Chapter 18
Dev
The moment Khurana pushes open the door to my office without knocking, I know something is wrong.
I close the laptop where I’d been reviewing reports for the new batch and lean back in my chair. “Speak.”
“Mr. Rathore, there’s a situation,” he says hesitantly, standing in front of my desk.
My jaw tightens a fraction. “Clearly. Now say it.”
Khurana hesitates for half a second, barely a breath, but enough to confirm the news won’t be good. “We caught one of our truck drivers, Gopal. He took money to reroute the truck. Said he was instructed to hand over the consignment at a specific address.”
A slow burn coils low in my stomach. My men know better than to screw with me.
“We caught him before he reached the reroute point. The goods are safe,” Khurana adds immediately, sensing the storm in my gaze.
Good. But not nearly good enough for me to let it go.
“Where is he?” I ask, leaning forward, my hand slamming onto the desk.
Khurana swallows hard before replying. “Outside.”
“Send him in.”
He nods and steps out. A few seconds later, he returns with Gopal, my oldest and most trusted truck driver. The moment Gopal sees me, he drops to his knees. His hands come together in a desperate plea, sweat dripping down his temples.
I circle my desk and crouch in front of him, watching how he can’t bring himself to look at me.
“Look at me,” I say, my voice deadly calm.
Gopal forces his head up, shame twisting his aged features. “Sir… I—I didn’t want to. But he… he said he’d hand me over to the police if I didn’t take the money and cooperate.”
“Who?” I ask, even though my gut already knows. I just want to hear him say it.
“Samarth, the journalist,” he whispers.
My hands curl into fists. Of course it’s that fucking asshole. He just can’t stay out of my way. He has to keep testing me.
Before I can speak, Khurana steps closer. “We brought him in as well. He’s in the holding room.”
I nod at him. “Double the guards on every route. Triple-check every driver. No one moves a truck without my fingerprint approval. And not a word about it to my dad or brother.”
I don’t wait for his reply. Instead, I rise to my feet, stride out of the office, and take the elevator down, fury pounding through my veins with every step.
The moment I step into the dimly lit room, my eyes lock onto Samarth, seated with two of my men standing on either side of him. His face is bruised, but he still lifts his chin, arrogance dripping off his face.
I give my men a look, and they leave. Once we’re alone, I turn my gaze back to the jerk.
“Dev, so good to see you,” Samarth drawls, like we’re old friends meeting for a drink.
“You bribed my driver to hand my consignment over to the police,” I hiss, stepping closer until I am right in front of him.
“I believe in social service,” he shrugs. “Imagine Dev Rathore behind bars. Headlines screaming your downfall. And Meera… finally getting rid—”
Her name on his tongue makes me see red, and before he can say another word, I grab him by the collar and yank him to his feet. “Don’t you dare take her name.”
He shoves my hand off his collar. “You really like proving it every time, Dev, that you’re nothing but a violent criminal.”
“And you are exactly the kind of coward who bribes people and goes behind backs to do the damage you’re too scared to attempt to my face.”
“Scared?” He scoffs, shaking his head. “No, Dev. I am just smarter. Unlike you, I don’t need violence to get what I want.”
“Smarter?” I echo, a humourless laugh slipping out.
“If you were smart, Samarth, you would’ve stayed the hell out of my way.
You wouldn’t be standing here with that pathetic, daring attitude, acting as though you’ve actually sabotaged me.
” My gaze locks onto his. “Let me tell you something. You didn’t even come close to scratching me. ”
“Maybe not yet, but I will,” he spits the words before adding, “You think dragging me here scared me? You think catching Gopal will stop me? You think I won’t find another way?
” His eyes burn into mine. “You’re not untouchable, Dev.
Everyone has a weakness. And I am going to find the spot that makes you bleed the most.”
I hold his stare. “My weakness doesn’t break me, Samarth. It turns me into something you don’t want to fucking meet.”
“Then bring it out, Dev. Bring out the beast you think you are. It still won’t stop me.”
“You sound awfully brave for an ordinary man.” I look him up and down, slow and deliberate.
“But tell me something. All this chest-thumping, all this courage, this delusion that you can come after me… it’s all because of my wife, isn’t it?
” I lean in just an inch. “Because it kills you that she chose me over you, and you’re still choking on it. ”
“She didn’t choose you,” he snarls. “You forced her. Because there’s no way she would choose a man like you… whose hands are dirty with filth. And I know she deserves far better.”
“I don’t give a damn what you think you know. The truth is, she’s married to me, and nothing is changing that. So don’t open your mouth about what she deserves again.”
“She won’t be married for long. Soon, I’ll get her divorced.”
That’s all it takes for whatever patience I had left to snap. I grab his collar again and yank him towards me.
“You won’t go anywhere near her with that intention,” I growl. “You want to come after my business? Fine. You want to come after me? Fine. But if you ever even think about touching my marriage… there won’t be a body left for the police to find.”
“Dev… let go of him.”
I turn around at the sound of Meera’s voice and see her standing at the entrance. Her breath is uneven, her eyes wide, her gaze locked straight on my fist twisted in that bastard’s collar.
She rushes towards us, and I drop my grip instantly. But before I can get a single word out, she steps right between us and puts herself in front of him. She lifts her hand, her fingers trembling as they brush over the red mark on Samarth’s cheek.
The sight hits me like a punch, my vision darkening at the edges. She’s touching him… the man who just dared to threaten our marriage.
“Samarth, are you okay?” she asks, cupping his jaw.
Of course, the bastard revels in her concern for him.
“I am okay, Meera,” he replies.
“Thank God I got here in time, and nothing happened to you,” she breathes out. “Sonia told me how Dev’s men took you from your house while you were both there. She tracked your phone for me, and the moment I had your location, I came as fast as I could.”
My jaw flexes. I am two seconds away from making sure he doesn’t walk out of here alive.
Before I can pull her away from him, she spins towards me and pins me with those furious, beautiful eyes.
“How dare you lay a hand on my friend?” she demands.
“Your dear friend tried to lay his hands on my business,” I bite out.
“So someone touched your business, and that’s your excuse for beating him? Can’t you ever handle things like a normal person instead of acting like a devil?”
I inhale sharply. “I don’t do normal, something you should have gotten used to by now. Now answer me. What are you doing here?”
She lifts her chin. “I came to save my friend.”
“You shouldn’t have come here,” I snap.
“Someone had to stop you from losing control,” she fires back, then turns to him again. “Samarth, are you really okay? You should get checked. You’re hurt.”
My hand shoots out, and I grab her wrist firmly and possessively. Enough to make the pulse under her skin jump. I turn her towards me, my gaze locking with her stunned one.
“I am the one who’s hurt, Mrs. Rathore.” And that’s the fucking truth. It’s killing me inside… watching her care more about someone else than her own damn husband.
Her breath catches as I pull her closer, my face just inches from hers.
“I am so fucking deeply hurt.”
For one fleeting second, something flickers in her eyes. She looks as if she realises I am bleeding inside while she fusses over that bastard. But it only lasts a moment. The next second, she jerks her hand, trying to pull free, but I don’t let go. Instead, I tighten my hold on her.
“We’re going home,” I reply coldly.
“I am not leaving Samarth here,” she snaps back.
“My men will make sure your dear friend reaches home safely. As long as you come with me.”
She shakes her head. “I said I am not going anywhere without him.”
“You don’t have to leave, Meera. I’ll drop you,” Samarth adds, like he fucking has any right to offer her anything.
My head whips towards him. “Keep your damn mouth shut. You don’t get to talk between me and my wife. And I sure as hell am not letting you take her anywhere. You have zero rights.”
“He has every right. He is my friend,” Meera replies, as if she’s reminding me of where her loyalty lies.
I glare down at her. “Don’t test how far I will go tonight, Mrs. Rathore.”
She hears the warning in my voice and shoots Samarth a look to step back.
Done arguing, done watching her touch him, I turn around, her hand still locked in mine as I drag her away from him. When we reach my car, I open the door with one hand.
“Get in,” I murmur against her ear.
Her breath catches. After a beat of resistance, she lowers herself into the passenger seat. I shut the door, circle around, and slide into the driver’s seat, my pulse still unsteady.
Before I can start the car, she turns to me, her eyes blazing.
“You’d better make sure no one touches him. And that he gets home safely.”
“For now, he will,” I say, starting the engine. “But you might want to start praying for him, sweetheart. Because if he keeps landing himself in situations that can get him killed, even God may run out of mercy.”
My words shut her up instantly. Maybe because she finally understands I am not joking.
The rest of the drive drags in suffocating silence. Each second scrapes at my nerves… her breath taut with anger, my jaw locked tight with jealousy.