The red-eyed shadow was no longer just a flicker in the glass; it was becoming a constant, silent weight. Nandini saw it everywhere—reflected in the elevator's polished chrome, standing at the end of the manor's long, marble corridors, or lurking in the corner of her dressing room. It was closer now, a jagged silhouette of smoke with eyes like dying embers.
Yet, there was a pattern. Every time Aditya's heavy, rhythmic footsteps approached, the air would snap back to a chilling normal. The shadow would vanish instantly, as if it feared him—or perhaps, as if it didn't want the Master of Stasis to know it was watching his prize.
The Office Quarrel
Nandini marched into Aditya's private office without knocking. She was still reeling from Amit's cold letter from Mumbai, and seeing Aditya sitting there, looking like a 30-year-old god of industry, made her blood boil.
"Sign these," Aditya said, sliding the final campaign release forms across the desk. He didn't look up, but his focus was entirely on her.
"You're very good at this, aren't you?" Nandini snapped, scribbling her name. "Managing people, managing 'accidents,' managing lies."
Aditya stood up, his height filling the room. He walked around the desk, his presence overwhelming. "Nandini, the world is moving on. The 'Color of Blood' series is a masterpiece. Why can't you just accept the success?"
"Because unlike you, I don't have the luxury of freezing time to hide my scars!" she hissed.
Suddenly, Aditya closed the distance. He pinned her gently but firmly against the edge of the mahogany desk, his hands resting on either side of her, trapping her. The intimacy was electric, and for a moment, the silence was deafening. He leaned in, his violet-tinted eyes scanning her face with an intensity that felt like a brand.
"You blame me for everything," he whispered, his voice a low, dangerous vibration. "For Amit leaving, for the laws of physics... maybe you should start blaming yourself for being the only person who can actually make me lose my control."
Nandini pushed against his chest, feeling the steady, powerful thrum of his heart. "I don't like you, Aditya. I don't like your secrets, and I don't like what you've done to my life. Stay away from me."
She shoved past him, ignoring the flash of genuine frustration—and something else—in his eyes.
The Gala Invitations
An hour later, Samuel distributed the thick, cream-colored envelopes.
THE COLOR OF BLOOD: GRAND LAUNCH GALA.
Dress Code: Black & Crimson.
All guests are requested to attend with a partner.
Nandini stared at the card. She had expected Aditya to ask her-not because they liked each other, but because she was the face of the brand. But after their fight, the silence from his office was deafening.
"Nandini? You okay?" Arka asked, leaning against the studio door.
"The gala," she sighed. "I don't have a partner, Arka. And I'm definitely not going with him."
When they are focusing on the gala event, Aditya stood in the hallway outside Nandini's room. In his hand was a thick, gold-embossed invitation to the Grand Gala. He wasn't a man who asked; he was a man who commanded. But today, he felt a strange hesitation. He wanted her there—not as his employee, but as his partner. He wanted to offer a truce.
He reached out to knock, but the door was ajar.
"So, it's a date then?" He heard Arka's warm voice from inside. "I'll pick you up at seven. We'll show them that the model and the photographer are the real power duo."
"I'd love that, Arka," Nandini's voice replied, sounding softer than it ever did with him. "I'm just glad I don't have to spend the night looking at Aditya's 'Chairman' scowl."
Aditya froze. The invitation in his hand felt like lead. He saw them through the gap—Arka's hand on her shoulder, Nandini's genuine smile. The rejection stung more than he cared to admit. His jaw tightened, and he turned on his heel, walking back to his office with a cold, calculated fury.
The Rival Move
"Samuel," Aditya called out as he entered his suite.
"Yes, Aditya"Samuel replied, looking up from his tablet.
"Call Tanya. Tell her she's attending the Gala with me. And make sure the press knows she is my personal guest."
He tossed the gold invitation into the trash. If Nandini wanted to go with Arka. FINE ! I would show her exactly what she was missing.
Samuel paused, a knowing look in his eyes. "Seriously! You're actually jealous of your own brother, Aditya?"
Aditya snapped his head around, his eyes flashing. "Who is jealous? I just wanted to teach her a lesson for insulting me!"
The Gala Eve
An hour later, the invitations were officially distributed to everyone.
THE COLOR OF BLOOD: GRAND LAUNCH GALA
Dress Code: Crimson & Black
Guests must attend with a partner.
Nandini stared at her card, her heart sinking slightly even though she had Arka. She saw Aditya walking toward his car, and he wasn't alone. Tanya, a top-tier model known for her icy elegance and ruthless ambition, was already waiting for him.
Aditya held the door for Tanya, but his eyes moved to Nandini for one sharp, freezing second before he got in. He was going with a rival. He was leaning into his power, leaving Nandini to wonder if she was truly ready to face the storm that the Gala would surely bring.