Chapter 10: The Truth, the Ride, and Everything In Between

[Same Night | Rooftop Apartment | Kartikey's POV]

The city glittered behind her, but Kartikey's eyes never left Nancy.

She stood just a breath away, her soft champagne gown shimmering in the rooftop light, her heels discarded beside her, her expression unreadable but determined.

"I need to tell you something," she said.

He smiled, gently brushing her wind-tousled hair away."Don't tell me you're a vampire or something. I might still be into that."

She chuckled... and then slowly exhaled.

"No jokes. Not this time."

She reached into her clutch, pulled out a sleek black business card, and handed it to him.

Nancy AroraCEO, President & Chairwoman — Arora Corp. (Yes iI Changes The Company Name. This Name is easy to Remember.)Global Innovation. Human Solutions.

Kartikey blinked once. Then twice.

His fingers clenched the card unconsciously.The name hit him like thunder.

Arora Corp.The tech behemoth, the pharma innovator, the AI research leader—it was everywhere. She wasn't just successful. She ran the world.

He looked up. "You... you're that Nancy Arora?"

She nodded slowly.

"And you... dropped me to work in your own car... while I was talking about being average?"He laughed suddenly, the disbelief cracking into his words. "You let me walk to work!"

She bit her lower lip guiltily.

"I didn't want you to treat me differently," she said. "And I didn't want to fall for someone who only wanted me because of what I own."

Kartikey looked at her with so many thoughts in his eyes shock, admiration, even a little fear.

"So… you knew everything about me?" he asked finally.

"I had to be sure," she said. "I looked into your past, education, visa status, criminal records"

"I don't have criminal records!"

"Exactly. See? You passed," she smirked. "Barely."

He raised a brow. "You really did your research."

"I run a trillion-dollar company, Kartikey. I can't afford risks in business... or in love."

There was silence for a second. Then he said, softly:

"So... wanna go for a ride on this death machine you bought me, Madam CEO?"

Nancy smiled slowly, eyes glinting.

"Only if you drive like you mean it."

[9:58 PM | Seoul Outskirts | BMW M1000 RR Ride]

Kartikey zipped up his leather jacket. Nancy had already changed into dark jeans, a snug black turtleneck, and a leather coat of her own.

She looked like sin on two legs.

He handed her a helmet, then whispered, "Hold on tight."

Nancy mounted the bike behind him, slipping her arms around his waist.

He smirked. "Tighter."

She responded by gripping his chest and leaning close, her breath hot against his neck.

"Don't think i don't know you just wanna feel my arms around your waist right now perv."

The engine roared.

Then they were gone.

[The Ride | POV Shift Between Both]

Kartikey:Every gear shift was adrenaline.The night air cut across his face, the engine growling under him like a beast.

And herHer thighs pressed against his. Her hands moving from his stomach to his chest, then back again.

He almost missed a turn when she whispered, "You feel good in leather."

Nancy:She had never felt so free.Not even in her penthouse.Not even in boardrooms where everyone listened.

Here, wrapped around him, wind biting her cheeks, she felt... alive.

She leaned forward, lips brushing his ear.

"Next fuel stop. I want you to kiss me like you mean it."

Kartikey:He grinned like a devil.

"Dangerous promises, Nancy."

[Fuel Station | 10:22 PM | Banter & Tension]

The fuel pump glowed under bright lights.

Kartikey dismounted and took off his helmet.

Nancy followed, stretching like a cat. Her figure drew the attention of every guy at the station.

Kartikey noticed.And walked over.

"Don't stretch like that unless you want to start a war," he muttered, possessively slipping an arm around her waist and squeezing her hip.

Nancy smirked."Jealous?"

"I'm territorial," he whispered, pressing a kiss just below her ear.

Her breath hitched. "Well then, possess away."

She turned to pay for the fuel, but Kartikey had already handed over his card.

"Excuse me?" she frowned.

"My turn to be the sugar daddy," he winked.

"Do not call yourself that. It's weird."

They laughed, bumping into each other on the way back to the bike.

She wrapped her arms around him again, this time lower.

Right at his waistline.

"Drive fast," she whispered, lips against his spine.

"You'll regret that," he said, starting the engine again.

[10:50 PM | Empty Coastal Highway | Intimate Sequence Begins]

The road was deserted. No lights. Just moon and machine.

Kartikey stopped the bike beside a secluded overlook near the ocean. Waves could be heard crashing faintly in the distance.

He turned off the engine. Removed his helmet.

Nancy climbed off too. Her breath visible in the night air.

Then silence.

"You cold?" he asked.

"A little," she said, voice softer now.

He wrapped his jacket around her shoulders.

Then stepped close.

Too close.

"You've been driving me crazy," he whispered, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Since the day we met."

Nancy looked up, her eyes burning now.

"You've been making me feel human again."

She reached up. Touched his face.

And then, they kissed again.

But this time… it wasn't tender.

It was raw.Hands roaming.Breath catching.She gripped his hair as his hands found her waist, then her hips, pulling her closer until there was no space left.

Their kiss broke for a second just enough for her to pull off the jacket and drop it to the ground.

"You sure?" he asked, breathing heavily.

She nodded once. "Here. Now."

They moved to the back of the bike.

Kartikey sat, pulled her onto his lap.His hands slid beneath her top, fingers brushing skin.

She gasped. Bit her lip.

The moonlight painted her curves, the cold air making everything sharper more sensitive.

He kissed her collarbone. Her neck. Then lower.

Her hands slipped beneath his shirt, feeling every hard line of muscle.

They lost themselves in each other.

Not rushed.

Not dirty.

Just real, passionate, chaotic love under the stars.

[11:43 PM | Lying Beside the Bike | After]

They lay together on the blanket he'd pulled from the bike compartment. Her head on his chest, his fingers tracing lazy circles on her bare back.

"You know," he said softly, "you being a billionaire kinda makes me feel stupid."

"You're not," she whispered. "You're what I was missing."

He looked down. She met his eyes.

"I don't care about the money," he said. "But I do care about you."

Her smile was soft now. Real.

"I know."

He kissed her again, this time slow, like sealing something sacred.

They lay there until the stars shifted.

Two souls, now tangled far beyond just lips or bodies.