6
Today was the day. The official signing of the contract with him. Dattatriya Agnivanshi.
I kept reminding myself it was just business. Just a strategic partnership. Nothing more. Nothing personal. Even if it was with the most complicated man alive.
I slipped into a simple but elegant outfit - a soft ivory blouse tucked into high-waisted tailored black trousers, gold hoops in my ears, heels clicking against the marble floor as I walked out.
Power dressing in the calmest way possible.
Sheraa padded behind me like the little prince he was, a tiny black satin bow tied perfectly around his neck.
Gyan bhaiya and Dyan bhaiya were waiting by the car, leaning casually like they were going to war instead of a contract signing.
Dyan bhaiya glanced at Sheraa and smirked. "So even His Highness is joining us today?"
"He has full rights," I said smoothly, lifting Sheraa into my arms. He purred and pressed against my chest like a baby, completely ignoring Dyan's sarcasm.
Gyan bhaiya opened the car door with a grin. "Let's get this over with before Dattatriya starts chanting mantras and trying to hypnotize people with those creepy eyes."
I slid in beside Gyan bhaiya, Sheraa settled comfortably on my lap, his eyes curiously scanning the window.
As the car pulled out of the mansion gates, I found myself exhaling slowly, my fingers gently brushing the soft fur behind Sheraa's ears.
"He's just a business partner now," I told myself under my breath.
But even as I said it, a tiny part of me - the traitorous, irritating part - knew Dattatriya wouldn't let it stay just that.
We finally reached the estate.
To my surprise - and slight irritation - it wasn't some cold, towering palace of power like I'd expected from a man like Dattatriya Agnivanshi.
It was... beautiful. Quiet. Hidden deep within a reserved area surrounded by dense trees, old stone walls, and calm silence.
The kind of place that felt like it guarded secrets with pride.
Figures.
The car came to a slow halt. I adjusted my outfit, lifted Sheraa carefully from my lap - his tiny bow still intact - and stepped out.
My eyes immediately found Papa, Bhairava bhaiya, and Utsav already standing near the arched entrance. Bhairava bhaiya had his hands crossed, Utsav was fidgeting with his watch, and Papa... looked like he was already annoyed and tired before stepping in.
I walked toward them, Sheraa snuggled in my arms, his soft tail lazily flicking back and forth.
"About time," Bhairava bhaiya muttered with a smirk, noticing my pace.
I raised a brow. "Traffic. And someone needed to look presentable. Unlike you, showing up like a mafia CEO on vacation."
Utsav chuckled. "Bhaiya's wearing all black like he's going to interrogate someone."
"He probably is," I replied dryly, adjusting Sheraa as we reached them.
Papa gave me a once-over and nodded approvingly. "You brought Sheraa?"
"He insisted," I said, nuzzling my cheek against the cub's head. "He's very interested in Agnivanshi hospitality."
"And possibly chewing Dattatriya's furniture," Bhairava bhaiya added under his breath.
I just smirked and turned to face the grand carved wooden doors in front of us.
"Let's get this over with," I murmured. But deep down, I knew - nothing about today was going to be just a simple signing. Especially not with him behind those doors.
We stood before the massive wooden door, its carvings intricate - ancient symbols woven into a story I didn't care to read right now. My fingers tapped against Sheraa's soft fur as Bhairava bhaiya rang the bell.
A minute passed. Then footsteps.
The door opened slowly with a heavy creak, and there he stood.
Dattatriya Agnivanshi.
Wearing a simple black pant and a pale linen shirt, sleeves lazily rolled up to his elbows. Hair perfectly messy. That sharp, unreadable expression still painted across his face like stone... except for the flicker in his eyes the moment he saw me.
Ugh.
Shut up, Katha, my subconscious hissed. You're here to sign a contract, not get lost in a tragic villain romance.
But I still looked at him - and found him already looking at me. Like I was the only one standing there.
Sheraa, in perfect timing, gave a low growl in my arms. Protective little furball.
Dattatriya's gaze finally shifted to Sheraa, and for a moment, I swore I saw the tiniest smile tug at his lips - like he found it amusing I'd walk into a mafia negotiation with a snow leopard cub wearing a bow.
"Come in," he said, voice deep and smooth as ever.
He moved aside, and we all walked in, one after the other. I felt the weight of his stare trail behind me as I passed.
I didn't look back.
But Sheraa did.
And purred.
Traitor.
As we stepped into the grand yet strangely quiet mansion, the air was cool and carried the faint scent of sandalwood and something old... like memories.
The entrance hall opened up into a beautiful lounge, and the first thing that caught my eye was a large portrait hung with great care above the mantle. A woman.
She was breathtaking-not in the way of beauty alone, but in the kindness radiating from her eyes. She wore a soft smile, as if she had once been the soul of this silent place. There was love in that painting. So much love.
"That's his mother," Utsav whispered beside me.
I didn't react, but my chest tightened slightly. No wonder the mansion felt haunted - not by ghosts, but by loss.
We moved to the large velvet sofas. The rest of my family settled in with quiet grace, but I was already getting to work. I gently placed Sheraa down, who immediately started padding across the marble floor, his tiny bow still perched proudly on his neck.
I pulled the contract file from my bag and, without sparing him much of a glance, slid it across the coffee table toward Dattatriya.
"This has everything we discussed. Terms, shares, territory allocations, and dispute clauses," I said in my usual courtroom tone. Cold. Precise.
He sat down across from me, resting one elbow lazily on the arm of the sofa. No emotion, no curiosity. Just calm silence as he opened the file and began to read.
Minutes passed like hours as he flipped through the pages. I could feel Bhairava bhaiya and Papa watching him carefully, but I... kept my eyes on Sheraa, who was now trying to climb onto the rug like it was a mountain.
Then he finally closed the file.
He didn't say anything as he slid it back toward me.
And just as I reached for it - his hand touched mine.
It was a light brush. Barely there.
But enough.
Enough to make me freeze for the slightest second. His hand was warm. Calloused. And completely still.
I didn't look up.
I couldn't.
I simply pulled the file toward me and cleared my throat. "We'll get the signatures done and return a copy to your office by tomorrow."
His reply was soft, low - "I'll wait."
And for the first time since I walked in, I allowed myself a glance at him.
His eyes were still on mine.
Sheraa sneezed.
The tension broke.
I jerked my head toward Sheraa the moment he sneezed, a small panic bubbling in my chest - I knew that sneeze meant trouble.
And just as I feared, there it was.
The once elegant, probably-expensive pillow lay in tragic ruins - torn into merciless little fluffy shreds, scattered like fresh snow all over the pristine marble floor.
"Oh god... rest in peace, pillow," Utsav muttered dramatically.
I turned and lightly whacked the back of his head. "Not helping!"
I rushed over to my little demon and knelt beside him. He was proudly chewing on one last piece of fluff like he had won a war.
"Sheraa! No! Not good, baby - bad boy, Sheraa!" I scolded, trying to sound firm but failing horribly when he gave me those big innocent eyes. I softly tapped his tiny furry butt, which he responded to with a cute growl and a lick on my wrist.
I turned, flustered, brushing my hair back, and looked around.
Everyone was frozen.
Dattatriya had walked over, silent as always, and was now standing beside me, staring at the demolished pillow with an unreadable expression.
"I'm really sorryyyyyyyyy-" I started, trying to get up quickly from the fluff-strewn mess. But of course, in true dramatic fashion, my heel caught on the soft stuffing, and my balance tipped.
I braced myself for impact.
But it never came.
Because he caught me.
Strong arms wrapped around me, steady and warm. My breath hitched as I looked up, only to find him already looking down at me.
I froze.
So did he.
No one spoke.
Sheraa sneezed again.
It broke the moment. I quickly straightened, dusting off imaginary fluff from my dress, avoiding eye contact like my life depended on it.
"Uh... again, sorry about your pillow," I muttered.
Dattatriya simply blinked. "It's just a pillow."
That... almost sounded soft.
And honestly, it was way more terrifying than if he had yelled.
I tightened my hold on Sheraa, who was purring innocently like he hadn't just committed first-degree pillow murder. I gave his furry little butt another soft pat and whispered, "We're gonna have to teach you not to embarrass Mama in mafia meetings, baby."
He yawned.
Typical.
I climbed into the car with him in my arms and settled in my seat, brushing a few stray fluffs from my coat. The engine hummed to life, but my gaze was drawn back to the mansion.
And there he was.
Dattatriya Agnivanshi.
Still standing near the door, arms folded across his chest, posture calm, composed-yet his eyes, sharp and unblinking, were fixed on me. Like I was the only thing in his entire world.
It should have made me uncomfortable.
But it didn't.
It made me curious. Dangerous territory.
I was still staring when Dyan bhaiya, sitting beside me, scoffed loudly and muttered, "Tch. Look at him-acting like some protective hero after catching you. Like he's allowed to even touch you."
I turned to look at him, one brow raised, "Jealous, bhaiya?"
He crossed his arms and pouted like a child. "I don't like him. I don't care if he's CM or mafia or god himself. He touched you. You almost fell and he caught you-like some dramatic movie hero. I should have caught you!"
I tried not to laugh, but failed miserably.
"Oh no," I said, dramatically gasping, "how dare the tall, silent, extremely composed mafia man touch me. What a scandal."
"Not funny," he muttered.
"It is when your nostrils flare like that," I teased.
Gyan bhaiya, from the driver's seat, added dryly, "He's been fuming since that moment. I think we'll need to call Arya bhabhi to calm him down."
Utsav, half-asleep beside me, mumbled, "Should've let her fall... she'd bounce back anyway."
I rolled my eyes but smiled as I looked down at Sheraa, who was now dozing in my lap. And before I turned away from the window, I looked one last time.
Dattatriya was still there.
And still staring.
My heart thudded once... loudly.
This was going to get complicated.
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