Brutal yet severely charming man Shahmeer Jafri. The owner of a chain of the best luxury hotels in the world.
The definition of perfection in a human. Sweet mouthed and loyal girl Mahnoor Ali had the life of normal 27 year old. Or so she thought...
The house looks like a dream. Balloons are tied to every possible surface, and confetti sparkles across the floor. Banners hang with "Happy Birthday" emblazoned in gold, and spirals twist from the ceiling like little whirlwinds of color. I step back, scanning the room one last time. Everything is ready—perfect even. His presents are arranged neatly on the center table, flanked by fresh flowers and tied with ribbons that match the black-and-gold theme. The cake sits in the fridge, waiting for its moment of glory.
I glance at the clock and exhale. Just in time. Shahmeer should be back soon. I stand in front of the mirror, smoothing down the fabric of my dress. It's a long, flowing black velvet gown that fits me perfectly, both elegant and regal. The gold embroidery catches the light, shimmering with each delicate detail. The dupatta draped over my shoulder completes the look, its edges lined with subtle gold embellishments.It's simple yet stunning, modest yet bold. I feel beautiful in it, like the perfect blend of grace and charm. For Shahmeer's birthday, I wanted to look special, and in this dress, I know I do.
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Just as I'm about to settle down and catch my breath, the door swings open, and one of the guards steps in, holding a bag.
"Madam," he says, a bit hesitantly.
I freeze. My stomach knots immediately. The last time I got an unexpected delivery, it wasn't good. "What's that?" I ask, my voice sharper than intended.
"It's from Shahmeer sir," the guard replies, extending the bag toward me.
I take it with trembling hands, peering inside. Relief washes over me when I see the contents—it's the list of things I'd asked him to get. Groceries and a few random knick-knacks I didn't even really need.
"Oh," I breathe, laughing nervously. "Thank you."
The guard hesitates, as if unsure whether to say more.
"Is Shahmeer on his way back?" I ask casually, though my heart is pounding for reasons I can't quite explain.
"No, madam," he replies, avoiding my gaze. "He's leaving to go somewhere."
My head snaps up. "What? Where is he going?"
"I don't know, madam. He didn't say."
Without thinking, I grab my handbag and rush past the guard, ignoring the sound of his protests behind me. My heart pounds as I step outside, just in time to see Shahmeer's car disappearing down the driveway.
I jump into the car, quickly starting the engine. My hands grip the steering wheel tightly as I follow him, keeping a safe distance so he doesn't notice. What's going on? Why didn't he say anything? Where could he possibly be going on his birthday?
The roads wind and blur as I focus on keeping up with him. Thirty minutes pass before his car slows down and pulls over to the side of a quiet street. I park a good distance behind, watching as he gets out.
