Chapter 23: ❗ 22 ❗

The chase had been amusing.

Watching Avni twist and turn her way through the venue, pretending she wasn't deliberately avoiding me, had almost been cute.

Now, the game had reached its peak.

And I had finally cornered my prey.

"You've been avoiding me all night." I let my voice drop just a little, just enough to tease, to provoke. "I'm almost offended." Avni stiffened instantly, her grip tightening around the glass in her hand.

I smirked.  So predictable.

She had spent the entire night dodging me like a criminal on the run, yet the moment she was forced to face me, she was all sharp edges and clenched fists.

"You have something to say, sweetheart?" I added, watching her carefully.  Her jaw locked. "I told you not to call me that." "I will call you whatever i want darling"

She inhaled sharply, taking a step back. But I wasn't about to let her run again. Not this time.

I stepped forward, closing the distance between us in one smooth motion. Not touching her, not trapping her—just enough to make sure she felt my presence.

She hated that.

I could tell by the way her breath hitched, by the way her fingers twitched like she was itching to throw something at me again.

"You really thought you could ignore me all night?" I asked, tilting my head slightly. "Come on, Avni. We both know that's impossible."  Her lips parted, probably to throw some sharp retort at me, but she caught herself. Instead, she let out a bitter laugh.

"You're seriously that full of yourself?" she scoffed, shaking her head. "Not everything revolves around you, Mr Singhania."  "Really?" I leaned in just a fraction more. "Then why have you been running from me all night?"

Her breath hitched.  Got you.

She knew she had no response to that, and for a second—just a second—she looked almost rattled.  Then, like clockwork, her mask was back up. Her chin lifted, her eyes turning to steel.

"I was not running," she gritted out. "Right. And I'm a saint."

Her glare could have burned a hole through my skull. I chuckled, shaking my head as I took a sip from my drink. "You're exhausting, you know that?"  She crossed her arms. "Oh, I'm exhausting?"

"Yes, Avni." I exhaled dramatically. "You're like a damn hurricane—always storming in, causing chaos, and then pretending like it's not your fault."  Her nostrils flared. "You are the one who keeps showing up where you're not needed."

I raised a brow. "Not needed?"  She hesitated. Just for a second.  Then she turned her face away, muttering, "Whatever. I'm done talking to you."

I smirked. "Oh, sweetheart, I don't think you are."  Her eyes snapped back to mine, a warning burning in them. But I didn't stop.

"You see," I continued, my tone laced with amusement, "you can walk away from this conversation. You can spend the rest of the night pretending like I don't exist. Hell, you can even throw another drink at me if it makes you feel better."

She swallowed.

"But deep down, we both know," I murmured, "I am in your head."   Her lips parted, but no words came out.

I watched, fascinated, as she struggled to form a response.

Silence.

I had rendered Avni Rajput speechless.

And damn, was it satisfying.

She sucked in a breath, visibly collecting herself, before finally speaking.  "You're insufferable."  I grinned. "And yet, you're still standing here."

She let out a sharp breath, shaking her head as if trying to physically rid herself of my existence.  Then, without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away.

This time, I let her go.

Because after some days she has to come to me........forever !

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