Forbidden Mania | 18+

26.

Chapter contains 3k words, it took me a week to write this, so please vote and Comment.

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𝒜𝓇𝓈𝒽'𝓈 𝒫𝑜𝓋~

The sound of my car engine hummed low as I pulled into the parking lot of Malhotra Enterprises. A sleek, modern skyscraper that towered over the city, just like the power my family held. My family… my mother. The thought alone made my jaw clench.

I don't have time to think about that right now.

Stepping out, I adjusted my cufflinks and strode toward the entrance, the sharp click of my polished shoes echoing through the marble-floored lobby. Employees stiffened at the sight of me, backs straightening, eyes lowering. Good. That's how I liked it. Fear and respect, both worked in my favor.

The elevator ride was silent, save for the occasional chime of passing floors. As soon as the doors slid open to my office floor, Amit, my secretary, rushed toward me, a stack of files in his hands.

"Sir, the board is waiting for you in the conference room. Also, Mr. Mehra called about the shipping deal, and-"

I held up a hand, stopping him mid-sentence. "Later. Get me a coffee first."

He nodded quickly before scurrying away. I pushed the door to my office open and exhaled, loosening my tie. The moment I sat down, my laptop screen flashed with unread emails, most of them reports, pending contracts, and one from my father.

Vikram Malhotra: "The company needs a new personal assistant. I want you to handle the hiring. I'll be in meetings all day."

A personal assistant?

Right. My father's assistant had taken sick leave, and with how packed our schedules were, we needed someone competent to handle the chaos. I picked up my intercom, pressing the button.

"Amit, put out a vacancy for a personal assistant. I want resumes on my desk by the end of the day."

"Yes, sir."

I leaned back, rubbing my temples. Work had always been my escape, a place where emotions held no value, where logic and dominance ruled. But today, even as I signed papers and handled deals, a certain face haunted me.

Mishka.

Her confused, hurt expression when she told me about the threatening call. The way her voice had trembled when she spoke about her mother. The way she had melted against me last night when I kissed her.

I clenched my fists.

She was under my skin, bleeding into every part of my world, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

I pushed the thought away and focused back on work. I had things to handle, and Mishka… she wasn't going anywhere. She was mine.

Hours passed in a blur of meetings, contract reviews, and back-to-back calls. I had barely touched my coffee when Amit knocked on my office door, stepping in with a thick stack of files in his hands.

"Sir, these are the shortlisted applications for the Personal Assistant position. HR went through the initial screening, but they wanted you to have the final say."

I leaned forward, taking the files from him. The weight alone was irritating. I didn't have time to sit through countless applicants.

Flipping through the files, I skimmed through the details, average qualifications, basic experience, nothing particularly impressive. Until one name caught my attention.