ADITYA'S POV
I don't know why, but every single time I see this girl, something inside me changes completely.
It's strange.
My breathing loses its rhythm, becoming slow one second and uneven the next. My body temperature rises as if someone has set fire beneath my skin. And no matter how hard I try, I still can't understand how a person can look this beautiful.
It should honestly be illegal.
The soft lights of the grand hall reflect against her skin, making her glow in the middle of this dark, dangerous world. She doesn't even realize what she does to people around her. Or maybe she does.
And that thought alone is enough to drive me insane.
My fingers brush lightly against her waist, and the moment my skin touches hers, my jaw tightens. A sharp breath leaves my lips before I can stop it. I try to distract myself immediately, forcing my attention somewhere else before my mind starts imagining things it shouldn't.
But it's impossible.
Every movement she makes destroys my self-control little by little.
The way she smiles so effortlessly...
The way her eyes shift around the room with curiosity...
The soft sound of her voice...
Even the way she breathes beside me feels dangerous.
She's becoming a drug I can't stay away from.
Addictive.
And the worst part?
I don't even want to recover from her.
"Damn..."
The word leaves my mouth in a low whisper as I stop for a second, bringing the glass toward my lips. The bitter taste of wine spreads across my tongue, but instead of calming me down, it only makes the heat inside me worse.
The party around us is in full swing.
Loud music vibrates through the massive hall while expensive chandeliers throw golden light across the room. People laugh, glasses clink together, and fake smiles cover dangerous intentions. Every person here wears elegance like a mask, but underneath it, everyone is filthy in their own way.
There isn't a single man in this room I would call innocent.
Every single one of them is involved in illegal businesses, underground deals, or bloody power games. Some control weapons. Some control money. Others control fear itself.
And tonight?
They're all gathered under one roof.
Eyes hide behind expensive masks while everyone silently studies each other like predators waiting for the perfect moment to attack. No one trusts anyone here.
Including me.
My grip around her waist tightens unconsciously as I scan the room carefully. The last thing I need is someone looking at her for too long.
But then suddenly-
"Aditya."
A familiar voice pulls me out of my thoughts.
I turn slightly and find Karan standing beside me with his usual smirk resting on his face. An old friend. Or at least, as close to a friend as someone in our world can become.
We met years ago through business associates, and ever since then, our paths have crossed more times than I can count. He's smart, dangerous, and observant enough to survive in this industry.
Which means I already know he notices everything.
Karan steps forward and gives me a side hug while holding his drink in one hand. I pat his shoulder casually in greeting, but my other hand never leaves her waist for even a second.
Not once.
Possessiveness settles inside me naturally.
My eyes drift toward her again.
But she isn't looking at me.
Instead, her gaze moves across the hall as if she's searching for someone in the crowd. That tiny action irritates me more than it should. My jaw clenches slightly.
Who is she looking for?
"Good to see you," Karan says before taking a slow sip from his drink.
Then suddenly-
His eyes shift toward her.
I notice the exact moment interest flashes across his face.
"And what's your name, Miss Beauty?"
He asks her directly, his tone smooth and teasing.
For one second, silence surrounds us.
Her eyes immediately drift toward me, almost as if she's waiting for permission to answer him.
And something dark inside me reacts instantly.
Without even thinking, I pull her closer against my side. Her body collides softly with mine, and my fingers press firmly against her waist possessively.
A silent warning.
A clear message.
Mine.
I don't break eye contact with Karan as I hold her closer, making sure he understands exactly where she belongs.
"I am Ira Numani," she says softly, extending her hand toward Karan with a polite smile resting on her lips.
For a second, I simply watch.
Karan smiles back instantly before taking her hand in his. Their handshake is normal. Simple. Casual.
But something inside me reacts badly to it.
My eyes narrow automatically as irritation crawls beneath my skin like poison. The glass in my hand tightens under my grip, my fingers pressing so hard around it that I can almost hear the faint crack of the crystal.
Yet neither of them notices.
Or maybe they do and choose to ignore it.
"I've heard your name before, Mr. Luthra," Ira continues casually.
Karan raises a brow with amusement. "Oh really?"
"Yes," she says with a soft laugh. "She talks about you too."
The moment those words leave her mouth, something sharp twists inside my chest.
My gaze shifts toward her face immediately.
And then I notice it.
That smile.
That bright, genuine smile.
Not the polite one she gives me.
Not the forced one she hides behind.
This one is different.
Her entire face lights up while talking to him. Her eyes sparkle with excitement, and for the first time tonight, she actually looks comfortable.
Happy.
The realization hits me harder than it should.
Because she has never smiled at me like that.
Never.
Not once has she looked this relaxed around me. Around me, she stays careful. Guarded. Nervous. But with him?
She looks free.
And somehow, that bothers me more than bullets ever could.
A bitter feeling settles heavily inside my chest as jealousy slowly burns through my veins. Before I can stop myself, I lift the wine glass and finish the entire drink in one go.
The bitter liquid burns down my throat, but it does nothing to cool the fire growing inside me.
"Really?" Karan asks again, clearly entertained.
Ira nods enthusiastically before biting her lower lip slightly.
"Me and my friend actually have a huge crush on you, Mr. Luthra."
My entire body stiffens.
What?
The word echoes violently inside my head.
Before I can control myself-
"What?"
My voice cuts through the conversation sharply.
Both of them immediately turn toward me.
Karan looks amused.
Ira, however, looks startled for a second, probably because of the sudden harshness in my tone.
I can feel irritation radiating off me now.
No.
Not irritation.
Possessiveness.
Something dark and ugly twists inside my chest as I watch her standing there smiling at another man right in front of me.
"Can we take a selfie, Mr. Luthra?" she asks excitedly, completely ignoring the dangerous look in my eyes.
Karan chuckles softly. "Sure, Ira."
That's it.
Something inside me snaps.
"Let's go," I growl suddenly, my voice low and firm. "We have work to do."
Without waiting for her response, I grab her firmly by the waist and pull her toward me.
"But Mr. Singhaniya, please-"
I ignore her completely.
My jaw clenches tightly as I drag her away from Karan before she can say another word. The loud music of the party grows distant in my ears while anger and jealousy cloud my thoughts.
People dance wildly in the center of the hall, completely lost in alcohol, music, and temptation. The flashing lights paint the room in shades of gold and crimson as laughter echoes around us.
But I don't stop walking until we reach the bar counter at the far corner of the hall where it's less crowded.
Quieter.
More private.
The moment we reach there, I turn sharply and trap her between my body and the counter.
Her breath hitches.
My hands land on both sides of her, effectively boxing her in completely. She has nowhere to go now.
From a distance, it probably looks intimate.
Like I'm about to kiss her.
And honestly?
That thought alone almost destroys the little control I have left.
I lower my head slightly, my face dangerously close to hers. I can feel her warm breath against my skin now.
My eyes drift toward her lips instinctively.
Soft.
Pink.
Perfect.
I stare at them for a second too long, silently wishing I could see them trembling beneath me.
The music continues loudly behind us, but in this moment, all I can hear is her breathing... and my own heartbeat turning unbearably violent inside my chest.
"Tell me..."
My voice comes out low and dangerous as I grip her chin firmly between my fingers and tilt her face upward.
"Who are you?"
The noise of the party fades into the background while my entire focus settles on her.
Her eyes widen instantly.
For the first time tonight, I see something raw hidden inside them. Fear. Exhaustion. Maybe both. Thin red veins spread across the whites of her eyes as if she hasn't slept properly in days.
But even now...
Even while standing trapped between me and the counter...
She still tries to look strong.
That alone irritates me further.
My jaw tightens as I slowly pull the knife from inside my coat pocket. The silver blade catches the dim golden lights of the hall, shining sharply for a second before I press it gently against the base of her neck.
Her breathing stops.
I move closer.
Closer.
Until I can feel the warmth of her thigh pressed between my legs.
The proximity itself is dangerous.
Her perfume surrounds me completely now-soft, addictive, impossible to ignore. My body reacts instantly, but anger burns stronger than desire at this moment.
My lips brush lightly against hers.
Barely a touch.
Cold.
Soft.
The contact is so small that it almost feels imaginary, but even that tiny touch sends something dark through my veins.
"I asked you something," I whisper against her lips.
The knife presses slightly deeper into her skin.
"One wrong move and you're gone, Miss Numani."
My voice grows colder with every word.
"You're a big fan of Karan Luthra, hmm?"
I lean even closer, my forehead almost touching hers.
"That doesn't seem right."
The words leave through gritted teeth.
Jealousy tastes ugly.
And tonight, I'm drowning in it.
Her throat moves nervously beneath the blade as she swallows hard.
"Your assistant," she says quietly.
But hesitation hides beneath her voice.
Lies.
Or maybe half-truths.
I press the knife slightly further until a tiny bead of red blood appears against her skin.
The sight should make me stop.
Instead, my eyes remain fixed on it.
"Who do you work for?" I demand harshly.
Silence.
Then suddenly-
A tear slips from the corner of her eye.
It rolls slowly down her cheek, shining beneath the dim lights.
And for one brief second...
Something inside me wavers.
"For you, Mr. Aditya Singhaniya."
Her voice shakes slightly, but not because of fear anymore.
No.
It's anger.
Pure anger.
I can hear the hatred hidden beneath her words. A rivalry she desperately tries to suppress. A fire she refuses to show openly in front of me.
But I see it.
I always see it.
And strangely...
I like it.
A little too much.
Slowly, I pull the knife away from her neck. The tension between us remains suffocating as I take a tissue from the counter beside us and wipe the thin line of blood from the blade carefully.
The silence feels heavier now.
"Stay with me," I say quietly.
But the softness in my tone is more threatening than shouting.
"Otherwise the next person you meet..."
My eyes drift back toward her face slowly.
"...will be God in heaven."
A warning.
A promise.
Something dangerous flickers inside my eyes as I look down at her lips again. My hand almost moves toward her face instinctively.
Almost.
But before I can touch her-
She suddenly pushes herself away from me.
The movement catches me off guard.
Her breathing is uneven now, but her eyes no longer look scared.
They look furious.
"Stay away from me," she growls coldly.
The hatred in her voice slices through the air sharply.
"Otherwise next time..."
She steps closer for one second, glaring directly into my eyes.
"...you'll be the one in hell, you bastard."
For a moment, silence crashes between us.
Then without waiting for my response, she turns and walks away.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Just anger burning in every step she takes.
I stand there motionless, my fingers tightening around the knife again as my eyes follow her through the crowd.
The loud music continues.
People keep dancing.
Drinks keep flowing.
But none of it matters.
Because all I can see is her.
And the moment she walks back toward Karan Luthra and stands beside him again-
Something violent awakens inside me.
I walk toward her again, my eyes fixed entirely on her face.
Something feels off.
The confidence she carried a few minutes ago is fading now. Her body sways slightly, and there's a strange dizziness in her eyes. Her lashes flutter as if she's struggling to stay focused.
Drunk.
Completely drunk.
For a brief second, concern mixes with my irritation.
I r
each my hand toward her instinctively, wanting to steady her before she loses balance-
But the moment my fingers almost touch her, she steps back immediately.
Like I'm the danger.
"Fuck..."
The curse leaves my mouth in frustration.
Before she can move away again, I suddenly grab her carefully and lift her over my shoulder in one swift motion.
A gasp escapes her lips.
Her body tenses instantly as one of my hands secures her firmly while the other adjusts the fabric of her dress, making sure it still covers her long legs properly.
No matter how angry I am...
I won't let anyone look at her that way.
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