Kiara looked at Advait, arms crossed, glaring, "We can be in a forced relationship, but you'll never have me, Advait. I'm not one of your men who follows orders."

Advait smirks, "No, you're not. You're a problem I didn't ask for. But now that I have you, I don't intend to let you go."

Kiara leans forward, voice sharp, "This alliance between our families? It's just ink on paper. I'll find a way out."

Advait chuckled, "Try, sweetheart. But every law you know, I can break. Every door you close, I can kick down."

Kiara's jaw clenches, "You think you own the world because you have money and power?"

Advait leans in, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "No, I own the world because I'm willing to do what weak men won't. And right now, that includes keeping you."

Kiara laughed, "Keeping me? Like some possession?"

Advait grips her wrist, but not harshly, "No. Like a queen who doesn't yet realize she belongs beside her king."

Kiara rips her hand away, "You are not my king. And I am not your queen."

Advait grins, eyes gleaming, "We'll see, sweetheart. We'll see."

Kiara huffed, "You think you can intimidate me?"

Advait leans back in his chair, smirking, "If I wanted to intimidate you, sweetheart, you wouldn't be standing here unharmed."

Kiara clenches her jaw, "Call me that again, and I'll make sure you regret it."

Advait raises an eyebrow, "Feisty. I like that."

Kiara looked at him with hatred in her eyes, "I will never love you."

Advait chuckles darkly, "Who said anything about love? I don't need your love. Just your loyalty."

Kiara glares up at him, "Then you'll be waiting forever."

Advait tilts her chin up with his finger, "Forever is a long time, sweetheart. And I'm a very patient man."

Kiara stares at him, torn between fury and temptation, "And what do you get out of it?"

Advait grins, tilting his head slightly, "You."

⋆. 𐙚 ˚