Kabir realised one thing today. He can't survive by being a good boy in this bad world. Yes, he had forgotten his memories and that made him what he was after the accident. But will he be able to live now that the memories are back to haunt him. He had known the cruelty of this world long ago, and to survive this game you need to break some rules and set up your own conditions. To remain in the front line until the end is closer, he needs to embrace how he was before. Else the nightmares will swallow him down in their depths and his family needs him as a shield, not as a backstab in their already messed up life.

If he stayed tattered in those wrinkled sheets, he'll be left there to collect himself and his family will crumble in pieces. He has to step up, and be The Kabir Raichand that world fears, so the nightmares tainting his life will always remain as a backdrop and fuel him to be the bad-bad guy.

He'll be the Satan's shadow.

A devil whose one wing is painted as dark as night and the other, as pure as white. While the world will see cruelty of Kabir Raichand, his family will be showered under the rain of smiles and laughs.

He can't live with that side of his, and won't be able to abandon this either.

"What are you thinking?", Her gentle voice grabbed his dispersed attention. He is her criminal. A sinner who broke her when she was already in pieces.

"Nothing.", He shook his head. Scattered tendrils of her dark hair escaped the messy bun and teased her rosy cheeks, gently brushing against her petal like lips.

"You can tell me. I'm here.", She said, afraid that he was thinking about his past again.

"Honestly, nothing. I was just worried about work. I haven't been to office from seven days.", He sighed, successfully avoiding the topic.

"Don't worry. Karthik Sir must have done an excellent job.", She said running her slender fingers across his grown beard. "Shave please. I like clean shaven.", She smiled propping her chin on her empty hand.

He chuckled. "If you hate it so much, do by yourself.", He said with a smirk.

She shivered under his gaze. It was dark, playful and sinister. "No-Now?", She stuttered.

"Hmm. Now.", He whispered, his voice silky smooth.

"Uhm-"

"If you're not comfortable, then it's fine. I'm okay with grown beard.", He shrugged as he began getting up from the daybed. She grabbed his wrist, nodding slowly when he turned his head to meet her eyes.

As they walked out of the study room, Kabir adored the sight of his son playing with the dog. He helped her upstairs and into his room.

Freeing her wrist, he sat down on bed and nodded at her to get the necessary stuff. Rivaah, hesitantly, and kind of cowardly stepped inside bathroom before grabbing the shaving cream, bowl full water and a razer. When she came out, he was in balcony, relaxed and waiting for her.

She advanced further, her confidence faltering with each step she took towards him. Spotting her coming closer, he sat down on one of the chairs arranged for making a comfortable seating area in the balcony. She lowered the things on table and looked at them confusingly. What is she supposed to do now?

He leaned back, half-lidded eyes staring at her with tempt and desire. His thick thighs parted wide, thumb scrubbing his bearded jaw.

"Will you stop staring like that!?", She complained without even sparing him a glance.

"What did I do?", He asked innocently, although the way his eyes hungrily devoured her was anything but innocent.

"I'm not doing this!", She declared, ready to leave.

As she turned to walk out, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her on top of him.

"I-What-", He pushed her legs through the open space of armrest and pulled her closer, to the extent that she was able to feel the poke of his high libido brushing her inner thigh. She squirmed.

Leaning up, his face moved closer to her. Her eyes fluttered close. She felt his breath fanning her neckline before he leaned back and handed her the shaving cream. Grabbing it, she opened the tube and squirted out some on her hand. After she was done applying the cream on his jaw, she picked up the razer and was ready to get it off his handsome face. Her hand however hesitated to move ahead.

"C'mon, don't make me wait.", He said patting on her buttcheek. She jerked straight before gliding the razer down his cheek. His hand travelled up and she felt his rough touch on her bare skin of waist. Damn her for wearing a crop top today!

Her toes curled when his fingers explored further and stopped on her bra strap. She warned him with her eyes and he just shrugged.

"Don't!", She glared.

He replied with a silly smirk.

Shaking her head, she continued the task in her hand. It was turning into a torture for her. A sweet torture.

His teasing fingers pranced around, as if dancing on a melodious tune. His touch loved the smooth surface it discovered. Her skin has the softness of velvet and every inch of his body demanded to taste it.

His fingers traced a curve, and she gulped. When his touch adventured back and landed on her bra strap, she knew he wasn't teasing anymore. And to save herself from anymore torture, she immediately got down from his lap and tossed a towel at him.

"All done! Clean yourself now!", She breathed out before hurrying out of room.

Picking up the towel from his lap, he leaned ahead. Slowly, he pressed it against his neck and wiped off the remaining shaving cream. His eyes narrowed dangerously as certain someone invaded his thoughts, disrupting the moment of peace. His grip around the towel tightened, ready to shred it in pieces. Teeth clamped together, gritting against each other.

"You're in for a hell, Mr. Mathur.", The smile on his face bared large, teeth glistening. A promise of malice, and demeanor vile. Hell was indeed coming for the one who dared to stand before him.

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Kabir strode in with purposeful steps. His leather shoes smashing against the tiled floor, announcing his arrival. He spotted her near the elevator, her body slightly inclined back. And the mosquito like man fluttering around her made his blood boil. But he held himself back from grabbing the pole like man and throwing him out.

Just this morning he had suggested that they announce the reality of their relationship to world. But she was not ready. And he was hesitant to go against her decision. All that she wants, he's ready to do. Even if it means tolerating few men asking for her attention.

"Shut up, Mr. Mehrotra!", He heard her hiss when he reached near elevator.

Mehrotra?

His arrival made the huge building embrace pin drop silence. Everyone dispersed away, knowing that the ruler deserves utmost respect and space. He stood in front of elevator, hiding his dark gaze under the cover of shades.

His phone beeped. Fishing it out from the inner pocket of his blazer, he unlocked it.

His lips curved up, and he cleared his throat to stop it from morphing into a grin. He shook his head at her silly antics. She's saying it as if she didn't noticed him in morning.

When the elevator took too long to come, he lost his patience.

"Why the hell is it taking so much time!?", He asked Karthik. "Didn't I tell to fix it?", He demanded as he turned around and raised his brow at the squirming employees. "Who's the head of maintenance department!?"

"Vijay Patil.", A female employee squeaked.

"I want him here now!", Kabir gritted and Karthik immediately dialled a number.

Minutes later, a half bald man stood in front of him. From the looks of his face, he looked ready to pee under the scrutinizing gaze.

"When was the last time I told to get it done?", Kabir asked.

"A month ago, Sir.", The old man who had first complaint about it raised his head.

"Well, are you ignoring my order deliberately?", Kabir took a predatory step ahead.

"N-No, Sir.", Mr. Patil shook his head while the other employees scattered behind fearfully. It seems the polite and easy to go boss has disappeared within a span of week.

"Then!?", Kabir barked.

"I- I forgot, sir.", He stuttered.

Kabir chuckled. "Well then, when you don't receive your salary at the end of the month, know that I forgot to count you in as my faithful employee.", He patted Vijay's shoulder and the man trembled under his firm touch. "Be thankful, I didn't fire you for this!", He spat out before walking past him and taking the stairs.

"Again the stairs!", Karthik grumbled under his breath. Throwing an angry glance at the problem creator, he followed his boss.

Rivaah frowned at the scene that happened before her eyes.

Is he- Is he turning back into that old Kabir?

She gulped and shook her head. No! She'll make sure this doesn't happen.

"He's crude.", Someone mumbled beside her and she turned to find Rishabh eyeing the spot where Kabir stood a minute ago hatefully.

"And that's why he's the Boss.", She spat out defensively. When he looked at her with suspicious eyes, she turned her gaze ahead.

"Having hots for the boss, huh?", He chuckled near her ear.

"Shut you disgusting mouth! It stinks!", She replied snidely.

"It's not me who's stinking. It's you who's burning with need. I can see that. These flushed cheeks, bothered eyes that were fixed on him just a moment ago.", He commented as he looked at her in repulse. "But darling, he won't even bat an eyelash to a middle class woman like you.", He added, his pitiful words contradicting the mock in his brown eyes.

Rivaah attempted to hide her snicker and hummed sympathetically for his sweet belief before heading inside the elevator as soon as it opened.

She wanted to focus on the presentation that she has to give day after tomorrow. Already she has wasted a lot of time, her team must be laughing at her. She needs to earn their trust back.

Kabir breathed out in annoyance as soon as he saw the lady occupying his office.

"Morning, Mr. Raichand!", She stood up cheerfully.

"Morning, Miss. Mehrotra.", He said forcing a polite tone before opening the buttons of his blazer and sitting down.

"I've brought the blueprints with me. Would you like to see?", She asked raising up the cylindrical container for him to see.

A month ago he had asked Karthik to appoint the best interior designer to redecorate his whole office. Rivaah is pregnant and he wants to give her every comfort that her current cabin may not be providing her. But his unfortunate luck, Lavanya Mehrotra was anything but professional. She was clingy, persistent and somewhat desperate. May be he was too polite for her before, but now he won't hold himself back.

"Do you have animated visualization? I would like some of my important staff to see it.", He said and she nodded after a small pause.

"Sure. This evening?"

"Three pm. Sharp.", He said dismissing her and opened his laptop.

"How about lunch-"

"Not interested, Miss. Mehrotra.", He said without raising up his head. He had always made excuses to not hurt her, but hell to politeness now.

"I've never seen a guy who's so hard to get.", She said, a tone of agitation lacing her words.

"By any chance do you have any relative working here?", He asked ignoring her statement.

"No.", She said before grabbing her stuff and storming out.

Through intercom, he summoned Karthik in his office.

"Do you've everything ready?", He asked and Karthik nodded curtly.

"He's on video conference now."

"Lead the way then.", Kabir stood up and walked out of office. In the meeting room, he sat down at the end of the extremely large mahogany table, waiting for the projector to start.

A minute later he was smiling politely at the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bhatia. "Good morning, Sir.", He addressed in a gentle yet curt tone.

"Morning, Mr. Raichand. Your assistant said that you've something important to talk?", Mr. Bhatia leaned ahead, propping his elbows on the desk.

"Indeed.", He mumbled. "My one good friend is a hard-working police officer, Sir. I would like to ask for a favor from you.", He said, a large smile intact on his sinfully gorgeous face.

"Oh, may I know who he is?"

"Ranvijay Mathur.", Kabir said.

"He really is one of the best we've got.", The DCP praised.

"I know. But he's married now. And I don't want him to get so busy in his profession that he forgets his family, sir. So I want you to transfer him somewhere quiet. Where he don't have to bat an eyelash.", Kabir added and the DCP choked on his spit.

"Mr. Rai-Raichand, did he do something to you? I can warn him for you."

"No, Mr. Bhatia. I want him transferred to some peaceful place. In fact, I've one in my mind.", Kabir smiled menacingly. "What is it Karthik?", He asked looking at his assistant.

"It is a small village in Satara district. I'll send him the details through email later.", Karthik immediately replied.

"That's right. No chaos of city. A small rural town in Satara. How's that sound? Or if you're hesitant, then I can give a call to Chief Minister. Should I?", He asked, his eyes narrowing in a dreadful challenge at end.

"N-No. I'll do that.", Mr. Bhatia stuttered.

"By the way Mr. Bhatia, Dehradun is known to be school capital of India. Many rich kids study here for their bright future. That reminds me you've two young grandkids too? Right?"

Mr. Bhatia nodded hastily.

"Send me their details and I'll talk with the trusties. Your grandkids deserves the best.", He smiled, a grin of victory engulfing his crafted features before he stood up, nodded at the man and left the meeting room.

As he headed for his office, he noticed Karthik smiling gleefully at him.

"The reason behind your smile?"

"It feels as if I'm working with my real boss again!", Karthik said, his tone curving in excitement.

Kabir chuckled.

I hope you enjoy your rest of life doing nothing, Mr. Best Officer.

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