Chapter 15

Chapter 15
Three days later;

"Again fought with your father" Avyaansh chuckled while chugging on his drink. Natasha looked at him, totally annoyed and said "I am in no mood for your joke" she rolled her eyes while chugging her drink and looking ahead.

She came back from the US a day before and right now they were at Avyaansh's place having a drink on the terrace. "Why don't you consider marriage" when Avyaansh spoke Natasha glared at him as if she would kill him right now if he said another word. He held his hands up as if surrendering her.
"Woo, ho. Wait, that's not what I mean, I am just saying that just consider dating someone, at least uncle will be at ease to know that his daughter is moving on in her life. And the rest depends on you" he said and let out a deep throaty chuckle.

"So you are suggesting me for a fake date?" Natasha rolled her eyes and stood up walking away from him and standing near the railings.

"Just for uncle, and you can get rid of it by saying it didn't work for you" he indicated walking up to her.

"Seriously, the college-time playboy is now providing me with fake date advice. That's unexpected" she laughed out loud making him roll his eyes in annoyance.

"So, now tell me about the happenings in my absence," she inquired, turning to him and looking at him with a seriousness marred on her face, the laugh was already gone. He took deep breaths closing his eyes knowing well she won't let that matter go easily.

"It's not as big a deal as you think. She schemed a car blow to avenge her brother. Because of Rajeev's order, he was beaten up for misbehaving with Shanaya. Shanaya was not at fault" he described in one go while his expression went rigid and jaw clenched as he chugged the drink.

"But it would benefited us. This was in our plan to hurt his loved ones, right?" Natasha asserted in a firm voice and looked ahead at the dark inky sky surrounded by dusky clouds. The night was still young. The cold breeze was passing through them making the atmosphere even cold.

From her expression, she looked mad. And him, helping her and threatening Reva and her brother for Shanaya didn't sit well with her.

Avyaansh didn't say anything and gazed ahead of him towards the sky. The view of the sky from his terrace was mesmerizing. The stars were hidden behind the clouds. "Why did you save her? It was not necessary to help her" Natasha asked when he remained silent.

"Because she's my prey. I won't let anyone destroy my plan before I have my way with her" Avyaansh declared, gritting his teeth and walking back to the table before putting the glass on the coffee table harshly. He didn't like her questioning this.

"In case you are forgetting, let me remind you what you said on the first day of your arrival," Natasha said walking back to him and sitting across from him, looking straight into his eyes as if challenging him. His jaw clenched and his nose flared in anger.

"His precious daughter, Shanaya. His biggest weakness. She will be your Trump card. The key to our plan to destroy her father. Using her to destroy him. And hurting his loved ones will be our target" she explained and stared at him with a raised brow and his palm curled into a tight fist.

He stood up, not able to stand with her questions while pacing back and forth and walked to the guardrails where he stood while his back was facing her. She could see the frustration on his face clearly upon bringing her name again and again.

"These were the exact words you told me'' Natasha reminded him, walking up to him and standing beside him at an arm's distance, sipping her drink. She noticed his veins pop up in his arms the way he was clasping the handrails.

"We need to destroy him. His daughter is our key, not our target" he breathed out, turning to her while his jaw clenched. His eyes indicated determination in his words.

"I hope you will stick to the plan as you said. Don't get a distraction" she still chooses to answer him back.

"I am still sticking with the plan, but" he looked at her and smirked, sliding his hands inside his pockets and said "there's a change in plan" Natasha frowned at his proclamation and looked at him expectantly for an answer.

"What changes?" She asked when curiosity burned her inside.

"Marriage" was one word with no explanation and she comprehended his intentions. His eyes grew dark while a smirk arose on his lips.

"Tomorrow is the party, and he will be coming with his daughter," he told her. "And I am going to play my next card" an evil smile stretched on his plump lips as he stared at the dark inky sky surrounded by dusky clouds.



The party was held in his luxury five-star star hotel. Everything was so lavish and screaming luxury. A beautiful chandelier was in the middle while a water fountain was beautifully decorated in the front of the entrance.

The party was in private as no reporters were allowed inside and covered the party. Though many of the reporters were present at the entrance of the hotel captured during the arriving guests.

A car stopped at the gait and Rajeev walked out with his daughter beside him. Shanaya was anxious to face so many people and if it hadn't been for Rajeev's insistence on her, she would love to stay at home and read some romance novels.

Rajeev never took her to any business gatherings, knowing well his daughter doesn't like these kinds of parties and gatherings. But if Avyaansh hadn't helped her and was not his important business partner he would never have brought her here.

"Don't be nervous, you should start attending these business parties as you will soon take over my company?" Rajeev said to cheer her mood but she didn't reply. "Ah, here Mr. Malhotra came," one of the men said and her eyes whipped in his direction.

He walked down the stairs like a king donning a black tuxedo, hair gelled back, perfect shaved stubble just made him look hotter and his limited edition watch around his wrist. He no less looks like a king.

His dominating aura made him look more like a handsome devil. She stared at him without blinking and when everyone cheered she came into reality.

'Indeed he's hot' she thought about what her friends used to say about him.

She saw a girl walking towards him and talking to him and smiling which she couldn't hear. At that moment she was curious to know who she was to him. The girl looked like a model and was coming to his shoulder with her high heels.

His eyes wandered around the hall and halted at her. For a second their eyes crashed before she tore her gaze and looked away.

Natasha walked to him when she saw him entering the hall. "Singhania is here with his daughter," she informed him while smiling at the guests. Avyaansh smirked thinking about the surprise he set up for him.

"That's good. I arranged a surprise for him" he said as they both walked to greet the guests. "You have to give a small speech, here," she said, passing him a mic and walking away.

As she took a turn she abruptly collided with someone's chest and was about to kiss the floor when a pair of arms grabbed her waist and she was held in the air. She hissed before looking at the person who was frozen in his spot.

Tarun just gaped at her while she looked pissed. "Where's your eyes Mr?" She hissed and pulled away from him picking up her purse which fell from her hand.

Tarun just watched her with his mouth open. She was wearing a black bodycon dress that reached her knees. Her face had light makeup and nude lipstick on her lips. The neckline was a little deep which showed her cleavage a little.

She glared at him when he was gawking at her without blinking. "I… I am sorry. I was not looking and… " he was stopped in the middle when she walked past him.

"Asshole" she muttered walking away from him. He grinned looking at her retreating back and walked to his boss.

After giving his speech he walked to Rajeev and stood next to him. "I hope you are enjoying the party, sir" Avyaansh said and Rajeev gave a small smile while turning to him.

"Congratulations Mr Malhotra. I heard the marketing price of your hotel skyrocketed this year. It's such a huge achievement" Rajeev said, swallowing his drink. "Thank you so much. Please enjoy. I have to meet a few guests also" he said and excused himself.

Rajeev got busy conversing with some businessmen. Shanaya excused herself and went to some other vacant table. Keeping her clutch on the table she held her drink in one hand. It was apple juice because she doesn't like alcohol. She has poor alcohol tolerance.

"Why did dad even bring me here?" She sighed looking around her. She put the glass on the table and got occupied using her phone.

"Are you enjoying the party?" She was startled when Avyaansh spoke from behind, almost hitching her breath. She gets frightened even if someone talks with her in a raised voice, her heart would start thumping rapidly out of fear. "Yes," she replied hastily, tearing her gaze from him.

He stood in front of her, his eyes scrutinizing her from head to toe and with his signature smirk. She was donning a modest dark blue colour long gown while her hair was tied up in a lazy bun.

Her face had minimal makeup and her lips were colored with tinted lipstick. He gawked at her without blinking. Her cheeks heated up while her heart was drumming in her ears the way he was staring at her. 'Beautiful' he murmured under his breath which she didn't hear.

"Why are you not drinking?" He inquired, looking at her glass. She was about to reply when he interrupted her. "Oh, I forgot, you have low alcohol tolerance that's why apple juice" her jaw almost touched the ground at his mockery. He knows almost everything about her, she wondered.

Before she could retort he forward his hand to her "dance" he asked. She gave him a tight-lipped smile and said "I will dance with dad" and walked past him. He mused, staring at her retreating back and slid his hand into his pocket.

"Dad, will you dance with me?" She pleaded and he smiled at her. "Why not?" he said and approached the dance floor with her. Slow music played in the background while a few people were dancing along with their partners.

Shanaya danced with her father while Avyaansh was dancing with Natasha but glancing at her now and then. After a while, the music was changed into a romantic song and the partners were exchanged. And now she was paired with him.

He put her one hand on his shoulder while grasping her other hand on his large palm and grabbing her waist with another. Her breath hitched as they began to move their bodies following the beats.

Her heart was already thumping in her ribcage with his closeness while she felt heated. Her eyes were fixated on his coat button while he was staring down at her. "You still didn't thank me properly" he whispered to her.

"Th…" he stopped her while jerking her towards him, crushing her body against his hard chest. Her eyes widened and she shivered in his hold. They were too close and he was invading her personal space.

"Not like that," he muttered and maintained a little distance while twirling her around and she let out a breath that she was holding for a while.

"Then how?" She asked while matching his steps. "A coffee would do," he announced and she looked at him in surprise. "Do you have a problem?" He asked while his left leg moved forward and her right leg moved back.

"It's… not like that" she mumbled but he heard her. "I… I need to… inform dad" she stammered between her sentences and heard him snickering. "Don't you go anywhere without his permission?" he asked in muse and she pouted her lips.

His eyes zeroed in on her pouty lips but he tore his gaze away. 'Don't get distracted' he muttered under his breath. "I…I never go anywhere alone, it terrifies me going somewhere alone" she mumbled slowly enough for him to hear.

"Why is that?" He asked, changing their steps. "Because I always run into trouble if I ever go anywhere alone," she told him truthfully. "That's why you're always surrounded by your bodyguards" he uttered, scanning his eyes around the hall and spotting Rajeev conversing with some business delegates.

"Would you come with me now if I ask?" He asked and she frowned. "Where?" She asked bewildered. "Come" he grabbed her hands firmly and escaped the dance floor and took the elevator.

She hesitated before going inside but when he gave her an assurance smile and forward his hand for her, she placed her hand on his and ambled inside. He pressed the button on the top floor and leaned back. "Where are you taking me?" She inquired.

"You will get to know" he answered typing something on his phone ''she is with me now. Keep Rajeev engaged until I am done here'' and send it to Natasha. He glanced at her when she clasped his hand tightly while her eyes were shut in fear. He smiled at her and grasped her hand firmly.