š¦š®š¶šæš®'š š£š¢š© I couldnāt believe what was happening. One second, I was glaring at Raj, trying to understand why heād followed me to my room. The next, his lips were on mine.Raj's lips captured mine in an unexpected, fiery kiss. The world seemed to tilt, my breath hitching as I felt the heat of his touch. It wasnāt just a kissāit was a storm. A fiery, overwhelming surge of emotions that left me breathless. I pressed my hands against his chest, trying to push him away, but he was unrelenting. His grip on my waist tightened, not harsh but firm, as if he was afraid to let go. This is wrong. My mind screamed at me, louder with each passing second. This was Rajāthe same man who had tormented me in high school, humiliated me without a second thought. Yet my body betrayed me. My heart raced as the heat of his kiss spread through me. His lips moved against mine with passion and I hated myself for responding. I froze, then felt my resistance falter. My hands, which had been pushin
After freshening up, I headed to the dining table. Everyone was already gathered, and Mom had gone out of her way to create an inviting atmosphere. As | approached, Kiara entered with Sanya, both laughing softly at something. Mom welcomed them warmly and insisted they sit next to her. Kiara's curious gaze found me as soon as she settled into her seat. "You must be Saira," she said with a friendly smile. "My new stepsister?"I nodded, managing a polite smile in return"That's me."Her smile widened .She introduced herself, sharing that she had been overseas for the past five years, focusing on her studies and then a job. Now that she had resigned, she planned to settle back here and start her own perfume business. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and for a moment, I found myself genuinely interested in her story. Just as the conversation was settling into a comfortable rhythm, The peace didnāt last long. Raj entered the dining room. Sanya's eyes lit up as she quickly gestured to the
Rajās arms held me tightly, his warmth enveloping me as we lay tangled together. His hand started to move, trailing along my back with slow, deliberate strokes. My breath when he placed a gentle kiss on my head, I felt butterflies erupt in my stomach.My heart raced I hesitated, then tilted my head up, meeting his gaze. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, everything else faded away. There was an intensity in his look that made it impossible to look away.His eyes flickered to my lips, and I saw him swallow hard. The tension between us was undeniable, a pull I couldnāt explain but felt powerless to resist. Against my better judgment, I felt myself leaning closer to him, and he mirrored the movement.Our breaths mingled as the distance between us disappeared, our lips just a heartbeat awayāBang, bang, bang!The sound of a fist pounding on my door shattered the moment.āSaira! Open this door right now! Is Raj in there? Open it!ā Sanyaās sharp, commanding voice echoed throu
š¦š®š¶šæš®'š š£š¢š© I sat at my desk, staring at the endless stack of files Sophia had dumped on me the moment I stepped into her cabin. My fingers ached from typing, my eyes burned from staring at the screen, and my patience was dangling by a thread. Sophia had assigned me more tasks in a single morning than I thought humanly possible. If that wasnāt bad enough, she kept calling me every fifteen to twenty minutes, adding small āurgentā tasks or nitpicking over the ones I had already completed.By the third call, I wanted to scream. By the fifth, I started questioning whether she had a personal vendetta against me. āDoes she think Iām a machine?ā I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temples. The woman was relentless, and I couldnāt shake the feeling that she was doing this on purpose.As I worked on yet another modification, my phone buzzed again. Of course, itās her, I thought bitterly, but when I checked the screen, it wasnāt Sophia this time. It was Raj. I stared at the nam
š¦š®š¶šæš®'š š£š¢š© I sat on his lap, begrudgingly reviewing the project on the screen. Despite my frustration with the situation, I couldnāt deny itāthe idea was brilliant. It was the kind of concept that could make waves, and as much as I hated to admit it, Raj had outdone himself.Without thinking, I glanced at him, unable to hide a flicker of admiration in my eyes.He caught my gaze, and I immediately regretted it. His smirk widened, and he tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief.āDonāt look at me like that, Saira,ā he said, his voice low and teasing. āYouāll make me lose control.āMy heart skipped a beat,My cheeks flamed at his words. The audacity of this man! As if sitting on his lap wasnāt bad enough, now he was throwing lines like that at me? I squirmed, trying once again to stand, but his arm around my waist refused to budge.āRaj,ā I snapped, trying to push against his chest to stand. āYouāve already gone too far. Let me go.āHe ignored my protests,
š¦š®š¶šæš®'š š£š¢š© I sat at my desk from my office, trying my best to immerse myself in the task Sophia had dumped on me, but my mind was a mess. No matter how hard I tried to focus, my mind kept drifting back to the kissāRajās boldness, his smirk, and those infuriating words that echoed in my head. "Donāt look at me like that, Saira. Youāll make me lose control.ā The memory of his smirk made my blood boil. What was wrong with me? Why couldnāt I push it out of my mind and concentrate on work?I tapped my pen against the desk, frustrated with myself more than anything else and clenched my fists. I shook my head, attempting to clear the lingering sensation of his lips against mine and trying to push the memory aside. Just as I managed to get back to typing, my cabin door flew open with a loud bang. I looked up, startled, to see Saniya storming in like a hurricane. She didnāt even bother to knockājust barged in, her face twisted with anger. "What the hell is your problem?ā I snap
š¦š®š¶šæš®'š š£š¢š© The office was buzzing with its usual energy as I finished the last of my tasks. Papers neatly stacked, emails sentāWork for the day was done, and I grabbed the finalized report as I made my way toward Sophiaās cabin.Walking through the corridor, I felt the unmistakable weight of peopleās eyes on me. A group of employeesāmostly womenāwhispered and giggled, glancing my way as though I was the star of some juicy gossip session.My brows furrowed. Whatās so interesting that they canāt take their eyes off me?Their eyes darted toward me again, their hushed voices not subtle enough to be missed.Shrugging off the nagging feeling, I focused on reaching Sophiaās cabin. But as I approached, I heard laughter echoing through the door.Sophiaās voice was unmistakable, ringing loud and clear. āSheās always acting like sheās better than everyone else. Like sheās above it all.āAnother voice chimed in, equally smug and derisive. āExactly! The audacity of some people. Itās ridi
š¦š®š¶šæš®'š š£š¢š© Saniya leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with a smug grin. āYou really think everything revolves around you, donāt you?āI tilted my head slightly, giving her a mockingly thoughtful look. āNo, but itās hard to ignore when people like you scream their insecurities loud enough for the whole building to hear.āSophia cleared her throat, clearly uncomfortable but trying to maintain her composure. Her tone turning saccharine. āSaira, letās not blow this out of proportion. Sometimes people talk, and wellā¦ youāve built a bit of a reputation for being difficult to approach.āāDifficult?ā I repeated with a dry laugh. āHow convenient. I call it standing my ground, but I suppose thatās a foreign concept for people who thrive on pandering and backstabbing.āSophiaās expression hardened, but she kept her voice level. āYou know, Saira, relationships are everything in a workplace. Maybe if you spent less time being so... rigid, people would find you easier to work wit
Saira's silence seemed to fuel Raj's passion, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity as he gazed at her. He didn't wait for her to respond, his fingers deftly undoing the buttons of her skirt, his touch sending shivers down her spine."'Answer me' he growled, his breath hot against her ear. āOr should I make you?āSaira's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. She wanted to resist, to push him away, but the way he was touching her, the way he was looking at her, made her feel like she was melting into his hands.She knew Raj. Knew how possessive he could get. Knew that pushing him further would only ignite something far more uncontrollable.His lips brushed against her ear, his voice turning into a low growl. āSay it.āHer hands gripped the edge of the desk, knuckles turning white. The air between them was thick with tension, her silence driving him to the edge.Then, just when his patience was about to snap, she spoke."Im yours," she whispered, her
Saira leaned back in her chair, phone pressed to her ear. Her brows furrowed slightly at the voice on the other endāsmooth, confident, and as annoyingly familiar as ever.āAlexander,ā she said, tone flat. āHow did you get my number?āA low chuckle came through the line. āStraight to the point. No āhelloā? No āhow have you been?āāShe sighed. āI donāt do pointless conversations. Answer the question.āāStill as blunt as ever,ā he mused. āAlright, if you must knowāI had some help.āShe tapped her fingers against the table, waiting.āAarav.āSairaās expression remained impassive, but internally, the pieces clicked together. So thatās why Aarav had suddenly called last night after disappearing for so long. She hadnāt bothered answering, and now, she knew why.Her voice was cool. āYou expect me to believe Aarav just handed you my number?āAlexander let out a small laugh, as if amused by her skepticism. āNot exactly. Letās just say he pointed me in the right direction.āSaira wasnāt surprise
The sleek black car smoothly pulled into the private parking area beneath Malhotra Enterprises. The driver, accustomed to the silence between his boss and the lady sitting beside him, brought the vehicle to a gentle stop.Raj sat on one side, legs crossed, his dark eyes fixed on his phone screen. His presence was as commanding as everādressed in an impeccable black suit, exuding quiet dominance.Saira, seated beside him was already gathering her files, acting completely unbothered by his presence.The driver stepped out first, quickly circling around to open Rajās door. Without a word, Raj got out, adjusting his cufflinks, his movements smooth and deliberate.Saira inhaled sharply before following, clutching her files tightly against her chest as she stepped onto the pavement.They walked in sync toward the private lift, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the underground parking area. The moment the elevator doors slid open, they entered.Just the two of them.The doors shut. The
Saira emerged from her room, feeling refreshed after her morning routine. The air inside the Malhotra estate was crisp with the scent of fresh flowers from the garden, and the distant chirping of birds added to the peaceful ambiance.She stepped into the hallway just as Rajās door swung open.Raj had stepped out of his room at the same time. His gaze instantly flickered to her, his movements pausing for a fraction of a second.Their eyes met.Raj, dressed in his usual sharp black suit, leaned casually against the doorframe. His expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of something calculating in his gazeālike a hunter who had spotted his prey.Saira, unaware that he had overheard her, simply smiled politely. "Good morning, Raj."Then, without waiting for a response, she walked past him, heading straight to the dining area.Raj watched her go, his jaw tightening. Last night. He hadnāt forgotten. The call. The late-night whispers. The damn smile on her face this morning.Who th
The Malhotra estate was engulfed in silence by the time Raj arrived home. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine from the garden, but he barely noticed as he stepped inside.The dim lighting in the hallway cast long shadows, but he paid no attention.They must have gone to bed by now, he thought, heading straight for his room. His movements were unhurried, his mind still occupied with the events of the day.Just as he reached the staircase, a voice stopped him.āYoung master, at least have something to eat.āRaj turned to see Manorama, one of the senior maids in the house, standing near the dining area. She had been working in the Malhotra household since his childhood, and despite being close to his grandmotherās age, she never hesitated to care for him like her own.āIām not hungry,ā Raj dismissed coldly, already turning away.She sighed, wringing her hands. āYou barely eat properly, beta. This isnāt good for your healthāāāThatās enough,ā Raj cut her off, his tone firm but not
Author's POV The office buzzed with urgency as Saira worked through the procedures for terminating Verma Trading Co.ās 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 Vermaās 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 airtightāRaj 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 cityās 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 insignificantājust another passing face in his world of power and dominance. Yet, something about her lingered in his mind like an unsolved equation.Adrian wasnāt 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.āMr. Vaughn?ā His assistant, Marcus, interrupted his thoughts from the front seat.Adrian exhaled
Author's POVThe towering glass windows of Raj Malhotraās 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 Enterprisesāone that could push their expansion into high-end fashion.But Raj wasnāt 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. Todayās meeting was crucial. The second-most powerful CEO in the industry was hereāa man whose reputation nearly rivaled Rajās own.The thought made his jaw tighten. His arrival at Malhotra Enterprises wasnāt publicly knownāthis 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 Rajās 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. āFocus, Saira,ā 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 dayāan elegant black blazer over a pastel blue blouse, paired with tailored trousers. The ensemble gave her a polished, professional look, even if she didnāt feel entirely composed inside.Grabbing her phone from the nightstand, she prepared to head out, but her eyes caught something unusual on t