Kian walked in-smiling like sunshine-holding a cupcake in his hand.

He came straight to her and grabbed the notebook.

"Eat this cupcake, princess," he said softly.

"Don't worry about your work."

Before she could protest, he sat down and wrote a huge 'I AM SORRY' across the center of each page-

thirty times.

He shut the notebook and said,

"Done. Now breathe."

Mini's eyes softened.

For a moment, she didn't feel alone.

---

AFTER THE SEMINAR

The seminar ended.

Students returned, loud and excited.

Kian sat beside Mini like he always did.

Across the room, Rohini-Kian's ex-watched them with burning jealousy.

Her friends whispered angrily, but they stayed silent.

Because no one wanted a problem with Kian.

The class settled.

And then the door opened again.

Aryansh Adity Roy walked in.

His presence sucked the air out of the room.

"Hello, students," he said calmly.

"Nice to meet you again."

His voice was smooth, powerful-everyone sat straighter without meaning to.

"If you pass the specialized exam," he continued,

"you will get a high-paid job under me."

Gasps. Whispers. Excitement.

He turned to leave...

But before stepping out,

his eyes found Mini.

She was sitting beside Kian.

For a split second, his gaze froze-dark, unreadable.

Then he walked away without a word.

Mini didn't understand why her heartbeat suddenly changed.

But Kian noticed her silence.

---

AFTER CLASS

Kian dropped Mini at her workplace on his bike.

She changed into her delivery uniform, tied her apron, and started working.

No complaints.

No excuses.

Just survival.

During her break, she slipped into a nearby sports shop-

the same one she had checked online a hundred times.

She needed a football kit for Dhruv.

She started looking at the prices.

Every kit was expensive.

Her throat tightened-

she only had some personal savings she kept aside for Kian's birthday.

But her brother came first.

She decided she would buy only the shoes.

Even then, she had to think twice.

Good-quality shoes didn't match her budget.

She stood there staring, feeling helpless for a moment she never showed.

Then-

a cold hand touched her shoulder gently.

A deep voice said from behind,

"Hey... nice to see you again."

Mini turned slowly.

It was Aryansh

Standing right behind her.

His eyes didn't look surprised.

Almost like...

he was expecting to find her there.

Mini froze for a second and whispered softly,

"Sir... you're here."

Aryansh raised a brow, calm as ever.

"Yes. Why? I can't buy anything?"

Mini couldn't stop the tiny smile that escaped her lips.

He stepped closer, eyes scanning her face.

"What do you want?"

Mini shook her head quickly,

"Nothing... I'm just here to keep cool in the AC. Actually outside is so hot..."

Aryansh didn't react to the lie.

His gaze slowly dropped to her phone screen.

"Oh... football kit."

His voice was low.

"Nice. Come. Do some shopping."

Mini's heart jumped.

She tried explaining, her voice small but desperate.

"Sir, I can't- I don't have-"

But Aryansh had already picked the most expensive, best-quality kit in the store.

Without asking.

"Okay," he said casually, "I'm going to the billing."

Mini panicked and ran, standing right in front of him, blocking his way.

"Please... I can't afford it."

Aryansh leaned a little closer, eyes dark with amusement.

"Hmm. Nice.

So you're calling me for a pizza date?

Okay. I'm ready."

Only then Mini realized-

she was still in her pizza shop uniform.

Heat rushed to her cheeks.

Her embarrassment was written all over her face.

Before she could move back,

Aryansh held her hand.

Firm. Warm. Unshakable.

Without giving her a chance to protest,

he walked her to the billing counter.

He handed over his black credit card-

the kind that doesn't have a limit.

The payment was done in seconds.

He turned and held the bag out to her.

Mini stared, completely shocked.

She tried to refuse, her voice trembling,

"No... I can't take this-"

Aryansh cut her of gently,

"Maybe you need it.

So keep it. Like a gift."

There was no space to argue.

No space to breathe.

Mini finally took the kit-

but before accepting it fully, she lifted her eyes and said softly,

"Then... let's have pizza.

In my money."

Aryansh didn't smile-

but something in his eyes shifted.

Like the beginning of a secret.

---

Mini took Aryansh to the small pizza shop where she worked. The place wasn't fancy-simple chairs, warm lights, and the usual smell of baked dough. But for Mini, this shop was where she spent half her life.

Aryansh sat down, his presence instantly making the small shop feel even smaller.

"Sit with me. And eat," he said calmly, but there was a certain firmness in his tone.

Mini hesitated, then sat slowly.

He leaned forward, his voice dropping, "Aur plzz tell me... Tumhari vo halat kisne ki thi?”

[Who did that to you?]

Mini's heart skipped. Her throat felt tight.

She looked down and whispered, "Rohini... and her friends. Actually I work under Rohini's father's pizza shop... so I can't take her name."

Her voice was small, careful, like a girl trying not to create more trouble.

Aaryansh jaw tightened. He whispered back, "Oky."

For a few seconds, he didn't speak. Then he asked,

"One more thing... why were you not in the seminar today?"

Mini swallowed. "I was punished."

He stopped eating immediately. His eyes sharpened.

"Who touched you?"

"No one," she answered quickly, shaking her head. "Actually... my class professor punished me because I was late for his lecture."

Aryansh smirked slightly, leaning back.

"Oooh... punishment..."

Mini frowned. "Why are you smiling like this?"

He didn't answer that. His expression shifted, becoming serious again.

"You need a job, right? I'm finding a model for a shoot. Wouldn't you like to do it?"

For a moment, Mini forgot how to breathe.

Her eyes filled with pure happiness.

"A job... under you? Ap sach bol rhe hai

Aryansh reply yess , Sach mai .

Yess i will do it .. thanku Aryansh sir-"

"Call me Aryansh," he interrupted, his voice low and direct.

She blinked, nodded.

"Mini... myself Mini," she introduced shyly.

All day her heart floated. She didn't just walk home-she ran, full of excitement. She bought sweets for her family. When she reached home, Dhruv was waiting. The second he saw the football kit, he froze... then he burst with joy. His smile, his excitement, the way he kissed each item-Mini felt her chest warm up.

Her whole family glowed with happiness.

Her mom asked, "Beta, how did you get all this? And sweets?"

Mini answered proudly, "Mom, I get a very good job from a very reputed businessman..."

Her mom finally saw her daughter relaxed-happy-hopeful for the first time in months.

That relief showed in her smile.

---

✨At Roy's glamour company.

The next day, Mini wore the white shirt and black formals Kian had gifted her, paired with black sandals. Her heartbeat was loud, fast, restless. She entered Mirror Building, took the lift to the 22nd floor-the top floor. A place she never imagined reaching.

Her palms were sweating, but hope in her eyes was brighter than fear.

When she reached the floor, she opened a cabin door... and froze.

Aryansh was inside. Alone.

The room was huge, aesthetic, clean... and there was a bed in the center. Marble walls, golden lights, perfect design-everything screamed money and power.

Mini walked in slowly.

"Good morning sir."

"Aryansh," he corrected softly. "Mini... call me Aryansh. Not Sir."

She smiled nervously. "Yes... Aryansh."

He scanned her face.

"Nervous?"

"Yha... I never think about work as a model," she admitted.

He nodded and said, "I have to tell you something. You get paid 5000 per click."

Her happiness dropped instantly.

"Only... 5000 thousand?" I mean one month mai bass 5000.

"No " You get paid 5000 per click."he said casually, leaning back. "If it's less then 10,000 per click-okay. Even by mistake. And if you want 25... I'm ready."

Mini panicked.

"Noo noo I'm ready. Don't pay me this much..."

"Oky," he said. "Start. But one more thing-sign this document. That you're not going to tell anything to anyone."

She sighed, nodded. "Okay."i

"Oky," Aryansh said with a faint smile. "Let's keep it secret."

---

He opened a door and showed her the styling room behind it.

She was not allowed to enter the shoot room without permission.

Mini changed into a white saree-pure, elegant, beautiful-with gold detailing that made her look fragile and breathtaking.

She stepped out and sat on the bed. Aryansh was the photographer today.

Then... he did something unexpected.

He removed his shirt before clicking.

Mini's eyes widened. She looked away instantly, heat crawling up her neck.

Aryansh picked up the camera.

Click.

Then he paused, staring at her.

"I need something," he said.

He took a water spray bottle, walked toward her... slow, steady, intense.

He sprayed water on her.

Mini didn't even blink-she was lost in his eyes. His eyes were deep, dark, dangerously attractive.

Aryansh sat beside her, leaned in slightly... and sprayed water on her chest area. The white net saree turned transparent... revealing the soft cleavage beneath.

Mini's breath hitched. But she still couldn't break eye contact.

Aryansh self-control had been slipping since the moment she walked in-but now... he couldn't fight it.

He grabbed her neck suddenly.

Pinned her to the bed.

Mini froze-scared, shocked, unable to scream.

He moved his hand down to her chest.

And in that

at moment, she understood his intentions.

Her voice finally broke out-raw, terrified.

"Leave me!!"

He didn't move.

She screamed again, louder, clearer.

"No!"

Aryansh stopped.

Something clicked in him.

He moved back immediately, breathing heavy.

Mini tried to run-but her legs were shaking, and she fell on the floor.

She fell on the floor, hitting it hard enough for the sound to echo in that silent, expensive room.

Her breath broke in small, shaky gasps. Her whole body was trembling... not from cold, but from fear that sat like a stone in her chest. Her eyes were wet, big, and lost - like she couldn't understand how everything had changed so fast.

Aryansh looked at her from above... chest rising, jaw tight.

He wasn't angry.

He wasn't even shocked.

He was just... staring at her. As if fighting with his own mind about what he had almost done.

Mini curled her knees in, trying to cover herself with trembling hands. Her voice was stuck in her throat. She wanted to scream again, but her fear had already drained all the strength from her body.

Slowly, Aryansh stepped toward her and crouched down to her level.

His voice came low, rough... but controlled.

"Mini... change your clothes before you run."

His eyes dragged over the water-soaked saree clinging to her chest.

"It's too transparent. It's revealing your soft body... more than you realise."

Mini flinched at his words - like his voice itself burned her skin.

She pushed herself up with shaking hands, stumbling back as fast as she could. Her only thought was: escape.

Nothing else.

She rushed into the changing room and slammed the door shut behind her. Her heartbeat was wild, crashing against her ribs. Tears were rolling before she even realised she was crying.

She searched for her clothes - the simple white shirt and black pants she came in - but they weren't on the chair... not on the hanger... not anywhere.

Her hands moved faster, desperate, flipping every corner of the tiny room.

They were gone.

Only the expensive saree lay there... drenched, transparent, sticking to her skin like a trap she couldn't get out of.

Mini covered her face with her palms and whispered, shaking:

"Please... where are my clothes...?"

Her breath broke again.

Her fear was turning into helplessness... and a strange shame she didn't deserve.

She stood there in only a normal LBM...

Exposed.

Vulnerable.

And completely trapped between what just happened and what she didn't know was coming next.

---

Mini finally spotted something hanging behind the last hook -

a simple yellow long dress, soft cotton, not fancy... but at least it covered her.

With trembling hands, she slipped into it.

Her heartbeat hadn't slowed even for a second.

She opened the door slowly... and the moment she stepped out, she crashed straight into a solid, warm chest.

Aryansh chest.

Mini stumbled back instantly, her eyes widening in fear. She tried to run past him, but Aryansh moved faster.

In one swift motion, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her close enough that she could feel his breath ghosting across her skin.

His lips brushed her ear... and his voice dropped into a dark, low whisper that sent a shiver straight down her spine.

"Don't get scared of me like this... mishri"

Mini froze.

Her breath hitched.

Her knees almost buckled, not from desire - but from sheer fear.

Aryansh grip tightened - not hurting her, but holding her still, making it impossible for her to escape that terrifying closeness.

"I have a deal for you..."

His voice was warm... but twisted.

Gentle... but dangerous.

Mini's heart thudded painfully in her chest.

But then-

Aryansh slowly loosened his hold.

He let her go.

Mini didn't waste even one second - she turned and ran, the yellow dress brushing against her legs as she sprinted toward the door.

Aryansh didn't stop her this time.

He just leaned against the bed frame, threw his head back, and started laughing.

Not a normal laugh.

A slow, dark, dangerous laugh... the kind that comes from a man who already knows he's going to win.

He lay back on the bed, eyes still fixed on the doorway where she escaped, and whispered to himself with a smirk tugging his lips-

"I can't tell you this feeling... I'm dying to press my lips on your lips..."

His fingers slid across his own jaw as he imagined it... imagined her.

Then his voice dropped even lower, honest and threatening at the same time.

"But good things take time."

A slow smile spread on his face.

"Wait for some time... and you'll come to me, little kitten."

He chuckled again, dark and confident.

"Just wait and watch."

---

She walked out of the house in that long yellow dress, heart racing, and ran straight to the nearest park. She sat on a cold bench, hugging herself, trying to collect whatever pieces of her sanity were left. Her breath was uneven... her lips still felt warm from the way he had whispered against her ear.

Just when she tried calming down, her phone buzzed.

HKH Bank:

₹1,10,000 has been credited to your account.

She froze.

Another notification.

"Hey little mini ... this is for you."

Before she could even breathe, another ₹10,000 dropped into her account.

Her phone buzzed again.

"20,000 for your very cute, very flustered face...

And 1 lakh for the way I touched you."

Her hands started shaking.

Not out of fear anymore... but out of the twisted pull he had over her.

Her screen lit up again-this time, a picture.

Aryansh.

Lying on his bed.

Half-shadowed.

Holding her clothes.

The ones she had worn when she arrived.

His hair messy.

His eyes dripping sin.

A slow smirk curving on his lips like he owned every breath she took.

And then she noticed it...

Her heels weren't cheap.

She looked down at her feet.

Christian Louboutin stiletto heels.

She went stiff.

She didn't even realise she was still wearing them.

She didn't even know how they ended up on her feet...

But Aryansh definitely did.

And he wanted her to notice.

---

To be continue.....