Kamyar's POV
He walked straight past the semicircle of students, past the whispers that followed him like insects, and stopped in front of the dean.
"I'll have the development proposal emailed," he said coolly. "I'll also be visiting the campus regularly to inspect the site myself."
The dean nodded too eagerly. "Of course, Mr. Malhotra. We'll make all arrangements—"
Kamyar was already turning away.
He didn't look back. He didn't need to.
And yet.
Her face stayed with him.
Those eyes.
Honey-brown. Sharp. Lit with a fire that didn't ask permission to exist.
It irritated him how clearly he could see her even now. The way her jaw had tightened. The way her nose had gone faintly red with anger. The way her hands had trembled and still she hadn't stepped back.
Most people shook in front of him.
She had shaken and stayed.
Kamyar slid into the back seat of his car, jaw clenched, fingers tightening around his phone without realizing it.
Why couldn't he stop thinking about her?
It had to be about control. About unfinished business. About teaching her a lesson.
That's what he told himself.
The alternative felt… inconvenient.
His phone rang.
A familiar name flashed across the screen.
He answered without thinking. "Yes?"
A sweet, venom-laced voice purred through the speaker. "You're coming tonight, right? Everyone's waiting."
A pause.
"Fine," he said. "I'll be there."
---
The party was loud. Predictable. Expensive in a way that tried too hard.
Kamyar lay sprawled across a leather couch, sunglasses still on even indoors, noise blurring into something distant. People laughed too loudly. Music thumped without rhythm. Drinks flowed like currency.
And still.
Her eyes.
He saw them again. Burning. Unapologetic. Looking at him like he was the one intruding.
He sat up abruptly, breath sharp, irritation crawling under his skin.
A girl slipped into his space, fingers sliding over his chest as if she owned the right.
"Hi, Kamyar," she said softly.
He caught her wrists instantly.
Hard.
"Get lost."
The girl froze, startled, then scoffed and pulled away, muttering something under her breath as she disappeared into the crowd.
Kamyar stood.
The party suddenly felt suffocating. Hollow. Pointless.
He left without saying goodbye.
The city streets were quieter now, lights blurring past as his car cut through the night. His mind wandered despite himself, replaying moments he hadn't given permission to matter.
Firefly.
The word curled uninvited in his thoughts.
His foot eased off the accelerator.
Then—
Someone stepped in front of the car.
Kamyar slammed the brakes.
The tires screeched. His heart jolted violently as the car jerked to a halt inches away from the figure standing dead center of the road.
"Are you insane—" he snapped, fury surging as he looked up.
And stopped.
The world narrowed.
Shock cut through him, sharp and unmistakable.
Because standing there, illuminated by the harsh white of his headlights, was the last person he expected to see.
And the only one he hadn't been able to stop thinking about.
---