Sinful contract (His sweet possession)

ch 3

The sun filtered through the large glass windows of the café, casting a warm, golden hue over the small but bustling space. The air was filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the soft hum of chatter as customers filled every corner, some deeply engrossed in their conversations, others quietly working on their laptops.

Uma moved behind the counter, her smile as bright as the sun outside, greeting every customer with the same warmth she always had. It didn't matter how busy the day got-this café was her sanctuary, her little corner of peace in a world that often felt too chaotic."Order for table four!" she called out, balancing a tray filled with steaming cups of coffee and pastries. She weaved through the crowd with practiced ease, offering a friendly nod to the regulars who frequented the shop.But today, something was different.The door swung open with a soft chime, and in walked three men who immediately stood out from the usual crowd.

Dressed in sharp, tailored suits, their presence demanded attention. They carried an air of authority, power practically radiating from them as they took their seats at the corner table, as far from the noise as they could manage.Uma glanced their way briefly, her curiosity piqued by their unfamiliar faces. She could feel the subtle shift in the atmosphere, as if the room itself was reacting to their presence. She didn't know them-yet there was something about the man in the middle that made her chest tighten.

Kartikey.

“Nice place,” Vivaan remarked, glancing around as he adjusted his leather jacket. “Told you it wasn’t just another café.”

“Yeah, it’s got a vibe,” Veeranshu added, leaning back and relaxing into the seat, already scanning the menu. “Let’s see if the food matches up.”Kartikey said nothing, still lost in thought, his eyes unintentionally drifting back to the counter. That’s when she approached their table, a soft smile on her lips as she held a notepad in one hand and a pen in the other.“Good evening, gentlemen,” she greeted, her voice warm and genuine. “Can I take your order?” Kartikey’s eyes flicked up to meet hers, and for the briefest moment, something shifted inside him. She was close enough now for him to see the small details—her eyes were a deep shade of brown, her hair neatly tied back, with strands that seemed to dance as she moved.

She had an aura of innocence about her, something pure and unaffected by the world he came from.Vivaan smiled up at her first, ordering a strong espresso. Veeranshu followed with a cappuccino and a slice of the café’s famous carrot cake, which he had read about online. When it was Kartikey’s turn, his voice came out colder than he intended, the usual edge of arrogance slipping into his tone.“Black coffee,” he said simply, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched her jot down the order.Uma smiled politely, clearly unaffected by his sharpness, and nodded.

“Coming right up.”As she turned and walked away to serve another table, Vivaan and Veeranshu exchanged amused glances. They had noticed the small, almost imperceptible change in Kartikey’s demeanor. He was usually so detached, so indifferent to everything around him, but something about the way he’d looked at the server had caught their attention.

“She’s cute, huh?” Veeranshu teased, nudging Kartikey slightly. “Didn’t know cafés had that kind of service.”Kartikey shot him a warning look, his expression hardening. “Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t care about some girl working at a café.”Vivaan smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Sure, Kartikey. You’ve only been staring at her like you’re trying to figure out why you even noticed her in the first place.” Kartikey’s jaw clenched, and he leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. “I wasn’t staring. I just…”

He trailed off, unsure of how to finish the sentence without giving them more fuel to tease him.“Right, of course, you weren’t,” Veeranshu said, exchanging a knowing look with Vivaan. “Look, man, it’s fine. She’s pretty, and it’s been a while since you’ve noticed anyone like that. No need to act like a stone.”Kartikey glared at them both. “Drop it. You’re imagining things.” Vivaan raised his hands in surrender, still grinning.

The conversation shifted to business and other mundane topics as they sipped their coffee and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. But Kartikey, despite his best efforts to ignore it, couldn’t get the image of the server out of his head. Her smile, the lightness in her steps, the way she seemed to effortlessly move from one customer to the next without losing that joyful aura. It was as if nothing could weigh her down, a stark contrast to the heavy, complicated life he led.As the time passed, Uma returned with their orders, placing each one gently on the table. Her hand brushed slightly against Kartikey’s as she set down his black coffee, and for a second, he felt a jolt of something unfamiliar—a warmth, perhaps? He dismissed it immediately, pushing the thought away.

She moved on, tending to other tables with that same cheerful energy, and Kartikey’s eyes followed her once more, despite himself. Vivaan and Veeranshu noticed, exchanging another quick glance, but this time they didn’t say anything. They could see the shift in their friend, and while they knew better than to push him too hard, they silently enjoyed the fact that Kartikey, the man who never seemed to care about anything outside of his empire, was rattled.

After what felt like an eternity to Kartikey, they finished their drinks and paid the bill. The three of them stood, ready to leave, and Kartikey shook off the thoughts that had been swirling in his mind.As they exited the café, the cool evening air hit them once again, but this time Kartikey barely noticed. His friends chattered about the café, about how right they were to visit it, but his mind was elsewhere—still inside the café, still thinking about the woman with the smile that had, for reasons he couldn’t explain, gotten under his skin.They headed back to their penthouse, the car ride mostly filled with light conversation between Vivaan and Veeranshu, while Kartikey remained unusually quiet. His thoughts were tangled, and though he would never admit it, Uma had left a mark, something subtle but undeniable.

When they reached the penthouse, Vivaan and Veeranshu headed straight for the living room, turning on the TV and cracking open a bottle of whiskey. Kartikey, however, lingered by the large window, looking out at the city’s skyline but seeing something else entirely. The smile. The warmth. That strange feeling that wouldn’t leave him.He shook his head, irritated with himself. He didn’t have time for this nonsense.But as much as he tried to dismiss it, Kartikey knew that tonight, something had shifted. Something he wasn’t prepared for, but something that was now deeply embedded in his thoughts and something told him this wouldn't be the last time their paths would cross .