Chapter 16: ❗ 15 ❗

For the first time in my life, I was stunned into silence.

It was only for a second—barely noticeable. But it happened.

And it was because of her.  Avni Rajput.

I had only ever seen her in sharp blazers, crisp shirts, and fitted trousers—the definition of control, power, and precision. But today?

Today, she was an entirely different storm.

Draped in a yellow dress with golden dupatta that shimmered under the afternoon sun, her long hair falling in soft waves over her shoulder, she looked... regal. Ethereal. A vision carved in fire and gold.

For a moment, I almost forgot why I was here.

Almost.

Then she turned, her sharp eyes locking onto mine, and just like that, I was reminded exactly who she was.

A woman who hated my presence. A woman who didn't hesitate to throw water on my face in a room full of executives. A woman who had no idea how much her life was about to change because of me.

I smirked, shoving my hands into my pockets as she approached when her father called her. She talked politely to my dad and then turned to me.

"And you?" she asked, her voice laced with ice. "What are you doing here?" I could've given her the truth. Could've told her exactly why our families were intertwined in ways she didn't even realize yet.

But where was the fun in that?  So instead, I tilted my head and let my smirk deepen. "Would you believe me if I said I missed you?" Her sharp inhale was satisfying.

"I'd believe it if I lost every last brain cell I had."  Ah, there she is.

I barely held back a chuckle. She was predictable in the best ways—so easy to rile up, so easy to get a reaction from. But what fascinated me was the way she controlled it, the way she fought back with calculated precision.

But what made this even more entertaining was that she had no idea why I was here. No idea about the history between our fathers. No idea about the debt her father owed mine.

No idea that whether she liked it or not—our paths were tied together now.

So when her father hesitated at her questions, when she turned to me with suspicion burning in her eyes, I didn't say a word.  I simply watched.  Watched as realization dawned in those dark eyes.

And for the first time since I met her... I saw uncertainty.  It was fleeting—gone in a second. But it was there.

She had questions, and I had the answers.  Answers she wasn't ready for yet.

So when she turned on her heel, walking away with that same fire in her steps, I let her go. She could walk away all she wanted. But soon enough...

She'd have to come to me.

I let out a slow breath, rolling my shoulders as I turned back to our fathers. My father stood with his usual composed expression, but I didn't miss the way his lips twitched in mild amusement. He had seen it—seen the way I baited her, how she nearly cracked but masked it just in time.

"She's got fire," he mused, watching her disappear into the crowd. I smirked. "That's an understatement." Mahendra  Singhania chuckled. "I see why you find this... entertaining."

Entertaining? No, this was war. And Avni Rajput was the most formidable opponent I had encountered in a long time.

I turned to Avni's father, who still wore that carefully neutral expression—the same one I had seen at countless business meetings when stakes were high. He wasn't just a man who built an empire—he was a strategist.

And yet, his biggest mistake was thinking he could keep this hidden from his own daughter.  "She'll find out, you know," I said casually, adjusting the cuff of my kurta .  His jaw tightened, but his face remained composed. "Not today." I smirked. "No, but soon."

Avni Rajput wasn't the kind of woman who let things go. She wasn't someone who accepted secrets—not when they involved her.

It was only a matter of time before she came knocking for answers. And I'd be waiting.

The Haldi ceremony continued in full swing, but my focus was elsewhere. My father had long since moved on to discussing business deals with influential guests, and I had allowed myself a moment of distance from the crowd.

I leaned against the railing of the Rajput estate's expansive balcony, overlooking the city lights in the distance. The faint sounds of music and laughter carried through the air, but my mind was focused on only one thing.

Her.

Avni had spent the entire evening avoiding me. Not in an obvious way—no, that wasn't her style. She was far too calculated for that. Instead, she had subtly ensured that our paths never crossed again after our earlier encounter.

Just then, I caught a glimpse of gold in the corner of my vision.

Avni.

She stepped onto the opposite end of the balcony, unaware of my presence. Her face was unreadable, her fingers lightly tracing the carved wooden railing as she stared out into the distance.

I could see it—the gears turning in her mind, the weight of a truth she was trying to grasp.  I could have walked away. Could have let her be.  But where was the fun in that?

I took a slow step forward. "Careful, Rajput. You look like you're thinking too much. That can be dangerous."  She tensed slightly before turning to me, her expression instantly shifting to something unreadable.

"I didn't realize you were still here," she said coolly. I smirked, stepping closer. "Disappointed?"  Her lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "More like uninterested."

Ah. There it was. That sharp tongue, that unshaken confidence.

I leaned against the railing beside her, lowering my voice just enough to challenge her. "You weren't so uninterested earlier." Her eyes snapped to mine, a flicker of irritation crossing her face. "Oh, please. Don't flatter yourself, Mr Singhania."

I chuckled. "I don't need to. You make it too easy." She exhaled sharply, clearly debating whether to engage further or walk away. But she stayed.  Which meant I had already won.  For now.

"So tell me," I mused, tilting my head. "How long before you start asking questions?"  She stilled for a fraction of a second before masking it. "Questions about what?"  I gave her a knowing look. "You already know."

Her jaw tightened, but she didn't deny it. Good. That meant she was already on the path I needed her to be.

She was beginning to wonder. And soon?  She'd come looking for answers.

And when she did...  I'd make sure she came to me first.

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Longest chapter till now.......

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