Page 52 of Drunk On Love

“Calm down,” I said softly, trying to steady both of us. “Stay here. I’ll check.”

“No… don’t leave,” she pleaded, clinging even tighter.

“Alright,” I murmured, “I’m not going anywhere.”

The security team, ready to storm the mansion, froze as the main gate creaked open slowly. The tense silence was deafening as everyone’s eyes turned toward the shadows moving closer.

“Whoa, whoa… take it easy,” I said, signaling the guards to lower their guns as the people coming out of the gates finally emerged into the light.Kartik and Meeta.

“What the hell are you two doing here?” I snapped, waving off the security team, who immediately lowered their weapons but kept a watchful stance.

“Hello to you, too, buddy!” Kartik said, raising his hands in mock surrender as he walked toward me.

Kiara’s grip loosened as her trembling hands fell to her sides. She stepped back a little, nervously rubbing her palms together.

My eyes flicked back to her. “They are friends…”

Meeta stepped forward with a teasing smile and hugged me. “Thanks for thegrandwelcome,” she said, glancing at the tense security team. “You outdid yourself this time.”

I squeezed Kiara’s shoulder gently, a small gesture to anchor her. “Come on, let’s get inside.”

She nodded, her shoulders finally loosening a little as she turned to the overly affectionate couple. Offering a small, polite smile, she extended her hand. “I… I thought someone broke in,” Kiara murmured, still rubbing her hands together.

Before Meeta could respond, I interjected firmly, “They’re not going inside the main house. They’ll stay in the cottage.”

Kiara’s smile faltered as she turned to me. “Why?”

“Trust me, I’m doing you a favor,” I said, shaking my head and gesturing toward Kartik and Meeta. “The level ofPDA they’re about to display will mess with your head.”

Kiara raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed. “At least someone here believes in romance.”

“I like her!” Meeta beamed at me.

“Yeah, well, you two are staying in the cottage. No arguments,” I said, motioning to the servant to take their luggage.

13 ♥? Kiara

Oh God, I can’t do this. I’ve got an important interview in the morning, and yet here I am—wide awake, staring at the ceiling like it’s suddenly the most fascinating thing in the world.

Damn it, Elena!

The clock keeps mocking me—10… 11… 12… 1… 2—and I’m still here.Come on, Kiara,you can do this. It’s simple, right? Just close your eyes and—nope. Still awake.

Fantastic.

Frustrated, I jumped out of bed, grabbed my phone, and rushed out of my room. No idea where I’m going at this hour, but here I am, red-eyed, in lacy satin sleepwear, knocking on a near stranger’s door at 3 AM, and God knows what kind of mess my hair is in.

Dear neurosurgeons, please abduct me ASAP—and sign me up for brain surgery. While you’re at it, go ahead and remove the nerve cells responsible for these insane midnight decisions.

The door opened, and there he was—Manav. A glass of whiskey in one hand, some files in the other, and absolutely no shirt. Just a very distracting, very toned torso that I wasnot supposed to notice.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Are you trying to kill people?”

“No…”