"I'm sorry, Alisha... but there's nothing I can do."
Alisha turned to look at the director, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and heartbreak. She felt both emotions flooding her at once, but couldn't figure out which one to let out first. One thing she knew for sure—she wouldn't let herself appear weak in front of him.
The director continued nervously, "It's Maya… Her father is a powerful man. If I don't give her the role, he'll destroy my career. I'll be finished. Please, forgive me. Just wait a little longer—I promise I'll cast you in my next film or a good project soon. You can even keep the advance payment."
That was it.
Her patience shattered.
Without a second thought, she grabbed the glass of water from the table and threw it right at his face. A sharp slap followed before she turned on her heel and stormed out of the office.
Her feet carried her forward, but her mind was spinning. Anger and betrayal boiled inside her. She had poured her heart into this role. Months of preparation, sleepless nights, and endless rehearsals—gone. All for nothing. And now, just two days before shooting, they gave it to someone else?
She walked faster, tears burning in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. The world around her blurred. She wasn't even looking at the road. The cars, the honks, the chaos—none of it registered.
And then—screech!
A car slammed its brakes just inches away from her. The vehicle stopped so close that the hem of her dress was brushing against the bumper.
Alisha froze.
Her chest heaved with rage, not fear.
Without thinking, she picked up a stone from the roadside and hurled it straight at the windshield.
The moment the car screeched to a halt, the driver, a young man who had been chatting jovially with his friend, froze in fear. The man seated in the back, however, was quick to act. He first checked on the driver, ensuring he was unharmed, before stepping out of the sleek Rolls-Royce. Alisha, fuming with anger, stormed out as well, ready to give the driver a piece of her mind. But the second she laid eyes on the man from the back seat, her rage faltered, and her breath caught in her throat.
Time seemed to stop.
He was breathtaking. Her eyes locked onto his. Deep, striking hazel brown—eyes that held secrets, storms, and a piercing intensity that made her forget how to breathe. His face was sculpted like a masterpiece—sharp jawline, straight nose, and lips that were both cruel and captivating. His skin glowed under the sunlight, his hair falling messily over his forehead like it was styled by fate itself. He wasn't just handsome. He was divine. The kind of man who could silence a room just by walking into it. The kind of man every girl would lose her heart to at first sight.
For a split second, Alisha was lost in him.
She was lost in him—utterly, hopelessly lost—until his voice shattered the spell."Are you out of your mind?" he snapped, his tone dripping with arrogance as he towered over her. "Why the hell were you throwing stones? What if someone got hurt?"His words were like a bucket of ice water. Alisha snapped back to reality, her temper flaring at his condescending tone. Who does this guy think he is? she thought, her admiration replaced by indignation. "Watch your tone!" she shot back, her voice sharp. "It's your fault! You almost hit me with your stupid car!"The man's eyes narrowed, his smirk turning colder. "My fault? You're the one wandering in the middle of the road like an idiot. Ever heard of a sidewalk? Even a fool knows to use it."Alisha's cheeks burned with fury. "This is my path, my choice! I'll walk wherever I want. Who told you to speed onto the road while I was crossing?"He gave her a look that screamed disbelief, his lips twitching as if he were suppressing a laugh. "Are you insane?" he asked, his voice low and mocking. "Standing in the middle of the street, arguing with a stranger like this?""Insane?" Alisha scoffed, stepping closer, her eyes blazing. "You're the one being rude to a girl in the middle of the road!"She turned to storm off, but before she could take a step, his hand shot out, grabbing her wrist with a firm yet oddly gentle grip. "Where do you think you're going?" he demanded. "Pay for the damage first."Alisha froze, then turned to him with a mocking expression. "Damage? Me, pay you? It was clearly your fault, and my reaction was because of you. I'm not paying a dime!"His eyes darkened, and without breaking eye contact, he pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of her. Alisha gasped, shielding her face. "What the hell? Why are you taking my picture, you creep?""If I take this to the police," he said coolly, "you'll be paying. And so will your family."
Panic surged through Alisha. Her career had just begun, and a scandal like this could ruin everything. Her voice dropped into a more controlled, slightly sweet tone, layered with hidden sarcasm. "Okay, okay… no need for all this buildup. Just tell me how much. I'll pay you."
He gestured to the Rolls-Royce, its sleek surface now marred by a cracked windshield. "The glass alone costs eight lakhs." Alisha's eyes widened in horror. Eight lakhs? She glanced at the car again, realizing for the first time that it was no ordinary vehicle. This wasn't just any man—he was someone with money, power, and influence.
Swallowing her pride, she switched tactics, her voice softening as she adopted a pleading tone. "Look, you seem rich. I'm just a normal, poor girl. Can't you let this go? Please?" He studied her, his gaze sweeping from her face to her worn sneakers, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "If you'd said that before mouthing off, I might've let it slide. But now? No chance. Pay up, or you're not going anywhere."
Her bravado crumbled, and her tone softened further. "Please, sir, I don't have that kind of money. Can't we work something out?"
His expression remained unyielding. "Pay now, or face the consequences."Alisha's mind raced. She had no money, no way to pay, and no one to turn to.
Alisha was stuck.
She didn't have that kind of money. Not even close. And now, all doors were closing in around her.
Only one door remained.
Escape.
But how?
Just as she was wondering how to escape, the man's phone rang.
Perfect.
The moment he answered the call and turned slightly, Alisha took her chance. In a flash, she darted off, her steps light but fast, her heart thudding with adrenaline. The man was too distracted to react immediately. By the time he realized what was happening, she was already halfway across the street.
"Hey!" he shouted, disconnecting the call and rushing after her.
But just as he tried to chase, a school bus rolled between them, cutting him off.
He gritted his teeth, eyes scanning furiously around for her—only to freeze when he spotted her.
Alisha was hanging onto the ladder bars at the back of the moving bus, grinning down at him like a mischievous cat who had just stolen the cream. Her hair whipped wildly in the wind, but her eyes sparkled with triumph.
He stood there fuming, his jaw clenched in disbelief.
Then—just to add salt to his already burning ego—Alisha lifted her hand and flashed her middle finger at him with a smirk.
That was it.
His expression darkened.
"You're going to regret that, sweetheart," he muttered under his breath.
But the bus was already gone.
She vanished into the city traffic, leaving nothing behind but the echo of her laughter and the memory of those fiery, rebellious eyes.
What Alisha didn't know was… that wasn't the last time she'd see him. In fact, their paths were about to collide again—in a way that would flip her entire world upside down.