Saturday morning, the day after the deal sign-off...
Arjun's apartment was flooded with sunlight, but his mind was still stuck in last night's shadows. Sitting on the bed with a coffee mug in hand, his body remembered every second—Riya's knee pressing close without really touching, her nails scratching his scalp, that whisper, "Khel mera hai." Sheets twisted around him were proof his body was still reacting. "Yeh woman mera control le rahi hai... aur main rok nahi pa raha," he thought, catching faint red marks on his neck half-hidden by his collar in the mirror.
His phone vibrated—Rohan calling. "Bhai, uth gaya? Kal raat kya scene tha? Documents sign hue?" Curiosity spilled from his voice.
Arjun exhaled deeply, voice rough with morning. "Haan, signed. Par... Riya ne game khela. Tease kiya, control dikhaya—light touch, knee press thigh ke paas. Phir Kabir interrupt kar gaya. Ab dimag total mess hai." He skipped the most intimate details, but Rohan understood.
Rohan laughed. "Movie lag rahi teri life, bhai! Par sun—market mein nayi baat chal rahi hai. Vikram ki company active ho gayi. Teri deal target kar sakte hain. Riya ke gangster rumors ke saath connect hai kya?"
Arjun's face hardened. "Vikram? Riya ne mixer mein rival bola tha vaguely. Ab yeh timing..." The old flashback hit—his partner's friendly smile at the boardroom table, the knife in the back disguised as signatures, the company collapsing overnight. "Phir kabhi trust nahi," he'd sworn then. With Riya, the same fear crawled back—addiction wrapped around possible poison.
"Research kar, bhai," Rohan pressed. "Forum pe nayi post dekhi—'Riya-Vikram gang war shuru?' Careful reh."
Arjun opened his laptop, typing "Riya Sharma Vikram". Shady articles popped up—old gang conflicts, business rivalries shadowed by the underworld. An anonymous leak read: "Riya's empire clean nahi, Vikram enemy number one." His stomach dropped. "Kal raat usne itna close tease kiya... yeh trap toh nahi?"
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Riya's side, penthouse gym…
Riya pounded the treadmill, sweat gleaming on her skin, black sports bra and leggings flexing over hard muscle. Kabir's call cut through the thrum of the machine. "Ma'am, Arjun ka full psych profile ready. Past betrayal se trust phobia hai—defensive, cautious, par loyal jab trust ban jaye."
Riya increased the speed, breathing steady. "Perfect. Kal raat pehla chain lag gaya—tie loose kiya, nails scratch kiye, knee tease. Wo ready hai more ke liye. Trust dheere se break karenge." She caught her reflection—eyes bright with satisfaction.
Kabir hesitated. "Ma'am, Vikram ki movement badh gayi. Arjun ki company pe cyber reconnaissance shuru. Hamari deal target hai."
Riya stopped the treadmill, wiping sweat with a towel. "Vikram ko warning bhejo mera network se. Arjun ko indirectly protect karo—wo mera territory hai ab." After a shower and a sharp outfit, she texted Arjun: "Implementation meeting 2 PM office. Urgent updates hain."
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Afternoon, Riya's office…
Arjun arrived at 1:55 PM, suit crisp but eyes tired—last night's thoughts still clinging. Riya sat at the conference table, Kabir beside her taking notes. "Arjun, baitho. Deal first phase pe update," she said, all business.
The meeting started strictly professional—supply chain timelines, budget allocations, risk assessments. But Arjun was distracted; his gaze kept catching the faint trace of her perfume on her blouse, dragging him back to that knee press and whispered control. Riya noticed every flicker, a wicked hint in her eyes
During a coffee break, they ended up alone on the balcony. The sea view stretched wide, but tension filled the space between them. Arjun spoke first, voice low. "Riya, Vikram ke baare mein batao sach. Rumors gang war ke chal rahe hain. Meri company safe hai?"
Riya sipped her coffee slowly, locking eyes with him. "Vikram mera old rival hai. Business mein shuru hua, ab personal hai. Teri company pe nazar hai uski—deal se jealous. Main handle kar rahi hoon." Her hand rested near his on the table—not touching, just close enough to tease.
Arjun's jaw tightened. "Aur tu kaise handle karegi? Underworld rumors sach hain?" The old pain rose to the surface. "Mujhe dhokha pehle bhi mila—trust toot gaya."
Riya leaned in slightly, fingers almost brushing his. "Main bhi scars chhupati hoon. Vikram threat hai, par mera network strong hai. Trust kar—dheere dheere." The words echoed last night's slow control—this time aimed at his fears, not just his body.
Kabir appeared at the door. "Ma'am, call aaya urgent." The mood snapped back to business. The meeting resumed, but now an extra layer lay between them—trust being tested from both sides.
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Evening, Arjun's place…
Rohan called again. "Vikram confirmed threat. Riya pe doubt mat kar, par proof maang."
Arjun stared into the mirror; the marks on his neck were fading, but the craving wasn't. "Dangerous hai... par rok nahi pa raha," he admitted to himself.
Riya's penthouse…
Kabir reported, "Vikram ko warning pahunch gaya. Next move wait."
Riya poured wine, catching her own smirk in the glass and mirror both. "Arjun mera ban raha hai. Chains tight ho rahe hain." Control and protection were tangling into the same game.
End Questions:
• Kya Vikram ka attack Arjun ko Riya se door kar dega?
• Riya ka network sach mein kya power rakhta hai?
• Trust test ke baad unka next personal moment kab aayega?
To Be Continued...