UNWILLINGLY HIS

Loyalty proof

The morning sun filtered through the windows of the hotel suite as Samaira sat on the edge of the bed, her phone gripped tightly in her hands. She stared at the unknown number that had sent her the cryptic message: 

**"If you truly want to destroy Advait, we can help you."** 

Her heart raced. Though this was what they had been anticipating, the sudden message left her unsettled. She glanced at Advait, who was seated calmly on the sofa, sipping his coffee. The serene expression on his face contrasted starkly with the turmoil in her mind. 

"What do I reply to this?" she asked, her voice shaky, holding up the phone for him to see. 

Advait placed his mug on the coffee table and stood up, walking toward her. He crouched to her level and gently placed his hands over hers, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that calmed her storm. "First, breathe," he said softly. 

Samaira inhaled deeply, her fingers loosening around the phone. "They claim to be your enemies," she muttered. "And they’re offering to help me destroy you. How do I trust this?" 

Advait smirked faintly but didn’t let go of her hands. "You don’t," he said matter-of-factly. "But you also don’t dismiss it outright. Respond cautiously. Play along, but don’t give away anything concrete." 

Samaira nodded slowly, then typed her reply: 
*"Who are you? Why do you want to help me?"* 

A moment later, her phone buzzed again. The message read: 
*"Our identity doesn’t matter. What you need to know is we are Advait’s enemies. And the enemy of your enemy is your friend."* 

Samaira read it aloud, her voice trembling. She looked up at Advait. "This could be anyone. What if it’s…another one of your games?" 

Advait tilted his head, his expression hardening. "Do you really think I’d stoop that low? After everything we’ve been through, Samaira, I thought you knew me better than that." 

His words brought a pang of guilt, but she wasn’t entirely convinced. "I’m sorry," she murmured. "It’s just...how do I know who to trust anymore?" 

Advait’s gaze softened, and he leaned closer, his hands still holding hers firmly. "You trust me," he said, his voice steady. "Because we’re in this together. And because I’d never put you in harm’s way—not now, not ever." 

Samaira felt a wave of calm wash over her. She nodded slightly, then turned her attention back to the phone. She typed her next message, her fingers trembling slightly: 
*"I can’t just trust anyone right away. What if this is Advait’s move to destroy me and my family?"* 

The response came almost immediately: 
*"You’re right to be cautious. We can’t fully trust you either. That’s why you need to prove your willingness to destroy him."* 

Her stomach twisted as she read the words aloud. "Prove my willingness?" she echoed, glancing nervously at Advait. 

"What do they want?" he asked calmly, though his posture had stiffened slightly. 

She typed: 
**I am more than willing to destroy him and even it means to do something I never want, so How do I prove it?"* 

The reply came seconds later: 
*"Sell the shares of Advait’s company that you inherited from his family. That will show us you’re serious. Once you’ve done this, we’ll contact you again to discuss our plan."* 

Samaira’s eyes widened, and she immediately turned to Advait. "The shares—they know about them! How? No one outside your family knows I have them." 

Advait’s jaw clenched. He stood, pacing the room briefly before returning to her. "This means it’s someone close. Very close," he said, his voice sharp. 

She stared at him, panic rising in her chest. "What do I reply? Selling the shares would damage your company, wouldn’t it?" 

Advait exhaled deeply, his hand moving to her shoulder. He crouched in front of her again, his grip reassuring. "The damage would be minimal. The shares you have aren’t enough to make a major impact. But agreeing to this will strengthen their belief that you’re on their side." 

Samaira hesitated. "But what if—" 

"Samaira," he interrupted gently, his tone soft but firm. "We’re walking a tightrope here. If we don’t take this step, they’ll suspect you. And if they suspect you, we lose our only chance to find out who they are. Trust me on this." 

His words steadied her resolve. She gave a small nod and began typing her reply: 
*"Okay, I’m willing to do this. But after this, I can’t work with shadows. If I go through with this, I need to meet you in person."* 

A few moments passed before the response came: 
*"If you sell the shares, we’ll know you’re serious. Then we’ll meet and plan the next move."* 

Samaira let out a slow breath, setting the phone down. She looked at Advait, her eyes filled with worry. "Do you think this will work?" 

"It has to," he replied, his voice unwavering. "And you...played your part perfectly." 

She gave him a weak smile, her tension easing slightly. "Your words were so cutting last night," she admitted. "For a moment, I believed them too." 

Advait chuckled softly, the tension in the room lifting just slightly. "Well, you were no less convincing. I almost doubted myself for a second." 

They exchanged a brief smile, a flicker of humor breaking through the heaviness of the moment. But as the weight of the situation settled back over them, Samaira whispered, "I hope this doesn’t backfire, Advait." 

"It won’t," he assured her, his voice steady. "Not as long as we trust each other." 

She nodded, leaning back against the headboard, her mind already racing with the next steps. Trusting him was her only option now. But in the back of her mind, the question lingered: Who among them was the traitor?