Page 59 of One Hellish Desire

She gives me a pained look and then fakes a smile again.

“Let me see what I can do, Ma’am.”

VIKRAM

I'm at Leela Mahal, my pride and joy, but today it feels more like a battlefield. My father has arranged a meeting with officials to discuss Devki Estate, and I'm uneasy about the whole situation.

I reach one of the VIP rooms where the meeting is arranged.

“There he is,” Dad smiles as I join the group. “Gentlemen, meet my son and the owner of this place, Vikram Singh Grover.”

I quickly shake hands, waiting for Dad to explain who these people are.

“Vikram, we’re sorted with the Devki Estate matter. We don’t need to bother anymore. These are some reputed people who can help us sort that land issue.”

My body burns. What the hell does that mean? Who are these people, and what has Dad arranged? I get the introductions—local politician, police commissioner, social reformers, government officials, and Dad’s lawyer. When did Dad arrange all this without involving me? How will these people help us get hold of Devki Estate? And most importantly, am I ready to support this?

“Sir,” the manager of Leela Mahal intrudes, whispering in my ear. “Maahi Awasthi is here to meet you. She says its urgent.”

Cub is here? Now? Damn. I give her my instructions, and once she leaves, I turn back to the group.

“I’ll be right back, gentlemen.”

Dad stops me.

“You can’t go. We have something important to discuss.”

“I have something more important to tackle right now. I’ll be back.”

I don’t want Dad to know why I’m leaving. I head to another VIP room on the same floor where I met Maahi last time. I wait at the door for my manager to escort Maahi inside. I don’t like the idea of Maahi coming here uninformed. This place isn’t for her, especially not alone.

Finally, I see Maahi. She’s in a simple yellow salwar with multiple doris at the back, the one that makes my fingers lose control. I’m in a three-piece suit, and seeing the woman I’m deeply attracted to in traditional attire inside my VIP club doesn’t embarrass me. I like her in anything she wears. The taste of her glossy strawberry lip-gloss is still on my lips from last night’s party, and I suddenly feel the urge to taste it again. I’d buy her dozens of those lip glosses if she promises to wear them for me. My heart pounds as she gets closer.

Maahi gives me a dark, unreadable look as she reaches me. My manager leaves, and I open the VIP room door, letting Maahi in first. I’m about to follow when my eyes meet Dad’s. He’s watching me, suspicious of my loyalties. But right now, I need to be with Maahi. I enter the room behind her and shut the door.

“You can’t show up here uninvited,” I snap. I didn’t want to yell, but the frustration from my father and what was happening before Maahi showed up makes me do it.

She turns and throws the papers in my face. They land at my feet.

“How dare you?” I bark, stepping closer, but she moves back.

“Why? Only you have the right to dare others?”

“Did you come here to ask me that?”

“No. I came to tell you that I’m not going to be your puppet. Whatever you’ve done to snatch Devki Estate, I won’t sit quietly and let you win.”

She’s mistaken. I haven’t done anything to snatch Devki Estate from her, though that has been my motive since the beginning.

“You brought a stay order on Devki Estate?” she shouts.

Her words make me freeze. A stay order? I know exactly what that means—it will halt Maahi's plans to start any construction on the estate until the legal dispute over ownership is resolved. These court proceedings can drag on, jeopardizing her plans to build an old age home. I know who could be behind this—Dad. I'm sure it's his doing. Before I can explain to Maahi, she grabs my collar. It's intimidating to have her this close, her body burning with rage while mine burns with desire.

“You intruded in my life, I tolerated. You touched me, kissed me, and I ignored it, but this…” she groans. “Never! Devki Estate is my soul, and I won’t let you snatch it.”

I’m mad at her words but pained by her agony, thinking it’s all my doing.

“Did you just say you ignored my kiss?”

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