6:30 PM – The Office Was EmptyHema gathered her things, ready to leave for the day. But as she walked through the quiet hallways, something felt… off.The office was completely empty.Not a single colleague in sight. No murmurs of people on calls. No clicking of keyboards. Just silence.Her brows furrowed.Where is everyone?Maybe they all left early? But that never happened before.She shook her head and brushed off the uneasy feeling.Descending the stairs, she stepped outside, expecting to hail a cab.But the moment she reached the entrance—her steps halted.A black car was parked directly in front of the building.The kind of car that exuded power. Intimidation.Her pulse quickened.And then—the back window rolled down.Zayden.Sitting inside, cool and composed, one arm resting lazily on the door. His expression was unreadable, his dark eyes locked onto hers.She clenched her jaw.No.She wasn’t going to do this.She turned, attempting to walk past him and grab a cab—“Get in,” h
Zayden’s Departure to the U.S.Mia’s message came late at night, just as Zayden was finishing a report.Mia: You need to come back. ASAP. Things are falling apart.His jaw tightened. He had left the empire in a stable condition, or so he thought.Zayden: What happened?Mia: The secretary is in the hospital. Car accident. The legal team is in chaos. There’s a scandal—some rich heir overdosed at one of our hotels using “Z” . Media is everywhere. We need you here.He exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose.Of course, it had to be now.Mia: I can ask Father for help—His grip tightened around his phone.Zayden: No need (roared) . I’ll handle it.A pause. Then—Mia: Then come back before everything crumbles.His temples throbbed. His empire was built on precision, power, and control.Yet, here he was, thousands of miles away, distracted.By her.By a woman who didn’t want him.Zayden leaned back, staring at the ceiling.For the first time, going home felt like a burden.⸻A City
Hema was heading toward her cabin when her eyes froze.Through the glass window of his office door—A figure sat inside.Broad shoulders. Dark hair. Familiar posture.Zayden.Her heart stopped.She wasn’t imagining it. He was back.For a second, she just stood there.Her breath uneven. Her pulse unsteady.Then—without thinking—she turned back.She checked the hallway. No one was watching.She reached for the door handle, her fingers hesitating.Then—she opened it.The room was empty.Her brows furrowed.She glanced around. He was just here.Was she… hallucinating?A breath of frustration left her lips.She took a final glance, then turned away, stepping back into the hallway.Her heart was still racing.She didn’t know why.But one thing was clear—She had felt his presence.And she didn’t know what that meant anymore.……The night air was thick with silence as Hema stepped out of the cab. She adjusted her dupatta, her body aching from the long workday.Her mind was still restless—tho
Hema gasped for air, her lips swollen, her entire body trembling.Her heart slammed against her chest, pulse racing.For a moment, she couldn’t move.Couldn’t think.She just stood there—her breath uneven, her hands clutching the fabric of her kurti.Across the room, Zayden stood still.His chest rose and fell heavily, his lips slightly parted—evidence of what just happened.His dark eyes burned into hers, still filled with something dangerous.Something that made her skin prickle.She could still feel him.The heat of his hands.The intensity of his lips.The weight of his body against hers.And she hated it.She hated him.Or at least—she wanted to.Without thinking, her hand flew to her lips.She wiped them with back of her hand.Roughly.As if trying to erase the feel of him.As if trying to pretend none of it had happened.Zayden’s gaze flickered—he narrowed his eyes looking at her.But before he could say anything—Hema’s eyes wandered around the corridor and street.Her heart d
The next morning, the entire office buzzed with excitement.The announcement had taken everyone by surprise.Zayden stood at the front of the conference room, dressed sharply in a tailored suit, his expression unreadable.“We have selected a few of our most hardworking employees based on their performance and dedication to work in our headquarters in America.”A murmur ran through the crowd.Zayden’s eyes swept across the room.Then, he started listing the names.One by one, he announced several employees from each department.Hema sat at her desk, listening, her fingers curling into her palms.She wasn’t nervous.She knew she had worked hard.She deserved this.Then—“Hema Kapoor.”Her head snapped up.A few of her colleagues turned to look at her, some congratulating her, some envious.She kept her face calm, composed.When Zayden said her name, he did it with no special emphasis.No favoritism.No hidden meaning.Just professionalism.And yet—her heart pounded.Her mind screamed th
The private jet hummed softly as it cut through the sky, but inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension.Zayden leaned back in his seat, swirling the golden whiskey in his glass, his sharp eyes never leaving Hema.His gaze settled on her lips—The same lips he had claimed that night.The way she had struggled, the way she had melted against him despite herself.And now, here she was again, acting indifferent, pretending that nothing had happened.But he knew better.Tonight, she wasn’t in her usual Indian attire.Tonight, she wore fitted jeans and a black turtleneck cardigan, her hair tied up in a neat ponytail.And God—She looked irresistible.Too tempting.Zayden took another sip of whiskey, a slow smirk curling on his lips.She really thought she could keep running from him.But Hema Kapoor had no idea—She was already caught.⸻Hema hesitated before taking her assigned seat directly in front of him.She didn’t want to.Being this close to him made her pulse race in a way she d
The hum of the jet’s engine provided a constant backdrop to the tension-filled silence between them. Hema had managed to doze off, her body slightly turned toward the window, her breathing even. But even in her sleep, her subconscious felt the weight of his gaze on her.When she stirred awake, a shiver ran down her spine. She opened her eyes groggily and turned her head slightly.Zayden was still looking at her.His head rested against the headrest, his fingers tapping lazily against the armrest of his seat. But his eyes—dark, intense, unwavering—remained on her. The smirk playing on his lips told her everything. He knew she felt his presence even in her sleep.Annoyed, she immediately unbuckled her seatbelt and stood up. Without saying a word, she walked straight to the restroom, locking the door behind her.She leaned against the sink, exhaling a sharp breath.Her hands trembled slightly as she turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on her face. Droplets trickled down her skin a
The city lights of New York flickered as the private jet landed at the airport. Hema stepped out, inhaling the crisp night air, her hands gripping the handle of her suitcase tightly. The moment she stepped onto the pavement, Zayden’s assistant moved forward to help with her luggage.She took a step back. “I can handle it,” she said firmly, pulling her suitcase towards her.“I have arranged for you to stay at my mansion,” he said casually.Hema turned to face him completely, her expression unwavering. “I may be in America, but I still follow Indian customs,” she replied.Something in her voice made his smirk falter for a second.His admiration for her only grew. She wasn’t like the women he usually encountered—those who melted at his charm. She had her own identity, her own beliefs, and she wasn’t afraid to stand by them.She called for a cab, and as it pulled up, she turned back to him.“If you don’t even give me time, how will I impress you?” Zayden asked, leaning against the car.Sh
The hospital lights were far too bright for Zayden’s comfort, but nothing about this day was supposed to be comfortable. He paced the hallway outside the operating theater, Ira cradled carefully in his arms. She looked up at him with those curious eyes, still too young to understand why her usually composed father was walking in frantic loops across polished tiles.Across the hall, Mark looked equally stricken. His face was pale, and his fingers drummed nervously on the side of the chair as he watched the double doors of the maternity wing like a man waiting for a verdict.“Mommy will be here soon,” Zayden muttered, adjusting Ira’s blanket answering her,Zayden nodded. “You think Mia’s okay?”“Mia is okay but I am not,” Mark fired back, trying to force a grin but failing. “Mia threatened to castrate me if I faint during delivery. So yeah, my brain is doing backflips.”Just then, the double doors opened.A nurse walked out, pulling off her mask. “Mr. Zayden?”He stepped forward, heartb
He crashed his mouth to hers—hard, needy. Her hands tangled in his hair as he pressed his body against hers, her thighs wrapping around his waist instinctively. His kiss was urgent, deep, the kind that made her forget where she was. He pulled back just enough to yank her top over her head, exposing her soft breasts, nipples already hard.Zayden groaned at the sight of her and buried his face between them. He licked, kissed, nipped—lavishing each breast with slow, deliberate attention. Hema arched into him, her fingers gripping the bedsheet. His mouth worked her expertly, moving from her breasts to her neck, sucking gently, leaving a trail of wet heat down to her belly.By the time he reached between her legs, she was trembling. His fingers teased her clit, slow circles that made her moan into the air. He loved watching her unravel under his touch—loved seeing her lose control.“Zayden…” she gasped, her thighs twitching. “I need you… inside me.”His lips made a curl. “ you are losing y
The drive stretched endlessly, winding through green hills and coastal turns, the golden hue of the sun bathing the road in warmth. Zayden had planned this break meticulously—no calls, no business, no parenting duties. Just Hema and him, for five full days. Their daughter Ira was safely with Mia, and for the first time in over a year, Hema felt… untethered.She sat in the passenger seat, hair loosely tied, her eyes half-lidded as she stared at the moving landscape. The windows were down just enough for the wind to tousle her strands. Zayden glanced at her sideways, and the way her lips parted ever so slightly—it stirred something primal in him.“You know,” he said, reaching over to entwine his fingers with hers, “I’ve been imagining this trip for weeks.”Hema looked over, already smiling. “I can tell. You’ve been grinning like a maniac since we left.”“I just missed having you to myself,” he said, his voice dropping. “No diapers. No meetings. No interruptions.”She giggled. “And what
The following evening, the golden light of sunset poured into the wide windows of the mansion. Ira was curled up peacefully in her little crib beside the cushioned couch, her tiny hands resting near her face, making gentle sleepy sounds as she dreamed. Hema sat cross-legged on the plush rug nearby, brushing out her hair while Zayden sat beside her, lazily scrolling through photos of Ira’s first steps with an affectionate grin plastered on his face.Mia strolled into the room in her usual confident gait, dressed in her casual yet elegant loungewear, holding a small gift box in one hand.“For the little queen,” she said, placing the box near Ira’s crib and kneeling to press a soft kiss on the baby’s forehead. “I still can’t believe she walked. I missed it!”Hema smiled warmly, setting her brush aside. “She’ll walk into your arms next time. Or maybe run.”Mia’s eyes twinkled as she looked at Hema. “She better. I’m planning to bribe her with toys and secrets.”Zayden chuckled, “Spoiling h
The grand mansion buzzed with life as little Ira, now a spirited one-year-old, filled its halls with her infectious laughter. Her tiny hands and knees propelled her swiftly across the marble floors, making her the darling of everyone—from the seasoned housekeepers to Zayden’s meticulous assistant, Mark. Each had succumbed to her charm, their days brightened by her presence.One particular afternoon, Ira’s curiosity led her on an unexpected adventure. The distant sound of raised voices echoed through the corridors, drawing her attention. Recognizing her mother’s voice, she set off, her crawling turning into determined steps as she clung to walls and furniture for support. The babysitter, momentarily distracted, turned to find Ira missing from her side. Panic surged as she began her search, only to spot the child making her way toward the commotion.Inside the master bedroom, tension crackled. Hema stood her ground, arms crossed, eyes blazing with frustration. Zayden, looking remorseful
The grand black gates of the mansion opened slowly, the familiar creak echoing through the long driveway lined with blooming jasmine. The late afternoon sun bathed everything in golden light as Zayden stepped out of the sleek black SUV, carefully cradling Ira in one arm, while holding Hema protectively with the other. Hema’s steps were slower, her body still weak from the birth, but her heart was full—this was a different kind of return. One not born out of pain or escape, but healing.Mia stood at the entrance, wearing a simple beige dress and a soft, rare smile on her face. Her sharp eyes shimmered the moment she spotted Ira. She rushed down the stairs barefoot, arms extended. “There she is—my little angel!” Mia’s voice trembled with emotion.Zayden grinned as he gently passed Ira into her arms. “She missed her aunt, didn’t she, baby?” he murmured, planting a kiss on Hema’s forehead.Hema chuckled softly and nodded. “We named her,” she said, watching Mia’s eager face.“Oh?” Mia rais
Hema lay curled up beside Zayden, her body still sore from the C-section she had just a week ago. Their baby girl, Ira, was sleeping peacefully next to her in a bassinet . Hema and Zayden had been through so much together, and now, with their little family complete, they felt like the luckiest people in the world.Hema caught him staring and gave him a coy smile. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she slowly reached up and unzipping her kurti, exposing one of her full, heavy breasts."Have a taste," she purred seductively, her voice low and inviting. Zayden's breath hitched as he took in the sight of her perfect breast, the nipple already engorged with milk. His cock instantly hardened, straining against his boxers. He swallowed thickly, desire burning in his veins.Zayde arched an eyebrow. "Are you sure, my love?"Hema nodded with a smile,Zayden's eyes darkened with lust. "I'll be gentle. I promise."In one swift movement, he leaned over her, pressing soft kisses along the swel
The tarmac glistened under the late afternoon sun as Zayden led Hema gently toward the sleek, private jet waiting for them. The sound of soft wind mixed with the distant hum of the plane’s engines. Zayden had one arm securely wrapped around Hema’s waist, supporting her as they walked slowly, while the other held baby Ira against his chest with practiced care.Behind them, two of Zayden’s men followed with their luggage, handling everything swiftly without a word. The elderly couple had waved goodbye, tears in their eyes, just a few minutes ago. Now, as they approached the jet’s steps, Zayden helped Hema up first, handing the baby over for a moment so he could lift her easily.“You don’t have to carry me every time,” Hema mumbled, half-blushing, half-teasing as he lifted her as if she weighed nothing.“You say that as if I’m going to stop,” Zayden smirked. “Let me enjoy being your crutch for a while longer.”He helped her to the spacious cabin of the jet, where a luxurious bed had alre
Zayden stood by Hema’s side as she slowly made her way down the hospital corridor, holding tightly onto his hand. Every step she took was careful, her body still sore, but determined. She didn’t complain. Her grip on his hand tightened whenever the pain in her abdomen throbbed, but she said nothing—only looked ahead, her face slightly pale but strong.Zayden, ever watchful, didn’t take his eyes off her for even a second.“You don’t have to push yourself,” he said gently, adjusting his arm around her waist.“I’m not pushing,” she whispered. “I just want to feel normal again.”Zayden chuckled softly.They reached the end of the hallway, and Hema paused near the window, looking outside at the golden morning sun spreading across the hospital lawn. She took a breath, soaking in the warmth. But the next moment, her knees buckled slightly.“Hema!” Zayden immediately pulled her close.She didn’t fall. She collapsed forward—right into his chest, her forehead resting just above his heart. Her a