LUST ROYALE

Chapter-9

------Chapter-9-----

The atmosphere in Nandita's penthouse was tense, thick with the weight of the dangerous game they were playing. Nandita, Advait, and Ekaksh had spent the past week gathering every scrap of information they could find about The Circle, preparing for the battle that loomed over them. The three of them worked late into the night, combing through files, contacting sources, and setting up strategies to dismantle the powerful organization piece by piece.

Despite the gravity of the situation, something else had been simmering in the background. A tension of a different kind between Nandita and Ekaksh had grown over the past week. It was subtle at first—lingering glances, moments of silence charged with unspoken words, accidental brushes of hands. But now, that energy seemed to spark at every interaction, building with every passing hour.

It was late, nearly midnight. Advait had left earlier, heading out to meet his contact in Singapore, leaving Nandita and Ekaksh alone in the dimly lit living room, surrounded by files and blueprints. Nandita sat on the couch, her laptop on her lap, her brows furrowed as she analyzed one of The Circle's financial reports.

Ekaksh stood by the window, gazing out over the city skyline, his posture tense. The usual calm confidence he exuded seemed to waver, something darker swirling beneath his surface. Nandita noticed the shift in his energy but said nothing, instead choosing to focus on the task at hand.

Minutes passed in silence before Ekaksh turned around, breaking the quiet. "You're still not getting enough sleep."

Nandita looked up, startled by his sudden comment. She hadn't expected him to say anything, especially not something so... personal. She shrugged, her fingers still tapping at her keyboard. "Neither are you. We can sleep when we've taken down The Circle."

Ekaksh crossed the room slowly, his eyes locked on hers. "You need rest, Nandita. You can't keep pushing yourself like this."

Nandita felt her pulse quicken as he neared. There was something in his voice—something softer than the hard-edged businessman he usually portrayed. She pushed the feeling aside and met his gaze with her usual defiance. "I'll rest when I'm dead."

Ekaksh's lips quirked into a half-smile, but his eyes were serious. He moved closer, sitting beside her on the couch. His presence was magnetic, pulling her attention away from her work despite her best efforts.

"You know, you don't always have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders," Ekaksh said quietly, his voice low and intense.

Nandita's breath caught in her throat as his words hit closer to home than she expected. She looked away, her defenses rising. "I've been carrying it for years, Ekaksh. I'm used to it."

He reached out and gently touched her hand, his fingers brushing against hers. The small contact sent a jolt of electricity through her, and for a moment, the world outside—the threats, the dangers—faded away. It was just the two of them, sitting in the quiet of her apartment, with something unspoken hanging in the air.

"You don't have to do it alone," Ekaksh said softly. His voice was so different from the sharp, commanding tone she was used to. "I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."

Nandita felt her heart race, but she fought to keep her emotions in check. She had built her empire on being strong, independent, untouchable. She wasn't used to letting anyone in, not even a man like Ekaksh, who had shown he was more than capable of holding his own.

"I'm fine," she replied, her voice steadier than she felt. "I've always been fine."

Ekaksh didn't pull away. Instead, he leaned closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "No one is invincible, Nandita. Not even you."