Chapter 21

The night stretched wide and open, thick with warmth, scented with jasmine and earth.

Aria looked down at the clear waters of the pool, the surface shimmering under the golden glow of lanterns. The soft hum of the night blended with the gentle ripple of water, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside her.

Her fingers toyed with the gloves resting on her lap.

She should stay. She should let Kabir play his games alone.

But Paul's voice echoed in her head. "Tell me again how you're not into him."

She exhaled sharply.

Screw it.

She was going.

The garage was dimly lit, the polished floors reflecting the low overhead lights. The sleek cars lined up in neat precision, a silent display of power and wealth.

And in the middle of it, leaning against the midnight blue Aston Martin DB12, stood Kabir Oberoi.

Aria slowed her steps.

He wasn't dressed like himself.

No tailored suit, no crisp white shirt. Instead, he wore a plain black t-shirt, joggers, and sneakers. The look was so effortless, so casual, that it caught her off guard. His salt-and-pepper hair was slightly tousled, like he'd run his hands through it more times than he wanted to admit.

Kabir noticed her gaze lingering, one brow lifting in amusement.

"Surprised?"

Aria crossed her arms, fighting the small smirk threatening to form. "Didn't think you owned anything that didn't require cufflinks."

His lips twitched. "Even I take a night off, Aria."

She gave him a slow, assessing nod. Not mocking, not teasing—just… acknowledging. The way his arms looked more relaxed at his sides, the way there was no stiff business-like stance to his posture. She wasn't sure if it suited him or unsettled her more.

His eyes flickered downward, landing on the gloves in her hands. "You actually showed."

"You didn't think I would?"

He tilted his head, pushing off the car with an ease that made her want to roll her eyes. "I had my doubts. But then again…" He nodded at the gloves.

She clenched her jaw. "I don't take gifts lightly."

"I don't give them lightly either."

The words hung between them, heavier than they should have been.

Then, without another word, Kabir extended the key fob, holding it between them.

"Let's go," he said.

Aria took the keys, deliberately brushing her fingers against his as she did.

She wasn't sure who drew in a sharper breath.

But she knew one thing.

This drive?

It was about to be a very bad idea.

And she was going to do it anyway.

The road stretched before them, winding through the carefully curated landscapes of Veda Islands. The pools, the sandstone courtyards, the banyan trees—all blurred past them as the car roared forward, hugging each turn with precision.

Aria felt the familiar rush, the one she always craved but never had the time for. The night air whipped through the open window, tangling in her hair as she pushed the accelerator just a little harder.

Beside her, Kabir watched.

Not the road.

Her.

His gaze stayed steady, taking in every movement of her hands on the wheel, the way she leaned into the speed like she was made for it. Never had he seen something or someone so beautiful. 

"You drive like you're running from something," he said, voice low.

Aria flicked a glance at him. "And you talk like you know me."

"Maybe I do."

She let out a sharp breath, but it wasn't quite a laugh. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

Fifteen minutes later, Kabir directed her toward a hidden stone path, leading higher up the property. The car slowed to a stop, and Aria stepped out, her breath catching slightly.

Veda Islands stretched beneath them, pools reflecting the moonlight, golden lanterns dotting the pathways between lush greenery. The water bodies looked almost still from up here, mirroring the vast night sky. It was quiet, the kind of quiet that made everything else fade away.

And then she noticed the setup.

A low wooden table. Cushions scattered around. A bottle of wine, a simple spread of fruit and cheese.

She turned to him, arms crossing. "This was planned."

Kabir leaned against the car, arms mirroring hers, expression unreadable. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

She hesitated, then sat down smiling at him, the breeze strong enough to make the hem of her shirt flutter against her mid-riff, her hair wild around her face.

Kabir joined her, pouring them both a glass of wine.

For a while, they just sat there.

Watching the pools shimmer below.

Listening to the wind move through the trees.

Letting the silence stretch between them.

Then, quietly, Kabir said, "I built this place for myself."

Aria glanced at him, waiting.

He took a slow sip of wine before continuing. "I didn't inherit an empire. I built one from ground up."

Something in his tone made her sit up a little straighter.

He wasn't just telling her this. He was letting her in.

"My father was a brutal man," Kabir said, voice calm, but there was something dark underneath. "Power-hungry. Controlling. He made sure we never forgot who was in charge."

Aria's stomach twisted.

He hadn't spoken about his father before.

Not like this.

"When my mother died, it was cancer, I was seventeen. She was the only softness in my world, the only part that didn't feel like a fight. And I lost her. There was nothing I could do to save her." His jaw clenched for a second before he released a slow breath. "After that, I made a promise to myself. I'd never be in a position where I needed anything from anyone again."

The words settled between them, heavy and sharp.

Control.

It wasn't just about business. It wasn't about power.

It was about survival.

Aria swallowed, staring down at the deep red of her wine before setting the glass aside.

Without thinking, she reached forward, her fingers brushing lightly against his forearm.

Kabir stilled.

His gaze flickered to where their skin touched, then back up to her eyes.

And then—

The wind howled around them, whipping her hair across her face. Kabir reached out, tucking it behind her ear, his touch lingering a second too long.

She should move.

She should say something.

But neither of them did.

Instead, she tilted her chin up.

And Kabir leaned in.

The kiss was slow at first, hesitant, like neither of them was sure if they should.

Then, suddenly, it wasn't slow at all.

His fingers curled around the back of her neck, his lips pressing harder against hers. She twisted her fingers into his shirt, pulling him closer. The scent of him—wood, warmth, something inherently him—filled her senses.

He let out a quiet, almost amused sound against her mouth, and something about it made her push closer, her body pressing against his.

And then—

She pulled back.

Breathless. Stunned. Lost.

Kabir's eyes were darker than she'd ever seen them, his chest rising and falling unevenly.

But he didn't say anything.

Didn't push.

Aria exhaled sharply, looking away. "We should go."

A beat of silence.

Then, softly— "Okay."

No teasing. No smirk.

Just understanding.

And maybe that was the problem.

Because she had no idea what to do with it.