After that unexpected encounter with my ex-enemy—the one who made my high school hell—was now officially my stepbrother. I escaped to my new room, trying to shake off the flood of emotions and memories he’d triggered. I threw myself into unpacking, hoping that arranging my things would help me ignore that smug face and the bitter memories he stirred up. High school was behind me, but seeing him here now felt like the universe was playing a twisted joke. If I had to live here, the least I could do was try to maintain a peaceful bond. Maybe time and distance would help us forget the past.
Before I knew it, the hours slipped by as I lost myself in organizing, and before I knew it, the sky had turned dusky. Just then, a knock at my door interrupted me. Someone was calling me downstairs for snacks, and the mention of food made me realize how hungry I was. The realization hit me—I hadn’t eaten since breakfast! All those memories of him had left me too distracted to even think about lunch.
I took a few minutes to freshen up before heading to the hall, where I found Dad on the phone, talking in his deep, businesslike voice, and Mom was cozied up in her chair, tapping away on her laptop. She was in her zone, working on her next novel. I admired her dedication her passion for her work; despite being a well-known author with countless fans, she always remained so grounded. Just watching her, I felt a warmth and pride in knowing she was my mom.
But before I could slip into the comforting atmosphere, My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by none other than Mister Devil himself I felt his presence even before I saw him, that unsettling mix of charm and mischief he seemed to carry with him everywhere.I whipped around, only to find him way too close, one hand on my shoulder, the other stuffed casually in his pocket, his trademark grin in place. “Hey sweetheart, what’s up?” he said.
I tensed and instinctively stepped back, his touch bringing back the sting of memories I thought I’d left behind. This was the same guy who’d twisted my wrist in high school, forcing me to clean the classroom on his day, just because he had a football match. His grip had left bruises , his fingers leaving red marks as he forced me to do his dirty work. He’d been cruel, manipulative, and heartless. And now? Now, he was calling me sweetheart like we were some long-lost friends.
But before I could slip away, he leaned in close, whispering near my ear, “You really do have a habit of zoning out, sweetheart.” Startled, I realized he was now way too close, his face inches from mine. His presence felt overwhelming, unsettling in ways I hadn’t expected. I took another step back, but he pulled me close by the waist, grinning. “Your stomach’s growling like a lion,” he whispered with a smirk.
Embarrassed, I shoved him away and rushed over to Mom, who was still immersed in her writing. My heart was racing, and I tried to calm the strange flutter in my stomach. His touch had left me rattled—not in anger, but with something new and confusing, a feeling I was both surprised and hesitant to explore.
As I was lost in his intense gaze, Mom's voice pulled me back to reality. I snapped out of it, realizing the confusion written all over her face. She asked if I was okay, and I managed to reassure her with a quick nod, eager to steer away from any suspicion. We moved to the dining table, settling down for snacks and a casual chat. Throughout the whole time, I made it a point to avoid looking at him—I couldn’t shake the strange changes in his behavior. He wasn’t acting like the brat I knew in high school, the one who used to bully me until I was in tears. Instead, he seemed different, almost as if he was… flirting. No, I thought to myself, that couldn’t be it. This was the same guy who hated me, and I felt the same about him. Surely, he was just messing with me as usual.Putting my chaotic thoughts aside, I focused on the rare quality time with my mom. Just then, Dad joined us at the table, pulling his chair beside Mom’s with a contented smile. Raj walked in after him, casually taking
Saira's povI knew he was playing a game, pretending he didn’t remember me as the girl he used to torment, like we’d only just met. He looked at me with what I’d almost describe as a respectful gaze, speaking politely, standing close enough that I could almost convince myself he’d had a change of heart. But I knew better. He’d bide his time, maybe put on this nice-guy act for a while, but eventually, he’d be back to his old self the act would drop, ready to tear me down in front of everyone just like he used to. Now that I was his secretary, I knew he’d take full advantage of the opportunity, making every day at work an uphill battle. Now, I had no choice. I was jobless, and he knew it. He was all too aware that my hands were tied, and I’d have to tolerate every test he threw my way. A bitter taste rose in my throat as he laid down the terms in a formal tone: if I had any questions about my position or responsibilities, I could reach out to the HR manager. Tasks, salary, and additio
Just as our lips were barely an inch apart, a voice from behind snapped us back to reality. "Sir, where should we put these?" It was one of the workers, standing there with a large stack of boxes. Raj scrambled to his feet, offering me a hand. I refused, pushing myself up with as much dignity as I could muster, giving him a look that said, I don’t need your help, thank you very much.Unfazed, Raj gestured toward the workers holding boxes filled with clothes and other items. "These are a few formal outfits and essentials to get you started. And don’t forget the file I gave you." He said it so nonchalantly, but my eyes caught sight of the label on the top folder: New York Fashion Week.I nearly did a double-take. New York Fashion Week? I’d seen it on TV, read about it in every fashion magazine, and dreamed of it from the sidelines. The biggest names in fashion, the latest trends that would set the tone for the entire industry—I could barely contain my excitement. "Is this… the actual Ne
“Oh no, what am I going to do now?” I panicked, clutching the empty space where the file should have been. Raj had drilled it into my head that this file was crucial for today’s meeting, stressing the “severe consequences” if anything went wrong. Determined not to mess up on day one, I held onto it like my life depended on it.Now, just my luck—on day one, I’d managed to lose it.And then came the real problem: Sofia, the manager. She’d had a strange air about her from the start, almost as if she was out to get me. Her expressions, her smirks, and now, she’d have even more reason to put me down.Two Hours Earlier…The car ride had been… tense. After that overly flirty call Raj received, a heavy silence filled the air. I’d cranked up the music in my earbuds, hoping to escape the awkward atmosphere, but the tension still hung thickly. Finally, we pulled up to Eclipse Fashion House and entered the private parking garage—a sleek space customized for Raj as CEO. Typical Raj, always with th
Saira hurried down the hallway, dreading what new task Sophia had in store for her. She entered the office, where Sophia sat behind her desk, a stack of files scattered in front of her.“Ah, there you are,” Sophia said, barely looking up. “I have a task for you.”Saira took a deep breath, bracing herself. “Yes, ma’am?”Sophia crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, smirking. “I need you to gather data on last quarter’s client acquisition, summarize the trends, and organize it into a comprehensive report. And it needs to be ready for director to present in—” she glanced at the clock, a look of smug satisfaction crossing her face “—forty-five minutes.”Saira’s stomach dropped. A comprehensive report on client acquisition in that short time frame? It would usually take days to compile something that detailed. She didn’t have access to all the data readily available, and she hadn’t been briefed on the latest acquisition trends, either.Sophia continued, her eyes narrowing. “I assu
Saira hurried down the hallway, her mind racing as she replayed every step she’d taken since she first held that critical file. How had it disappeared? She had been so careful, almost obsessively so. Now, with only minutes left, panic was setting in.Sophia’s words echoed in her mind: “I assume that shouldn’t be a problem for you, considering you’re the CEO’s secretary now.” Saira hadn’t expected things to be easy, but the pressure of this role was proving more intense than she’d imagined. And Sophia’s satisfaction at her struggling made it worse. Her heart pounded as she checked the clock—twelve minutes until the meeting.Determined not to lose her nerve, Saira took a deep breath and retraced her steps in her mind. She remembered gathering data files from Raj’s office, creating the report, and setting up in the boardroom. She’d left the files there briefly… had someone else taken it? Her eyes darted around and spotted an unmarked door nearby, recognizing it as a storage room she hadn
Saira POVAs the last board member left, Raj’s gaze shifted slowly to me, intense and unreadable. “Come to my office,” he ordered, his voice low and firm. I followed him out of the boardroom, and out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Sophia gritting her teeth in anger. I didn’t dwell on her strange behavior, though; I was too focused on keeping up with Raj.Once inside his office, the door closed behind us with a soft click. I barely had a moment to register the silence before Raj’s hands were on me, pinning me gently against the wall. He raised my arms above my head, his face only inches from mine, his dark eyes holding me captive. His gaze felt as if he were looking straight into my soul, peeling back my defenses. He leaned in close, his lips just brushing my ear as he spoke in a low, almost tender tone. “You should have told me about the problem you were facing. But you chose to handle it alone… why?”His warm breath sent shivers down my spine, and I felt a flutter of
Sophia’s sarcastic voice cut through the darkness, mocking me. “No, Saira, we’re just having fun in here, obviously! What do you think?”I took a deep breath, trying to ignore her mocking tone. But the truth was, the dark, enclosed space was suffocating. My chest tightened, and I felt an all-too-familiar fear creeping in—a fear rooted in a nightmarish memory I’d tried so hard to forget.Flashback…That day had been nothing short of disastrous. I’d poured my heart into a project, sacrificing sleep and giving it my all for the past four months. But just as success felt within reach, everything came crashing down. I found out another department had stolen my work, and my own manager accused me of plagiarism. The humiliation, the anger—it took hours to clear my name, hours of watching my hard work crumble in front of me.By the time everything was resolved, I was drained. There were no cabs in sight, so I ended up walking home, each step weighed down with frustration and exhaustion. I eve
Author's POV The office buzzed with urgency as Saira worked through the procedures for terminating Verma Trading Co.’s contract. With swift precision, she drafted the necessary termination letters, ensuring every legal protocol was met. She reviewed the fraudulent invoices one last time, cross-checking the evidence Raj had presented. Once satisfied, she forwarded the documents to the legal department, instructing them to prepare an official notice. Next, she contacted the finance team, instructing them to freeze all pending payments to Verma’s company. Her fingers moved quickly over the keyboard as she emailed HR, requesting immediate dismissal procedures for the employees who had conspired with Manish Verma. Everything had to be airtight—Raj had made it clear that there would be no loopholes, no second chances. She exhaled, rubbing her temple as she double-checked the last document before pressing send, a sense of accomplishment washing over her. It had been a long day, but at l
Author's POVThe sleek black luxury car slid smoothly out of the Malhotra Enterprises driveway, merging onto the city’s main road. Inside, Adrian Vaughn leaned back against the leather seats, his sharp gaze fixed on the passing skyline. The city lights blurred into streaks, but his mind was far from the external world.A woman.His thoughts circled back to the brief yet striking encounter in the elevator. A moment that should have been insignificant—just another passing face in his world of power and dominance. Yet, something about her lingered in his mind like an unsolved equation.Adrian wasn’t the kind of man who entertained distractions, especially not of this nature. He had never once felt an inexplicable pull toward anyone before, let alone a woman he had merely crossed paths with. But for the first time, logic and control seemed to waver, replaced by a curiosity he couldn't ignore.“Mr. Vaughn?” His assistant, Marcus, interrupted his thoughts from the front seat.Adrian exhaled
Author's POVThe towering glass windows of Raj Malhotra’s office overlooked the bustling city, but his focus remained on the sleek laptop screen in front of him. The proposal from Velmore Textiles,one of the most prestigious fabric manufacturing companies, renowned for their premium fabrics and cutting-edge techniques. Securing a deal with them would be a significant advantage for Malhotra Enterprises—one that could push their expansion into high-end fashion.But Raj wasn’t a man who jumped at opportunities without calculation. His mind weighed every possible outcome, every hidden move in the game of business.Raj leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest as he analyzed the details. Today’s meeting was crucial. The second-most powerful CEO in the industry was here—a man whose reputation nearly rivaled Raj’s own.The thought made his jaw tighten. His arrival at Malhotra Enterprises wasn’t publicly known—this was a deal shrouded in secrecy until final neg
Author's POVThe sunlight streaming through the curtains nudged Saira awake, her body still weighed down by the events of the previous night. She blinked a few times, trying to shake off the lingering grogginess. Sitting up in bed, she let out a soft sigh, her mind still caught on Raj’s cryptic behavior and that unnerving hug in the garden.After a moment of stillness, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stretched. “Focus, Saira,” she muttered to herself, pushing those thoughts aside. She made her way to the bathroom, where the cool water against her skin worked wonders to revive her senses.After brushing her teeth and showering, she carefully picked out her formal outfit for the day—an elegant black blazer over a pastel blue blouse, paired with tailored trousers. The ensemble gave her a polished, professional look, even if she didn’t feel entirely composed inside.Grabbing her phone from the nightstand, she prepared to head out, but her eyes caught something unusual on t
Mila's POVLying on my bed, I let out a deep sigh, staring at the ceiling. My conversation with Mom replayed in my head. A party for Kiara. Of course, it had to be grand. Kiara Malhotra wasn’t the kind of person who’d settle for anything less. And working with Raj? That was the cherry on top of this perfect storm.I groaned, rolling over onto my stomach and burying my face in the pillow. My peace was short-lived, though, as a knock sounded on the door.“Miss Saira,” the familiar voice of the maid called. “Dinner is ready. Everyone is waiting for you downstairs.”I sat up, the idea of sitting across from Raj instantly sapping what little appetite I had. “I’m not feeling too well,” I replied. “I’ll have dinner in my room tonight.”There was a pause before the maid responded. “Very well, Miss. I’ll bring your plate shortly.”“Thank you,” I murmured, relieved as I heard her footsteps retreating.As soon as the footsteps faded, I sat up, running a hand through my hair. The last thing I wan
Mila's POVThe sound of the knocking grew louder, pulling me from my thoughts. I took a deep breath and opened the door, half-expecting to see Raj standing there with that infuriatingly smug look he always wore when he was about to lecture me.But instead, I found my mom standing there, a warm smile on her face.“Mom?” I blinked in surprise. “What are you doing here?”“Do I need a reason to visit my daughter’s room?” she teased lightly. “I thought it’s been a while since we had a proper chat, just the two of us.”I stepped aside, letting her in. “Of course not. Come in.”She walked in and sat on the edge of my bed, her hands smoothing the fabric of her dress. I closed the door and joined her, curious about the sudden visit.“You’ve been so busy lately,” she said, her tone affectionate. “And I’ve been caught up in a million things myself. I thought it’d be nice to just talk for a while.”A small smile tugged at my lips. My mom always had this calming presence that made everything feel
𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩The car came to a halt in front of the house, and I wasted no time. The moment the engine turned off, I unbuckled my seatbelt and bolted out, slamming the door shut behind me without sparing Raj a glance. I didn’t need to deal with his mood right now. My mind was already spinning with everything that had happened today. I’d thought about telling him what I heard back at the office—the cryptic threat about kidnapping—but what was the point? He’d probably just dismiss it or, worse, blame me for getting involved in things that weren’t my business.And let’s be real: he was likely already gearing up to scold me for what happened with Saniya. The memory of slapping her brought a small smirk to my lips, but it quickly vanished. If he thought I’d apologize for standing up for myself, he had another thing coming.I hurried inside, ignoring the sound of his footsteps trailing behind me. The tension between us hung in the air, but I refused to acknowledge it.I pushed open
𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩The office was eerily quiet as I shut down my computer and closed my cabin door. The soft hum of the fluorescent lights above was the only sound accompanying my footsteps as I made my way to the elevator. It was past work hours, and the building was nearly deserted. I wrapped my arms around myself, a slight chill running through the empty corridors.I headed toward the lift that would take me to the parking area where Raj's car was waiting.As I walked, my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the day.Just as I reached the elevator, a muffled voice reached my ears.“I will execute the second phase now, and you have to be careful while kidnapping them. You know whom to hurt.”The words froze me in my tracks. My heart thudded against my ribcage as I turned my head, trying to pinpoint where the voice was coming from. The office was supposed to be empty, so who could possibly be here, saying something so sinister?I glanced around, my curiosity getting the better of me
𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩The cold breeze brushed against my skin as I stood on the rooftop of the office building, a steaming cup of coffee in my hand. The city stretched out before me, its lights twinkling like tiny stars against the dimming sky. But my gaze wasn’t really on the view; it was distant, unfocused, as my mind replayed the heated confrontation with Sophia and Saniya.The conversation weighed on me, dragging me back to memories I wished to bury. I remembered my previous job—the relentless demands, the suffocating deadlines, and my manager was a tyrant, always finding faults, taunting me for every little mistake. It felt like I could never do enough to satisfy him. The suffocating work environment had made me question everything—my abilities, my choices, even my worth.I sighed, taking a sip of my coffee, letting its warmth ground me. But before I could delve deeper into those bitter memories, a voice broke through my thoughts.“It’s hard to tackle someone like Sophia, but you