Roulette

Chapter 5

Mahi watched with keen interest as her colleagues engaged in what seemed like a futile battle against the tangled web of lost data. The tension in the air was palpable, each frustrated sigh and furrowed brow underscoring the complexity of the task at hand. The hacker's layers of digital disguise made it nearly impossible to trace their identity, leaving the team grappling with confusion and the mounting pressure of the investigation.

Mahi couldn't help but reflect on how few cases had garnered as much attention as this one-a rarity that hinted at the severity of the breach. As a recent addition to the Cyber Crime Investigation Department of the State Police, she felt a mix of excitement and bewilderment at her colleagues' sudden burst of energy. Normally laid-back and lackadaisical, they now appeared agitated, fueled by the urgency of their mission. She could almost see the coffee coursing through their veins, imagining them on their fourth or fifth mug, desperately trying to stay alert amid chaos.

Mahi felt a wave of confusion wash over her as the vibrant chaos enveloping the spacious conference room of the legal firm came to an unexpected halt. The once-bustling space, filled with the clatter of keys and the hum of conversation from the huddled members of the cyber security department, fell into a profound silence. The only sounds that punctuated the stillness were the soft thuds of multiple mugs being set down on coasters and the unsettling scrape of chairs sliding across the polished floor.

As she turned to investigate the sudden shift, her gaze was drawn to a figure in the doorway. A tall man stood there, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his expression one of intense scrutiny. The sharp angles of his face were accentuated by narrowed eyes that seemed to slice through the room, absorbing every detail, as if he were judging the very atmosphere itself. The tension was palpable, and Mahi couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was about to unfold.

Vardhan Singh Rathod.

The man appeared even more captivating in person, exuding a magnetic charm that was hard to ignore. Mahi had caught a brief glimpse of Vardhan on television, where the relentless media had swarmed around him as he exited the courthouse, triumphant after securing the release of an industrialist. Despite his notorious reputation, something about his appearance-sharp features, a commanding presence-had subtly influenced her perception, much to Mahi's chagrin.

This fleeting fascination led her down a rabbit hole of articles about the celebrated lawyer, which quickly grounded her in reality. If his impressive client list didn't raise red flags, the underhanded tactics he was accused of employing by the prosecution certainly did. Mahi realized that the striking man's exterior concealed a history much darker than her future.

The air grew thick with tension as he entered the room. With an effortless grace, he rolled one of the swivel chairs to the center, settling into it confidently. Resting his right ankle over his left knee, he exuded a relaxed demeanor that belied the intensity around him. As he clasped the back of his neck with his right hand and cracked it, the sound echoed in the silence, a stark reminder of the storm that lay beneath his polished exterior.

Dear lord, the buttons of the shirt along the sternum are clinging onto their dear life.

Her subconscious supplied unnecessarily completely ignoring the oppressive situation she and her colleagues were currently embroiled in.

"What's taking so long, Rawate?" Vardhan's deep, almost lazy baritone pierced through the deafening silence of the room.

Only when the sound echoed off the wall did Mahi notice her sleazy boss standing near the door rushing to the center of the room with eyes wide in alarm, his pot belly hindering him in the process.

"Sir, I have been trying-" he began, only to be interrupted by a deep, mocking chuckle that reverberated in the room, cutting through his words.

Mahi observed as Vardhan swiveled his chair slightly towards her boss' direction, his eyes still shut and face tilted back. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally opened his eyes revealing a mix of derision and nonchalance. As the lawyer's slow, deliberate scrutinizing gaze zeroed in on her boss, Mahi thanked all her stars that she wasn't the focal point. She reluctantly shifted her attention to the unscrupulous boss who awkwardly shifted his weight from one leg to another while wringing his hands. The fabric of his uniform shirt having dampened and marred with sweat clung to his body uncomfortably. The man fished out a stark white handkerchief, quite in contrast to his disheveled state, from his pocket to dab the beads of sweat that traveled through his hairline along the sides of his face. After regaining a bit of semblance back, he started,