The Gala was a sea of shimmering silk and false smiles, but for Nandini, it was a minefield. Arka had been pulled away by a persistent editor, leaving her vulnerable near the edge of the dance floor.
"May I have this dance?" A young, handsome businessman—a rival of the De Cruz empire—offered his hand.
Nandini, wanting to prove she wasn't just Aditya's shadow, placed her hand in his. As they began to waltz, she felt the young man's hand settle firmly on her waist. She didn't see the air in the room begin to vibrate. She didn't see the crystal chandeliers tremble.
Across the room, As they moved across the floor, she didn't see Aditya at the bar. He had been drinking scotch steadily, the amber liquid fueling a fire in his veins that he didn't understand. When he saw that stranger's hand on Nandini's waist, the glass in his hand nearly shattered.
The music was still playing when the record suddenly screeched to a halt. Aditya stormed onto the floor, smelling of high-end alcohol and cold fury. Without a word to the young man, he snatched Nandini's wrist, his grip like a shackle, and dragged her out of the ballroom.
The Drive of a Beast
"You chose this career just to get close to rich boys, didn't you?" Aditya hissed as he threw the car into gear, the tires screaming against the pavement.
"How dare you!" Nandini shouted, trembling. "It was just a dance! You don't own me, Aditya!"
"Don't I?" he growled, locking the doors electronically as she tried to escape. "You let him touch you. You let him look at you like you were his property. You are a De Cruz model—and that means you stay away from every hungry wolf in that room."
When they reached her apartment, he didn't let her go. He followed her inside, pinning her against the wall of her small hallway. In the dim light, his eyes looked like a hungry wolf who had finally found his prey. He pressed his body against hers, the scent of scotch overwhelming, and kissed her neck with a brutal, territorial hunger—leaving a deep, red mark that felt like a brand.
"If you don't want me to become a beast," he whispered against her skin, "stay away from them." He left her there, shaking and alone in the dark.
The Broken Contract
The next morning, Nandini walked into Aditya's office with a cold resolve. She threw the termination papers on his desk. "I'm done. I won't be your plaything."
Aditya looked up, his eyes bloodshot. "Because I kissed your neck? Or because you're still mourning that coward, Amit?"
"Don't you dare say his name!" Nandini cried. "You're the reason he left! You make it impossible for me to breathe here!"
"He left because he couldn't handle you!" He stalked around the desk, leaning so close she could smell the lingering scotch on his breath. his teeth grazing the mark he'd left. "He was a coward. Can't you see there's someone else who actually wants you?"
Nandini pushed him away with all her strength with a look of pure disgust. "You're a monster!" she screamed, throwing the contract at his face and sprinting out of the office.