Go where the stars take you

Ahana's POV

I woke up with swollen eyes and a pounding headache. Reaching for some water, I glanced at the clock—almost 8 p.m. The pain of losing that picture hadn't lessened. My chest tightened as tears threatened to fall again.

Suddenly, the door burst open with a loud bang. I jolted, startled, as Ellisa stumbled in, panting heavily, her face pale and drenched in sweat. She looked as if she'd run a marathon, her wide eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. Before I could ask what was wrong, she gasped, "Aksh!"

I froze, my heart skipping a beat. Was it the same person I was thinking about? Before I could process it, she said again, "Ryu Aksh. He's waiting outside with his manager in an expensive car."

My stomach flipped. "What?" I stammered, dumbfounded.

"I was passing by," Ellisa continued breathlessly, "and I overheard the dorm lady talking to him. He asked for you by name!"

My thoughts spiraled. Why on earth would someone like him ask for me? Maybe she'd misheard. Was this about the interview results? That couldn't be it—surely someone else would deliver them.

A knock on the door startled me from my frantic thoughts. The dorm lady entered and confirmed Ellisa's claim: someone was waiting for me outside. My heart raced as anxiety twisted my stomach into knots.

I glanced at my reflection—puffy eyes and disheveled hair. No way he's seeing me like this. I rushed to the bathroom, splashed icy water on my face, and quickly changed into a white floral knee-length frock. My hair ended up in a messy bun, and while I wasn't satisfied, there wasn't time to fret.

Stepping outside, I spotted him immediately. His broad, muscular frame stood out, draped in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo. My breath hitched, and my mind went blank for a second. Focus, Ahana!

I cleared my throat softly. "Ahem." He turned, and my gaze met his hazel eyes. The intensity in his gaze made my cheeks heat up. "You…wanted to see me? I'm Ahana Sah."

He didn't reply immediately. Instead, he reached into his tuxedo pocket and pulled out a familiar piece of paper. My eyes widened—it was the picture I thought I'd lost.

I looked between the paper and him, bewildered. "How…?" I murmured, extending my hand to take it. But his grip on the paper tightened, his hazel eyes flickering with something unreadable. When he finally loosened his hold, I noticed his attention shift behind me. His expression turned dark and stern, as though sensing something ominous.

I had a thousand questions, but before I could voice even one, he said firmly, "You left this in the interview room. I think you should head back to your dorm now."

The abrupt dismissal left me disappointed, but I nodded, turning to leave. Suddenly, a gunshot shattered the night.

Aksh's POV

The fragile figure standing before me was more captivating than I'd anticipated. Her whiskey-brown eyes held an innocent charm that stirred something inside me I thought I'd buried long ago. When she introduced herself, I couldn't help but stare. She blushed under my gaze, lowering her eyes in a way that made my chest tighten.

Handing her the picture, I wanted to ask about it, but the words caught in my throat. Before I could speak, movement behind her caught my attention—a black car parked suspiciously nearby, with a shadowy figure inside. My instincts screamed danger.

"Head back to your dorm," I said, masking my concern.

She hesitated, but as she turned, a gunshot rang out. My reflexes took over. I pulled her toward me, shielding her from harm. She froze, her body trembling in my arms.

"Get in the car. Now!" I ordered, my voice sharper than intended.

The situation spiraled quickly. More men emerged from the black car, their guns blazing. Bullets whizzed past us as I drew my own weapon to cover fire. Within moments, my bodyguards arrived, engaging the attackers.

I glanced at Ahana, who was crouched in the car, her hands over her ears, too petrified to move. Her small frame shook with fear, her face buried in her knees.

When the chaos subsided, I opened the car door and tapped her shoulder gently. She flinched, her tear-filled eyes meeting mine before she fainted.

A wave of guilt swept over me. I hadn't meant for her to see this side of my life. Scooping her up in my arms, I carried her to my penthouse. Her head rested against my chest, her soft breaths brushing against me.

Inside, I laid her on my bed. The moonlight streaming through the windows highlighted her delicate features—her flushed cheeks, her scattered hair. She looked ethereal, like an untouchable dream. My gaze fell to her lips, and an unfamiliar heat surged through me.

I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the storm of emotions. She awakened something in me I thought was long dead—a primal need to protect, to cherish, to never let go. As I watched her sleep, I realized with unsettling clarity that I wanted her in my life, not as a fleeting moment, but as someone permanent. Someone I could never lose.