Chapter 13: A Dangerous Game

Avni’s breath was still uneven as she stepped out of the conference room. The hospital corridor stretched before her, filled with doctors and nurses moving in their usual rush, yet she felt like she was the only one frozen in time.

Reyaansh had a way of doing that—pushing her to the edge, forcing her to react, making her feel things she had spent years suppressing.

But she wasn’t going to let him win.

She needed air.

Avni made her way to the hospital terrace, the highest point in the building. The cool evening breeze hit her face as she leaned against the railing, trying to gather her thoughts.

What the hell was happening?

She had always been careful. Always kept her emotions locked away, her walls high. But Reyaansh was different. He was relentless. Calculated. Dangerous.

And worst of all—he knew exactly how to get under her skin.

"Thinking about me, Dr. Avni?"

She spun around sharply, heart leaping into her throat.

Reyaansh stood a few feet away, his hands casually in his pockets, watching her like a predator studying its prey.

She let out a slow breath. "You seriously have nothing better to do than stalk me?"

He smirked, stepping closer. "I was here first. Maybe you’re the one following me."

She rolled her eyes, turning back toward the view. "You’re exhausting."

A moment of silence passed, but she could feel him behind her, standing too close. She refused to give him the satisfaction of reacting.

Then, his voice came, lower this time. "You’re afraid of me, aren’t you?"

Her fingers tightened around the railing. "No."

"Liar."

She turned to face him. "You think you’re some kind of untouchable mystery, but you’re just another arrogant, power-hungry man who enjoys playing games."

He tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. "And yet, you can’t stop playing along."

She hated the way he was right. The way she was playing along, even if she told herself otherwise.

"You don’t scare me, Reyaansh."

He stepped closer—so close she could feel his breath on her skin. "Then why are you shaking?"

She clenched her jaw. "I’m angry."

His fingers brushed against her wrist, the same way he had done in the conference room. Only this time, his grip tightened just enough to make her pulse spike.

"You think I don’t know what you’re doing, Avni?" His voice was smooth, but there was something darker beneath it. "You pretend you hate me, but I see the way you look at me when you think I’m not watching. You’re curious. Intrigued. Tempted."

She swallowed hard, refusing to look away. "You really are delusional."

He chuckled. "Then prove me wrong. Walk away. Right now."

Her muscles tensed.

Every fiber of her being screamed at her to step back, to push him away, to end whatever this was before it spiraled any further.

But she didn’t move.

And neither did he.

The tension between them was suffocating, thick like smoke, wrapping around her throat and making it hard to breathe.

Then, in one swift movement, Reyaansh pulled her against him.

A gasp escaped her lips, but before she could protest, his hand was at the small of her back, keeping her pressed against his firm body.

His voice was a whisper, dangerously soft. "Tell me you don’t feel this, Avni. Tell me this isn’t driving you insane."

Her heart pounded violently, a battle waging within her.

She should shove him away.