Page 9 of The Redemption
She slowly slips off her black sunglasses, as if she’s giving the world time to take her in. I recognise those sharp assessing eyes instantly. I’d seen them once before, nine months ago at JoshClub in Mumbai, burning through the narrow slit of the mask she wore that night. Back then, her face was hidden.
But today, it’s revealed for the world to see.
And for the first time, I see her as she truly is. Every picture I hunted down over the past nine months falls short. None of them do her justice. She’s a vision. The very definition of class wrapped in beauty, danger, and power.
In short,she’sa ticking grenade wrapped in silk.
She tilts her face slightly towards the resort and smiles. Not at me. Not yet. But at the world, as if this entire valley has been laid at her feet. The bellboys rush forward, bowing their heads and scrambling for her luggage.
Just then, one of the staff steps forward with a brass plate, applies a tilak on her forehead, and sprinkles rice, a welcome ritual we introduced months ago. Siya bows her head slightly, accepts it, and flashes a smile so disarming that the staff looks positively smitten. She’s playing this out like a perfect princess she thinks she is. Regal, approachable, yet untouchable.
Esha stiffens beside me, torn between my order and the reality of a guest standing right here, being welcomed like royalty.
“Sir…” she whispers helplessly, but the moment I nod, she gets the signal.
With a sigh of relief, she steps forward to welcome Miss Vardhaan. Siya’s eyes drift across the lobby before finally locking on me. For the briefest second, recognition flickers across her face. But she masks it instantly, schooling her face into polite indifference.
“Welcome to RK Estate, Ma’am,” Esha says warmly. “May I introduce you to Mr. Raghav Kundra, the owner of the estate?”
Siya’s eyes land on me again. Then she gives a small nod, as if we’re complete strangers meeting for the first time.
F*ck her! How dare she walk into my estate and pretend she doesn’t know me?
“We’ve met before,” I say.
Her lips curve into a faint smile. “I don’t think so.”
Just as she moves past me, I grab her wrist, stopping her mid-step.
“I wasn’t asking. I was stating a fact. Wehavemet before, Miss Vardhaan.”
The moment I touch her, her guards take a step forward. Haider moves instantly, placing himself between us, ready to defend me. Without even looking at her guards, Siya raises her hand in a silent command. The men stop, but their eyes never leave us.As if I care!
Her eyes glitter as the corners of her lips twitch again.
“Impossible,” she finally replies, sounding almost amused. “I’m sure the woman you met was someone else. Because I don’t think I’ve met anyone quite as…intenseas you in my entire life.”
Then she flicks her hair back and adds, “Now, if you’ll excuse me,RK, I need to collect my suite keys.”
RK?
She f*cking called meRK!
One of her guards still steps forward. “Any problem, Ma’am?”
She rolls her eyes and cuts him off with a single glare. “Nothing I can’t handle, Michael.”
Then she turns back to me and gives me one last look before heading to the reception desk to complete the check-in formalities. Michael glares at us before following her promptly. He’s definitely going to be troublesome. I look at Haider, and he immediately nods, knowing I want him to keep a special eye on Michael.
My gaze finds her again as she stands at the reception and speaks to the staff. I’ve faced men who came for my life. Enemieswith guns raised to my head, fingers ready on the trigger. But never this. This is different.
No one has ever looked me in the eye, challenged me to my face for being wrong, and walked away like it meant nothing. And what bothers me more is her pretence.
I know it was her nine months ago at the Josh Club.Shewas wearing the eye mask, not me. She’d seen my face. She knew exactly who I was. So why pretend she doesn’t know me now? What the hell is Siya Vardhaan playing at? And why here… inmyworld?
CHAPTER 2
SIYA
