Page 86 of Carnal Games

Like always, he locks me in a stance and waits for me to speak first. As though he secretly enjoys making me squirm. The treacherous part of me loves the possibility. I let the door close behind me before uttering, “Arjun said you wanted to meet me.”

“Sit.” His tone is all businesslike as he points to the chair across from him.

Smoothing my skirt even though there’s no wrinkle, I close the distance. The clapping noise of my heels is deafening in the pin-drop silence of the room. I relax once I take a seat with my back straight and cross my legs.

It’s a necessity to relieve the ache between them caused by his rapt attention.

Pressing one long finger on a closed manila envelope, he slides it toward me. “It’s your contract. Read it over. It’s pretty standard but let me know if you have questions.”

“Okay.”

Having been through the same formalities atSahara Times, I know all the important details to double-check. I quickly skim over the contents until my jaw drops when I reach the section mentioning my monthly salary. It’s… it’s in six figures. It has to be a mistake.

“Umm, Kian, I think there’s a typo.”

“Where?” He takes the papers from me, squinting at them.

“My salary. I think you added an extra zero.”

“No,” he replies casually, giving it back to me. “It’s correct.”

I continue staring at him dumbfounded. “But that’s… that’s a lot.”

“It’s standard for an executive assistant, especially those who work for me. You’ll know it’s fair once you take over the responsibilities. In fact, you’d want to renegotiate after realizing how demanding the job will be. How demandingIwill be. Being my shadow won’t be easy. I’d expect you to be available at all times to me. I own you for the next five months.” Something dark and deviant swirls in the depths of his eyes as he rasps, “You, Miss Mannan, will be wishing you had listened to my warning when I told you to keep your distance.”

My heart tripping over itself, I bite back a smile.

My scary reaper is deadly wrong.

He thinks he’s scaring me or that I’ll run away with my tail tucked between my legs. Little does he know his words are music to my ears.

He’s serving my fantasy on a silver platter.

He owns me?Yes, please.

Own me. Keep me. Bind me to you.

But for five months?No. Make it for eternity. I won’t settle for anything less.

I return his challenging stare with one of my own. “Need I remind you, Mr. Singhania, that it was your idea to hire me. You could’ve gotten rid of me after one interview.”

“Somehow I doubt that,” he murmurs, rubbing a finger along his square jaw.

“Then maybe stop pushing me away.”

“Sign the contract and I’ll have no choice.”

“Pen, please,” I rasp. He wordlessly hands over the fountain pen he was using. The smooth metal still hot from his touch. Looking below, I sign my name on the dotted line. Sliding the contract back to him, I can’t resist whispering, “I’m yours now.”

His gaze scorches me alive all the way to the door as I leave his office.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Iris

On the second day, I’m disappointed when I don’t run into Kian while leaving for work. He’s hardly ever home. If he’s not at his headquarters, he’s at The Mirage.

A part of me wonders if he’s avoiding me.