Chapter 3 -
The sun had barely set as Geet sat quietly on the edge of the luxurious sofa in Maanâs private study. The space was vast and sterile, adorned with the sharp elegance of someone who had the world at his feet. Yet, despite its opulence, there was something cold and empty about the room - much like the man who owned it.
She had expected things to be difficult, but this... this silence felt heavier than anything sheâd imagined.
Maan Singh Khurana wasnât the kind of man who indulged in pleasantries. The moment she entered his world, she had known it would be a business transaction, no more, no less. Her debts. His solution. It wasnât about feelings, and it certainly wasnât about love.
And yet, as the days passed, she found herself returning to the mansion more and more often, fulfilling the unspoken agreement that had been set between them.
She wasnât quite sure what Maan wanted from her - he hadnât explicitly said. In the beginning, it was clear that he only needed her for one night, for one fleeting moment of indulgence. A night where nothing else mattered but the rawness of desire. But that didn't came till now.
But now, as she sat there waiting for him, her mind couldnât help but wonder if something had shifted.
A light knock on the door broke her train of thought.
âCome in,â Maanâs voice called from the other side.
The door opened, and in walked Maan, looking as immaculate as ever. His crisp black suit clung to his tall frame, and his hair, usually perfectly styled, now fell slightly tousled over his forehead. He had been working late again, she could tell. His eyes were sharp, calculating -yet, when they landed on her, there was a flicker of something deeper. Something unspoken.
He didnât say anything immediately. Instead, he walked past her to his desk, picking up a few papers and placing them in a folder. Geet didnât move, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her dress. For the first time in days, she wondered what this was between them.
âDo you need something, Geet?â he asked, not looking up from his work.
The way he said her name - so casual, so indifferent - made her heart ache, though she couldnât quite explain why.
âNo⌠just waiting for you,â she replied softly, hoping her voice wouldnât give away the emotions she was trying to keep hidden.
Maan glanced up, his eyes catching hers for the briefest of moments. âYou can leave if youâre not needed, Geet.â
The words were so simple, so dismissive, yet they hurt more than she wanted to admit. He didnât want her here for anything other than the deal. She was here for his convenience, nothing more.
But then, why did her heart flutter when his gaze lingered? Why did she keep coming back?
Geet nodded, her throat dry. âI⌠I can stay a little longer.â
Maan didnât respond right away. Instead, he stood up from his desk and walked toward her, his footsteps echoing through the vast room. As he approached, she instinctively straightened, a wave of nervous energy sweeping over her.
âIâm not used to waiting, Geet,â he said, his voice now softer, but with an edge she couldnât quite decipher.
She opened her mouth to speak but stopped herself, unsure of how to reply. He wasnât exactly asking for her opinion. This wasnât about comfort; this was about what he wanted, when he wanted it.
And Geet knew, deep down, that she would give it to him.
Maan came to a halt in front of her, his eyes studying her intently. âYouâve been here for a while, havenât you? Getting used to my world.â
âIâm just doing whatâs expected, you are calling me since a week just for timepass Maan ji?â she replied, her voice steady despite the fluttering of her heart.
Maanâs lips curled into a faint smile, but it didnât quite reach his eyes. âIâve never been one to play games. I made it clear from the start - this is a one-time arrangement. But...â
His voice trailed off, and he seemed to be thinking for a moment, as if considering something more. Geet was about to speak, but he raised a hand to stop her. âBut I canât ignore that youâre... different. Youâre not like the others, Geet. You donât fall into the usual patterns. Youâre not here just for money, and youâre not here for me either, are you?â
Geetâs heart raced. Was he seeing through her, understanding what she was too afraid to admit? That somehow, despite herself, she was beginning to crave his presence? To crave him?
âI .. â she began, but she quickly swallowed her words. She didnât want to admit it. She couldnât.
Maanâs expression softened, just a little, before he turned away from her to look out the window. âI didnât expect this from you. Youâve been patient, reserved. No demands. No tears.â
He paused, as though unsure of his next words. âAnd thatâs... intriguing.â
Geet could feel the walls she had built around herself slowly crumbling under the weight of his words.
âI donât want to complicate things,â he added, his voice quieter now, almost as if he were talking to himself. âI never wanted anything more than a night. But with you, it feels different... in ways I donât understand.â
Her breath hitched at the raw honesty in his tone.
Maan didnât turn around. Instead, he remained facing the window, his hands resting on the edge of the glass. âMaybe itâs just desire. Maybe itâs something else. But I donât know if I can give you more than this, Geet. And I donât know if I want to.â
There it was - the truth, raw and unfiltered. He was afraid. Afraid of what could happen if he let his feelings for her grow any deeper.
She had known it all along, but hearing it from him made her feel both relieved and... heartbroken.
But she didnât give up. Not yet.
âI donât expect anything, Maan ji,â she said softly, her voice steady. âIâm just here... with you. Thatâs all I want.â
Maanâs gaze flickered toward her for a brief moment before he nodded, as if coming to some silent agreement with himself. He didnât say anything more. He didnât have to.
For now, Geet knew that this was the beginning. The beginning of something that neither of them fully understood. She wasnât just here for money anymore. She was here for him - for this moment, for whatever it was between them.
And though Maan seemed indifferent, detached, she couldnât help but hold onto the hope that one day, he might feel something for her too.
Maan moved forward slowly. He took her face in his hands. The agreement needed to be fulfilled right?
Edited by nushhkiee - 1 years ago
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