chapter 18

Sorry for updating The same Chapter again

The day had stretched longer than Arjun anticipated, and now, he found himself standing in Elias Matthews' luxurious mansion. The grandeur of the place was overwhelming, with its high ceilings, tasteful décor, and an aura of understated elegance that screamed wealth and power. Arjun felt a bit out of place, but the warmth of Grace Matthews and Lucas’s antics during dinner had eased his nerves—slightly.

Still, what unsettled him most wasn’t the house, or even the fact that he was staying here for the night. It was Elias. The man had barely taken his eyes off Arjun all evening, his gaze heavy and piercing, like he was stripping him bare with every glance.

Now, with dinner over and the family dispersing for the night, Arjun was left alone with Elias in the living room. The air between them felt charged, the silence crackling with unspoken tension.

Elias leaned casually against the armrest of a sofa, his hands in his pockets, his sharp eyes fixed on Arjun. “You’ve been avoiding me,” he said finally, his voice low and firm.

Arjun’s heart stuttered. “I haven’t—”

Elias raised an eyebrow, cutting him off. “Don’t lie to me, Arjun. You slip away the moment I try to talk to you.”

“I didn’t mean to—” Arjun stammered, but Elias didn’t let him finish.

“You did,” Elias said, his tone laced with authority. He straightened, taking a step closer. “But it doesn’t matter now. You’re here, and I’m not letting you slip away again. Let me show you around the house.”

Arjun hesitated. “I’m fine. I don’t need—”

Elias smirked, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “I insist. You wouldn’t want to get lost in a place like this.”

With no room to argue, Arjun nodded and followed Elias through the sprawling hallways. Every step they took seemed to amplify the tension between them, the silence thickening.

Eventually, they reached the end of a hallway. Elias pushed open a large double door and stepped aside. “And this,” he said, motioning for Arjun to enter, “is my room.”

Arjun froze. “Your... room?”

“Go on,” Elias said, his smirk deepening. “I don’t bite. Unless, of course, you ask me to.”

Arjun’s cheeks flamed, but he stepped inside, his eyes widening as he took in the space. The room was massive, with sleek black and gold accents that screamed sophistication. But what caught his attention—and made his heart race—was the ceiling.

A massive mirror stretched across the space above the bed, reflecting every inch of the room below.

Elias, who had been watching Arjun intently, chuckled softly. “Ah, I see you’ve noticed the mirror.”

Arjun’s mouth went dry. “I—it’s—”

Elias stepped closer, his voice dropping an octave. “Do you like it?”

Arjun’s gaze darted to Elias, then back to the mirror. “I wasn’t—I wasn’t thinking anything,” he stammered, his face burning.

Elias’s smirk grew, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Your face says otherwise, Arjun. Tell me, what exactly were you imagining?”

“I wasn’t imagining anything!” Arjun blurted, taking a step back, only to bump into the bed.

Elias moved closer, his presence overwhelming. “Liar,” he said softly, his voice almost a whisper. “You’re far too easy to read.”

Arjun’s breath hitched as Elias reached out, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from Arjun’s forehead. The touch was light, but it sent shivers down Arjun’s spine.

“I wonder,” Elias murmured, his gaze dropping to Arjun’s lips, “what it would take to make those thoughts of yours a reality.”

Arjun’s heart pounded so loudly he was sure Elias could hear it. “Elias, I—”

“Say my name again,” Elias interrupted, his voice velvety and low.

Arjun swallowed hard. “E-Elias.”

Elias smirked, satisfied. “Good. I like the way it sounds coming from you.”

The air between them grew heavier, the tension almost unbearable. Elias leaned in slightly, his lips hovering dangerously close to Arjun’s ear.

“You’re blushing,” Elias noted, his tone teasing. “What’s going through that pretty little head of yours, Arjun?”

“Nothing!” Arjun said quickly, his voice a pitch too high. He tried to step away, but Elias caught his wrist gently, holding him in place.

“You’re a terrible liar,” Elias said, his thumb brushing lightly against Arjun’s skin. “But I’ll let it slide. For now.”

Arjun’s knees felt weak, and he was sure he would have melted into a puddle if not for the sudden interruption.

“Elias, are you—”

Sophia’s voice cut through the charged moment, and Arjun jumped, pulling his hand free as he turned to face her. She stood in the doorway, her eyes wide with surprise.

Sophia blinked, her gaze darting between Elias and Arjun. “You let someone into your room?” she asked, her tone incredulous. “You never let anyone in here.”

Elias straightened, his expression unreadable. “It’s my room,” he said coolly. “I don’t need permission.”

Sophia raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment. Instead, she turned her attention to Arjun. “You’re staying the night, right? Let me show you to the guest room.”

“No,” Elias said firmly, his voice brooking no argument. “He’ll stay in the room next to mine.”

Sophia frowned. “The one next to yours? That room is small and hasn’t been prepared properly.”

“It’ll do,” Elias said, his tone decisive. He glanced at Arjun, his eyes softening. “It’s close enough to me if he needs anything.”

Arjun’s cheeks burned again at the implication, but he said nothing. Sophia, however, looked at Elias like he’d lost his mind.

“Fine,” Sophia said after a long pause, clearly baffled. “Follow me, Arjun. I’ll show you the room.”

Arjun trailed after her, but not before stealing a glance at Elias. The man’s gaze stayed locked on him, intense and unreadable, until he disappeared around the corner.

Sophia led him to a small but cozy room. “It’s not much,” she said, opening the door, “but it’ll do for tonight.”

“It’s perfect,” Arjun said quickly.

Sophia offered a small, sheepish smile. “I don’t know what’s gotten into Elias, but... well, good luck with him. You’ll need it.”

With that, she left, closing the door behind her. Arjun let out a shaky breath, sinking onto the bed. His mind raced with everything that had happened—the teasing, the tension, and the way Elias had looked at him like he was the only thing in the world that mattered.

How was he supposed to sleep knowing Elias was just a wall away?