eyes shifting back to me “You alright?”

"Ye- yeah"i replied stammering

Rudra didn’t seem convinced, but he let it slide. “Good. Enjoy the evening,” he said, his tone softening slightly, before giving Ehaan one last glare. With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the tension thick between them.

I quickly excused myself as, my heart still racing from the encounter. But Ehaan wasn’t done.

“Stay out of my way,” he muttered under his breath as i passed by.