CHAPTER 4 #2
She and Bruno were both trapped in lives dictated by others' choices. Both existing in the shadow of a man who burned too bright to notice them.
Maybe that's why they understood each other.
"Come on, Boo Berry," she said, standing and stretching. "Let's get some air before I have to deal with more Ranawat family politics."
Bruno stood, his tail giving a single wag.
They'd made it to the hallway when a door opened ahead of them.
Samarth.
He stopped, his dark eyes taking in the scene—his wife and his dog, walking together like it was the most natural thing in the world.
His jaw tightened.
"Bruno. Here."
The command was quiet but absolute.
Bruno looked at Nimisha, and she could have sworn she saw apology in those dark eyes.
"It's okay," she whispered. "Go."
The dog moved to his master's side, obedient as always.
Samarth's gaze shifted to Nimisha. "We need to talk."
Her pulse quickened. "About what?"
"My office. Ten minutes."
He walked away, Bruno at his heels, leaving Nimisha standing in the hallway with her heart pounding.
What had she done now?
Exactly ten minutes later, Nimisha knocked on the door of Samarth's private office.
"Come in."
She entered to find him behind his massive desk, his suit jacket discarded, his shirtsleeves rolled up to reveal forearms corded with muscle. The scratch from last night's dinner was visible—a thin red line that made her stomach clench with guilt.
Abhay and Armaan stood by the window, their expressions unreadable.
"Close the door," Samarth said.
She did, her palms suddenly sweaty.
"Sit."
She took the chair across from his desk, folding her hands in her lap to hide their trembling.
Samarth leaned back in his chair, studying her with an intensity that made her want to squirm.
"How long?" he asked finally.
"How long what?"
"How long have you and Bruno been..." he gestured vaguely, "...whatever you are?"
So that's what this was about.
"A few months," she admitted.
"A few months." He repeated the words like they were foreign. "My dog has been fraternizing with you for months, and you didn't think to mention it?"
"It didn't seem relevant."
"My dog is trained to protect me. To guard this house. He doesn't fraternize."
"Apparently he does."
Samarth's eyes narrowed. "Are you feeding him?"
"Sometimes."
"What?"
"Treats. Sometimes I give him treats."
"You're bribing my dog."
"I'm not bribing him. I'm just... being kind."
Abhay made a sound that might have been a suppressed laugh. Samarth shot him a glare that could have melted steel.
"Do you understand how trained he is?" Samarth asked, returning his attention to Nimisha. "Bruno doesn't accept food from anyone except me and his handler."
"Maybe he makes exceptions."
"He doesn't make exceptions."
"Well, he made one for me." She met his gaze, refusing to back down. "Is that a problem?"
"It's..." he trailed off, clearly not sure how to categorize it. "Unusual."
"Your dog likes me. I'm sorry if that offends you."
"I'm not offended. I'm—" He ran a hand through his hair, a rare gesture of frustration. "Never mind."
"Is there anything else? I have seating arrangements to plan for the gala."
"Actually, yes. There is something else." He glanced at Abhay, who pulled out a tablet and set it on the desk.
"We've had reports of Rajput's gang moving on our territory," Abhay said. "They've been testing our boundaries, seeing how far they can push."
"What does that have to do with me?" Nimisha asked.
"Nothing, if you're careful," Samarth replied. "But you're not careful."
"Excuse me?"
"You have no security detail. You go places alone. You make yourself an easy target."
"I'm not important enough to target."
The words came out more bitter than she'd intended.
Samarth's expression darkened. "That's not—"
"It's fine," she interrupted. "I know my place in this family. I'm here for appearances, nothing more. I'm not worth the expense of security."
"Nimisha—"
"Are we done? I really do have work to finish."
Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken things.
"You're getting a security detail," Samarth said finally. "Non-negotiable."
"I don't need—"
"I said non-negotiable." His voice was hard, brooking no argument. "Rajput is unpredictable. He might decide you're worth leverage, important or not."
"But—"
"This conversation is over."
Dismissed. Like always.
Nimisha stood, her spine straight, her expression carefully neutral. "Is there anything else, Mr. Ranawat?"
The formal address made his jaw clench. "No."
She turned to leave.
"Nimisha."
She paused at the door, not looking back. "Yes?"
"Be careful. Please."
The please surprised her. She glanced over her shoulder, but his expression had already shuttered, all walls back in place.
"I'm always careful," she said quietly, and left.
In the hallway, she leaned against the wall and exhaled slowly.
Security detail. Because she might be useful as leverage.
Not because she mattered to him. Never that.
A warm presence beside her made her open her eyes.
Bruno.
"You're supposed to be with your master," she said.
The dog sat, utterly unconcerned with what he was supposed to do.
"He's going to kill me for stealing his dog's affection."
Bruno's expression suggested Samarth could try.
Despite everything, Nimisha smiled. "You're a terrible influence, Boo Berry."
The dog's tail wagged once.
"Come on. Let's go raid the kitchen before anyone notices we're both supposed to be elsewhere."
They walked together through the quiet hallways, a woman and a demon dog, both trapped in a house that didn't quite feel like home.
But at least they had each other.
Evening - Samarth's Private Study
Samarth stood at the window, nursing a whiskey, his mind churning.
"Boss, you wanted to see me?" Abhay entered without knocking.
"The Rajput situation. I want it handled."
"Already on it. We're tracking their movements, identifying weak points."
"I want his head on my desk by Friday."
"Consider it done." Abhay paused. "What about Mrs. Ranawat?"
"What about her?"
"She's unprotected. No security detail. If Rajput wants leverage—"
"She's not important enough to target," Samarth said, the words automatic.
But his jaw tightened as he said them.
Abhay studied him. "With all due respect, boss, that's bullshit."
Samarth's hand tightened on his glass. "Excuse me?"
"She's your wife. That makes her important whether you want to admit it or not. And if Rajput has done even basic research on this family, he knows exactly how beautiful she is. Men have started wars for women like her."
"She knows the rules. She doesn't go anywhere that matters."
"She went to a bookstore last week. Alone. In broad daylight. Anyone could have grabbed her."
Samarth turned, his eyes cold. "How do you know where she went?"
"Because I had someone keep tabs on her. Unofficially." Abhay met his glare without flinching. "Someone in this family needs to make sure she doesn't end up dead in a ditch somewhere."
"You're overstepping."
"Maybe. But at least I'm not lying to myself about what she means."
"She means nothing."
"Then why does it bother you so much that Bruno likes her?"
Samarth's silence was answer enough.
Armaan chose that moment to enter, his expression grim. "Boss, we have a problem."
"What kind of problem?"
"The kind where someone sent your wife a very expensive gift. Anonymously."
Every muscle in Samarth's body went rigid. "What kind of gift?"
Armaan set a small box on the desk. "Jewelry. Diamond bracelet. Worth at least five lakhs, maybe more."
Samarth opened the box. The bracelet glittered obscenely in the light, delicate and beautiful.
There was no note. No card. Nothing to indicate who'd sent it.
But someone was sending his wife expensive gifts.
The implications made his blood run cold.
"Find out who sent this," he said, his voice deadly calm. "I want a name by tomorrow."
"Already working on it," Armaan replied.
After they left, Samarth sat in the darkness of his office, staring at the bracelet.
Someone was making a play for his wife.
And he was going to tear them apart.