There was something about Avni's anger that was downright addictive.
Maybe it was the way her entire body tensed as if restraining herself from causing actual destruction. Or the way her eyes-sharp, deadly-locked onto me like I was her personal target.
Her smile didn't falter, but I could see the way her fingers curled into her palm, nails digging into her own skin. She was holding herself back. For now.
"Tell me something, Mr Singhania" Her voice was sickeningly sweet, but her eyes? They were cold. Calculating. "Did you enjoy it?" I raised a brow, taking another sip of my drink. "Enjoy what, exactly?"
She let out a humorless chuckle. "Sitting back and watching while I made a fool of myself? While I walked around clueless, not knowing that my life was being traded behind my back?" I hummed in thought, watching her with amusement. "I wouldn't call it clueless, Avni. I'd say you were simply... uninformed."
That did it.
Her carefully controlled composure cracked, just slightly, but I caught it. The way her jaw tightened, the way she inhaled sharply through her nose-God, it was enticing. She was barely keeping herself together. And I was pushing her toward the edge.
"Uninformed?" she repeated, her voice now carrying the unmistakable edge of fury. I tilted my head, smirking. "Would you have handled it any differently if you knew beforehand?"
She opened her mouth to argue-because of course she would-but she hesitated. And I knew I had her.
"I would've fought," she finally said, voice quieter but no less firm. "I would've done something to stop it."
I let out a slow breath, stepping closer, invading the space she so desperately wanted to keep between us. "And what makes you think you still can?"
She squared her shoulders, refusing to back down. "Because I'm not yours to claim, Mr Singhania."
I chuckled, low and deep, setting my drink down on the bar behind me. Then, with slow, deliberate movements, I leaned in until my lips were barely a breath away from her ear.
"You say that now," I murmured, "but let's see how long it takes before you realize you've already lost." She shivered. For a fraction of a second-so brief that anyone else would've missed it-her body reacted. And I knew.
I knew that despite her protests, despite her anger, despite it all-there was something there. A pull. A friction that neither of us could ignore.
She quickly took a step back, shaking her head as if trying to snap herself out of whatever moment we had just shared. "You're delusional if you think I'll ever accept this marriage." I smirked. "Then by all means, fight it, sweetheart."
Her eyes flashed dangerously. "Don't call me that." "I'll call you whatever I want." i said smirking.
Her nails dug into her palm again, her restraint thinning by the second. "I despise you." "Then you're going to hate being my wife," I replied smoothly. Her breath hitched. "Not if I end this before it even starts."
I exhaled a laugh. "Oh, Ms Rajput. You still don't get it, do you?" I leaned forward slightly, watching the irritation flicker across her face. "You can't end this. This deal was sealed long before either of us had a say in it. You can scream, fight, throw all the tantrums you want, but in the end..." I tilted my head, my smirk widening. "You will be mine."
That did it.
She reached for the nearest glass of water on the bar, and before I could react, she threw it straight at me. This girl have some serious obsession with throwing water on my face.
The cold liquid hit my face and soaked the front of my expensive suit designed for this sangeet, dripping from my hair onto the collar of my shirt. Gasps echoed around us, the chatter in the background dying instantly.
I stood there, letting the water slide down my skin, my expression unreadable as I wiped my face with the back of my hand.
Avni, however, didn't look even the slightest bit guilty.
If anything...
She looked satisfied.
And fuck, if that wasn't the most frustratingly attractive thing about her.
"I guess you needed to cool off," she said, her voice laced with fake sympathy. I licked the water off my lips, letting the tension stretch between us before finally responding. "Oh, Avni," I said, my voice smooth, almost lazy. "Didn't I say last time to try red wine?."
Her confidence faltered for just a second. I smiled.
I am actually liking her attitude now. I chuckle to myself thinking about her stubborn face. This is going to be fun.
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