The air in Samrat Oberoi's office crackled with chaos. Papers fluttered like startled birds, scattered by a rogue gust from the open window. Alisha and Samrat dove to gather them, their hands brushing over a stray sheet. A spark flared, electric, as their eyes locked. Alisha yanked her hand back, cheeks flaming, and Samrat's jaw tightened, the moment souring. He stood to leave, his cool facade barely holding, but fate had other plans. His foot snagged the table leg, and he lurched forward.Alisha, rising from the floor, saw him falling. Instinct kicked in—she lunged to catch him, arms outstretched. But Samrat's weight was too much, and they crashed to the ground, Alisha pinned beneath him. Her breath caught as their lips collided, an accidental kiss that seared through them. Her eyes widened, heart thundering, meeting Samrat's equally stunned gaze. Time froze, the storm outside roaring, but their world was a haze of shock and unspoken heat.They were lost in the moment, lips still touching, minds blank to the reality of their kiss—until the door creaked open. A gasp shattered the spell. Alisha snapped to her senses, Samrat scrambling off her. She sprang up, retreating to the side, her face burning with embarrassment. Stealing a glance, she froze—Varun stood in the doorway, jaw slack, eyes darting between them.Varun blinked, processing the scene, then grinned wickedly. He ignored Alisha, fixing Samrat with a teasing smirk. "Well, well, brother. What's this? I thought girls weren't your thing. Should I tell Mom about your little love kiss?" He turned to Alisha, mischief glinting. "And you, Ishu! All that 'no time for love' talk, and here you are, stealing hearts. You two are sneaky, aren't you?""Shut up, Varun!" Alisha and Samrat bellowed in unison, their voices a mix of mortification and fury.Varun raised his hands, chuckling. "Alright, alright, my lips are sealed." But Alisha wasn't done. As she stormed past, she landed a swift punch to his stomach, hidden from Samrat's view. Varun doubled over, pain flashing, but he masked it with a cough.Samrat, still flushed, shot Varun a glare. "Why are you here?"Varun straightened, serious now. "Dutt Construction. We need to talk."Samrat's expression darkened, the name tying to the bloodied businessman from the party (Chapter 11). "Fine," he said, waving Alisha out. She bolted, desperate to escape the humiliation.Rahul's CabinAlisha burst into Rahul's cabin, her face a blazing scarlet, breath ragged. Rahul looked up, startled. "Ishu, what's wrong? You're red as a tomato and panting like you ran a marathon."She forced a laugh, steadying herself. "Nothing, just… sprinted here, that's all."Rahul frowned. "Did the boss chew you out again?""Oh, you know him," she said, waving it off. "Same old grumpy Samrat." Rahul nodded, dropping it, but Alisha's mind replayed the kiss, her heart a tangled mess.EveningAs Kapoor Industries' employees trickled out, the office grew quiet. Alisha, drained from the day's chaos, gathered her things. Rahul paused at the door. "Heading home, Ishu. Need a ride?"She shook her head. "I'm good, thanks." He left, and Alisha stepped into the cool Delhi night, alone. Samrat hadn't offered to drive her—a first since the contract began (Chapters 1-12). Since the kiss, she'd avoided his gaze, and he hadn't called for her. The distance stung, but she pushed it down, booking a cab.The cab neared her apartment when Alisha spotted a new ice cream parlor, its neon sign glowing invitingly. Her mood lifted. "Stop here," she told the driver. He pulled over, and she hopped out, the cab vanishing into the night. Inside, she grabbed a haul of ice creams for Neha, Khushi, Vivan, and Varun, her chosen family, and headed toward the apartment, one cone in hand, licking it happily.The street was eerily empty, the night thick with silence. Alisha strolled, savoring her treat, when a rustle came from the bushes. She froze, glancing back—nothing. Just my imagination, she thought, resuming her walk. Another rustle, sharper. She spun, eyes scanning, but the shadows were still. Her pulse quickened. Probably a cat. She moved forward, but a faint sob echoed—a human sound, desperate. Alisha's blood chilled. A ghost? Her fear of the dark and supernatural (a quirk from Chapter 9) took over, and she sprinted to her apartment, heart pounding, ice creams clutched tight.The Construction SiteUnseen in the bushes, a horrific scene unfolded. Four thugs pinned a young woman, her mouth gagged, eyes streaming with tears. She'd sobbed, hoping to catch Alisha's attention, but Alisha's terrified dash left her hopeless. The thugs dragged her to a deserted construction site, a skeletal building looming under the moon. No workers lingered here, especially at night. The woman's pleas grew frantic, her hands clasped, begging for mercy, but the men laughed, their cruelty a twisted game.They pinned her arms and legs, the fifth thug— their leader— unbuttoning his shirt, leering. "You're gorgeous, sweetheart. Let's sing a duet." He crooned a mocking tune from a Dairy Milk ad: "Kiss me, close your eyes and miss me…" His grip tightened on her cheeks, voice turning vile. "Sing, or we'll make it hurt worse. My boys are beasts, and I'm worse. Sing!"She trembled, silent, and his rage flared. "I said sing!" He grabbed her shirt, ready to rip it, when a sweet, haunting voice cut through the night: "I can read your lips, on your fingertips… Kiss me, close your eyes and miss me…"The thugs whirled, confused—the captive wasn't singing. Her eyes darted, hope flickering. From the shadows, a figure emerged, leaning casually against a wall, voice soft and melodic. Alisha. Her eyes blazed with fury beneath her calm facade, ice cream bag set aside, fists ready."Who the hell are you?" a thug barked."Alisha," she said, voice deceptively light. "Nice to meet you. And what exactly are you lot up to?"The leader smirked, undeterred. "None of your business. Scram, or you're next."Alisha gasped theatrically, hand on her chest. "Oh, I'm terrified. What ever shall I do?" Her tone turned razor-sharp, eyes narrowing.The leader laughed, eyeing her. "Forget it—she's a looker too. Two girls in one night? Our lucky day."Alisha clapped mockingly. "Lucky me, too! My training's been rusty, but this is the perfect warm-up."The leader nodded to a thug. "Grab her." The man lunged, his hand aiming for Alisha's chest, fingers grazing her shirt. In a flash, she seized his wrist, twisting it until it cracked. "You filthy dog," she hissed. "No one touches a woman like that—especially not me, without permission."The thug screamed, and Alisha yanked his hair, slamming his face into a wall. Blood splattered, and he collapsed, out cold. The others froze, stunned, but the leader rallied, charging her. Alisha was a whirlwind—Black Squad training (Chapter 9) unleashed. She dispatched them one by one, precise strikes felling them like dominoes. The leader, last standing, faced her wrath. She pummeled him, leaving him battered but conscious, groaning in the dirt.Alisha turned to the woman, now freed, her voice gentle. "Your turn."The woman hesitated, then nodded, fueled by rage. She ripped off her sandal, beating the leader mercilessly, his pride shattered. Alisha watched, a faint smile on her lips. Sirens wailed—police, alerted by Alisha's call before she'd entered the site. She'd known they'd be slow, so she took matters into her own hands, her Black Squad skills (able to handle 5-10 men, Chapter 12) shining.The police arrived, cuffing the thugs. An officer saluted Alisha. "Thank you, miss. You saved her."Alisha shrugged. "Just doing what's right."The woman ran to her, throwing her arms around Alisha. "Thank you, thank you! I'm Priya—not your manager Priya, just… me."Alisha laughed, recalling her Bollywood manager (Chapter 8). "I know, I told you my name earlier—Alisha. You were in shock, it's fine."Priya's eyes welled. "If you hadn't come, I… I don't know what would've happened.""You're welcome," Alisha said, softening. "But listen—every woman needs self-defense basics. No time for martial arts? Fine. Get pepper spray, a shock torch, or a knife disguised as a comb. You carry makeup, right? Add these to your bag. They'll save you in moments like this."Priya nodded, absorbing her words. Footsteps crunched behind them, and Alisha turned, her smile widening. Vivan and Varun approached, their faces a mix of pride and concern. Vivan's eyes met hers, a silent Black Squad signal passing—You're safe, but trouble's near. Alisha grinned back, her heart steady, unaware of the Black Venom shadows (Chapter 12) creeping closer.
Will Alisha's heroic act draw Black Venom's gaze, or has her cover already cracked? Can she face Samrat after their searing kiss, or will Varun's teasing unravel their fragile bond? And as Vivan and Varun close ranks, what secrets tie Kapoor Industries to the construction site's darkness? Delhi's night hides predators, and Alisha's courage is their only light.