The air inside the lavishly decorated halls of the Sapphire Grande Hotel was filled with the gentle hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the soft strumming of a live band playing in the corner. The annual business party was the event of the season, a place where power and influence intertwined with luxury and glamour.
Amongst a sea of glittering faces, Prabhas stood tall, his charismatic presence commanding attention.
The party buzzed with energy, each corner of the hall showcasing a different cluster of elite guests. It was an atmosphere where alliances were forged, fortunes made, and secrets whispered. Prabhas effortlessly navigated this world, every word a calculated move in the game he had mastered.
As the night wore on, their charm and chemistry had garnered the attention of everyone in the room. Yet, as Prabhas chatted with a few of his close associates, he remained blissfully unaware of the tempest brewing in Anushka's heart.
Anushka was engaged in conversation with a few of Prabhas's associates, discussing mundane topics that bored her, when she felt an unfamiliar twinge in her chest. She glanced over to see a strikingly beautiful woman leaning in closer to Prabhas, her laughter echoing like sweet chimes. The woman was all too obvious in her flirtation, her hand lingering on Prabhas's arm as she leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
A pang of possessiveness twisted in Anushka's stomach, not unlike a serpent coiling around her insides. She watched as Prabhas grinned, his charming demeanor shining as he reciprocated the woman's light-hearted banter. It was a simple exchange, but in that moment, the world around Anushka faded, replaced by the steady thrum of jealousy that ignited something within her.
Taking a deep breath, Anushka pushed her way through the throng of party guests, her heart racing as she approached Prabhas's group. The moment she reached them, her gaze locked onto his, a flicker of authority sparkling in her usually gentle eyes.
"Prabhas," she said, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. "We need to talk."
He raised an eyebrow, a smirk teasing the corners of his lips. "Is everything alright, sweety?"
"I mean, yes," she replied, her authority firm, but her cheeks flushed beneath the scrutiny of his friends. "Can we step outside for a moment?"
With a playful shrug, he took a step back from the group, still amused by her sudden assertiveness. "Lead the way."
With a deliberate move, Anushka took his hand and led him away from the animated crowd, her grip possessive as they stepped into a quieter corner. In a secluded corner of the vast ballroom, the music faded, leaving only the soft clinking of glasses and muffled conversations. Anushka turned to face him, her brow knitted in a mixture of concern and indignation. "What was that all about?"
Prabhas feigned innocence and, with a casual air, leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "What do you mean?"
"The girl over there!" Anushka gestured sharply in the direction of the group, where Riya leaned against a man, still laughing boisterously. "You seemed to be enjoying her company a little too much."
"Oh, that?" He chuckled nonchalantly, his mischievous eyes dancing with amusement. "She was just being friendly. You know how it is at these events—everyone's trying to make connections."
Anushka felt her heart rate escalate. "Connections?" The word dripped with contempt. "That was clearly more than just casual conversation. She was flirting with you!"
Prabhas finally caught a glimpse of the intensity in Anushka's gaze and straightened up, his playful demeanor giving way to something more sincere. "C'mon, Sweety. It thrills me seeing you jealous but You know I only have eyes for you."
"Then why were you giving her any attention at all?" Anushka stepped closer, her voice lowering into a whisper, thick with emotion. "You've never been the type to entertain such nonsense."
He let out a soft sigh, realizing she was genuinely upset. "Okay, maybe I was playing along. But it was all harmless. I thought you would have laughed it off."
"Laugh it off?" Anxiety threaded through her voice. "This isn't a joke to me, Prabhas. I care about you—more than anyone else in this world. I can't stand the idea of someone trying to come between us."
His heart ached at her vulnerability. Prabhas stepped forward, placing his hands on Anushka's shoulders, feeling the tension radiate off her. "Listen, I love you, Sweety. You are my world. No one—no girl, no business deal—can ever replace you."
For a moment, she searched his dark, intense eyes, searching for certainty, for the promise that she so desperately needed. There was a flicker of mischief dancing behind his gaze as he continued, "But does that mean I can't have a little fun with your jealousy?"
Anushka arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms defiantly. "Fun?"
"Yes. See, this is the real you I adore—the fierce woman who protects what's hers," he teased, his lips quirking into a playful grin.
"Prabhas, this isn't a game," she warned tersely, her voice laced with authority that cut through the light-hearted atmosphere. "I'm serious. Stay away from her."
He tilted his head, the mock innocence still apparent in his expression. "And if I don't?"
"Then," she said, lowering her voice dangerously, "I'll do something that will make you realize how unwavering I can be."
Her challenge hung between them, seductive and fierce. Finally letting go of her shoulders, he raised his hands in mock surrender, a chuckle echoing from his chest. "Alright, alright. I'll behave. Just don't go all 'gangster's wife' on me," he grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Anushka nodded, her eyes still fierce. "Good. Because I won't stand by and let you think it's okay to flirt with anyone but me. Do you understand?"
He shifted uncomfortably, the weight of her gaze compelling him to comply. "I understand. I'll obey, like a kid."
A hint of a smile tugged at her lips despite herself, and the tension in the air began to dissipate. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"
"Nope. Just remember who you're dealing with next time," he chuckled, drawing her closer, wrapping his arms around her. "I may be a gangster, but I'm yours, and I love you."
"Good," she replied, but couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips. "And maybe next time I might stick a label saying 'Anushka's property' on your forehead."
He chuckled followed by her and they both embraced each other, rebinding their promises.
As the party progressed, Prabhas became distracted by an acquaintance who had approached him, a business partner discussing a lucrative deal. He engaged in conversation, but his eyes frequently strayed to Anushka, who had slipped away into the crowd. She was laughing freely, her cheeks flushed from multiple glasses of champagne. Each peal of laughter rang out like a siren's call, and it was both enchanting and alarming.
"Prabhas," his partner's voice cut through his distraction, "this deal could change everything for us."
"Yeah, yeah," he muttered absently, eyes still scanning the crowd. "Can't you see I'm busy?"
With a dismissive wave, he excused himself, striding through throngs of guests, frustration mounting. He didn't have to look far to find Anushka. She was at the far end of the room, tangled in a group of admirers, her laughter echoing like music. But there was something misaligned, something off about the way she wove her fingers through her hair and leaned into the men surrounding her.
"Sweety," he called, his voice cutting through the din.
She turned, her eyes sparkling with mischief and something else—intoxication. "Prabhas!" she slurred sweetly, stumbling slightly as she made her way toward him. "Come join us! We're talking about you!"
"Yes, I'm sure," he replied dryly, placing a supportive arm around her waist. "But it's time for you to drink some water and sit down."
He led her through the throng of guests, her body brushing against him as she consternated the realities of the situation. "Oh, come on, Prabhas! Why so serious?" she giggled, her words trailing off into a fit of laughter.
"Sweety, you're drunk," he replied, his tone a mix of concern and amusement. "Let's get you to the room before you embarrass yourself."
But Anushka merely leaned in closer, the scent of champagne swirling around them, and whispered, "What if I want to embarrass you, Mr. Gangster?"
He paused, caught off-guard by her playful challenge. "You have no idea what you're playing with," he warned in a mock serious voice, causing her to giggle again. "But not here, Sweety. Not in front of all these people."
She pulled away slightly, her eyes narrowing playfully. "What, you don't want to show off how much you love me? I could have anyone, you know, but I chose you!" She swayed, her body inching closer until he could feel the warmth radiating from her skin.
Prabhas felt a mix of desire and apprehension. Anushka's ordinarily reserved nature contrasted starkly with her current flirtatiousness. He wondered if it was the liquor or if perhaps there were layers of her personality she had yet to unveil in the light of day. Whatever it was, the intoxicating blend sent electric shocks through him.
"Yes, how lucky I am! But let's take this to our room," he suggested, his voice steady but his heart racing. She nodded eagerly, and with a firm grip on her waist, he turned and began steering her toward the hotel elevator.
As they navigated through the elegantly adorned corridors, Anushka's words danced playfully in the air. "What do you think people would say if they knew I was taking you to bed?" she teased, her voice a sultry whisper that made his breath hitch.
"Keep your voice down. We don't need an audience," he hissed, glancing sideways to ensure they weren't drawing attention.
But she was relentless, her hand playfully caressing his arm, a bold audacity lighting her eyes. "What if I'm doing this on purpose? What if I want them to know I'm taking the infamous Prabhas to bed?"
"Hush, Sweety!" he admonished, unable to suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I swear, if you keep talking—"
"I'll what? Make you carry me?" she interrupted, leaning into him even more, causing him to stumble slightly. "What if I want—"
"Shh!" he insisted again, squeezing her waist tighter, his mind racing with conflicting feelings of desire and duty.
"Fine, fine," she relented, looping her arm through his. "But only if you promise to take me somewhere fun later. A little private celebration for just the two of us?"
His brow arched. It wasn't like her to be this openly flirtatious, and it sent ripples of confusion through his mind. "You need to be sober for that kind of celebration," he replied sternly, leading her towards their room.
"But what if I want to play right now?" she giggled, her voice a sultry whisper that seemed to dance in the air around them. "What if I want you to take me right here... right now?"
Prabhas's breath hitched, and he felt as if the world around them had dissipated, leaving only the two of them in a provocative bubble. "Sweety! Don't push me" he insisted, his voice barely concealing the tension that had already built up within him.
"Oh, come on!" she laughed again, her body swaying as she pulled him closer. "Don't tell me you don't want to." Her fingers trailed down his chest, teasingly. "I know you do."
With each playful tug, she held him captive in a way only she could, but he fought against the instinct to lean into her. Once they were inside the room, he closed the door behind them, the soft click echoing ominously in the enclosed space.
Inside the room, the ambiance shifted. The walls lined with soft fabrics offered an intimacy that set Prabhas on edge. His eyes searched Anushka's face, and for a moment, he lost himself in the depths of her intoxicated gaze, the mischief filling both with warmth—but he quickly shook himself back to reality.
"Sit," he ordered gently but firmly, gesturing to the plush sofa in the corner. "I'll get you some water."
With a playful huff, Anushka plopped down, tossing her hair back as she pouted. "You're such a buzzkill, you know that?"
He couldn't help but smirk despite the tension. "You'd be grateful in the morning."
"But I don't want to think about tomorrow! I want to have fun now," she challenged, tilting her head as she watched him. "Come on, Prabhas. What's the harm in having a little fun with your wife?"
He turned back to face her, pausing as he took in that alluring expression—the way her lips curled into a delectable smile, the mischief glimmering in her eyes making his heart race. He was caught between duty and desire. "You're drunk," he replied, attempting to remain stern, but his resolve started to falter. "And you're making this difficult," he added, sauntering towards her.
"Good," she shot back, her voice dipping into a sultry whisper. "I want to be difficult for you. Now why don't you come closer and remind me who I belong to?"
Prabhas felt the walls around his heart weaken, the fire in her gaze igniting a fervour within him. For a moment, he was no longer the feared gangster but simply a man, head-over-heels in love with the woman who owned his heart. He took a deep breath, closing the distance between them, knowing well that they were headed down a path from which there would be no return—one that only they could navigate together.
Prabhas pulled her into his arms. "What am I going to do with you?" he murmured, his voice low and rough.
"Whatever you want," she replied, her breath tantalizingly close.
And in that moment, as the party faded away behind them, Prabhas finally allowed the walls he wore to lower, casting aside the weight of the world, surrendering to the heart that beat fervently for Anushka—the wife, the lover, the woman who held his heart amidst the chaos.