Dangerous Billionaire

Collision of Pride

Kabir Roy stood in the dimly lit study of his penthouse, the city’s electric skyline flickering like distant stars behind him. His tailored midnight-blue suit clung perfectly to his broad frame, and the soft silk of his crisp white shirt gleamed subtly under the warm glow of the chandelier. Anger simmered just beneath the surface of his steel-gray eyes, sharp as daggers. How dare she defy him? How could a simple question turn into outright rebellion? To Kabir, losing was not an option—it simply did not exist in his world. The events of this morning churned in his mind, fueling a relentless fury.

The morning sun cast golden hues across the college campus, bathing the sprawling grounds in a warm embrace. The air smelled faintly of crushed marigold petals and freshly cut grass. Kabir, dressed immaculately in a tailored suit, walked beside his close friend and partner, Arjun Khanna, whose casual elegance in a crisp ivory shirt and charcoal trousers contrasted with Kabir’s commanding presence. They were accompanied by Arjun’s younger sister Shikha, a striking woman draped in scarlet chiffon, her bijou earrings glinting in the sunlight.

As they approached the venue of the annual college event, Kabir’s gaze caught a figure that stopped him completely.

Shreya Gupta stood beside Shikha, a vision of poised strength wrapped in a bottle-green anarkali suit embroidered delicately with gold thread that shimmered faintly with each breath. Her dark hair was styled into loose cascading waves, framing her serene yet resolute face. Silver jhumkas complemented the ensemble, catching the sunlight as they swayed gently.

Shikha’s expression was stormy, eyes narrowed and lips pressed thin with jealousy, while Shreya remained composed, almost indifferent to the silent war brewing between them. Kabir watched, intrigue sparking in the depths of his cold eyes. To see such unwavering bravery and poise in someone so young ignited something unexpected within him.

Later that night, under a dark velvet sky studded with distant city lights, Shreya sat alone on the aged stone balustrade of a college bridge. The soft glow of street lamps bathed her figure in a washed-out silver, contrasting starkly against the deep navy of her simple kurti and faded denim jeans. Her hair was pulled loosely at the nape, and her bare face bore the traces of tears—pale and raw.

Her heart throbbed painfully with betrayal. How could Kabir Roy, the man who professed love, break the delicate trust she had offered? Each memory of his words felt like cold fire, searing and relentless. The harsh white beams of a car’s headlights streaked across the path below, drawing closer, threatening to envelop her in finality. Yet beneath that darkness, a stubborn flame of defiance flickered. She would never forgive him—not now. Not ever.

Five months earlier, the frenetic backstage of the college auditorium was alive with vibrant hues. Drapes in teal and vermilion hung from high beams, lanterns floated weightlessly beneath the ceiling, and the gentle murmur of last-minute rehearsals filled the air. Shreya moved with practiced ease, draped in a swirling sky-blue salwar kameez embroidered with delicate white patterns, her poised demeanor disguising the heavy load of responsibility she bore.

Her favorite silver bangles clinked softly as she checked arrangements, blissfully unaware of the storm gathering at the periphery of her carefully ordered life.

Shikha swept over like a tempest—wrapped in a deep indigo chiffon saree, lips bright scarlet, surrounded by her clique. Once her closest friend, Shikha’s warmth had been replaced by venomous bitterness that sharpened every word she spoke.

“Hey sweetie,” Shikha drawled, voice laced with false honey.

Shreya’s reply was curt, voice steady but wary. “What is it, Shikha?”

Shikha’s hand grabbed Shreya’s wrist with hard insistence. “You know Kabir Roy is coming. Don’t even think about stealing him from me. I won’t let you.”

Shreya’s eyes hardened, bravery flickering beneath hurt. “I don’t want him. Take him. I’m done with all this.”

As Shreya pulled away, a shadow lingered nearby—unseen by either woman but burning with interest and growing ire. Kabir Roy, wearing the chill of the night like armor, absorbed every word, every detail.

The stage was set. Under the glimmering chandeliers and sky of twinkling stars, surrounded by the fragrant garlands and glowing lanterns, two worlds were on a sharp and sudden collision course. Kabir’s rigid control and relentless ambition met Shreya’s quiet strength and unwavering resolve. Pride and passion intertwined, setting the stage for a transformation neither could have predicted.

In the heart of the college festivity and under the watchful eyes of countless onlookers, their destinies shifted irrevocably—beneath surface decorum, beneath glittering finery, the fragile threads of trust and power began to unravel. This was just the beginning