The Devil in Disguise: A New Game Begins

Saira's pov

I 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 additional details would be clarified by tomorrow morning. And then came his last reminder, so smoothly delivered that it barely sounded like a warning. “Office time starts sharp at 9 a.m., no exceptions,” he said, his tone chillingly composed, as though he already anticipated my failure. Then he left, casually heading up to his room, leaving me behind, reeling and wondering what this new game was all about.

I slumped back into my chair, my thoughts swirling with a mix of anger, apprehension, and curiosity. What could he possibly gain from this fake generosity? The Raj I knew—my stepbrother, my one-time bully—was never the kind of person to do anything without a hidden motive.Generosity and kindness didn’t suit him; I knew his true nature—the heart of a devil wrapped in a handsome face. Wait… handsome? My mind quickly corrected itself. Handsome? No way. He’s the most unattractive devil there could be. His kindness was nothing more than a mask, hiding something far more sinister beneath it.He’s anything but handsome. Just a devil wrapped in some unremarkable looks.

Feeling overwhelmed, I finally forced myself to head to my room, wanting nothing more than to bury myself under my blanket and let sleep wash it all away. Tomorrow would bring a whole new chapter—a new beginning and a new struggle. My first day as his secretary would be a fresh round in the game he’d created. I fell asleep with only one thought lingering: I’d have to be ready for anything he threw at me. For him, it was a game. For me, it would be a battle.

I was sleeping peacefully when a sudden, loud bang on my door jolted me awake. In my half-asleep state, I panicked, thinking it might be an earthquake. I dove under my table, hoping to shield myself from whatever was going on. Just then, a familiar, infuriating voice boomed from the other side of the door. I would recognize that voice anywhere, even in my sleep—it was Raj. But why on earth was he shouting so early in the morning?

“Saira! If you’re not up by the count of three, I’m going to break down this door!” he yelled. My eyes widened in disbelief. Was he serious? 

Before I could react, what was happening, he started counting, but instead of a proper countdown, he just barked out, “Three!” I scrambled out from under the table and reached for the door, unlocking it as quickly as I could. But, of course, my timing was awful. Just as I opened the door, he was already pushing it open, and we ended up tumbling down together, with his tall frame falling on top of me.

I closed my eyes, expecting to hit the painful landing on the hard floor. But instead of feeling the impact, I felt his strong arm slip behind me, cushioning my fall. When I dared to open my eyes, I found him above me, his face close, his arm around me protectively. Was he…saving me? I felt a rush of unexpected gratitude, though I reminded myself it was his fault we were in this mess to begin with.

Still irritated, I pushed against his chest, glaring at him. “Who the hell just starts counting from three without even giving a warning?” I snapped, my frustration spilling over.

He just gave me that familiar, irritating grin and replied, “Me.” I rolled my eyes,

I huffed, but my irritation quickly shifted to confusion when his gaze lingered on my face, drifting down to my lips. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his expression, and I felt my cheeks flush under his intense stare. His eyes softened, and suddenly, he leaned in closer, our faces mere inches apart. My heart started pounding, each beat echoing in my ears. I couldn’t understand why he was looking at me like that, why he was moving so close, or why my own heartbeat seemed to be speeding up in response.