by M. V. Kasi
He smiled at her. “If I ignored you, then you wouldn’t be invited to this exclusive party, would you?”
She pouted, trying to draw eyes to her ridiculously enlarged lips. “You didn’t invite me, Shiv. I came here with someone else.”
Before he could respond, she plastered herself against him. “But don’t worry. I ditched him the moment I stepped inside. So, I’m yours for the entire evening.” She then stood on her toes to whisper into his ear. “When can we slip away for a quickie?” she asked seductively.
A bolt of irritation passed through Shiv while he held the woman’s waist and tried to pry her overly skinny body off of him. “Unfortunately, I can’t just slip away. I’m hosting the party to celebrate Anirudh’s wedding.”
The woman giggled. “Nice joke. If I remember correctly, it was at my house party that you talked me and also a friend of mine into getting away and spending a memorable night with you.”
Shit. He still couldn’t recall her name. Luckily, he didn’t have to prolong the conversation when the door to the elevator opened and the newlywed couple stepped out.
“There they are, finally,” he said. He extracted himself from the clinging and giggling woman and went to the newlyweds.
It had been over a week since the wedding had taken place. Shiv noticed that Anirudh as usual had a poker face while his new bride looked terribly nervous. Suddenly, Shiv felt a spark of protectiveness towards her. Although he knew Anirudh’s wife would not be harmed in any way, he also knew she was genuinely terrified.
One hour into the party, the poor woman even gulped down expensive alcohol to get through the evening.
“That isn’t how you are supposed to enjoy a hundred-year-old single malt scotch, Aditi.” He grinned at her reassuringly before holding out his hand to her. “Since your husband hasn’t bothered to ask you yet, would you like to dance?”
She blinked at him nervously. Shiv was almost certain she would refuse, but surprisingly, with a small smile, she placed her hand in his. “Yes, I would love to dance.”
Shiv was amused. He supposed she thought he was the lesser of the devils when compared to her husband. He took her down to the dance floor.
He danced with her with the sole purpose of making her feel at ease. She was genuinely sweet, and he could see why Anirudh was so taken in with her. Her easy laughter made him forget his restlessness for a few moments.
“Excuse me,” a dry voice cut in. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to dance with my wife.”
Shiv laughed. Although the bond Anirudh and he shared made them trust each other with their lives, it was obvious that his friend was quite possessive about his wife.
“Don’t worry, man. I’m not trying to steal her away. Although technically, you stole her away from me.” He winked at Aditi and was amused by her confused look.
He stepped away, letting his friend dance with his new bride. But immediately, he was surrounded by available and not-so-available women.
He picked a woman to dance with even as the feeling of boredom hit him again. The strange feeling of fakeness as though everything around him wasn’t making sense began to take over.
Suddenly, the image of a deceptively innocent face with pouty lips flashed in his mind.
Everything with Sunaina Bhasin had felt real. He had felt as alive in her company as he did when he dealt and won dangerous negotiations.
For the hundredth time, he wondered yet again if turning down the alliance with Bhasin was a good idea since it would have made his goal much easier. But then, he immediately concluded it was a good decision to reject the alliance.
He might feel the most alive he felt in Sunaina Bhasin’s company, but she was the distraction he couldn’t afford. Instead of hunting down his Vicktor, he would want to be constantly buried deep into the woman who had the power to seduce his body and mind.
He sucked in his breath at the hard arousal. He realized that the woman he was dancing with was grinding against him. Slowly, he also realized that he chose that particular woman to dance with because she had long hair and a curvy body with pouty lips. In the dim lighting of the club, the woman looked like the one who had been haunting his dreams.
Fuck.
“Want to go up?” the woman asked huskily with a seductive look.
Everything inside him rebelled, but he forced a smile. “Lead the way, babe.”
He refused to be distracted with the thoughts of a woman whom he had to let go. And someone once said the best way to get over one woman was to be on top of another one.
There was not much privacy because of the crowded party, so he took the woman into an empty closet. Not the most comfortable place, but the woman didn’t seem to mind. She was about to say something, but he put his finger on her lips. He didn’t want to listen to her voice and break the make-believe spell.
“You need to be quiet, babe.”
There was excitement in the woman’s eyes as she smiled at him seductively. He realized how fucked-up the whole situation was. He had brought the woman to the closet because with barely enough lighting, the woman could pass off as the one he actually wanted and fantasized about.
He kissed the woman, but immediately the taste of the cherry-flavored lipstick overwhelmed him and turned him off. And the lips felt wrong. They were too thick as they were artificially filled with collagen. What he wanted was pouty lips that tasted and felt natural.
Letting out an annoyed breath at the memory, and determined to see his current task through, he pulled the woman’s dress down. She had huge, round breasts. The heavy cleavage on display was not held up by a bra, which meant they were artificially enhanced. He held one heavy breast and squeezed it.
The woman made loud moaning noises. “Yes! Oh God, Shiv. Yes!”
He closed his eyes, knowing they were fake noises. The heavy silicon globes would barely make her feel anything. And the feel of the woman’s fake breasts were too hard and entirely unnatural which killed his arousal. He knew what heavy yet soft and natural breasts felt like. He had felt them barely two weeks ago.
Frustrated, he stepped away. “Straighten up your dress.”
The woman looked shocked. “Why? What happened?”
“I remembered something. I have to go.”
She looked upset. “Come on. It’ll only take us a few minutes. I promise I’ll make it worth it. I suck like a pro.” She put her hand on him and rubbed. The friction against the cloth made him hard again.
He knew he could let the woman do what she was suggesting. Hell, he had allowed countless women to do the same when he wasn’t in the mood. He could even close his eyes and imagine it was Sunaina Bhasin’s pouty lips around his hard arousal while he drove into a tight, wet mouth.
But his mind rebelled again. His mind knew the woman in front of him was not the woman he wanted. At the moment, it didn’t want to settle for anything less.
“Sorry, babe. Maybe some other time.”
He didn’t wait to hear the woman’s reaction. Opening the closet door, he slipped out.
He was furious, and it was bloody frustrating. He headed straight to the bar area and downed two shots before holding a drink in his hands and staring broodily at the crowd dancing below.
“You know it’s quite interesting.”
Shiv didn’t have to turn to know it was Vijay.
“What is?”
“There are two angry women at the party who feel let down by you.”
Shiv didn’t have to ask what Vijay meant. He also knew anything he says would come off as defensive, and yet he couldn’t let the topic go. He turned to look at Vijay. “I simply don’t find anyone at the party interesting enough. There’s nothing more to it.”
Vijay gave him a knowing smile. People in their circles rightfully pegged Shiv as a powerful playboy who always had the attention of the most sought-out women, which he thoroughly enjoyed in every possible way. So it did come off as odd that he was brushing off women hitting on him during the party.
“By the way, sec
urity just informed me that Manu Solanki is at the party with his friends.”
Shiv frowned. The name vaguely rang a bell. There was a politician named Solanki. Slowly, his alcohol-infused mind associated the name to the scandal that shook the nation a couple of years ago. Solanki’s son was arrested for violating and murdering two teenage girls.
“How did that fucker get out of jail? And what the hell is he doing here? I don’t recall inviting him.”
“He’s here with an invited guest,” Vijay replied.
“Call security and have him thrown out. I don’t want the fucker in our club. Blacklist him and anyone associated with him.”
Vijay nodded. “Yes. I already sent a message to security.” Vijay paused and looked at him closely. “Looks like you haven’t heard because you were travelling.”
“Heard what?” He had been away to Russia for almost a week, but he did have his team updating him with what was happening.
Vijay watched him closely. “Bhasin has made a secret alliance with Solanki. Sunaina Bhasin will marry Solanki’s son in a month.”
Shiv felt rage erupt inside him, but he tried not to show any reaction to Vijay’s words. “That’s not really a beneficial alliance. Bhasin is more powerful than Solanki.”
“True, but in return, Solanki apparently promised complete majority in the house for Bhasin when the time comes.”
Shiv fell quiet as he tried to imagine Naina with that animal.
“The glass might break.”
Shiv dragged his attention back to Vijay.
“You are gripping the glass way too hard,” Vijay said helpfully. “It might break.”
Shiv didn’t care. In fact, he wanted to smash the fucking glass on the floor until it broke into pieces.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. He kept the glass on the bar counter and stood up to leave.
“Where are you going?” Vijay asked.
“I’m going to check to see how security is handling Solanki. I’m sure he’s giving them trouble.”
“Shiv…”
Shiv didn’t wait for Vijay to finish his warning. He strode with purpose towards the dance floor.
He knew how Manu Solanki looked. Hell, everyone in the country knew how the bloody fucker looked. He was a fucking rapist. How did Bhasin even consider tying Naina to that piece of shit?
Like Shiv had predicted, security was standing helplessly trying to get Solanki to leave as the man threatened them. Luckily, they were standing behind the dance floor near one of the exits, so there was enough privacy from the crowd.
Under normal circumstances, security would pick up an unruly customer and throw them out, but since this was a private party and everyone was invited by the club owners, they were hesitant.
The club’s head of security saw him. “Shiv… we are trying to—”
“That’s okay. Let me handle it.”
A burning feeling filled him as he went closer to Solanki.
Solanki sneered. “Who the fuck are you?”
“I own this club. Now get the hell out.”
The other man laughed. “Do you know who I am? I am—” Before he could finish, Shiv threw a punch.
Blood spurted out of Solanki’s nose. “What the fuck—”
The burning feeling Shiv felt erupted and spilled over. He didn’t pause. He threw a few more punches on the bastard’s face before holding his collar and dragging him towards the room which was used by the security personal.
“Don’t let anyone in,” he ordered the security outside.
Just when the door shut behind them, Shiv felt a searing pain in his arm. The bastard had cut him using a knife.
Solanki’s face looked like a bloody pulp. “I will kill you!” the man roared. He raised the knife again and plunged it towards Shiv’s chest.
Shiv caught the bastard’s hand and twisted it. And then, using brute force, he made the bastard stab himself in his neck. “This is for the innocent girls you brutalized.”
He pulled the knife out and made the bastard stab himself even harder. “This is for the woman you are never going to touch, let alone marry.”
Blood spurted out along with gurgling noises. It was not that big of a knife, but it was sharp enough to have severed the jugular.
Shiv dropped his hand and stepped back.
The door burst open. It was Vijay along with Anirudh. Vijay didn’t look surprised as he calmly took in the bloody sight.
But Anirudh was angry. “What the fuck, Shiv!”
Anirudh didn’t usually react to the most shocking of sights. Shiv realized why his friend reacted right then. Anirudh was more upset than angry. Anirudh’s messy hair and lipstick stains on his shirt made it obvious he had been with his wife when he must have been interrupted.
Shiv smiled darkly. “Sorry for spoiling your romantic night, but that animal deserved it, and he was more or less begging for it.”
Anirudh looked frustrated. “I know he was an animal. But did you have to kill him tonight when there are so many damn witnesses?”
Shiv shrugged. “I’ll take care of it. I’ve asked the security to get the guys who were with Solanki.”
Anirudh took in a deep breath, and then he appeared calm within seconds. “All right,” he said. “Solanki has another son. We can threaten him with dire consequences, and he’ll shut his mouth.”
Like always, the three of them got into damage-control mode immediately after a crisis.
Vijay looked at Shiv. “It’s not Solanki we should worry about. Bhasin is going to be pissed his future son-in-law was killed.”
Anirudh frowned, and then comprehension dawned. He looked at Shiv with a small, amused smile. “Ah, I see.”
Shiv gritted his teeth. “I killed the bastard because he was causing a scene and also because he deserved it.”
Vijay shook his head with a small, knowing smile too.
Shiv felt a spike of irritation at their amusement. “Let’s get rid of the body from the club first. I’ll call our men to come from the back. We should let the party go on.”
Anirudh nodded. “I’ll bring you a change of clothes.” Anirudh’s penthouse was on top of the high-rise building where the club was situated.
Soon, the room was cleared of the body and traces of blood. Shiv showered in the office room and changed into a fresh set of clothes that Anirudh had brought.
He returned to the party. People were drunk enough not to have observed that the hosts and the newlywed couple were missing for nearly a couple of hours.
Feeling much lighter and satisfied that Sunaina Bhasin was no longer engaged, Shiv partied until dawn.
CHAPTER 1 7
Naina was seated at the breakfast table when she heard her father thundering on the phone. “What the bloody hell do you mean!”
She was brought back to her father’s house three days ago where she spent her time feeling miserable and helpless. She didn’t know how to stop the marriage. Her only chance was to try and convince Manu Solanki not to marry her, but the very thought of speaking or being in the presence of that man churned her stomach.
“Goddammit!” her father shouted after ending the call.
“What happened?” Monica asked.
“Solanki’s son was found dead. Apparently, he went to the same farmhouse where he killed the two girls and simply blew his brains out. He even wrote a bloody letter apologizing to the victims and their families.”
Naina sucked in her breath with shock.
“What?” Monica frowned. “That sounds so unlikely.”
Naina’s father was frustrated. “Tell that to stupid Solanki who thinks it’s true.”
Monica stared at Naina. “Solanki can’t just break the alliance. What about Solanki’s other son?”
“He is a damn schoolboy. I think he is only fifteen or something.”
“So? There will only be five years of gap. At fifteen, most boys are already men.” Monica had a seductive smile.
Naina felt the contents of her stomach
churn at the conversation. She stood up to leave.
“Where are you going?” her father demanded.
“I’m going to pack and return to university.”
Her father looked angry, but Naina didn’t care. She walked while her father and stepmother continued to conspire.
Their voices faded as Naina reached her room and shut the door. She closed her eyes as relief coursed through her. Manu Solanki was dead.
She felt guilty because she was relieved at someone’s death, especially when it appeared suspicious. But she somehow couldn’t feel sad at the death of a man like that. He deserved it. Although she wished that the law had taken its course.
She let out a sigh. She knew her relief would be short-lived. Sooner or later, her father and stepmother would come up with another disgusting alliance for her. Yet again, she would be left defenseless. The only silver lining was that she was leaving for her university the next day, and she wouldn’t be returning home for another couple of months.
She sat on her bed and closed her eyes tiredly when an image of a handsome man’s face with dimples flashed in her mind. She didn’t even know his last name, but he had been haunting her dreams. She relived their kiss again and again. She also had other strange dreams starring him. They were confusing and embarrassing at times.
It was entirely crazy, but despite not knowing much about him, she liked him. He was the first and only man towards whom she felt a strong, undeniable pull.
Did he try to reach her again when she was gone? There was no way for her to know. She wondered if she should go to the club and meet him. Foolishly, her heart began to beat faster in excitement at that thought.
The next time I’m here, I’m going to seek him out.
For the first time, she was waiting to return to her father’s home.
CHAPTER 1 8
“Mr. Jaipal, we are willing to sell these weapons to you at half the price. Whatever it takes, please push our shipment into your warehouses as soon as possible.”
Shiv sat back smiling at the desperate man. “One third.”
“Mr. Jaipal. That is too low—”
