Chapter 5 — The Man Who Wanted Her
The hospital corridor was almost empty when Zyan stepped outside Prema's room.
He closed the door quietly behind him.
The moment it clicked shut, the warmth disappeared from his expression.
"Rahul."
His PA immediately stood from the chair at the end of the corridor.
"Sir."
"Tell me everything."
Rahul opened the file in his hands.
"We checked Rakesh's financial records, phone records, and recent movements. He wasn't acting alone."
Zyan's eyes hardened.
"I already know that."
"There is more."
Rahul handed him a tablet.
"Three weeks before the kidnapping, Rakesh received a large transfer through an offshore account. The account was created using a shell company."
"Whose?"
"We're still tracing it."
Zyan's jaw tightened.
"And how did he know her schedule?"
"That's the disturbing part. Rakesh knew exactly when she left the hostel, when she went to college, when she taught dance, and even which route she usually took home."
Zyan stared at the screen.
Someone had been watching Prema.
Not for a day.
Not for a week.
For much longer.
"Did Rakesh admit who gave him the information?"
"No."
"Why?"
"He says he never met the person directly."
Zyan's expression became colder.
"Then find the person who did."
"Yes, sir."
Rahul hesitated.
"There is something else."
Zyan looked at him.
"Someone attempted to access the police evidence database tonight."
His eyes narrowed.
"From where?"
"An external network. The attempt was blocked."
"Could they have been trying to delete Rakesh's records?"
"Possibly."
Zyan looked back at the closed hospital door.
"No."
Rahul waited.
"They weren't trying to delete the records."
Zyan's voice dropped.
"They were trying to make sure Rakesh never talks."
Rahul understood immediately.
"You think someone may try to kill him?"
"I don't think."
Zyan handed the tablet back.
"I know."
Inside the room, Prema was awake.
She couldn't sleep.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the warehouse.
The ropes.
Rakesh's face.
His voice.
And then Zyan.
She remembered the way he had appeared in the darkness.
She remembered how safe she had felt when he held her.
That frightened her more than she wanted to admit.
She didn't understand why she trusted him.
They barely knew each other.
Yet something about him made her feel protected.
At the same time, there was something dangerous about him.
Something she couldn't ignore.
The door opened.
Zyan entered.
Prema immediately looked at him.
"Did you find something?"
He paused.
"You heard us?"
"Not everything."
He walked toward the chair beside her bed.
"There are people behind Rakesh."
Her fingers tightened around the blanket.
"Who?"
"We don't know yet."
"Are they after me?"
Zyan was silent for a moment.
"Possibly."
Her face paled.
He immediately regretted saying it so directly.
But lying to her would be worse.
"Then why are you still here?" she whispered.
"Because I'm not leaving."
She stared at him.
"You can't protect me forever."
"No."
His voice was calm.
"But I can make sure you don't face this alone."
Prema looked away.
"I don't want to become dependent on you."
Zyan's expression softened.
"Then don't."
She looked back at him.
"What?"
"I don't want you dependent on me."
He leaned forward slightly.
"I want you strong enough to walk away from me if you ever want to."
She wasn't expecting that answer.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Zyan placed a small card on the table beside her.
"My number."
"I already have it."
"This one is direct."
"I can call your office."
"Don't."
His expression turned serious.
"If you're frightened, call me directly. Day or night."
Prema picked up the card.
"You're giving me a lot of instructions."
"You're right."
He sighed.
"I'll try to stop."
She smiled faintly.
"Try harder."
A rare smile touched his lips.
"I will."
The next morning, Prema was discharged.
Zyan had arranged everything.
A doctor cleared her to leave, Rahul handled the paperwork, and a driver waited downstairs.
Prema stared at the black car.
"Absolutely not."
Zyan looked at her.
"What?"
"I'm not getting into that."
"Why?"
"Because it's your car."
"So?"
"So people will see me."
"People already saw you."
"That's not the point."
Zyan crossed his arms.
"Then tell me the point."
"I don't want everyone at college thinking I'm some billionaire's girlfriend."
He almost smiled.
"You're not."
Prema's cheeks warmed.
"Good."
"Not yet."
She stared at him.
Zyan's expression remained completely serious.
"That wasn't funny."
"I wasn't joking."
Prema's eyes widened.
He walked past her before she could answer.
"Come on."
She followed reluctantly.
Satya was waiting beside the car.
The moment she saw them, her eyes moved from Prema to Zyan.
"You two look suspicious."
"We're not doing anything," Prema said quickly.
"I didn't say you were."
Satya grinned.
Zyan opened the car door for Prema.
She hesitated.
Then got inside.
Satya climbed in beside her.
As the car moved away from the hospital, Prema stared out the window.
She didn't notice Zyan watching her through the reflection.
He had promised not to control her.
He intended to keep that promise.
But promises became difficult when someone had already become the center of your thoughts.
His phone vibrated.
Harry.
Zyan answered immediately.
"Talk."
Harry's voice was low.
"We found something."
Zyan straightened.
"What?"
"The money used to pay Rakesh came through a company connected to one of your competitors."
"Which one?"
Harry named the company.
Zyan's expression changed.
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
"Because the owner disappeared two years ago."
Harry was silent.
Then he said,
"Apparently, he didn't."
Zyan looked through the window.
The city moved past them.
And suddenly he understood.
This wasn't about Prema alone.
Someone had deliberately placed her in his path.
Someone knew about her.
Someone knew about him.
And someone wanted them connected.
His phone vibrated again.
A message appeared.
You should have stayed away from her.
Zyan stared at it.
Another message arrived.
The next time, I won't take her.
A third followed.
I'll take someone you love instead.
Zyan's eyes went cold.
He slowly lifted his gaze toward Prema.
She was talking to Satya, unaware of what had just happened.
For the first time, fear wasn't for himself.
It was for his family.
His parents.
His sister.
Jack.
And everyone else he cared about.
Zyan deleted the messages.
He said nothing.
But deep inside, something had changed.
Whoever was behind this had made one mistake.
They had threatened the wrong man.
That night, while Prema slept safely inside her hostel room, Zyan sat alone in his office overlooking the city.
A photograph lay on his desk.
Prema.
He stared at it for a long time.
Then he whispered,
"Whoever you are…"
His fingers tightened around the photograph.
"…you just made this personal."
Across the city, an unknown man received a message.
He saw the warning.
The reply came almost instantly.
Good.
Then another message appeared.
Now make him choose between his empire and the girl.