Hello Everyone!
Before we enter this chapter, I want to clear a few important points.
Ayaan found a photo of Zara standing beside a man who had been declared a terrorist, someone involved in the attempted assassination of a central minister from the ruling party. If that photograph had reached the authorities, Zara wouldn’t have been treated like a normal citizen. She would have been questioned, investigated, and possibly arrested.
Ayaan is a billionaire whose family’s legacy holds immense power in the country’s economy. His girlfriend was killed in a blast meant for his mother. When he discovered Zara connected to someone involved with that terrorist group, doubt was a natural reaction. Any man in his position would question, fear, and suspect.
Ayaan didn’t want to alert anyone connected to Zara, nor reveal that he knew about the photograph. He wanted to understand her intentions quietly, without raising suspicion. What began as a plan for revenge, however, doesn’t go the way he expected. The real reason behind the particular method he chose will unfold as the story continues.
And Zara has her own strength, and she will play her part just as powerfully as Ayaan when the time is right. Both Ayaan and Zara act and react based on their circumstances, and their choices reflect the weight of what they’ve lived through.
Be prepared for the best and the worst.
Thank you
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Ayaan arrived at the office earlier than usual, his jaw set in determination. Today, he was ready to execute his plan, no distractions, no delays. He played the live coverage of the CCTV in his mobile, scanning the corridor outside his cabin. His eyes narrowed when he noticed Zara walking toward his room, her hair bouncing softly with each step, clutching the iPad in her hand.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He stood, adjusting his cufflinks, and moved quickly to the door. Positioning himself just behind it, he waited for the handle to move. The moment it did, he opened the door at the same time from his side.
The sudden motion startled Zara, she gasped, stumbled forward, and lost her balance. Ayaan’s reflexes kicked in instantly and he caught her firmly by the waist.
Their eyes locked for a few seconds and the world seemed to still. Zara’s palms pressed against his chest, feeling the solid warmth beneath his crisp shirt. Ayaan’s cologne, rich, dark, and slightly musky hit her senses like a wild wave, making her heart stutter. Her breath caught in her throat, her mind suddenly blank as sparks shot through her veins.
Ayaan’s gaze softened, lingering on her wide, startled eyes. The faint flush on her cheeks, the way her lips parted slightly in surprise as she looked at him.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice low, his breath brushing against her forehead.
Zara blinked, coming back to her senses. She immediately stepped back, smoothing her hair and clutching the iPad nervously. “good morning Sir, I… I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t see you coming.” she stammered.
Ayaan straightened, his lips curving into a faint smirk. Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink, and she quickly nodded.
“Sir, I’m here to read your schedule,” Zara said softly, still trying to regain her composure.
Ayaan glanced at his wristwatch, his expression calm but his voice commanding. “Not now. Get me a coffee first. We’ll go over the schedule later.” he said and Zara nodded quickly.
She turned and hurried toward the pantry, clutching the iPad as if it could steady her heartbeat. The moment she arrived at the pantry, she exhaled shakily. Her cheeks were warm, the memory of his touch still lingered on her waist, and his cologne refused to leave her senses. It wasn’t just a scent, it was a pull, intoxicating and maddening at once.
As she measured the coffee, her hands trembled slightly. She tried to shake off the thought, focusing on the simple act of making his coffee but her mind kept replaying the moment their eyes met, the firmness of his hold, the warmth that spread through her.
Back in his office, Ayaan leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on the CCTV feed from the pantry. A small, knowing smirk tugged at his lips as he watched her movements, the way she was smiled, the nervous way she tucked her hair behind her ear.
He rested his elbow on the armrest, fingers brushing his chin as he continued to watch her. His plan had only just begun and Zara, unknowingly, had already stepped into his carefully laid web.
Later that day, Ayaan called Zara into his cabin to type few important notes. She walked in quietly with her laptop, her composure carefully stitched together though her heart still fluttered from the morning’s encounter.
“Type as I read,” Ayaan instructed in his calm and steady voice.
Zara nodded and began typing, her eyes focused on the screen while his low baritone filled the silence of the room. The steady rhythm of his words and the gentle clacking of her keys blended in sync until Ayaan rose from his chair.
He moved behind her, leaning slightly over her shoulder to glance at the text on her screen. His arm rested on the head rest of her seat and his presence loomed close, close enough for her to feel the faint warmth of his breath against her temple.
Zara froze. Her fingers paused mid-air, her breath caught somewhere between her throat and lips.
Ayaan’s eyes trailed down, noticing the subtle tremor in her hands and the way she bit her lower lip, a nervous habit she probably didn’t realize she had. His gaze lingered there for a second longer than he intended. Her lips looked impossibly soft, plump, and tinged with a natural pink perhaps from a fresh coat of gloss.
His attention shifted to her cheeks, they were slightly flushed, chubby and irresistibly tender under the office lights. The faint scent of lavender mixed with musk surrounded her, intoxicating his senses before he could resist.
For a fleeting moment, Ayaan forgot why he was there. His carefully built control wavered but only for a moment.
Realizing the line he was crossing he straightened abruptly, retreating to his chair with a sharp inhale. He loosened his tie, clearing his throat as if that could clear the storm in his mind.
Zara blinked and resumed typing, her heartbeat still erratic. Neither of them spoke but the charged silence between them said everything words couldn’t.
Ayaan felt a surge of irritation at himself for noticing her the way he did. Forcing his voice to stay calm, he said, “Take a break. We’ll continue with the notes later.”
He clenched his fists the moment Zara stepped out of the room. The sound of the door clicking shut echoed like a taunt in his head.
With a sudden burst of anger, he slammed his palm against the table, the loud thud reverberating through the room. “Idiot… idiot… what the hell were you thinking? She’s your enemy, Ayaan. You’re here for revenge, not to lose your damn mind over her lips.”, he growled under his breath, his jaw tightening.
He paced around the room, running a hand through his hair, his thoughts spiraling. Every glimpse of her, the way she bit her lip, the way her eyes widened when he leaned close, played on repeat in his head, haunting him like a forbidden melody.
“Fucking behave, Ayaan, you can’t fall for her charm. Not when you want to destroy her to avenge for your loss”, he hissed, hitting his fist lightly against his chest as if he could knock sense back into himself.
His eyes fell on the framed photograph on his desk, the smiling face of his girlfriend, the woman he had lost. His rage crumbled, replaced by a piercing ache in his chest. He picked up the photo with trembling fingers, staring at it as guilt washed over him in violent waves.
“I’m sorry, baby, I’m so damn sorry.”, he whispered, his voice breaking.
He pressed the photo to his chest, eyes shutting tight, his temple resting against the cool glass frame. “I love you… I’ll never forget you,” he murmured, his words trembling with regret and self-loathing.
The silence of the office surrounded him again, heavy, suffocating, as Ayaan sat down, clutching the picture like a man torn between vengeance and the ghost of a love that still ruled his heart.
Zara returned to her cubicle, her pulse still racing, her body tingling from the nearness she’d shared with Ayaan just moments ago. The faint trace of his mint breath and that intoxicating cologne still clung to her senses, making it impossible to focus. She leaned back in her chair, her thoughts a tangled mess.
” Why did he suddenly ask me to leave? Maybe he sensed the shift in the air between us… or worse, maybe he felt guilty, disappointed even for standing so close to another woman who isn’t his girlfriend ” she thought and her chest tightened, stung more than she wanted to admit.
The realization left her hollow, as if the warmth of that fleeting moment had turned into a chill she couldn’t shake.
Later that afternoon, Zara entered his cabin carrying his lunch, careful as always, her heart unknowingly hoping he’d glance her way. But before she could set the plate down, his deep voice cut through the silence.
“I’ll be leaving now. Don’t bother setting the plate. Cancel the rest of my schedules for the day.”
His tone was firm, distant, the kind that left no room for questions.
Zara froze for a moment, her fingers tightening around the tray. “Okay, sir,” she murmured, forcing her voice to sound steady though her throat ached with confusion.
She turned and walked out quietly, her steps echoing in the corridor. Not once had he looked at her. Not even a fleeting glance.
Ayaan stormed into his villa, slamming the door behind him. The silence inside felt deafening, pressing against his skull. He yanked open the cabinet, grabbed the strongest bottle of scotch he owned, and drank straight from it. The liquid scorched his throat, burning its way down his chest but the ache inside him didn’t fade.
He dropped heavily onto the couch, his head falling back as he let out a sharp, ragged breath. His fingers raked through his hair in frustration, tugging hard as if the pain might clear his thoughts.
“I fucking hate her, I hate her.” he muttered under his breath, the words spilling out like venom.
He said it again and again. Each repetition harsher, louder like a desperate attempt to drown out the memory of her scent, the feel of her breath so close, the way her eyes had looked up at him with quiet confusion.
Ayaan stumbled into his bedroom, the faint buzz of alcohol dulling everything except the ache in his chest. The room felt too big, too cold like it had been stripped of life the day she left. He sank onto the bed, his body heavy with exhaustion and guilt.
His trembling hand reached for the photo frame on the bedside table. His girlfriend’s smile stared back at him, warm and alive, mocking the emptiness around him. His throat tightened. He pressed the photo against his chest, curling around it as if holding her could make the pain stop.
“I miss you, Zara, I miss you so damn much.” he whispered, his voice breaking into the stillness.
Tears slipped down his cheeks, hot and relentless, as he gasped for breath. “Bloody hell, I can’t even breathe without you,” he choked out, clutching the frame tighter.
The silence swallowed his words, leaving only the sound of his uneven breathing and the dull thud of his heart, a heart that refused to move on, even when everything else around him had.
Zara drove home in silence, the city lights blurring through her tears as her mind replayed every moment from the office. His voice. His distance. The way he didn’t even look at her before walking away. Nothing made sense, and the confusion twisted painfully inside her chest.
By the time she reached her apartment, her heart felt unbearably heavy. She unlocked the door and stepped in, the familiar quiet of her home only deepening the ache. Without turning on the lights, she walked straight to her bedroom.
On the wall opposite to her bed, the photo of Ayaan hung, his confident smile, his eyes that made her world stop. Her fingers trembled as she reached out, brushing the glass as if her touch could somehow reach him through it.
“I don’t understand anything. Everything felt different today… you looked different the moment you stepped in, the way you looked at me was not the usual cold stares but something shifted and you were back to the cold distant boss once again. I wish I could comfort you, Ayaan. But I know my place.”
Her lips quivered as she forced a small, sad smile. “I could never be your girlfriend. And yet, it hurts, it hurts to see you suffer like this. You don’t deserve this Ayaan ” she thought.
A tear rolled down her cheek, landing on the photo. “You deserve all the love in the world, and I wish I was the one to give it to you. Maybe… maybe in another life, I will be.” she whispered softly, her words trembling in the darkness.
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and lay down, still looking at his photo. Her eyes remained fixed on his face, the shadows around her deepening until sleep finally pulled her under, her last thought echoing the same silent wish she’d whispered a thousand times before -” You deserve all the love in the world, and I wish I was the one to give it to you “
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A/N:
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