PROLOGUE - DANGEROUS AND DRAMATIC

11:47 PM. Malhotra Mansion.

The party was loud, elite, and full of Delhi's richest people. Everyone was drunk on champagne and gossip.

Everyone except Tara Javeri.

She stood near the balcony in a bold, deep red dress — not because she wanted to wear it, but because Nayan forced her to. "You need to look hot, Tara. Reyansh's parties are not for your boring kurtas."

And she hated that he was right.

Because Reyansh Malhotra hadn't taken his eyes off her since she walked in.

From across the hall, Reyansh Malhotra, 32, stood with Adidev, his best friend and business partner, a glass of whiskey untouched in his hand. Sharp black suit, sleeves slightly folded, jaw clenched.

The city's biggest playboy. The man who could have anyone.

But tonight, he only wanted one girl.

Tara Javeri. 23. Rich family, dangerous attitude, and his current obsession.

"Reyansh, you are staring again," Adidev whispered, smirking. "She's going to kill you. You know she hates you, right?"

Reyansh didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on Tara — on the way the red dress hugged her, on the way she rolled her eyes at every guy who tried to talk to her.

"She knows I'm a playboy," he finally said, his voice low, rough. "She thinks I am going to play with her too."

"And will you?" Adidev asked.

Reyansh took a sip, his eyes still dark on her. "I stopped playing the day I saw her with Nayan. Now I just... want her. In my house. In my bed. In my life."

On the balcony, Tara felt that stare again. That dangerous, possessive, burning stare that made her angry and nervous at the same time.

She turned. Their eyes met.

He didn't look away. He never did.

He lifted his glass slightly towards her — a silent, sexy, sinful toast.

Tara's breath hitched. She wanted to hate him. She did hate him.

Then why did her heart start beating so fast every time he looked at her like she was already his?

She turned away quickly, cheeks red.

And Reyansh Malhotra smiled for the first time that night.

A dangerous, dramatic, obsessed smile.

Because Tara Javeri, 23, thought she could hate him forever.

And Reyansh Malhotra, 32, knew she would be in his arms before the night ended.