Chapter 60: The First Step

"Why would you—would you... want me to r-repeat it, sir?" She was dreading the answer.

"Don't worry, I will not cut your tongue," he uttered, reading her thoughts, making her eyes

expand. He had other evil plans for her tongue, he smirked inwardly.

"I said... what I said and I would stand by each w-word I-I said. You don't own me and you

can't touch me. And I'm not afraid of my tongue being amp-amp-amputated because of the

truth," she said, trying to be bold on the outside, but she was shivering from the inside.

His lips twitched into an unnoticeable smile.

Dark and void. Just like his heart.

"Good. That's what I wanted to hear," he had a double meaning, but she couldn't grasp what

he wanted to say.

With that being said, he took a few steps back while boring his eyes into hers and held her

hand, taking her by surprise. His warm hand held her cold one, which was already profusely

sweating. Her heart dreaded what his next action might be.

"What?" she whispered.

"Come with me," he signaled her to move.

"Where?" she asked, stepping back instinctively.

"Come," he stated, holding her hand. "I want to know what you've got in you," he whispered

silently, more to himself. She was something. Bold enough to challenge Shehryaar and

stupid enough to not see the repercussions.

Entering his office, he closed the door before taking off his long coat and throwing it on the

nearby seat. He retrieved a folded paper from its pocket. He was clad in a white shirt and

black pants. Unbuttoning his cuffs while looking at her, he folded the sleeves of his shirt,

revealing his forearms. His aura was emanating darkness and his face, devoid of any

expression, made it difficult for her to understand his actions. He was like a snake, moving

quietly with calculated steps and attacking the victim unexpectedly.

"Read," he handed the paper over to her, making her confused.

"What is it?" she asked, confusedly while taking the paper. Her eyes fluttered, manifesting

her dilemma.

"Do as I say."

She silently opened the paper and her eyes began to run across the content. A frown marred

her brows first, then confusion was replaced by tears, and when her eyes rose up, they had

nothing in them but anger.

Unknown to her, he had been reading each and every expression of hers. His hawk-like eyes

were keenly observing her expressions, very well aware of the turmoil she was going

through.

"I will release you from this job and pay you as much money as you want. I will also take

care of your friend's ongoing treatment, and in exchange, you know what you will give me."

Her body began to shiver with the mounting rage within her heart. She fisted her hands

tightly as her breathing got ragged.

Her jaw clenched as she held the sheet of paper and tore it apart before throwing the

shredded pieces of paper into the air.

"Who do you think you are, Mr. Shehryaar?!"

A slight lopsided smirk formed on his lips. He moved back and supported himself against

the front of the table before folding his arms, his eyes still locked on her.

"That's a good offer, isn't it, Sheharzaad?"

"You can't play with me anymore!" she moved towards him.

"I'm serious," he replied with a malicious smirk.

"Look, I don't want your money. I don't want anything from you. I'm doing this job only

because you forced me. Now you're crossing your line," she raised her finger at him.

He encircled his forefinger against hers and with that, he pulled her closer to him.

He moved closer and closer so their breaths were mingling with each other. He was

invading her personal space and his expensive cologne was hitting her nostrils. She feared

he might be able to hear the thumping of her scared heart.

"One night in a week, four nights in a month at my apartment and you will be free from me

for the rest of the 26 days. You won't see my face. I know how much you loathe seeing my

face every day and you want the duration of the contract to end. Now, this contract solves

every problem. Just four nights in a month and you will get as much money as you want,

plus you won't see me often," he coaxed.

She took a few steps back, creating distance between them. It was suffocating. She would

stop breathing normally when he was close. His dark aura would invade her senses,

blocking every rational thought from her mind, diminishing every ounce of courage she had.

"I would rather have you touch me forcefully, unwillingly and on a daily basis, rather than

agreeing to let you touch me willingly, even just for four nights," she concluded.

She expected him to get angry and lash out at her, but he just smiled like a maniac. At that

moment, he looked like a completely deranged man to her. His smile carried an unspoken

threat, and she knew it very well. She had realized by now that his calm demeanor was just

a facade; there was darkness and danger beneath that calm aura.

"B-bu don't forget," the intense look in his eyes had her stutter, "I will al-always pro-protect

myself from you," she said and left his office as chills began to rise on her skin.

As soon as she was out of his office, she dashed toward her cabin, feeling utterly

overwhelmed. She had rage on her face despite the tears in her eyes. Her eyes conveyed the

dread and uncertainty her future held. Her heart was pounding fast. She was angry at her

fate. There was no one who would fight for her. It was her fight, and she was not going to

bow before him as long as she was breathing.

Yet, unaware to her, this was the first step she had taken toward her marriage with him,

toward her destruction, toward his triumph over her.