Page 41 of One Hellish Love

Pallavi and Sanjay left, satisfied with their plan, leaving Kashish to return to her work. She pushed aside the irritation that was beginning to creep in. She had a job to finish, and tonight’s party would have to wait.

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At 7:00 p.m., Raheja Designs stood eerily quiet, the usual hustle long gone as the office had emptied out for the evening. Rudra, having just wrapped up a video conference, stepped out of his office, planning to head to the party alone. He had already sent Shekhar ahead with Lavina. Standing by the elevator, hewaited for the doors to open when the soft sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Curious, he turned — and froze.

Walking toward him was Kashish, and she looked nothing like the woman he was used to seeing. She wore a sleek, knee-length black dress that hugged her figure in ways he had never quite seen before. Her usually simple attire was replaced by something that made his breath hitch. The fabric shimmered in the dim lighting, her curves accentuated perfectly. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves, bouncing lightly as she walked. She wasn’t just beautiful. She was...breathtaking.

For the first time in a long time, Rudra felt something stir deep within him — something primal. Desire. It caught him off guard, like a spark igniting in the pit of his stomach. He had admired her before, sure. He always respected her brilliance, her work ethic, her tenacity. But this—this was different. It wasn’t just admiration now. It was raw, sudden, and intensely physical. His gaze trailed down her body, lingering a little too long on the smooth expanse of her legs, the way the dress shimmered against her skin. His mouth went dry. He had always kept a lid on his feelings, but right now, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

Kashish, unaware of the intensity of his thoughts, shifted under his stare. His gaze was penetrating, searing through her, and it made her feel something strange. The dress didn’t bother her—she wasn’t uncomfortable wearing it. In fact, she felt confident in it. But the wayhewas looking at her? Like he was seeing her for the first time—that was unsettling. His eyes held a heat that made her pulse quicken, and she couldn’t understand why. She fidgeted, trying to focus on anything but the way Rudra’s attention lingered on her, making her skin feel hotter with each passing second.

“Why are you still here?” he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

She hesitated to answer, which only irritated him more.

“I’m your boss, Kashish. Answer me,” he demanded, his tone sharp.

She glared at him, hating how he used his authority to force a response. “I had some extra work to finish.”

“And your team?”

“They’ve already left,” she answered curtly.

Rudra’s jaw clenched at the thought of her staying behind alone. It wasn’t just the vulnerability of the office being deserted. It was the fact thatshewas here, in that dress, where anyone could have seen her like this. A protective surge mixed with possessiveness rushed through him. He hated feeling this way, but he couldn’t deny it.

“You’re the lead. You should make your team work with you, not slog here alone,” he reprimanded.

She shot him a defiant look. “My work was pending, not theirs.”

The elevator arrived, and they stepped inside, but the tension only seemed to intensify in the confined space. Kashish could feel his eyes on her again, but this time, it wasn’t just scrutiny. It was something else—something that made her skin tingle and her heart race. She wasn’t used to this. Was this...desire she saw in his eyes? And why did it make her stomach twist in knots?

“I’m heading to the party. Come with me,” he ordered, his voice low.

Kashish laughed, a harsh, sarcastic sound. “Are you delusional? Just because you’re my boss doesn’t mean you have any say over my life outside of work. Sanjay is taking me on his bike. I don’t need your ride.”

Every muscle in Rudra’s body tensed at her words.

“You’re not going on a bike in that dress,” he warned.

Kashish stopped, stunned by his audacity. Who did he think he was, telling her what to do? “You can’t stop me,” she retorted.

The elevator doors slid open, and she walked briskly toward the exit. Rudra clenched his jaw, frustration boiling inside him. Kashish threw a glance back at Rudra, aware of his seething gaze on her as she climbed onto the bike. She knew he was watching, and for a split second, something in her heart flickered. She wasn’t sure why his reaction mattered to her, but it did. Sanjay grinned at her before starting the engine, and they sped out of the office lot, leaving Rudra standing there, consumed by an emotion he wasn’t ready to name yet.

Rudra’s driver pulled up to the curb. Without hesitation, Rudra slid into the passenger seat.

“Follow that bike,” he commanded. “Keep your distance. I don’t want them to see us.”

He wasn’t following out of jealousy—at least, that’s what he told himself. He just needed to make sure she was safe. As he trailed them, he noticed Sanjay talking to her, making her laugh. That laugh. Would she ever laugh like that because of him? It felt like an impossible dream, a mission he would never accomplish.

The drive took thirty minutes. Sanjay parked the bike, and they both entered the party venue together. Rudra arrived shortly after but was stopped by Lavina and Shekhar, who immediately pulled him into conversations with other guests. He kept his distance but couldn’t help his eyes drifting toward Kashish. She was mingling with her team, talking to Tanuja, who greeted her with a warm hug.

Tanuja’s words reached Rudra’s ears. “That’s a lovely dress, Kashish.”

Kashish smiled modestly. “It’s one of my designs.”

Tanuja beamed. “It’s brilliant. You’ve got a genius mind. Where have you been hiding all this time? Or maybe Rudra wanted to keep you all for himself.”

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