(Prisha's POV)

I stood at the airport gate, shifting my weight from one foot to the other, scanning the busy lanes for my cab. The crisp air carried the scent of fuel and freshly brewed coffee from a nearby café, but my focus was solely on the black sedan I had booked. As soon as I spotted it, I adjusted my sunglasses and walked forward, pulling my small suitcase behind me.

My heart was pounding—not from fear, but excitement. I hadn't told anyone about my arrival.

Of course, as the daughter of Jitendra Solanki, traveling alone like this was reckless. I knew it. My father would definitely not forgive me for sneaking into the city without security. But I would handle him. I always did. He had a soft spot for me, and I planned to use it to my advantage.

The cab finally pulled up, as I slid into the backseat of the cab, the driver gave me a quick glance through the rearview mirror before starting the car. “Where to, ma’am?”

“Solanki Office.”

The driver nodded, merging into the chaotic city traffic. I leaned my head against the window, watching the world blur past. It had been months since I was last here. I had missed so much. This was my home. It always would be. No matter where I went, I belonged here—in my father’s empire.

The cab pulled up outside the towering Solanki Office building. The place was just as I remembered—intimidating, grand, and crawling with security. As I stepped out, one of the watchmen stationed near the entrance recognized me immediately. His eyes widened, and he straightened his stance.

“Miss Prisha—” he began, but I raised my hand, cutting him off.

“Don’t tell anyone I’m here,” I said in a firm whisper. “Not yet.”

The man hesitated before giving a small nod, stepping back. I walked past him, my heels clicking against the polished floor of the lobby. The receptionist glanced up at me, startled, but before she could react, I was already making my way toward my father’s cabin.

Through the glass walls, I saw him—Jitendra Solanki, my father, the man who ruled with an iron fist. He was seated at his desk, his face calm yet deadly as he discussed something with Ketan, my older brother. Ketan sat across from him, his sharp gaze fixed on the papers spread before them. Whatever they were talking about, it was serious.

My fingers curled around the door handle. A wicked grin spread across my face.

Time to make an entrance.

I pushed open the door without knocking. As I stepped into my father's cabin, I barely had time to take in my surroundings before strong arms grabbed me from behind. Instinct took over. With all my strength, I drove my elbow back, smashing it into my attacker's face.

A deep grunt followed, but the grip on me didn’t loosen. My father's eyes widened in shock while Ketan stood with an amused smirk.

“Let me go!” I twisted and kicked, but the man barely budged, his grip unyielding. I wasn’t used to being manhandled, and the frustration boiled inside me.

“Leave her,” my father’s voice finally rang out, sharp and authoritative. The man immediately released me, stepping back without a word.

I spun around to face him, breathing heavily, ready to tear into the bastard who dared to touch me. My eyes landed on him, and for a moment, my breath hitched.

He stood tall, unfazed despite the blood trickling from the corner of his lips. His broad shoulders and sharp features radiated an aura of dominance, his entire demeanor dark and unreadable. My gaze flickered to the cut on his lip—my doing—but he didn’t seem to care. He just stood there, his eyes burning into mine with an intensity that made my breath hitch for a fraction of a second.

“Who the hell is he?” I demanded, turning back to my father.

Ketan chuckled, his tone dripping with mockery. “He’s your death tool. We hired him to kill you.”

I shot Ketan a glare. “Try harder, bhai.”

Jitendra leaned back in his chair, watching the exchange with mild interest. “He’s Vedant. A new gulam here.”

Realization dawned on me. A gulam. Another pawn to be used and discarded as the empire saw fit. But this one was different. He carried himself with arrogance, despite knowing his place. That intrigued me.

I turned back to Vedant, tilting my head slightly. “Your so-called death tool doesn’t seem to have any manners.” My voice was laced with challenge. “No sense of how to behave. No sense of how to apologize.”

Vedant's eyes locked onto mine for the first time. A slow, deliberate stare. His jaw clenched, throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple shifting. I caught the movement, and for some reason, my eyes lingered there before flickering back to his.

I smirked. “Well?”

His voice was deep and controlled when he finally spoke. “I apologize.”

But there was no real remorse in his voice. No submission. Just a cold, detached statement. As if he was only saying it because he had to.

I hated it.

My smirk widened as a spark of challenge ignited inside me. If this man thought he could stand in my presence with that arrogance, he had another thing coming. But I knew one thing—I had just found my new game.

I would break Vedant. I would make him kneel before me.

As soon as I stepped into the house with Ketan and Papa, a familiar warmth spread through me. The grand Solanki mansion, standing tall and formidable, had always been my safe haven. The scent of sandalwood and jasmine filled the air, reminding me that I was finally home.

Before I could even take another step, a pair of arms wrapped tightly around me, almost knocking the breath out of my lungs.

“Ugh, Siya! Let me breathe!” I groaned, but a laugh bubbled up from my throat.

“No way! You disappeared for too long! How dare you not tell me you were coming back?” Siya whined, squeezing me harder before finally pulling back to look at me with a mock glare.

I smirked. “What can I say? I love surprises.”

Siya rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the excitement shimmering in them. Before she could start another round of scolding, I turned toward my mother, who had been watching us with a soft smile.

“Maa,” I breathed out, stepping forward.

Dhara Solanki cupped my face, her eyes glistening. “You should have told me, beta. I would have prepared your favorite dishes. You’ve lost weight,” she murmured, brushing my cheek gently.

I huffed, rolling my eyes playfully. “And here I thought you’d say you missed me.”

She shook her head with a small chuckle. “Of course, I missed you. Now come, you must be starving.”

Ketan smirked. "She probably survived on coffee and attitude."

I shot him a glare. "And you survive on arrogance and gunpowder."

Jitendra, my father, chuckled as he took his seat at the dining table. "Some things never change. Now, sit. Let’s eat."

I took my place at the table, finally feeling at home. The food smelled divine, and I eagerly dug in. Siya sat beside me, chatting about random things, while my mother kept placing extra servings on my plate, ignoring my protests.

"Maa, I’m not a camel. Stop stuffing my plate!" I whined.

"Nonsense. You barely have any meat on you," she insisted.

Ketan leaned back in his chair with a smirk. "She’s right. You look like a malnourished pigeon."

I threw an empty bowl at him, which he easily catches. "And you look like a gorilla in a suit. What’s your point?"

Jitendra watched us with an amused expression. "At least you’re both still entertaining."

"We aim to please," I said, grinning.

"You aim to annoy," Ketan corrected.

Siya giggled. "Prisha was born to be a menace."

I placed a hand over my heart dramatically. "Siya, how could you? I thought we were best friends!"

She winked. "That’s why I know you so well."

Dinner continued with laughter and casual banter, no heavy discussions or serious business talk—just the warmth of family. It felt good to be home again.

As the meal wrapped up, Siya suddenly grinned at me. “By the way, everyone’s been waiting to see you. Your little surprise act robbed them of a grand welcome.”

I smirked, taking a bite of my food. “They’ll survive.”

“We’re meeting tomorrow morning,” Siya informed me. “No excuses. Everyone wants to catch up.”

I stretched my arms lazily. “Fine, fine. But not too early. I’m exhausted from the flight.”

Siya pouted but nodded. “Alright, I’ll let you off for now. But be ready.”

After finishing dinner, I yawned, rubbing my eyes. The long journey had drained me, and now that I was full, sleep was the only thing on my mind.

“I’m going to crash,” I announced, standing up.

“Rest well, beta,” Maa said, kissing my forehead.

“Good night, Prish,” Siya said with a grin.

I waved them off and headed to my room. As soon as I hit the bed, exhaustion pulled me under, and within minutes, I was lost in sleep.

(Vedant’s POV)

I stood on the balcony of my room, the cool night air brushing against my skin. My thoughts circled back to earlier today—to her.

Prisha.

That brat girl.

I leaned against the railing, my fingers tightening around the cold metal as I recalled our earlier encounter. The fire in her eyes, the way she dared to challenge me—how much attitude did she carry? It was almost amusing. Almost. I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly.

What a headache.

A vibration in my pocket pulled me from my thoughts. I pulled out my phone and checked the caller ID—Akshat.

I answered, keeping my voice low. “Yeah.”

"The shipment’s been tracked," Akshat informed me. "Mehul is following the vehicle now. We should have a location on their dealer soon."

“Good. Keep watch, but don’t interfere unless I say so.” I leaned against the railing, my fingers tightening around the metal.

"What about the task they assigned me? Amresh Pal. What do we have on him?"

"Not much yet," Akshat admitted. "But from what we know, he’s heavily guarded. Jitendra wouldn’t assign this to you if it were easy. They want to see if you’ll survive or die trying."

I smirked, running a hand through my hair. "Then I guess I’ll have to disappoint them. Keep digging—I need everything on Amresh Pal. His schedule, his security, his weaknesses. I want to know how he breathes."

"Got it. I’ll send details soon."

There was a pause before Akshat spoke again, his voice carrying a note of curiosity. “You sound… distracted.”

I scoffed. “Nothing gets past you, huh?”

“Not when it comes to you.”

I was silent for a moment before muttering, “Prisha Solanki. Jitendra’s daughter”

There was a beat of silence before Akshat spoke again, his tone sharp. “Since when do you care about some mafia princess?”

“I don’t.” The words came out too quick. Too defensive. I gritted my teeth and corrected myself. “Roy empire doesn’t know about her yet. If Uday finds out…” I trailed off, knowing exactly what my father was capable of.

Akshat exhaled. “Then maybe we should use that to our advantage.”

"No," I cut in sharply. "She’s not important."

Silence lingered on the line before Akshat spoke again, his voice laced with curiosity. "You sure? Because it sounds like you’re concerned."

I let out a dry chuckle. "I don’t give a damn about her. She’s just another Solanki. Nothing more."

"If you say so," Akshat muttered. "I’ll update you soon. Watch your back."

I ended the call and shoved the phone into my pocket, my eyes drifting back to the sky.