"Take Me Back"

Episode 12: The Red Masquerade

The Grand Ballroom of the Taj was a sea of black and gold, but all I could see was red—the color of the dress Natasha wore as she stood next to Kabir. It was the night of their engagement. The city’s elite were here to witness a business merger disguised as a marriage.

I stood at the back of the hall, wearing a simple black gown. I didn't belong here, but I had one thing that Natasha didn't. I had the truth.

"Aria? You shouldn't be here," a voice whispered behind me. It was Sarah, my assistant. Her eyes were wide with worry. "If Natasha sees you, she’ll have security throw you out."

"Let her," I said, my hand tightening around the small leather-bound folder I was carrying. "I’m not here to stop the wedding, Sarah. I’m here to finish the book."

On stage, Kabir looked like a statue. He was greeting guests with a smile that never reached his eyes. When his gaze finally drifted to the back of the room and caught mine, he froze. For a split second, the "Mr. Malhotra" mask shattered. He looked like a man drowning in a room full of people.

Natasha noticed. She leaned in and whispered something in his ear, her hand possessively stroking his arm. She looked toward me and smirked, raising her champagne glass in a mock toast.

I didn't flinch. I walked straight toward the VIP table.

Security tried to move in, but Kabir raised a hand, stopping them. The room went silent. The music seemed to fade into the background.

"I have the final chapter for the new series, Mr. Malhotra," I said, my voice steady, projecting through the quiet hall. "The one about the man who sold his soul. I thought you’d want to read the ending before you signed your life away."

I laid the folder on the table. Inside wasn't a story. It was the evidence of a secret bank account—one Kabir’s father had hidden years ago, which had recently been discovered during my research for the publishing house. It was enough to pay back the debt in full.

"You're free, Kabir," I whispered, loud enough only for him and Natasha to hear. "You just have to be brave enough to walk away."