Chapter Ninety Nine.

Chapter Ninety Nine.
“V…Varun?” she whispered, her throat tightening as she gulped.

If she had known it was him, she would never have opened the door.

His eyes were already fixed on her, unreadable, burning. “Why was he here?” Varun’s voice was low, clipped, dangerous.

Veda’s hand immediately moved to close the door, but before she could, his palm pressed firmly against it, stopping her.

He pushed it wide open with effortless strength, forcing her to stumble back.

She retreated a step, but he stepped inside.

“Why was he here, Veda?” he demanded again, his voice sharper now.

Veda frowned “Who are you talking about?”

“The raccoon that came yesterday.” he bit out, his jaw tightening.

How the hell did he know Shaun had been there?

“Shaun is not a raccoon..” she snapped, forcing confidence into her tone.

“And you don’t need to know why. Besides..” her voice rose a little, “how the hell did you know? Are you stalking me, Varun?”

His brows furrowed , but instead of anger, his eyes were soft “Stop talking to him, Veda… please.” His voice dropped to a near whisper, almost pleading.

'Is he insane?'

“And why? He just needed help..” she shot back.

Varun’s adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, his eyes flicking briefly to the still-open door before he reached behind him and closed it.

“Leave, Varun. I don’t want you here.”

Ignoring her words, he moved further inside and sat down on her couch.

"How was work today?” he asked casually.

Her jaw dropped. 'You have got to be kidding me.'

“You should know.” she furrowed “I wasn’t assigned to a supervisor, thanks to you.”

“That’s because…” He leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking with hers. “I’ll be your supervisor, Veda.”

Her blood boiled.

He’s such a control freak. But maybe… just maybe I can turn this into my chance to finally get him off my back?

“I don’t want that.” she said firmly, crossing her arms.

“I know you think you don’t. But you’ll like it. Working with me–”

“That’s exactly the problem..” she cut in. “Working with you would be… a disaster.”

His face darkened. “How?”

“Because you’ll hurt me..”

He blinked “How?”

Veda stepped closer, holding his stare. “Think about it, Varun. What will people in the office say? That a new intern suddenly becomes the Chairman’s favorite? That I’m… having an affair with you?” Her lips curled in disgust. “Hell no.” She said beneath her breath..

“They can say whatever they want..” he finally muttered. “It won’t affect us. You’re working under me.”

Her eyes widened. “That’s the problem, Varun. Us?” She shook her head, her voice rising with frustration.

“No. You won’t feel the weight of the whispers, the stares, the rumors, but I will. I’m a woman. People will always drag the woman down in situations like this.”

Her voice cracked slightly, though she held herself firm. “You won’t get hurt. But I will. Already today, when you called me, rumors spread. Do you understand? This will hurt me.”

For once, Varun brows knitted as he studied her, his chest rising and falling heavily.

Her words seemed to cut through the fog of his obsession, forcing him to confront something he’d never considered.

And in the heavy silence, Veda saw it in his eyes...hesitation.

'She’s right', he admitted silently, his thoughts gnawing at him.

He leaned back into the couch, his fingers curling against the armrest as silence stretched between them.

He hated it, hated that every word she said made sense. She was right.

People would talk, their filthy mouth would speak, and in the end she would be the one to bleed from it, not him.

But knowing she was right didn’t make him want to let her go.

It only made his obsession burn deeper.

'She doesn’t see it… she doesn’t understand.'

'I can protect her from all of that. From everything.'

“I don’t care what they say,” he said finally, his voice low, almost restrained, as if he was speaking more to himself than to her. “But… you’re right. It will hurt you.”

Veda blinked, surprised and kinda relieved by his sudden calmness.

For a fleeting second, she thought he might finally back away.

But then he leaned forward, his gaze boring into hers.

“That doesn’t mean I’ll stay away.” he whispered. “I can’t. Even if the whole world tears us apart with their words, I’ll still be here.”

"I want you closer to me, Veda.” Varun’s voice was a little rough now, as he pushed himself up from the chair.

The sudden shift made Veda’s breath hitch, and she instinctively stepped back.

'And I want to run away, far, far away from you'… her heart screamed inside her chest, but she swallowed it down.

“I don’t want any man close to you.” he muttered, almost to himself, before his dark eyes snapped back to her.

Then, abruptly, a thought sparked, his face lit up.

Veda blinked at him, confusion etched in her features, her brows drawing together.

He is unpredictable.

“Oh, that’s it. I know.” Varun said, his tone almost triumphant, He straightened his shoulders and nodded to himself.

“Okay, Veda. I’ll put you under a supervisor tomorrow. Okay?” His words carried finality.

Veda just nodded faintly.

'Okay, so can you leave now?' she almost yelled in her head, but outwardly she remained silent, her fingers tightening against the fabric of her pajama top.

But Varun’s eyes didn’t move away. They drifted downward, catching on the delicate softness of her light pajamas clinging to her frame, then lingering on her damp hair that still dripped faintly from her bath.

He had already seen it, moments earlier, when she stepped out of her bathroom, from camera he had hidden in her room. But seeing her like this, so close, in the flesh, made his chest tighten and his restraint weaken.

His heart pounded with an ache that was both painful and intoxicating.

He wanted to pull her into him, to erase the invisible wall she kept placing between them. He wanted her acceptance, her warmth, her everything.

'God knows,' he thought, 'I would worship her feet more than I already do. Isn’t that enough?'

He was hanging on a loose thread...Every second of her silence felt like a punishment.

He needed her wholly, her mind, her body, her soul, and he would do anything, cross any line, to claim that.

Veda, however, noticed the way his eyes devoured her.

His gaze lingered far too long, crawling over her damp hair and her clothes in a way that made her skin prickle.

Discomfort settled in her stomach, and she instinctively shifted, wrapping her arms around herself, trying to shield her from his burning stare.

“Can you leave? I have umm… things to do.” Veda said, her voice tight

“I want to stay here for tonight.” Varun replied calmly.

Her heart lurched in panic. “What? No… I–I mean, no. I don’t want neighbors having a bad thought. Please, just leave.” she said quickly.

“Can I eat then?” he asked, as if he hadn’t even heard the desperation in her tone and she stared at him like he had grown horns.