Chapter 10: ❗ 9 ❗

I wasn't waiting for her.

Let's get that straight.

I had a meeting in this building, a casual conversation with a potential investor who was eager to throw money into my latest project.

A boring discussion, really. The kind where I barely had to listen, just nod at the right moments and let my reputation do most of the work.

I had wrapped things up quicker than expected, and rather than leave immediately, I leaned against my car, scrolling through my phone, debating whether I had the patience to deal with my next appointment.

And then, as if the universe had a flair for dramatic timing—she walked out.

Avni Rajput.

I noticed her before she noticed me.

Her pace was quick, her shoulders tense, her expression one of absolute focus. She was in work mode, clearly caught up in whatever numbers or negotiations had occupied her mind all day. And yet, even in that state, she had this presence.

She had no idea I was watching her. No idea how the sunlight caught the sharp lines of her face, how strands of her hair slipped loose from her ponytail, how her heels clicked against the pavement with a determination that was both frustrating and... intriguing.

Then, just when I thought I'd let her pass by, her gaze lifted. And just like that, she saw me.

For a second, she froze. It was brief, but I caught it. Then, like clockwork, I watched as her expression shifted—cool, composed, a mask of indifference settling into place.

Impressive.

I pushed off the car, sliding my phone into my pocket, and let a smirk tug at my lips. "Ms Rajput," I said, watching her carefully. "You look like you've seen a ghost." She exhaled, her grip on her purse tightening. "Disappointed?" "Not at all," I replied, taking my time with my words. "In fact, I'd say it's the highlight of my day."

She was already annoyed. I could see it in the way her posture stiffened, in the sharpness of her tone. But instead of staying and indulging in our usual back-and-forth, she turned and walked away.

Interesting.

I fell into step beside her, because why not?

"Where's the fire?" I asked, my tone deliberately casual. She shot me a look. "You don't take hints, do you?" "I take them," I admitted, shrugging. "I just don't always listen."  She let out a deep sigh, clearly running low on patience. "What do you want, Mr Singhania?"

Straight to the point. I liked that about her. I glanced at her, noting the way her brows furrowed, the way she was already calculating the fastest way to escape this conversation.

While we were talking , okay almost trying to talk someone brushed past me—a man in a rush, probably not paying attention. And normally, I wouldn't have cared. But today? Today, I was already in a mood, and it irritated me more than it should have.

"Watch where you're going," I snapped before I could stop myself. The guy—mid-30s, looking like he had enough stress in his life already—stammered an apology, clearly caught off guard. "I—I didn't mean to—" "I don't care what you meant," I cut him off, my tone sharp. "Next time, don't be careless."

It was a simple warning, nothing dramatic, nothing worth a second thought. But Avni?

"That's enough." I turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "Excuse me?" She ignored me completely and looked at the guy. "You don't have to stand here and take this. It was an accident. You apologized. Move on."

The man hesitated for a second before nodding and rushing away like he'd been given permission to leave.  "That was unnecessary."

I tilted my head slightly, studying her. "Since when do you care about how I talk to people?" "Since you decided to act like a privileged, rude-  " "Atleast I am not all over media" i cut her.

She shook her head. "You're not untouchable, Mr Singhania. You act like the world owes you something, but one day, you're going to realize it doesn't."

I looked at her then, really looked at her.

Her eyes burned with frustration, with the kind of anger that wasn't just about me but about everything I represented.

And yet, underneath all of that, there was something else. She cared. Not about me, necessarily, but about the way people were treated, about the things that went unnoticed by those who thought the  world was theirs to control.

That's what made her Avni Rajput.

I let the silence stretch before I finally let my lips curve into a smirk. "You think you know me that well, huh?"  Her glare intensified. "I don't need to know you.

She let out an irritated groan and turned to leave. I watched her walk away, my smirk widening. "See you around, Ms Rajput."

She didn't respond. Didn't even look back. She didn't respond. Didn't even look back.

And for some reason, watching her disappear down the street, I couldn't help but think—

This wasn't over.

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