Sahil sat in his office remembering his own words. He had told her to get ready for it but he won't at any cost force her for this because that wasn't his forte. Of course he had his own twisted ways to get the work done but forcing someone didn't sit well with him.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. He allowed the person to enter and Rohit came in with a file in his hands.

"Sir, your signatures are needed on these papers." Rohit informed keeping the file infront of him and stood patiently. Sahil glanced at the papers and read them first before signing and handing over to Rohit.

"Is Reva Khurrana taken care of?" He asked and Rohit fumbled trying to form an answer.

"Sir, she's threatening of a publicity stunt. Didn't give the details but left with a warning and a very much pissed off mood." Rohit kept looking at his boss's face with nervousness.

"Such a nuisance." He sighed shaking his head and dismissed Rohit with his finger to which he sighed in relief and left before he changed his mind.

Sahil Malhotra hated nuisance and Reva Khurrana was turning out to be just that.

────────

Srishti was lying on the couch and watching the television when she heard some commotion from outside. Frowning she sat up and lowered the volume to hear properly and then her eyes widened realising what it was rather who it was.

Jumping off of the couch she ran outside and as expected saw Zevah arguing with the guard. She slapped her forehead and ran towards them.

"How dare you stop me from going inside? And what is this? A president's mansion? Listen I'm telling you let me go inside or else it won't be good for you." Zevah warned the guard who was kinda looking tired of making her stay.

"Zevah," Srishti waved from a little far as she took hurried steps towards them. Both Zevah and the guard sighed in relief but for different reasons.

"Finally. Thank god you're here. Now tell him to let me in." Zevah glared at the guard who ignored her and looked at Srishti.

"Ma'am please ask her to leave. Sir has strictly asked me not to let anyone in except Aditya sir and she isn't understanding." He said helplessly and Zevah fumed more but Srishti came to the poor man's rescue.

"But she isn't anyone. She's my best friend sir, please let her in and I'll inform your boss about it. You won't lose your job." Srishti requested and the guard only looked taken aback as she called him 'sir'. He couldn't believe that someone had called him with respect in his thirty years of service and it was this girl who had just met him for the first time.

"Sir?" Srishti called him and he came out of his trance. Her hopeful eyes were enough for him to smile warmly and nod his head at her.

Srishti gleed happily and pulled Zevah in thanking the guard continuously. As they turned back to leave he called her from behind.

"You don't need to call me sir. Just uncle will do." He said with a smile and Srishti smiled back not before nodding her head.

"And you don't need to call me ma'am. Just Srishti will do." She recited the same thing giggling and running inside with Zevah while the old man just chuckled lightly.

It was finally that he saw some life coming to this mansion.

Inside, Zevah huffed, sitting on the couch and Srishti brought her a glass of water. She glanced at Srishti with a frown and picked up the glass.

"Why am I not like you." She whined and Srishti rolled her eyes knowing this was coming. She was the same back then at the orphanage when she used to converse with any kid and Zevah used to whine afterwards for not having such skills.

"Because you are different." Srishti shrugged with the same answer she usually gives and both ended up having a good laugh.

"Okay on a serious note, what happened about that IVF treatment?" Zevah asked turning serious and Srishti sighed knowing she had to tell her the truth.

"The results came out negative." She said with a sigh and Zevah looked at her wide eye.

"So that means you'll have to do it?" Zevah asked and Srishti just nodded in reply. She knew Zevah was on the verge of losing her calm and saying anything would lead to more disaster.

"What were you thinking while signing such a contract, Srishti? Dammit!" Zevah growled in anger and Srishti didn't dare look up at her.

"Look at me, Srishti." She demanded and Srishti slowly looked at her and smiled meekly but Zevah wasn't having it as she gave her a glare in return which made her sigh.

"Okay I know I shouldn't have agreed and signed such a contract but at that time I had no other option, Zevah. You know right I had been trying to convince Mr. Mittal since then but he wasn't ready to listen but Mr. Malhotra made one call and he hasn't showed his face ever since. In a way I am grateful to him for helping me protect my orphanage and I have to pay the price for it, be it in any way." Srishti completed and stared at her for some reaction but all she gave was a blank look.

All of a sudden she hugged Srishti tightly which did startle her but she quickly composed herself and reciprocated the hug.

"You should know that I'm with you in whatever decision you take, even if it pisses me off." Zevah grumbled in the hug and Srishti just chuckled.

"I know." Was her only reply as she smiled to herself.

────────

Sahil freshened up and walked out of the bathroom when he saw Srishti on his bed again but this time she was fully awake.

"What is it?" He asked looking at her and she stared straight in his eyes.

"I'm ready." She announced without any hesitation or nervousness in her voice and Sahil couldn't comprehend even by looking into her eyes if she was afraid or not.

But who was he to deny when she herself had agreed.

"I won't stop once I start." He warned her one last time to see if she would back out but her stance didn't waiver instead she held her head high as she nodded in affirmative.

She was determined.

Determined to get over with it.

"Alright then." He shrugged throwing his towel somewhere and hovering over her figure. As she was already sitting on the bed, it only took them two seconds to lie down with Sahil on top.

He neared her face and she fisted the bedsheet in her hand. His one hand travelled down and gently rested on her fisted palm whereas other rested on her face, caressing her cheek lightly.

Was he this gentle with every woman he had sex with?

A thought crossed her mind but soon it blurred in the background as his lips covered hers. She let out a soft sigh as his lips moved gently overs hers as if caressing them.

She didn't realise when her grip loosened on the bedsheet and his fingers interlaced with hers. A moan escaped her lips as he peppered kisses all over her neck. It was too exhilarating for her because she had never experienced something like this ever before.

Sahil took his own time in exploring her because even though it was just sex, he wouldn't want to be harsh or quick like it was a one night stand. Of course it wasn't to hurt her feelings or anything because he could care less about them.

As he pushed down her nightie's strings, she found her nervousness returning in full force and she knew that she was starting to panic.

"Mr. Mal─"

"Shhh. I told you I won't stop once I start." He whispered huskily in her ears and she shivered unknowingly as his mouth descended on hers again making her helpless.

The room was dark and nothing was visible but she felt him in places she herself had not discovered. He touched her, kissed her, explored all of her and she felt different yet not in a way she had imagined.

As their desires reached its peak, Sahil silently looked into her eyes as if informing her something and she nodded telling him she was ready.

She gasped loudly but soon his lips found hers and as he claimed her fully, a tear escaped her eye without her permission and got soaked into the pillow.

She could not understand what had happened as she lay on his bed after some time while their backs faced each other. She was sure he was asleep but sleep was far away from her eyes.

It was confusing because she had thought that after having sex with him, she would feel disgusted with herself or would feel dirty but it was nothing that sort of. Infact she didn't even feel like it was just sex. Of course it wasn't love making but it wasn't even just sex. Something in between.

But what and why?

Even after they were done Sahil said nothing to her like to leave his room and sleep in her own room or spend the night in his room itself. Nothing. He said nothing and after cleaning up, he just laid on his side and slept.

And it somehow frustrated her because he was sleeping peacefully after disrupting hers.

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