A silent billionaire.
A woman trained to kill.
When power marries danger, love turns lethal.
Did I really want him dead?
The question appeared in my mind so suddenly that it stole the breath from my lungs.
Did I really hate him that much?
For a moment, I couldn't think, move, or feel anything except the deafening silence ringing in my ears.
Then the sound came.
A muffled shot.
The final trigger.
Even with the silencer fitted onto the gun, I heard it. My heart stopped beating, and the world vanished around me. Everything turned dark, but the thought of his death was darker than anything else.
I didn't remember moving. I only remembered finding myself against him.
One of my arms was wrapped tightly around his body while my face pressed against his chest, listening for his last heartbeat. My fingers clutched his shirt so hard that they hurt. My extension nails felt as if they would rip off at any moment. Blood had already begun to gather around my nail beds, and the back of his neck probably carried scratches from where my nails had dug into his skin.
This moment felt like an illusion.
A silent prayer repeated inside my head.
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't lift my head. I couldn't force myself to look at him.
My entire body trembled, and the room blurred around me. I could feel something warm running down my cheeks.
My tears.
I hadn't even realized I was crying.
I didn't want to know what I would see when I looked up. I didn't want to see his empty eyes. I didn't want to discover that I had been a second too late.
My eyes widened.
For several seconds, I remained frozen against his chest, listening.
His heart was still beating, but far too fast. The sound shattered something inside me, and a broken sob escaped my lips.
Slowly, almost fearfully, I lifted my head.
Ranbir was staring down at me. Confusion and shock were written across his face. He looked just as lost as I felt.
My vision blurred again. More tears spilled down my cheeks. I couldn't stop them. I wasn't even sure why I was crying.
Was it because I had been terrified of losing him? Because he was still alive? I didn't know. Was I crying because of my stupid, filthy game that had almost taken his life, or because I had failed once again to take it myself?
Everything had become tangled together until I couldn't separate one emotion from another.
My hand rose on its own, and my trembling fingers touched his cheek.
As if I needed proof.
As if I needed to feel that he was real.
That the warmth beneath my palm, the frantic beat of his heart, and the eyes staring back at me were reality-not some cruel illusion created by my terrified mind.
His skin met my fingertips, and only then did my gaze drop to my other hand.
My fingers were still locked around his wrist, still holding it, still gripping it tightly.
The memory slammed back into me.
When he had pressed the gun against his temple, his finger had tightened around the trigger. The shot had already become inevitable.
And then I moved.
My body had reacted before my mind could.
The instant his finger pulled the trigger, I lunged forward and grabbed his wrist with my other hand. I yanked his arm upward with everything I had.
The gun jerked away from his head at the very last second.
The shot rang out.
The bullet missed him completely. Instead of tearing through his skull, it flew harmlessly into the air above us.
That was all that had separated him from death.
My grip tightened even more around his wrist. The force of my hand wasn't enough to hurt him, but if he applied the same force to me, the bones in my wrist would probably shatter into pieces.
Another tear rolled down my face as I realized how close I had come to losing him.
But why had I done it?
If I wanted him dead, then why had I saved him at the very last moment? Why had my body chosen him before my mind could?
What was it that I truly wanted?
"Why?"
The question left his throat softly, almost calmly, and that single word shattered whatever strength I had left.
My legs gave out beneath me, and I collapsed onto the floor.
The cold marble slammed against my knees before my hands caught my weight, but even that wasn't enough. My body folded in on itself as if something inside me had finally broken.
A sob tore from my chest, and within seconds, I was crying so hard I could barely breathe.
My forehead pressed against the marble floor as tears spilled endlessly from my eyes. Everything came crashing down at once.
A broken scream escaped me-the kind that didn't sound human, the kind born from almost losing someone.
The sound ripped through the room so violently that even the glass windows seemed to tremble.
The entire floor was soundproof, yet something inside me was shattering.
I felt him move.
Felt him reach me.
His strong arms wrapped around me instantly. The moment his skin touched mine, I broke even more. A sob tore through my body so violently that it hurt.
My trembling legs tried to push me upright, but I couldn't stand. Everything felt weak. His arm settled firmly around my waist, holding me up before I could collapse again.
I turned toward him and started hitting his chest over and over.
"What were you doing, you bastard?"
My voice cracked between sobs.
"What were you trying to do?"
Another hit landed against his chest.
Tears continued to blur my vision, and my hands trembled uncontrollably.
"Have you lost your mind?"
I shoved him again.
"What if..."
My voice broke completely.
"What if I hadn't stopped you?"
The words barely escaped my lips.
Fresh tears spilled down my face.
"What if I was late?"
Another weak strike landed against his chest.
"What if that bullet had..."
I couldn't finish the sentence. I couldn't even force the words out because, for one horrible second, I had believed he was dead, and that single second had nearly destroyed me.
"But you wanted me dead," he said softly.
"No..." I whispered.
I straightened slowly and lifted both my hands to his face, cupping his cheeks as if I needed to convince myself he was really here.
For a moment, I simply looked at him, memorizing every detail.
Then I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his.
"No." I said.
The kiss was brief, more instinct than thought. I felt the rough scrape of his stubble against my skin and the faint taste of my red lipstick lingering between us.
It was the first time I had kissed him willingly. The moment our lips met, a jolt shot through my body, sending a wave of goosebumps across my skin.
He was so tall that without my heels, I could barely reach his face.
I rose onto my tiptoes, stretching as high as I could. After a few seconds, my toes began to ache from holding the position. With a frustrated huff, I grabbed the collar of his shirt and tugged him down to my height.
Warning: Mature content (18+).
"Please make me yours tonight," I whispered against his ear.
I leaned closer, my lips brushing the shell of his ear before I caught his earlobe gently between my teeth, teasing him for a brief moment before letting go.
I pressed my lips to his again, and with that single movement, I forgot everything that had happened before this moment. All I wanted was to be wrapped in his embrace, held securely within his grasp.
He shrugged off his coat, and I felt no shame as I reached for the buttons of his shirt. One by one, they came undone until his bare chest was revealed before me.
My lower lip slipped between my teeth, and I bit down hard, unable to look away.
I traced my tongue lightly over his lower abdomen. Holding his deep brown gaze, warm and endless like desert sand, I drew a slow path upward until I reached the curve of his neck.
At that movement, he grabbed my throat and pulled my face toward his.
"As you wish. But if I touch you, I will touch every part of your life that you care about along with you. And I will leave my mark on you too-a symbol that you are mine. Any consequence that comes, I am with you, because you don't know the moment I lost everything... and gained something too, and that was you. Still, you will never know when it all started."
He said it and pulled my lips to his.
His words were unable to settle in my head, but in that moment, I only knew one thing: he would never leave me, and that was all I wanted.
His hand found the zipper at the back of my dress. Slowly, I pulled it down, and the fabric loosened, slipping smoothly from my body to the floor.
It was a beautiful dress, but I didn't want it on my body anymore. I wanted him to see beyond it, beyond every wall I had built around myself, and make me his in a way no one else ever could-so completely that no one could ever reach me the way he did. But I was still wearing my underclothes.
He pressed me back against the large glass wall, leaving barely any space between us. Then he lowered his head and brushed a soft kiss against my neck.
I bit my lower lip, trying to keep my composure. A shiver ran through me as a bead of sweat traced a slow path down my spine.
He turned me back towards the wall and kissed my back. When he reached the hook of my bra, he undid it, and the fabric gently loosened against my skin.
One of his hands rested at the front of my throat, while the other slowly trailed downward.
His hand moved to my black lace underwear and gave my pussy a playful pat. I had been clenching my teeth so hard that my jaw was starting to ache; that touch of his made a soft moan escape my throat. Slowly guiding his finger down, he reached my pussy and began circling my clit.
His other hand moved from my neck down to my breast, and the moment he squeezed my nipple, my mouth fell open and a soft moan escaped my lips. My entire body tensed as I felt the pleasurable touch of his hand. He kept moving his hand in a circular motion, and I became completely lost in the sensation, grinding my hips against his touch. When one of his fingers slid inside me, I couldn't steady myself; I tried to grab the wall with both hands, but there was nothing there to hold onto.
He is moving his hand in and out of my pussy, and slowly he inserts another finger, making me feel intense pleasure. The glass wall is tinted, so hopefully, the people standing outside cannot see my naked body. Just as I was on the verge of cumming through his fingers, I felt pain in my pussy .
"Stop, stop," I said, breathing hard.
"If you can't handle my fingers, how will you handle my cock?" he whispered in my ear and as soon as I heard his voice, I cum.
He lifted me effortlessly, and instinctively, I wrapped my legs around his waist as he held me against him. Without a word, he carried me to the bed and gently laid me down on it.
"Tell me, should I lift you onto me, or will you do it yourself?" he whispered in my ear.
"Get on top of me," I said.
He undid his belt, and my breath hitched. As he pulled his trousers all the way down, I felt as though I were sinking into water. A fluttery sensation stirred in my stomach, and the mere sight of him naked aroused me. His body was toned-like that of a man who hits the gym and watches his diet-and his chest was heaving.
He smiled at my reaction, but I felt no shame and didn't even blink. His cock was already jutting up, stretching all the way up to his navel. Just like last time, when I regretted not being able to take the whole thing into my mouth, this time too I wondered how it would fit inside me.
"Are you scared?" he smirked.
I shook my head. "No."
"Not even slightly? Then I guess I'll have to change positions."
He slowly moved towards me and kissed my feet. Running his tongue over me, he moved up towards my thighs and reached my pussy; my speech began to falter.
He gently spread my legs so I could feel it better.
As her tongue began to lick my pussy-circling my clit and then slipping inside my hole-my eyes rolled back. It was an intense sensation; I felt like I was on a mountain top, on the verge of tumbling right into his arms at any moment. I couldn't hold back my loud moans.
I placed one hand over my mouth but couldn't stop myself, and with the other, I gripped his hair tightly. He didn't care how hard I was holding his hair; he kept at it as if he were completing a crucial task.
He tongue kept swirling over my cunt and caught my clit between his teeth and gave it a gentle tug.
My entire body and thighs began to tremble then, he swirled his tongue beneath my clit. He slid his tongue inside my pussy and began licking my skin. Using his whole mouth, he made me feel like a delicious meal served on a plate-one that a conscientious person would devour without wasting a single morsel.
The sensation of the cumming was unforgettable. The fluids released from the body were wetting my pussy and thighs, but his mouth ensured that every single drop went right into it.
The spinning ceiling fan made it feel as though my eyes were about to pop out of their sockets and ascend straight to heaven.
"You are absolutely delicious; this is the best thing that has ever touched my tongue," he said.
He came straight to me without pausing or even catching his breath, and the moment he reached me, he began to kiss me. He bit my lower lip and slowly moved down toward my neck, kissing every inch of skin along the way.
He reached my breasts. My hair was scattered across it, and he gently pulled the strands away, giving himself a clear view of my naked body. His touch sent a shiver through my body, and my nipples hardened.
He grabbed my neck and squeezed my breast; his palm was so large that my breast fit entirely within his hand. My breast looked tiny in his grasp. Then, he squeezed and tugged at my nipple while circling his fingers around it, eliciting a soft moan from me.
He started playing with my nipple with his tongue and then pinch it between his teeth, making my eyes roll back. I gripped his shoulder tightly, leaving nail marks on it.
I reach the peak of pleasure once again. His gaze is fixed on me, unable to look away. My hair and entire body are drenched in sweat, as if I have just stepped out of a bath. He lifted one of my legs and rested it over his shoulder. One hand remained at my throat, while the other firmly held both of my wrists above my head.
"Let's see how much you can handle. Let's see how much strength you have," he said.
"Don't be so confident. What if you pass out before me?" I said, laughing.
"Don't make jokes about me. You know every time you challenge something about me, you end up losing," he said, lifting an eyebrow.
He held his wet cock, rubbed it against my clit, and slowly circled the tip around my cunt; a powerful shiver raced through my body, and at that very moment, his cock enters me. My eyes opened widely.
He keeps moving rhythmically, and sighs escape my lips. Our bodies are pressing against each other and our eyes are locked, while my throbbing body is flush against his hard cock, rising between my legs.
He threw his head back, the veins in his arms bulging all the way up to his neck. Baring his teeth, he let out a roar so powerful that it shook the entire glass wall of the suite and shattered it into pieces.
As soon as he feels my heat, he growls in pleasure, and his lips pull back. My nipples are grazing his chest; his heavy body is upon me-not enough to suffocate me, yet I can feel his entire weight, making me realize just how small I am.
"Let's see how much more you can fit me," he added.
"I know you're a very strong woman, and you won't be the one to pass out. So you can handle more and make me regret my decision."
My throat went dry.
"What?" I asked in confusion.
He thrust hard again, and I felt something inside my pussy give way. My eyes went wide, and I let out a loud scream. I couldn't even imagine how big he was; only half of him had been inside me, and then he pushed the rest in as well. My pussy felt heavy and was getting wet, mixing with the cream. The sensation inside it was incredibly pleasurable.
Compared to his body, I was much smaller and slimmer. With all the emotion and pleasure I even feeling protect and own by someone I wants
My eyelids began to droop, and quite naturally-in a way I hadn't even realized I was capable of-I started rubbing my hips against his skin, spreading my juices onto his cock. As I reached the peak of pleasure, my eyes rolled back and everything turned into a blur. He began squeezing and taking both my nipples into his mouth again.
"You're very wet, and having sex with you is amazing," he said.
I pulled the bedsheet with one hand, bunching it tightly in my palm as his movements grew faster and more relentless. My other hand slid to his back, gripping his skin and leaving faint marks behind from my sharp nails.
My body is shaking up and down with his whole weight on me, and I feel like the whole world is tilting around my eyes.
My lips are reacting to every move of his, and I am unable to suppress the moans escaping my mouth-no matter what. It feels as though my body is beyond my control, reacting exactly the way it wants to.
"Please, don't stop," I groaned.
"I won't stop," he said.
"But tell me you love doing this. You love having me inside you. You love it when I give you a pleasure you'll never forget."
"I want you deeper inside me. Take me to the paradise you've created for me."
"I will. I'm here to bring out the bad girl inside you-the one who secretly hates me," he said.
His cock grew incredibly thick and somehow slid completely inside me; every movement involved a powerful thrust of his hips.
My pussy milked every last drop of his juices from him, until I was completely filled with it.
When he pulled his cock out, his semen practically burst out of me, and the thick fluid began running down my legs.
He rolled off me and dropped onto the bed beside me, taking quick breaths while I struggled to draw a deep one. It felt as though I might die from a lack of oxygen at any moment. My eyes refused to stay open, and I couldn't take any more of this beautiful night.
.....................................
I woke up screaming, ripped from the same nightmare that had haunted me for years.
At this point, it had become routine. Again and again, it found its way back to me. Maybe I really did need to see a doctor.
Like every time before, my body was soaked in sweat. My ears still echoed with the deafening explosion that had shaken the ground beneath my feet.
Then came the fire.
It was everywhere.
Flames swallowed the fairgrounds while thick black smoke filled the sky. People screamed, ran, and cried as chaos consumed everything around them.
The smell of burning metal and blood choked the air.
"Maa!"
My own voice echoed through the destruction as I pushed through the crowd.
I couldn't find her.
I couldn't find Dii either.
Everywhere I looked, there was devastation.
Then I saw my sister's bracelet lying on the ground-the one she never took off.
Fear gripped my heart.
I had been nothing more than a frightened teenager, lost, alone, and far too young to understand what was happening.
The memory felt so real that for a moment, I forgot where I was.
I quickly looked around, making sure no one had noticed. I wanted to pretend everything was fine.
There was no sign of him.
My eyes searched the room once more, but found nothing. Slowly, I pushed the blanket aside and climbed out of bed, the cold marble floor meeting my bare feet.
That was when I noticed my body was clean. All the fluids and sweat between my thighs were gone, and the traces of tears mixed with mascara had been wiped away. He had cleaned me up, and I was in such a deep sleep that I hadn't even noticed.
My gaze landed on my dress lying near the bed. The broken zipper stared back at me. I picked it up and tried fixing it, but the damaged metal refused to move.
"Perfect."
The muttered curse left my lips.
My eyes shifted toward the chair nearby. Ranbir's black shirt rested there, so I picked it up and slipped it over my body.
The fabric swallowed me whole. The sleeves covered my hands completely, and the shirt fell all the way to my thighs.
A strange warmth settled inside my chest.
Before I could think about it too much, I grabbed my black-and-white coat and pulled it over myself. Then I quietly opened the suite door.
The hallway outside was empty.
I stepped out carefully, peeking left and right, but still no sign of him. The entire floor looked deserted.
I took another step forward when a voice spoke behind me.
"So you're Velvet Viper."
I froze. Turning around slowly, I found a woman standing several feet away.
She looked to be in her late twenties. Her hazel eyes stared at me from head to toe. Her expensive clothes, flawless makeup, and perfectly polished appearance immediately made me feel self-conscious about my own disheveled state.
She looked to be in her late twenties. Her hazel eyes traveled over me from head to toe. Everything about her was flawless-her expensive clothes, perfect makeup, and polished appearance-making me painfully aware of my own disheveled state. She looked irritated enough to poison an entire city.
Her gaze swept over me once more before returning to my face.
"You're with Ranbir, right?"
"Yes," I answered politely.
The woman laughed, then quickly covered her mouth as if she was trying to hide it. The gesture only made it more obvious. It felt like she wanted me to know she was laughing at me.
"His contractor? Or his newest toy?"
Her eyes drifted to the oversized shirt hanging off my frame, and she laughed even harder, crossing her arms over her chest.
My eyebrows immediately narrowed.
"What?"
"Oh, don't act innocent. I know exactly what you two are doing."
She stepped closer.
The smile on her face wasn't friendly. She was judging me, taunting me, provoking me for reasons I didn't understand. What I did with Ranbir was none of her business, yet she looked personally offended by it.7
"I suppose life is good these days. Sleeping in his shirts. Living off his money. Enjoying everything he gives you."
I had absolutely no idea who this woman was, yet she looked ready to murder me. Before I could respond, she stepped closer and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture felt more like a threat than anything else.
"So you're the woman. The crazy bitch he left me for."
Her voice rose, and suddenly things made a little more sense.
"You know how much I lost because of him? My life went straight to hell."
The bitterness in her eyes deepened. Without warning, her fingers tangled in my hair and yanked hard. Pain exploded across my scalp, and I immediately grabbed her wrist.
"What are you doing?"
"I became poor again. I had to live like ordinary people. I had the life you're living with him now. You're enjoying everything he gives you. What was the difference between you and me? I lost everything."
Her voice shook with anger. Her grip on my hair tightened, pulling harder until my scalp burned.
My patience finally snapped.
"He isn't some god I fought for, and whatever happened between you two has nothing to do with me."
The politeness vanished from my voice. She was crossing a line, but I still forced myself to stay calm.
Then another voice cut through the hallway.
His cold voice.
"Shanya."
Both of us turned.
Ranbir stood near the staircase, a dark red tuxedo stretched across his broad frame. His expression alone could freeze blood.
"Leave her."
The words were calm, which somehow made them even more terrifying.
"I gave you everything," he continued. "And you were the one sleeping with Dominic behind my back. I warned you before. This is the last warning."
Shanya's face drained of color. Tears immediately filled her eyes and spilled over. For a brief moment, she looked genuinely heartbroken.
Then her gaze landed on me, and the hatred returned instantly.
Before I could react, she slapped me.
The impact snapped my head to the side, a sharp sting spreading across my cheek. The entire hallway fell silent. I could only stare at her in shock.
"Bitch. I'll kill you."
Her chest rose and fell violently as she lunged toward me, but she never reached me.
Ranbir moved first.
In an instant, he stepped between us and stopped her. The force of his movement threw her off balance, and her eyes widened.
"You think being a woman protects you?"
His voice echoed through the hallway.
"How dare you touch her."
For a moment, I genuinely thought he might lose control of his temper, so I stepped forward immediately.
"Stop."
He didn't move.
I placed a hand against his chest and pushed lightly.
"I said stop."
His eyes met mine, and after a moment, he finally let go.
Shanya collapsed to the floor, coughing violently.
I took a slow breath. My cheek still burned, and suddenly my anger shifted. The real reason for this entire situation wasn't Shanya.
It was him.
I turned and walked straight toward Ranbir. He looked confused, but I didn't give him a chance to speak.
I slapped him.
The force was equal to the one she had given me, and the sound echoed through the hallway.
"You arrogant jerk."
My voice trembled with fury.
"I got slapped because of your problems."
Instead of getting angry, the idiot touched his cheek and laughed.
"That was good."
The corner of his mouth lifted.
"I was expecting a morning kiss, but this isn't bad either."
His eyes sparkled with amusement.
I stared at him, completely convinced he was more insane than anyone else in this building.
Including me.
Turning away from him, I walked toward Shanya. The woman was still sitting on the floor, staring at me in disbelief.
I grabbed a handful of her hair.
Her eyes widened. Then I gave her exactly what she had given me. The force snapped her head to the side.
Now we were even.
My hand closed around her throat-not enough to hurt her, just enough to make a point.
"If you ever touch me again, I'll kill you."
I leaned closer to her ear, making sure every word sank in.
"My morals are the same for men and women, so don't expect mercy. And don't ever forget that Velvet Viper is a ruthless assassin without a heart."
I tightened my grip slightly, and her face turned pale.
"Now get lost."
I released her.
She stumbled backward and immediately retreated down the hallway.
The moment she disappeared, I looked back at Ranbir. He was still standing there.
Still smirking.
Still looking far too pleased with himself.
I narrowed my eyes, then turned around and marched back into the suite before I decided that murdering him might actually be worth the effort.
I walked straight to the couch and dropped onto it.
My cheek still stung from the slap, my hair was a mess from being grabbed, and my patience had completely run out.
Unfortunately, Ranbir followed me inside and settled into the armchair directly across from me.
"I'm really sorry for anything she did or said," he began. "But none of it meant anything, and I promise it will never happen again."
I stared at him without saying a word.
His expression grew slightly uncomfortable.
"Are you angry with me?"
I continued staring at him because he was ridiculously handsome, and I couldn't seem to take my eyes off him. He was good at many things, and I had just discovered he was good at one more.
Then the idiot ruined the moment.
"Do you want to kill me again?"
A laugh escaped him.
I immediately narrowed my eyes.
"Shut up. But yes, I will damage you if something like this happens again."
His laughter only grew louder. Apparently, he found every one of my threats entertaining.
I decided to throw something at him, so I reached for a pillow. Before I could, the suite bell rang.
Ranbir stood.
"We leave in an hour."
His voice returned to its usual businesslike calm.
"Get ready."
Then, without waiting for a response, he walked toward the door.
A woman entered carrying two garment bags. Judging by her uniform, I guessed she was one of the hotel waitresses. My attention immediately shifted to what she was carrying.
The woman handed everything over before quietly taking her place near the closed door of the suite.
I opened the garment bags.
My eyes moved over the clothes before settling on a small black box tucked beneath them.
Inside were makeup products, hair extensions, and enough cosmetics to completely alter someone's appearance.
There were also two outfits, one of which was a waitress uniform.
Ranbir had arranged all of this to protect what I was keeping hidden.
A small smile touched my lips before disappearing just as quickly. The idiot was impossible to understand sometimes, but occasionally, he was useful.
Picking up the uniform and the box, I quietly made my way to the room where I was hiding the waitress.
The door opened slowly.
The room looked exactly as I had left it the night before. The curtains were still closed, the lights remained dim, and in the same corner of the room, she was sleeping.
She was still sitting against the wall in the exact spot where I had left her. Curled into herself.
The sight made something painful tighten inside my chest.
Her dress was torn in several places, and her hair was hopelessly tangled. Sweat covered her skin, and the dried tracks of tears were still visible on her cheeks. She looked broken, like someone who had spent the entire night expecting the door to open and bring more suffering.
I carefully placed the clothes and makeup box beside me before walking closer. Then I crouched in front of her.
"Naina."
The name had barely left my lips before she jerked awake.
Fear instantly flooded her face. Her eyes darted wildly around the room, and her breathing turned uneven.
"It's me."
I softened my voice immediately.
"It's me, Naina."
The moment she realized who I was, the fear shattered.
Fresh tears filled her eyes, and a broken sob escaped her lips. Then, suddenly, she threw herself forward.
Her arms wrapped around me so tightly it almost hurt, but I caught her immediately.
"It's okay. I'm here."
She buried her face against my shoulder and started crying.
I wrapped my arms around her and held her closer, the same way I had comforted a frightened child a year ago.
Outside this room, people saw Velvet Viper-an assassin. But inside this room, while holding a terrified woman who had been forced into something she never wanted, all I could see was another victim desperately trying to survive.
And I knew exactly what that felt like, because I had survived it too.
I saw Naina at the party last night.
At first, she looked like any other waitress working the event, and I was genuinely happy to see her there. I thought she had finally started a new life and moved on from her past.
Then I noticed where she was going.
She was walking toward Valentino Ravello with a tray in her hands.
She looked terrified. Her hands were trembling, and it was obvious she was walking toward death, not serving drinks.
I watched her carefully and noticed a man standing near a pillar. Partially hidden from view, he was giving her subtle signals.
That was when I realized she wasn't there to do any normal work.
The moment Naina offered the poisoned glass to Valentino, I threw another crystal glass.
Both glasses shattered at the same time.
Naina immediately looked at me, trying to understand who had ruined the plan.
I signaled for her to run while I focused everyone's attention on saving Valentino.
Within seconds, guards flooded the building and began searching for the waitress.
I went after Naina immediately. On the way, I found the same man chasing her.
He caught her and slapped her hard.
I intervened at once, beat him badly enough that he could no longer move, and left him for the guards to find.
Naina collapsed at my feet and begged me to save her.
The fear on her face told me everything.
I already knew she would never do something like this willingly, so I took her to one of the private guest suites on the upper floors.
The area was highly restricted, and no guards were allowed there.
Since I had access to Ranbir's suite, I brought her there in secret and hid her.
When she finally calmed down, she told me everything.
After I rescued her and three other girls from a party a month ago, she had started a new life and found work as a waitress. Recently, a group of men approached her, and one of them recognized her.
They were the same kind of men involved in trafficking women-the same type who had tried to traffic her before I rescued her.
At first, they offered her money to assassinate Valentino Ravello, but she refused.
Then they threatened her younger sister.
They told her that if she didn't obey them, her sister would have to pay the debt instead.
Because of that threat, she agreed to poison Valentino.
She told me she didn't know who the real leader was or why Valentino was being targeted. She had only followed their orders because she wanted to protect her little sister.
"Naina."
I placed the clothes, makeup box, and hair extensions beside her.
"Here. Change into these. You'll leave this building as a completely different person. There's a waitress waiting outside. She'll guide you out."
I pointed toward the door.
I didn't know the woman who had come to take Naina personally. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't trust anyone. But Ranbir had arranged this, and whether I liked admitting it or not, I trusted him enough to know he wouldn't put Naina in danger.
Naina stared at me for several moments before fresh tears filled her eyes.
"I don't know how I'll ever repay this."
Her voice trembled.
"This is the second time you've saved my life. I'll go far away from here. I'll start over again. Somewhere nobody knows me."
A sad smile touched my lips.
Trying to build a life from the ruins left behind by other people.
The story felt painfully familiar.
"Like I told you before," I said quietly. "And I'll say it again. You don't owe me anything."
I gently squeezed her hand.
The moment the words left my mouth, she broke down again. She wrapped her arms around me tightly. The hug carried gratitude and a hundred emotions she couldn't put into words.
I held her for a few seconds before gently pulling away.
"Go change."
She nodded, gathered everything, and disappeared into the bedroom.
When the door closed behind her, I remained standing in the hall, waiting.
My chest still felt tight.
My body hadn't fully relaxed since the party. The chaos and everything that had happened between Ranbir and me the previous night had left every muscle aching.
But right now, all I wanted was for Naina to leave safely.
The man I had beaten the previous night had already been caught by the guards and had confessed to his involvement. The search for the mysterious waitress had officially stopped, but that didn't mean Naina was safe.
Valentino Ravello was not an ordinary man.
If anyone recognized her, they wouldn't let her walk away.
Right now, Naina was balanced on the edge of a knife.
Several minutes later, the bedroom door finally opened.
Naina looked completely different. Even the way she carried herself had changed. She had used everything in the box perfectly.
I had seen her many times before, yet even I found her partly unrecognizable. To anyone else, she would look like a completely different woman.
"Perfect."
Naina looked down at herself nervously. Then she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me one last time.
"Thank you so much."
I closed my eyes briefly and gently rubbed her back.
"Don't cry."
"You're safe now."
I pulled away and wiped a tear from her cheek.
"Now go."
She nodded.
The waitress waiting by the door stepped forward. Together, they began walking away.
Just before turning the corner, Naina stopped. She looked back at me one final time, as if trying to memorize my face. Then she disappeared from sight.
I released a slow breath I hadn't realized I was holding and slowly walked back into the suite, dropping onto the couch.
Something still felt unsettling, but at least one innocent person had been given a second chance.
I still had to get ready myself, so I headed toward the bathroom, turned on the shower, and stepped beneath the hot water.
The water streamed down my body, washing away sweat, tears, and the exhaustion of the night, but it couldn't wash away the mess inside my head.
Too many things had happened in too little time, and I still couldn't understand what Ranbir had meant when he said, "You don't know the beginning."
My life had become tangled once again, and somehow one end of the thread always seemed to be in his hands.
The hot water slid down my skin and disappeared into the drain while I stared at the marble wall in silence.
My life had become chaos.
Every time I thought I understood where I was heading, something happened that pushed me in a completely different direction.
And somehow, despite all the danger surrounding us, my thoughts kept returning to the same man.
Eventually, I forced myself to stop thinking about him.
The shower ended.
I dried my hair quickly before changing into the clothes the waitress had brought-a black shirt, dark blue trousers, and a matching coat.
Exactly what I needed.
After getting dressed, I gathered everything that could connect Naina to the suite, including the clothes I had worn the previous night.
I packed everything neatly into a suitcase before leaving the room.
A few minutes later, I stepped into the elevator.
By the time the doors opened, I was already preparing myself for whatever game Ranbir planned to play next.
Outside the building, several black vehicles were waiting.
The convoy he had brought with him.
With a small gesture, he signaled the others to move ahead.
Then he remained where he was, leaning casually against the nearest car.
One hand rested in his pocket, and a pair of dark sunglasses hid his eyes.
But I didn't need to see them.
I knew exactly where he was looking.
At me.
Always at me.
The irritating man smirked the moment he saw me, but I ignored him, walked straight to the car, and settled into the passenger seat. A moment later, he slid into the driver's seat, and the familiar scent of his cologne immediately filled the space.
Why did he always seem determined to find new ways to isolate us?
The city passed by outside the window while silence settled between us.
Despite everything that had happened, I couldn't ignore it anymore.
Somehow, fate kept pulling us closer.
I didn't know where this path would lead.
But for the first time in a long time...
I wanted to find out.
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