Page 9 of Wicked Trap

“The protest had turned violent, Miss Shetty,” a policeman stated. “It wasn’t peaceful like you claimed.”

“I told you that the men who threw the stones were not protesters,” Tanvi argued. “Those men were hired to cause trouble. I’m sure Prism Corporation management sent them.”

The policeman frowned, knowing there was a possibility.

“But there’s nothing we can do, Miss Shetty. That area is now declared as a protest-free site. There will be security placed there starting tomorrow.”

She wasn’t shocked by the ruthless corporation’s high-handedness. “It’s a public road! How can they stop anyone from using it?”

“That’s the order, Miss Shetty.”

She gritted her teeth in frustration. “Fine. Then we’ll just find a different site to protest.”

There’s no way she was going to allow Prism Corporation to destroy the park to build a mall.

The policeman sighed. “I guess you can do that.”

After the policeman left, she sent a few more messages. It was to her father’s lawyer she had contacted beforehand. Luckily, her cell phone wasn’t seized.

“I suppose your other hobby is to get arrested, princess,” a familiar deep voice drawled from behind.

Tanvi turned around, and her eyes clashed with a pair of dark ones that looked amused. His mouth was once again twisted into a smirk, flashing one of his dimples.

It was the arrogant man from that morning who bullied her into sharing the taxi. He was inside the jail cell, standing a few feet away with his hands folded casually and leaning against a wall. He wasn’t wearing his sunglasses right then. She was annoyed that without sunglasses, he was all the more handsome.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

“I got arrested too,” he replied. “After my interview, I thought I’d swing by and watch you protest. Unfortunately, the police thought I was a troublemaker like you too.”

She was outraged. “I’m not a troublemaker!”

His mouth twisted into an amused smirk. “Oh yeah? So you are saying normal people get arrested multiple times?”

How did he know she got arrested multiple times?

“It’s obvious that you know your way in and out of jail, princess,” he drawled. “There’s no fear or anxiety on your pretty face, which means someone, most likely your daddy dearest, will come and get you out of this difficult situation as usual.”

Her annoyance grew along with her anger because he was calling her an entitled princess. Before she could snap at the arrogant man, the policeman was back.

“Miss Shetty. Your father’s lawyer is here with the release papers,” he informed.

There was a deep chuckle from behind her, which she knew was the arrogant man. Her cheeks heated despite her anger because his words of her father coming to her rescue were proven true.

She kept her eyes on the policeman. “I hope those release papers include everyone arrested at the protest site. And with the condition that no charges will be filed against any of us.”

The policeman nodded. “Yes, Miss Shetty.”

“Thank you,” she told the policeman.

The jail cells were opened, and the protesters were let out. Tanvi thanked them and apologized for the inconvenience.

A middle-aged woman smiled. “It’s not just your fight, child. We care for the park too. I’ll come wherever you or others organize another protest to save the City Central Park.”

Tanvi felt touched. “Thank you.”

Everyone who was arrested felt similarly passionate about the cause. Everyone except the arrogant man.

“Goodbye, princess,” he drawled. “And thank your father for helping with the release.”

---