LUST ROYALE

Chapter 7

--- Chapter 7 ---

The night air was thick with tension as Nandita and Ekaksh stood in the dimly lit warehouse, their gazes locked in a battle neither could afford to lose. An alliance? The thought churned in Nandita's mind. Trust was a commodity she rarely extended, even to those who had proven their loyalty over the years. But Ekaksh—he was a different kind of threat. He wasn't just another businessman trying to flex his power in the criminal underworld. He was smart, ruthless, and worst of all, unpredictable.

Nandita turned away from him, pacing slightly as her mind worked through the situation. She needed time to consider her options, but time was a luxury she didn't have. The recent attack had proven that. Whoever had infiltrated her organization was close—too close—and if Ekaksh's people were involved, the danger could escalate faster than she anticipated.

"Why should I trust you?" she finally asked, not looking at him. Her voice was low, measured.

Ekaksh watched her carefully. "Because I'm the only one who can help you find out who's pulling the strings. You have enemies, Nandita. Powerful ones. You might think you're invincible, but I've been in this game long enough to know that no one is untouchable."

Nandita's lips pressed into a thin line. He wasn't wrong. But acknowledging that vulnerability didn't sit well with her. She had built her empire brick by brick, burying her real identity beneath layers of respectability as a surgeon and philanthropist. She had done whatever was necessary to maintain her dual life, and now, it felt like the carefully constructed walls were beginning to crumble.

"You don't even know me," she said, turning back to face him. "What makes you think I need your help?"

Ekaksh stepped closer, his presence imposing but not overtly threatening. There was something almost magnetic about him, the way he moved, the confidence in his posture. He wasn't afraid of her—and that, more than anything, intrigued Nandita. Most men in her position would have either run or tried to overpower her by now. But Ekaksh was playing a different game, and she couldn't quite figure out his angle.

"You're right," he said, his voice calm, "I don't know you. But I know people like you. People who have too much to lose and too many enemies circling around them like sharks. You've built something impressive, Nandita, but you've also painted a target on your back. And whether you admit it or not, you're going to need allies."

Nandita's eyes narrowed. She wasn't used to being lectured, especially by someone who barely knew her. But there was something about the way he spoke—something that felt oddly sincere, despite the underlying tension between them.

She sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. "Let's say I agree to this... alliance. What's in it for you? You don't strike me as someone who does things out of the goodness of your heart."

Ekaksh smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You're right about that. I have my own reasons for wanting to take down whoever's behind the attack. My family—my business—is at risk, too. And if there's one thing I've learned in this line of work, it's that sometimes you have to make deals with people you'd rather avoid. But in the end, it's about survival. Yours, mine, and everything we've built."

Nandita studied him for a long moment. She hated how much sense he was making. She hated even more that a part of her was considering his offer. But she had to be practical. The attack had exposed a weakness in her organization, and if she didn't act quickly, she could lose everything.

But an alliance with Ekaksh? That was a gamble, one she wasn't sure she could afford.

"I'll think about it," she said again, though this time her voice lacked the sharp edge it had carried earlier.