CHAPTER 12

The polished marble floor of the vast conference hall gleamed, reflecting the harsh, overhead lights. A low murmur of important voices buzzed, a symphony of corporate ambition.

CEOs, sharp-suited and sharper-tongued, settled into their designated seats. Among them, Reyansh Rajvanshi entered, his presence a palpable shift in the atmosphere.

Each step resonated with a quiet power that seemed to flatten the air around him. His gaze, dark and penetrating, swept the room, making even seasoned executives shift uncomfortably.

A subtle shiver, an involuntary ripple, went through the room as he took his seat, the leather chair groaning faintly under his weight. Across the sprawling, mahogany table, Kabir Khurana sprawled, a smirk plastered on his face. He was a man who wore his disdain for decorum like a badge, his eyes, however, were fixed. Not on the presentation screen, nor the other titans of industry, but on one direction.

Reyansh, with a predator's instinct, followed Kabir's lecherous gaze. His jaw tightened, a muscle jumping in his cheek, as his eyes landed on Meera.

She sat a few chairs down from Reyansh, a small, vibrant splash of color in a sea of monochrome.

But today, her usual sunshine seemed dimmed. Her face, usually radiant, was pale, almost translucent under the unforgiving lights. Her eyes, normally bright with curiosity, were slightly swollen, a faint puffiness betraying her discomfort.

A faint tremor ran through her as she shifted, a silent, internal oomph of pain shooting through her lower abdomen. She clutched a pen, her knuckles white. An intern, here only by sheer will, battling a mild fever and the silent agony of her monthly cycle.

Kabir's gaze, like a fly buzzing too close, lingered on Meera's form, dissecting her with a crude intimacy that made Reyansh's blood run cold. His hand, hidden beneath the table, clenched into a fist, the polished wood groaning a soft protest against the pressure.

" Ahem " Reyansh cleared his throat, the sound a low rumble that cut through the polite chatter. His voice, though quiet, was sharp enough to snag attention.

" Mr. Khurana, perhaps you'd prefer a private viewing room for your... observations? " The words dripped with an icy politeness that was far more menacing than any shout. Kabir's head snapped up, his smirk filtering.

" Just admiring the view, Rajvanshi. Can't a man appreciate beauty? "
His eyes, however, darted back to Meera, a quick, possessive flicker. Reyansh leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper, yet it carried the weight of a falling anvil.

" Some views are best appreciated from a distance, Khurana. Or not at all. " The unspoken threat hung heavy in the air, a silent thrum of warning.

Meera, meanwhile, had felt the tension, though she hadn't quite grasped its source. A wave of dizziness washed over her, making the room tilt.

She swallowed, her throat dry, and a tiny, almost imperceptible gasp escaped her lips as a sharp cramp seized her. She pressed a hand to her stomach.

Reyansh's eyes, though still fixed on Kabir, subtly shifted, registering Meera's discomfort. His brow furrowed, the anger in his jaw momentarily replaced by a flash of genuine concern.

He wanted to reach out, to pull her away from the scrutinizing gazes, to offer a shield against the world. But here, in this corporate arena, he was Reyansh Rajvanshi, the CEO, not the man who was secretly betrothed to her, not the man whose heart did a little thump-thump whenever she smiled.

"Is everything alright, Ms. Kashyap?" Reyansh's voice, surprisingly gentle, cut through the hum of the room, drawing all eyes to Meera. She flinched, startled, then looked up, her pale face flushing.

" Yes, sir. Perfectly fine. " Her voice was a reedy whisper. She tried to smile, but it was a weak, wavering thing. Kabir chuckled, a low, guttural sound.

" Looks a little green around the gills, doesn't she? " Reyansh's gaze snapped back to Kabir, colder than glacial ice.

" Unlike some, Mr. Khurana, not everyone's constitution is as robust as their ego. " The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. The meeting hadn't even officially begun, and already, the sharks were circling.

The presentation slides clicked by, a blur of figures and projections. Reyansh, though presenting flawlessly, his voice calm and authoritative, watched Meera.

Every subtle shift, every slight grimace that flitted across her face, registered. He remembered that morning, the brief moment in his cabin when he'd reached for a file, brushing her arm. The heat radiating from her skin had been unmistakable. A fever. The thought of her pain, a sharp, invisible knife twisting in her abdomen, sent a clenching ache through his own chest. Kabir, predictably, still cast his predatory glances, a twitch in Reyansh's jaw the only outward sign of his simmering fury.

Finally, the chairman's gavel struck the table with a decisive thwack. " The project goes to Rajvanshi Industries!"

A ripple of applause, polite yet genuine, spread through the hall. Associates swarmed Reyansh, a chorus of congratulations echoing around him.

"Brilliant presentation, Mr. Rajvanshi!"

"Well-deserved!"

As Reyansh accepted the accolades, his eyes still tracked Meera. She stood, gathering her papers slowly, a wince briefly crossing her features.

Kabir, seizing the moment, detached himself from his own disgruntled team and sauntered towards her.

"Ms. Kashyap," he purred, his voice slick.

"A pleasure seeing you here. You were quite... captivating." He extended a hand, a leering smile on his face.

Meera, already feeling lightheaded, barely registered his words. She simply saw an outstretched hand and moved to take it, a reflex.

But before her fingers could brush his, a flash of dark suit, a powerful arm, and Reyansh's hand slid between theirs. A loud thwack echoed as Reyansh's grip clamped down on Kabir's outstretched palm.

Kabir's face contorted, a silent gasp catching in his throat. His knuckles went white, then mottled red, as Reyansh squeezed. Hard. A long, agonizing press. Kabir's eyes widened, a flicker of raw pain in them, but he quickly masked it, forcing a stiff smile.

Reyansh's lips curved into a slow, chilling smirk, his eyes holding Kabir's in a silent challenge.

"Mr. Khurana,"

he drawled, his voice a low rumble, "so glad you enjoyed the view. Perhaps next time, try using your eyes, not your hands."

He released Kabir's hand. Kabir snatched it back, rubbing his throbbing fingers, a barely concealed grimace on his face. Meera stood beside them, her brows furrowed in utter confusion, a silent question in her swollen eyes. The air crackled with a tension that had nothing to do with corporate victories.

When the meeting is over, everyone comes to congratulate me, and as everyone approaches, I notice that bastard Kabir Khurana is standing very close to Meera, and what makes my blood boil is that this lunatic is constantly looking at her.

As I excused myself from everyone, I walked toward the bastard and let him extend his hand to Meera, and I clasped his hand and squeezed it very hard like it would break.

His face is a sight to see when I squeeze his hand and I hear that tiny crack of bones breaking. It's like instant satisfaction. But the moment someone notices him, he quickly straightens up and gives a bitter smile.

I respond with my best famous smirk-half smile, half challenge. I shoot him a look that says, "Try again and see what I might do next."

"Alright, Mr. Rajvanshi, I'll see you later," he said with a look that seemed like he accepted the challenge.

I replied, "Sure, Mr. Khurana, we will definitely meet again." He then rolled his eyes toward Meera and said,

"Ms. Meera, take care of yourself."

I quickly responded, "Of course she will."

He added, "I am just worried about her."

Before Meera could reply, I said, "There are many people here who care for her. You don't need to worry."

He stepped away, and I turned to look at Meera. As expected, she was standing there, staring at me with confusion. Her usual pout appeared, a sign she was puzzled.

But what caught my attention most was her swollen eyes and the pale tone of her face. My chest tightened at the sight. Before I could say anything, a colleague approached to congratulate me.

Lost in the conversation, I didn't notice when Meera quietly slipped away. When our chat ended, I looked around for her. She was gone. A cold fear gripped my chest.

A chill ran through my veins when I realized Meera was not by my side. I immediately turned around and started searching for her. I asked other employees if they had seen her.

"Did you see Meera?" I inquired. "No, sir," came the reply. I kept looking everywhere, leaving the conference room behind, but she was nowhere in sight. As I moved down a corridor, a faint voice caught my attention. I followed the sound and what I saw made my heart stop...

_________________________________________

~Spoiler of chapter 13~
Intense scene between our couple.

~Scenes of upcoming chapter ~

"Look at me, or I'll kiss you right here." My breath brushed her neck, and her breathing hitched.

I hushed her in a low, husky voice, teasingly suggesting that " shhh if you didn’t want to be taken right here, you should stay quiet and make it easier for me. "

🤭🤭🤭🤭

Reyansh's jealousy?

In next chapter you will see the caring Reyansh

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