Manik stirred awake, feeling a pleasant heaviness on his chest-Naina's head was resting there. He watched her for a moment, then gently shook his head, as if clearing a distraction. He carefully lifted her head and placed it on the pillow before heading to the bathroom. Under the shower, he washed himself, his mind replaying the tumultuous, wild intimacy of the previous night.
Meanwhile, Naina woke up feeling utterly exhausted. The brutal reality of the last night washed over her, and she was instantly overcome with tears and raw emotion. Why did her uncle betray her? Why had her life taken such a cruel turn? And why was Manik punishing her like this? A part of her soul was quietly beginning to die, leaving her numb and silent. She attempted to get up, wincing from the acute pain in her back and the soreness of her core.
As she tried to sit up, Manik emerged from the bathroom, dressed only in a towel wrapped around his waist. Naina's eyes flew to him, then quickly darted down as she realized her state. She tried to stand. Manik watched her, but said nothing, walking straight into the dressing room. Naina quickly went into the bathroom to clean herself, tears streaming down her face the entire time.
She came out wrapped in a bath robe just as Manik exited his dressing room. He was fully dressed in a crisp blue suit, looking devastatingly handsome and authoritative. Naina saw him, quickly registered the need to get dressed, and hurried into the dressing room. She emerged shortly after in a simple one-piece dress and heels.
Manik glanced at her and stated, "We need to leave."
Naina wanted to ask where they were going, but before she could, Manik grabbed her hand and roughly pulled her along. They were soon in the back of his car. After a short drive, the car stopped abruptly on an unknown road. Manik turned to Naina, his eyes blazing with anger, and simply commanded, "Get out of the car."
Naina was shocked and scared by the harshness of his voice. She climbed out. Manik leaned toward the window and coldly told her, "You need to reach the office by 9 AM. It's 8:30 AM now, so you'd better start running. Don't be late."
He drove off, leaving her stranded and terrified on the unfamiliar street.
Confused and panicked, Naina started running after the car. She was already exhausted from the previous day's events, and the effort quickly left her sweating and struggling for breath. She ran continuously until she finally reached a towering skyscraper-the office building. Gasping for air, dripping with sweat, and completely spent, she stood staring at the massive structure.
Suddenly, a figure approached her.
It was Avinash, Manik's trusted Personal Manager and right-hand man. He saw her distress and immediately offered her a bottle of water. Naina snatched it and drank without thinking.
"Sir is waiting," Avinash informed her once she finished. "You will be working as Sir's Personal Secretary."
Naina was shocked, unable to grasp what was happening. She simply followed Avinash into the building. The interior was stunning, befitting a top-tier company. As Avinash led her past rows of employees, all eyes were on Naina. The women judged her simple, sweat-soaked, and body-clinging dress, while the men openly stared at her figure. Naina felt utterly humiliated and embarrassed, unable to speak.
Unbeknownst to her, Manik was watching the entire scene from his laptop in his top-floor cabin. He smiled a devilish smile. "Wifey, your punishment has just begun," he thought. "There are plenty more things you need to face."
Naina followed Avinash silently as her introduction as the new Personal Secretary was completed. The fact that Manik had forced her to run half the distance to the office burned in her mind. Tears welled up in her eyes. "No one has ever humiliated me like this in my entire life," she thought bitterly. She knew this was just the beginning.
A few moments later, Naina and Avinash arrived at Manik's cabin via the elevator. They stood outside, waiting for his permission to enter. Manik granted it. Inside, they found Manik standing proudly by his large window, like a king, sipping wine and watching Naina with that infuriating, devilish smile.
Naina kept her head bowed, staring at the floor, refusing to meet the gaze she knew was fixed on her. Avinash took his leave after getting permission from Manik. Now, only Manik and Naina remained in the vast cabin.