The Silent Seduction

38. MAHIRA

The silence of my office wrapped around me as I flipped through the pages of yet another report. Every now and then, my thoughts would drift back to Arjun.

It had been three weeks since we’d confessed our feelings for one another, and in that time, he’d taken me on a date that still left a smile lingering on my lips.

The memory of that night—the way he’d looked at me, touched me—was enough to send warmth radiating through my chest.

But today, work demanded my focus.

A knock at the door broke my concentration, and I glanced up, slightly surprised. "Come in," I called, pushing thoughts of Arjun to the back of my mind.

The door creaked open, and there stood Rohan Malhotra.

For a moment, my breath caught in my throat. The man who had asked me to dance at the party when I was named CEO, the man who tried to help me earlier with the meeting, but today his gaze lingers a little too long, his presence almost felt unsettling. But I composed myself quickly, schooling my features into a polite smile.

"Rohan," I said with a small smile and a nod, gesturing for him to enter. "Please, come in."

Rohan closed the door behind him, his steps slow and deliberate as he walked toward me. His eyes swept over my office, but there was something in his gaze that felt too familiar, too intrusive. I kept my posture straight, reminding myself that I was in control here.

"Mahira," he greeted with a thin smile, his voice smooth but carrying an edge I couldn’t quite place. "I hope I’m not interrupting anything important."

"Not at all," I replied, gesturing to the chair opposite me. "Have a seat."

Rohan settled into the chair, but his gaze never left me. There was something unnerving about how intently he was watching me, like he was seeing something more than what was on the surface.

"I wanted to discuss a new project," he began, his tone casual, but I could sense a deeper motive behind his words. "I’ve come across some investors who are very interested in collaborating with your company. They have an impeccable reputation and are ready to commit."

I nodded, maintaining my professional composure. "That sounds promising, Rohan. But before we move forward, I’d like to go over the details and ensure everything aligns with our goals. I’ll need time to prepare and assess the viability of the project."

"Of course," he said, leaning back slightly in his chair. "I wouldn’t expect anything less from someone as thorough as you."

There was something in his tone that made me uneasy, but I pushed the feeling aside. I stood up, signaling that our conversation was nearing its end. "I’ll have everything ready for a meeting in two days. We can go over the specifics then."

I extended my hand, a formal gesture to bid him goodbye. But as soon as my hand reached out, Rohan’s expression shifted. Instead of shaking my hand, his fingers wrapped around my wrist, and before I knew it, he yanked me forward.

The sudden force made my breath hitch, and I stumbled slightly as I found myself standing between him and my desk. His hand was on my waist now, too close, too intimate. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I realized how close he was.

"Rohan," I said, my voice sharp, trying to mask the rising panic. "Let go of me. Now."

But he didn’t. Instead, his grip tightened, and a sinister smile curled at the corners of his lips. "Why so formal, Mahira?" His voice was low, almost mocking. "You weren’t this cold with your secretary that night, were you?"

My blood turned to ice. "What are you talking about?" I demanded, trying to pull away, but his grip was firm.

"You think I didn’t see it?" he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "At the party, when you disappeared with him. I followed you, saw you sneak off together. What happened in that bedroom, Mahira? Did it feel good when he touched you? Were you thinking about your position when you let him take you like that?"

My heart pounded, fear and anger battling within me. How did he know? My mind raced, but I kept my voice steady. "That’s none of your business."

"Oh, but it is," he murmured, leaning in closer, his breath hot against my skin. "You’re mine, Mahira. You don’t get to be with someone else."

His hand slid lower, and I recoiled, disgusted. "Let go of me!" I snapped, shoving him back with all my strength. "You’re out of your mind."

Rohan chuckled darkly, his eyes gleaming with something twisted. "What’s the matter? You didn’t push Arjun away, did you? Why is it different now? Why does it disgust you when it’s me?"

I stared at him, my heart racing, trying to find the words to respond. I wanted to scream, to lash out, but I knew that would only feed into his twisted satisfaction.

"Because you’re a coward," I finally said, my voice low but seething. "You think you can control me, but you don’t. You never will."

Rohan’s face darkened, his smile fading as his eyes narrowed. "Is that so?"

Just then, the door burst open. "Mahira!" Arjun’s voice echoed through the room, and I turned, relief flooding me as I saw him standing there. His expression was dark, eyes filled with fury as he took in the scene before him.

Rohan’s hand dropped from me immediately, but his smirk returned as he looked back at Arjun. "Looks like your knight in shining armor is here," he said mockingly, stepping back and smoothing out his jacket. "I’ll be seeing you, Mahira."

With one last wicked grin, Rohan walked out of the room, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.

I stood there, my body trembling, my breath shallow. Arjun was by my side in an instant, his hand gently touching my arm. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft but filled with concern.

I nodded, though I didn’t trust myself to speak. My mind was spinning, trying to process what had just happened.

Another update!!

Things are going to change now...(⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)

Do not forget to vote, comment, and share the book.

And for more updates and queries follow @sakshi__reads on Instagram.

Thank you ❤️✨