He nods, a small, approving smile tugging at his lips. Then he turns and walks out of the office, leaving me with the burning urge to payhera visit.
I grab my keys and head downstairs, sliding into the driver’s seat of my black Mercedes parked in the basement. The engine purrs to life as I press the start button and pull out. As I speed through the streets, I make the call to track Meera’s location. Itdoesn’t take more than ten minutes for my men to give me her location.
She’s at the quiet stretch near Old Lake Road.
Damn.This woman surely loves trouble.
What the hell is she thinking? It’s fucking ten at night, and she’s on an isolated road, all by herself. I tighten my grip on the steering wheel and press harder on the accelerator.
A few minutes later, my breathing finally steadies as I spot her. She’s standing by the curb, back to me, her face lifted towards the night sky. She’s in a flowing peach salwar suit, the dupatta fluttering in the breeze, and for a moment, I can’t help but admire how angelic she looks, completely lost in thought.
I ease my foot down and hit the brake, hard enough for the tyres to crunch against the gravel right behind her.
She jolts, her shoulders jerking as she spins around, her eyes wide.
I push the door open and step out of the car, slamming it shut with deliberate force.
Her gaze meets mine, anger tightening her features as she squares her shoulders. “So… you’re here to silence me?”
I take a step closer and raise an eyebrow. “Silence you?”
“Don’t play innocent with me,” she fires back, lifting her chin defiantly. “I know you found out about the article, and now you’re trying to scare me into backing off. But you know what, Mr. Dev Rathore? Do whatever you want. I won’t stop. Iwillexpose your crimes. Maybe not at my workplace, but I’ll find another press that’s willing to print it.”
I smirk, tilting my head. “Do you want me to suggest a name? Or maybe… put in a recommendation for you?”
Her nostrils flare, and she takes a step back. “Keep your recommendations to yourself. I don’t need your help. And Mr. Dev Rathore, you can be happy all you want about your win, but I am not backing down. I’ll keep trying.”
Fuck.
Damn, if her fire doesn’t turn me on. The defiance in her eyes, the way her voice challenges me… it hits harder than it should. She has no idea what she’s igniting in me with every damn second.
“Sweetheart, don’t stress that beautiful brain of yours,” I murmur, stepping closer to her.
“Don’t you dare call me that,” she snaps.
I ignore her sass and instead say, “How about we sit somewhere, have coffee, and discuss just how reckless you’re being, and where your little actions might lead you.”
Before I can stop myself, my hand lifts and brushes against her collarbone. And the moment I touch her soft skin, an electric jolt shoots straight through me.
Fuck! Her skin is impossibly soft.
She shoves my hand away, her breathing quick and shallow. “You’re a disgusting man,” she snaps, spinning on her heel to walk away.
She doesn’t get far.
I am already in front of her before she can take a full step. I lift my hand just enough to stop her, not touching her this time, forcing her to freeze mid-stride.
“Good observation, sweetheart. Actually, now I am curious,” I add, letting my gaze drop to my Rolex, then back to her. “Tell me more about what you think of me. I’ve got time.”
She glares at me. “Oh, you don’t have much time, Mr. Dev Rathore. Because very soon, I’ll make sure you and your brother end up in jail. You might have silenced one article of mine, but I’ll write a thousand more. And then,” she adds, crossing her arms over her chest, trembling with rage, “I’ll see who saves you and your brother.”
I stare at her for a long second, then I laugh.
“A thousand articles?” I step closer. Close enough that she has to lift her chin just to meet my eyes. “Sweetheart, you won’t even get to finish one if you keep walking into danger like this.” I lean in, my breath grazing her ear as my voice drops. “And as for jail… no one is dragging me or my brother anywhere. Not in this lifetime.” I pull back slowly, my eyes locking onto hers. “You want a war with me?” I smile, letting her see the danger she keeps pretending isn’t there. “Then just be very… very sure you can survive it.”
“I am not scared of you, and I don’t care how dangerous you are. I’ll fight. I’ll expose everything. You think your money, your name, your ego can shield you forever? It won’t. People like you always slip, and I’ll be right there when you fall,” she bites out, shaking her head with pure disgust. “I really hate criminals like you.”
“And still, you’re here,” I mock. “For someone who hates me so much, you don’t seem to mind standing awfully close to me.”
