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
Saira's povRaj’s lips moved against mine with a hunger that took me by surprise. His mouth was warm, coaxing me to melt into the kiss. At first, I was frozen, a storm of emotions swirling inside me, but as he deepened the kiss, something within me softened, and my hesitation dissolved. His hand moved from my cheek to the back of my neck, drawing me closer, intensifying the connection and cradling, pulling mecloser as if he was worried I might slip away. ThHis fingers tangled in my hair, holding me gently yet firmly, as if he didn’t want to let go.As his lips parted, his tongue brushed against mine, sending a spark through my entire body. The sensation was overwhelming, and I felt my breath hitch, my hands finding their way to his shoulders for support. My heart pounded, each beat pushing me further into the warmth of his embrace. I couldn’t help but respond, mirroring his passion as my fingers pressed into him, pulling him closer. The taste of him was intoxicating, each second maki
RAJ'S POVI barely registered the words spilling from Alexa’s mouth—"Saira’s stuck in the elevator. There’s a blackout, and Sophia’s in there with her." That was all it took for panic to slice through me like a blade. I knew Saira’s fear of the dark, knew the way she fought to keep it hidden, the memories that resurfaced whenever she was trapped in enclosed, pitch-black spaces.Dropping everything, I shot out of my office, not caring about the paperwork scattered across my desk. My mind raced with a thousand images of Saira alone in that dark, suffocating space, her fear clawing at her as she tried to hold herself together."Get them out of there. Now," I barked into the phone, trying to keep my voice steady even as frustration gnawed at me. The thought of her in there, helpless, brought up memories I’d tried to bury—the last time I’d seen her vulnerable, shattered. The last time I’d had the chance to be there for her, and failed.When I reached the elevator, a handful of staff member
Raj's povSaira’s silence stretched between us, a chasm filled with years of hurt and misunderstandings. Her gaze flickered, vulnerability breaking through her hardened exterior, but the walls were still there. I could see it in the way she hugged herself, as if my words alone weren’t enough to reach the parts of her I’d wounded so long ago.I took a step closer, hesitating as I searched her face. “I don’t expect you to forgive me overnight, Saira. I know I’ve given you every reason to doubt me, and I hate that. But… I don’t want to be that guy anymore.”Saira’s lips parted, as if she was about to respond, her expression caught between frustration and something gentler, something I could almost call understanding. But just as she took a breath, my phone buzzed, cutting through the fragile silence between us. Irritated, I pulled it out, hitting decline without a second thought, my eyes not leaving hers.But then it rang again, insistently. Saira’s gaze hardened, and she took a step bac
Raj’s POVAs soon as Eira's words ended, I cut the call, irritation simmering just beneath the surface. The nerve she had to waltz back into my life, throwing around old titles as if they meant anything. I wouldn’t let her unravel everything I’d been working toward.I punched in another number, my tone sharp as soon as they picked up. “I need all the data now,” I commanded, leaving no room for delay. There were things I needed to be ahead of, things I couldn't let linger in the shadows any longer. Eira wanted to resurface? Fine. But this time, I’d make sure she wouldn’t get close enough to ruin anything, especially not with Saira.Saira’s POVIn the restroom, I stared at my reflection, but all I could see was the younger me, the girl I’d been in high school—the girl Raj had done his best to humiliate.The memory was so clear it felt like I was back there, standing alone in the school corridor, feeling a wave of dread as I watched my classmates snicker and whisper, their eyes darting t
Saira’s POVI shook my head, my reflection staring back at me in the mirror. No. I couldn’t trust Raj—not after everything. The cruel boy who had tormented me in high school wasn’t someone I could ever rely on. People like him didn’t change, no matter how much they pretended.But as I clenched my fists, determined to push him out of my thoughts, my gaze fell to my lips. Unbidden, the memory of the kiss we’d shared earlier flooded my mind. The way his lips had pressed against mine—firm yet tender, with a passion that caught me off guard—sent a shiver down my spine. My body betrayed me, reacting in a way I didn’t want it to."No," I whispered to myself, shaking off the sensation. Desperate to regain control, I turned on the tap and splashed cold water on my face, the icy shock breaking the spell his memory had cast over me. My heart raced, but I forced myself to breathe deeply, pushing away the unwanted warmth his touch had left behind.Drying my face, I straightened and squared my shou
𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐚’𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕 The ride home was anything but comfortable. I tried my best to focus on the passing streets, the gentle hum of the car, and anything else but him. Yet, I could feel Raj's gaze on me, intense and unwavering. Every time the car stopped at a traffic light, his eyes would linger on me. I didn’t dare to look his way, but my heart betrayed me, thundering in a rhythm I couldn’t control. A tug of war raged inside me—anger and distrust battling with something I didn’t want to acknowledge. Why did he always have this effect on me? I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay composed. As soon as the car pulled into the driveway, I didn’t wait for him to say anything. I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt and practically bolted out of the car, heading straight into the house. The moment I stepped inside, I froze. Two women were seated in the living room, laughing and chatting with my mom and stepdad. They were stunning—one with sleek, raven-black hair and sharp features, the o
𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩 I couldn’t believe what was happening. One second, I was glaring at Raj, trying to understand why he’d 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 wasn’t just a kiss—it 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 Raj—the 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
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
𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩 Saniya leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with a smug grin. “You really think everything revolves around you, don’t you?”I tilted my head slightly, giving her a mockingly thoughtful look. “No, but it’s hard to ignore when people like you scream their insecurities loud enough for the whole building to hear.”Sophia cleared her throat, clearly uncomfortable but trying to maintain her composure. Her tone turning saccharine. “Saira, let’s not blow this out of proportion. Sometimes people talk, and well… you’ve built a bit of a reputation for being difficult to approach.”“Difficult?” I repeated with a dry laugh. “How convenient. I call it standing my ground, but I suppose that’s a foreign concept for people who thrive on pandering and backstabbing.”Sophia’s expression hardened, but she kept her voice level. “You 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 𝗣𝗢𝗩 The office was buzzing with its usual energy as I finished the last of my tasks. Papers neatly stacked, emails sent—Work for the day was done, and I grabbed the finalized report as I made my way toward Sophia’s cabin.Walking through the corridor, I felt the unmistakable weight of people’s eyes on me. A group of employees—mostly women—whispered and giggled, glancing my way as though I was the star of some juicy gossip session.My brows furrowed. What’s so interesting that they can’t 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 Sophia’s cabin. But as I approached, I heard laughter echoing through the door.Sophia’s voice was unmistakable, ringing loud and clear. “She’s always acting like she’s better than everyone else. Like she’s above it all.”Another voice chimed in, equally smug and derisive. “Exactly! The audacity of some people. It’s ridi
𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩 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 kiss—Raj’s boldness, his smirk, and those infuriating words that echoed in my head. "Don’t look at me like that, Saira. You’ll make me lose control.” The memory of his smirk made my blood boil. What was wrong with me? Why couldn’t 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 didn’t even bother to knock—just barged in, her face twisted with anger. "What the hell is your problem?” I snap
𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩 I sat on his lap, begrudgingly reviewing the project on the screen. Despite my frustration with the situation, I couldn’t deny it—the 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.“Don’t look at me like that, Saira,” he said, his voice low and teasing. “You’ll make me lose control.”My heart skipped a beat,My cheeks flamed at his words. The audacity of this man! As if sitting on his lap wasn’t 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.“Raj,” I snapped, trying to push against his chest to stand. “You’ve already gone too far. Let me go.”He ignored my protests,
𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩 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 wasn’t bad enough, she kept calling me every fifteen to twenty minutes, adding small “urgent” 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. “Does she think I’m a machine?” I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temples. The woman was relentless, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was doing this on purpose.As I worked on yet another modification, my phone buzzed again. Of course, it’s her, I thought bitterly, but when I checked the screen, it wasn’t Sophia this time. It was Raj. I stared at the nam
Raj’s 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 couldn’t 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 away—Bang, bang, bang!The sound of a fist pounding on my door shattered the moment.“Saira! Open this door right now! Is Raj in there? Open it!” Sanya’s sharp, commanding voice echoed throu