~Edited.~

Please listen to the song above, it is a perfect description of Natasha; she is a little broken, a little dysfunctional but a good person.

At the start of every chapter, there will be a snippet of Nandini's past from the beginning.

~~

Her exhaustion hit her the moment she began climbing the polished marble steps of the sweeping grand staircase. A month of hunting down Mexican Mobsters. Every time she saw the scar on her neck, or touched it, or felt her clothes brush against it, a tremor of pain went through her. Her scar throbbed under her fingertips. She collected scars, making up for the sins she had committed in her lifetime. So far, she had slashes against her neck, her hands were covered in scars during her training and her eyebrow was split too many times now. Her nose was now slightly crooked from being broken one or twice.

Despite being an assassin and always wearing black, Natasha was always a class. Classy and bougie. She could kill a man in heels and it wouldn't even matter. This mission ended with a club scene and thus, Natasha had been donned in the latest couture by Versace. A red off-the-shoulder dress with a corset waist and a thigh slit. She had on a single pearl necklace with a few rings that made her punches painful. Her hair was slicked down her back and she had on matching make up. Now, as she graced those stairs, it didn't matter that her whole side was covered in blood. Some had dried but the rest dripped in her wake.

The left side of her face and the top of her shoulders were covered in the blood of the two men she had just killed.

A passing servant bowed his head, eyes averted. Everyone who worked here knew more or less who she was, and would keep her identity secret. Her initials were known by every corrupt man and woman.

Natasha Solovik Ivanshov took a ragged breath, running a hand through her hair as she passed through the main living room, her eyebrows furring at the sound of the piano and laughter. Who was awake at this hour?

She passed one of the upstairs drawing rooms, her brows rising at the sound of a pianoforte and laughing people inside. She rolled her eyes, walking towards the elevator to head to her room when someone stepped into the elegantly appointed hall.

Nikolai Petrov.

His eyes were wide, his body rigid as he shut the door of the room he had walked out of and strode towards her, past the artwork hung proudly on the wall. She remained utterly still, taking in every inch of him as he came to a stop in front of her. He eyed her from top to bottom, his eyes pausing on the blood before looking back to her eyes again.

There were no marks or injuries on him like they had been on her? She had suffered from a black eye and busted lip from Dmitri's heavy fist. Had Nikolai not been punished?

"You're back," Nikolai was the first to speak as if he couldn't quite believe it. She kept her face impassive, tilting her head back to gaze at his expression. She couldn't identify the look in his eyes, was it relief?

She lifted her chin, stuffing her hands in her pockets. "Obviously." She stood tall in her heels, blood still dripping down to the floor, smearing a little when she shifted slightly.

He tilted his head slightly to the side. "How was the vacation?" Natalia nearly scoffed at what he had decided to label her little getaway. 

"You mean, suicide mission," she said. She gave him a deadpan look. It wasn't that she was mad at him for being uninjured. She was so relieved she could have vomited, actually.

In the drawing-room a few doors down, a woman let out a shrill giggle which turned her gaze towards the slightly open doors of the piano room. She had so many questions but nowhere to begin.

Nikolai's eyes slipped from her face to her neck, his brows drawing together for a heartbeat as he saw the thin new scar. "What happened?"

"A new friendship." He was referring to the two jagged scars, one across the length of her neck and another slightly crooked off the side. 

His eyes darkened, but she didn't want to explain the long, miserable story of how many times she had been attacked.

"Are you hurt?" He asked quietly, taking another step closer, his hand reaching out as if to touch her but at the last minute, he clenches his fist and pulls his arm back at his side.

"No," she said. "No, not like that." No one could hurt her like that but sometimes, she had to make sure her targets thought they were winning before going for the kill.

"Then like what?" He was now looking more closely at her, at the almost invisible white line along her cheek—another gift—at her hands, at everything. His lean, muscled body tensed. His chest had gotten broader, too.

"Like none of your business, that's what," she retorted. She was tired and cranky and feared that if she had a conversation with Nikolai about the past that she would scream as to why he didn't care enough to call.

"Tell me what happened," he gritted out.

She gave him one of those simpering little smiles that she knew he hated. "Why should I tell you anything?"

"Because," he hissed, taking another step, "the last time I saw you, Natasha, you were unconscious on that carpet and so bloodied up that I couldn't see your damn face."

He was close enough that she could touch him now. The rain continued beating against the hall windows, a distant reminder that there was still a world around them. "Tell me," he said.

"I'll kill you" had been screamed at Dmitri who had just started to beat her to a bloody pulp. He'd switched loyalties—he'd chosen to stand by her, fight for her. No one had done that before.

A half-smile tugged at a corner of her lips. She'd missed him. Seeing the expression on her face, he gave her a sort of grin. She swallowed, feeling the words bubbling up through her—I missed you—but the door to the drawing-room opened.

"Niko!" a dark-haired, green-eyed young woman chided, laughter on her lips. "There you," The girl's eyes met her and Natasha sopped smiling.

A feline sort of smirk spread across the young woman's stunning features, and she slipped out of the doorway and slunk over to them. Natasha took in each swish of her hips, the elegant angle of her hand, the exquisite dress that dipped low enough to reveal her generous chest.

"Natasha," she cooed, her hand going to wrap around Nikolai's arm, Natalia's eyes following the movement.

"It's Ms Ivanshov for you, Sofia." Natasha voiced her displeasure. She'd met Sofia when she had first arrived under Dmitri's care. Sofia was training to be a whore for Mafia men. Natasha couldn't recall a time when she didn't want to beat in the girl's face with a brick. Or throw her out a window. Or do any of several things she'd learned.

Sofia had risen from a street to one of the most anticipated mistresses or escorts, as she referred to herself as. He was good friends with Sofia's madam—and had been her doting benefactor for years.

"Is it possible the summer passed that quickly? I guess when you're having so much fun..." Sofia began as she looked Natasha up and down. Natasha had always been the epitome of luxury. Something Sofia had always hated.

A deadly, vicious sort of calm filled Natasha's veins. She'd almost killed Sofia once- Sofia had stolen her bodice which led to them tumbling down the stairs and Natasha had spent a day chained in the dungeon because she had beaten Sofia.

She tried to ignore how close the girl stood to Nikolai; he had always been the kindest assassin. Natasha crossed her arms, accentuating her own Russian bosom. "What are you even doing here?"

Sofia gave her a knowing smile. "Oh, Dmitri"—she purred his name like they were the closest friends—"threw me a luncheon in honour of my upcoming Bidding. This is just for me and the girls. And Claire, of course." She used her madam's name, too, like a weapon, a word meant to crush and dominate—a word that whispered: I am more important than you; I have more influence than you; I am everything and you are nothing.

"Lovely," Natasha replied. Natalia didn't care much for these snippy conversations; she couldn't wait to pay off her debt and be on her way back to Russia. 

Sofia lifted her chin, looking down her delicately freckled nose at her. "My Bidding is in six days." Girls were trained until they were seventeen when their virginity was sold to the highest bidder and then they were either kept or began their lives as high-paid escorts.

"Niko," Sofia went on, putting a slender hand on his arm, "has been so helpful with making sure all the preparations are ready for my party."

Nikolai cleared his throat, straightening. "Not that helpful. Dmitri wanted to make sure that everything was secure."

"Important clientele must be given the best treatment," Sofia trilled, Natalia merely smiled at the bitchy comment.

It was enough. One more word out of the whore's mouth and Natasha was fairly certain she'd punch her teeth down her throat. Natasha angled her head, her fingers curling into a fist. Nikolai saw the familiar gesture and pried Sofia's hand off his arm. "Go back to the lunch," he told her.

Sofia gave her another one of those smiles, which she then turned on Nikolai. "When are you coming back in?" Her full, red lips formed a pout as if they had been intimate friends for quite some time whereas the truth was that, Nikolai could barely stand any of them.

Enough, enough, enough. A green monster whispered in her head and before she could do any real damage, Natasha turned on her heel. "Enjoy your quality company," she said over her shoulder.

"Nat," Nikolai said. She didn't turn around until she heard Sofia giggle and whisper something, probably about her. 

Natasha paused and licked her lips before grabbing the dagger at the hilt of her belt and aiming it straight at Sofia's face. She had made sure to miss her but it grazed her cheek lightly as Sofia let out a startled cry in pain.

Natasha ran towards them like lightening before swinging her leg across Sofia's face, her other leg planted on the ground. Nikolai shouted her name in shock as Sofia fell to the floor, her nose bleeding. Giving him a dirty look, she headed towards the elevator as he bent down and helped Sofia.

She'd always hated Sofia, she told herself. Always hated her. Her touching Nikolai like that, speaking to him like that, it didn't change things but she couldn't help the way she was feeling. Her heart was aching, the stupid organ!

Feeling sick and furious and small, Natasha reached her bedroom and slammed the door hard enough to rattle the rain-splattered windows.

~

Nandini gasped as the stool tilted and her foot slid off the edge, falling a little, her hands flailing to help herself up and she landed in Manik's arms. During her fall, she didn't even register the sound of a rip and once she was in Manik's arm, she felt his skin on her bare back and looked at him only to catch him looking back at her. He quickly put her down and offered her his blazer. She accepted it, nodding her thanks before taking off her shirt and placing the blazer around her and buttoning it up, whilst Manik just watched her, open-mouthed.

She gave him a fake smile before walking over to the tattered couch and putting her legs up to the other side, laying down to wane her exhaustion away. Manik, too, walks over to where she is and sits across from her on a smaller couch, facing and watching her as she lay with her eyes closed.

"By the way, why did you come here in the first place?" Manik questioned, making Nandini open her eyes and look his way to see the inquisitive look on his face.

"Navya was looking for me to ask me about Dhr..." She paused midway and looked at Manik, who immediately knew what she was going to say but kept quiet and nodded instead. "What about you?"

"Someone told me Alya was here." Manik rolled his eyes before leaning back against the couch whilst Nandini just smirked.

"For a quickie, huh?" Manik's eyes snapped open and found Nandini's mischievous ones while she just gave him a nonchalant shrug.

She, for one, loved a little energy boost in the afternoon whilst she was in High school. No wonder, she found this college experience boring; no one here was dragging her to the dark corners of the building.

Soon, it was dark in the confined room and Nandini bit her lip, looking at a restless Manik who was moving around on the sofa as though he couldn't find some peace in the quiet room. She came to the conclusion that he was scared of the dark. She used to be; it was nothing to be ashamed off but she had obvious reasons for it and she didn't know Manik's trauma. Nandini looked around the room and grabbed a metal basket, ripping up some files and throwing them in. She walked to a corner and found two small rock and rubbed them together, igniting a spark and creating a small lifeline for Manik, who watched her quietly before moving towards the basket.

On the other hand, everyone has already gone home after spending more than half the academic day looking for the two missing people of their groups. 

Nandini looks at Manik, his face glistening in the fire's light and decides to have the long conversation she has been curious about, Manik sending people after her to harass her. Manik denies the accusation again but Nandini does not let it go which causes him to get angry and pace around the room, his fist landing in the wall, creating a dent. 

"You are such a damn drama queen." She walks over to him after bending down to grab her ripped shirt and wraps it around his hand, tying it into a knot before looking up at him and seeing him watch her. Nandini screams in his face before hugging Manik, attempting to climb him like he was tree to escape the rodent at her feet. "Pick me up!"

Manik, laughing at her plight, obeys her wish and picks her up bridal style and was about to walk over to the couch to place her on it when the door opens and Alya, Harshad and Navya stand at the opening looking to where the couple stood. Manik puts Nandini down and looks to where the trio were and notices the heartbroken expression on Alya face. Nandini is the first to walk out of the room, barging through regardless the the three blocking the entrance and that is when they notice her attire or the lack thereof. Alya's eye widen in anger and Harshad remains smirking.

Manik also tries to walk out but Alya grabs his arm and he, too tired of the day, snatches his arm off her and heads to his car. Alya follows and stops him from getting in the driver's seat but he does so anyway, leaving her looking as the car drives off.

Nandini practically runs to her car to avoid any interrogation led by Navya as Harshad consoles his sister.  She waves before departing and heading back to her house, her car alongside Manik's before she gives him a nod and speeds off.

Later that night, Nandini stood in front of her wall length mirror, glistening in a mustard, thin-strapped dress, her red bottom shoes twinkling under the light. She had a party to attend and she was always one to be fashionably late. Taking in a deep breath, she brushed her hair back before walking out the double doors of apartment complex gate and into the awaiting car, nodding at the chauffer. The location was already set and the divider was up, separating her from any lurking eyes. She glanced out the window, building lights twinkling, her reflection staring back at her. She looked away abruptly. She couldn't afford to go back there; she needed blood on her hands before she ransacked her whole life.

Walking into the party, she walked inside, smiling at the cameras flashing before her, her security hustling her in. She waved before walking on the red carpet and inside the vast hall, filled with expensive-looking people. She mingled for a while, her mood dissipating by the second. All she had wanted for today night was to be home in her bed but of course, that was not possible. Her phone buzzed in her little clutch and she excused herself from the political officials and into one of the rooms, upstairs. 

"Hello." The voice sounded from the other side as soon as she picked up the call; Nandini never spoke first. It gave the other person too much power.

She recognised the voice and sagged against the wall, hearing it. "Hi." 

"What's up?" The most juvenile thing came out of the billionaire's mouth, making Nandini sigh into the phone.

"Nothing is up, you idiot. I'm at some charity gala but I miss home." Her home was never Russia but New York and Italy were closer to her heart. Maybe it had more to do with the people than the location.

"Maybe I should come there." She knew the minute she expressed any kind of agreement, he would be on the first plane out to her. She didn't want that, at least not for the time being.

"No, no." She bought her hand out and admired the French tips before speaking again, "I need to be on my own for a little while."

"Are you okay?" His voice so sympathetic and so full of love. Something she hadn't ever gotten from her family that she knew she would break down if she heard another word come out of his mouth.

"I really need to go. People will be wondering where I am." Before, he could even berate her for pushing him away, she cut the call, leaving him staring at her contact information. Nandini walks out of the room and after bidding goodbye to the host and several other people, made her way home.

The next morning,  the truth comes out that Alya sent those goons; Dhruv breaks his friendship with Nandini, to save his friendship with Manik. Alya and Manik break up; this, however, does not break Alya's hope so she organises a party to get Manik back. At Alya's house, Manik and Nandini, who was there to practice with Harshad and Navya, get closer as their hands meet and an electric current passes through their bodies. 

The next day, there is the band competition, right before Musicana.

Manik stares at Nandini, mesmerised seeing her in that dress, so elegant and beautiful. Nandini actually sings while Navya pretends to play the guitar and Nandini plays the piano. 

After their performance, Nandini goes out whist Manik gets a phone call so he goes out too. He was in the backyard when he saw Nandini had her foot stuck in some rock and her head was bleeding a lot. He runs to her and tries to lift the rock off of her foot, but it was too heavy so he tries again. He finally movies it but out of nowhere, another rock falls from the roof and hits Nandini on her forehead and she faints. Manik carries her, bridal style, to the doctor's office at college. Meanwhile, everyone is looking for Manik and Nandini as it was time for Fab 5 to perform. Cabir calls Manik who tells him that he is stuck somewhere so he will sing on the phone.

He sang while caressing Nandini's hair. The song ended as Manik left the room before Nandini gained conscious to avoid awkwardness but Harshad couldn't let Manik win so he pulled the topic that Manik performed on the phone. Fab 5 were declared as the runner-ups and NH3 as the winners. Then Nandini wakes up and goes to the performance room where she feels a little guilty when Navya tells her that they have won because Manik was with her. Because of her, Fab 5 lost.

After college, Nandini decides to go Manik's house to thank him for helping her today. With simple black trousers coating her legs, a simple sleeveless top and a cropped Versace overshirt with a gold chain linking the outfit instead of a button. Pairing them with diamond jewellery and low-heeled pumps, she was ready to go. On her way, she grabs a box of chocolates and drives to his house.

Walking inside his lavish living room, she placed the box of chocolates on the coffee table and smiled at the butler who approached her. She inquired about Manik's whereabouts and realised he wasn't home yet but the butler points her towards his bedroom, indicating that she wait there. She climbed up the stairs, entering his room and sitting on his bed. What kind of heathen did not have a little sofa set in his room? She didn't even realise when she falls back across the bed, falling into a deep slumber, tired from the night before. 

Manik walks into his house, taking off his shoes and placing them in the hidden cabinet near the entrance before washing his hands at the sink there. Noticing the chocolates, he assumes the maid put them there for guests. Grabbing one and opening the wrapper, he popped one into his mouth before walking up the stairs. He grabbed his headband from the vanity before noticing Nandini sprawled across his bed. 

Nandini, with her delicate senses, startles awake and sits up on her forearms, glancing at Manik with hooded eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Manik put on his angry face, his hands at his hips.

"I came to express my gratitude." It was hard to say normal everyday words like please and thank you. It was not in her nature to do so; Manik should be glad she was even here but she did not owe anyone any favours and now, she was practically in his debt.

He looked stunted for a second before turning away and walking onward, beckoning her to follow. He suddenly stops making Nandini bump into his bare back, her lips touching his skin before she steps back as he turns around with a glare in his eyes.

Nandini, hiding in the closet, in Manik's shorts and his shirt as Fab 5 are downstairs. He asks her to come next to him as the bed was big enough for both of them and Nandini didn't want to sleep of the floor. Manik creates a pillow barrier, as both of them lay on their stomach and sleep. After a few minutes, Nandini looks at Manik and puts the duvet back on him and sleeps. Manik does the same for her and goes back to sleep. Within an hour, all the pillows were scattered on the floor. Manik and Nandini were cuddling with her face in his chest to avoid the sunlight, Manik's hand was on her waist and the other around her shoulder. His leg was on her entwined with her legs and his face in the crook of her neck.

After everyone had gone home, Cabir, who had stayed behind comes in to talk to Manik about his secret. However, seeing the sight in front of him, he was so cheerful that now he has another thing he can use to tease Manik. He smirks seeing Manik so close to Nandini but feels happy for his friend. He will finally get the love he deserves, what he didn't get with Alya. Manik had told Cabir about the break up, Cabir was very happy internally, about their separation. Nandini wakes up and realises their position and goes home.

Nandini, in the morning, struts out of bed and heads into the shower. Dressed in a one-shoulder black Dior top, and black jeans with a beige blazer on top to hide from the cold, her hands decorated in fancy gold rings and her face covered in minimal makeup, she grabbed her Chanel handbag and walked out of the penthouse. Her hair was in a messy bun with two strands on either side, covering her face.

At college,  Manik messages her to come to the stairs behind the college building and he then calls her and tells her, giving her no time to respond as he hung up on her. Nandini comes there, waiting for him on the stairs. They have a fight about what time they should do it and they both walk away, not wanting to compromise. However, Nandini comes back, just to help Dhruv and agrees to compromise. Manik teases her for coming back to him; she made an excuse that she lost her earring but Manik holds her close to him and touches her face and shows her that her jewellery is still there.

Nandini accepts her defeat and holds his hands away from her and walks off to the canteen. Manik and Dhruv both keep on looking at Nandini which Alya sees and finds an idea to get "her" Manik back.

Navya tells Nandini that she thinks Dhruv and Manik are gay and are together so she takes Nandini to follow them. In the practice room, Harshad makes a plan that NH3 should follow Fab 5 but Nandini thinks that it is a bad idea so she just decides to go to Manik and tells him about it. She was about to knock on their practice room when her phone rings and Manik hears it; she ignores the phone and is about to knock again. However, she feels a hand on her shoulder and turns around to see that it was Manik. He thinks that she if following him and tries to get her to admit it which she does after throwing mud on each other. When Nandini tells him Harshad's plan to follow Cabir, Manik rushes out of the college to his car.

Manik saves Cabir by fighting Harshad before he could see anything. He shouts at Cabir for hiding something as big as that from his friends. He drops Cabir home and whilst he is going home, he thinks to call the others to talk about it but decides against it. He calls Nandini and tells her to come outside but she denies so he goes to her house and asks her to come out otherwise he will go in. She said she does not care so he just goes in directly to Nandini's room only to find her sitting at the piano in the living room, her hands gliding elegantly across the keys.

Nandini gets up from the little seat before facing the man who thinks he can barge in anywhere like he owned the place.

"What are you doing here?" She was tired of this; tired of this country and very tired of the people. She watches as he opens his mouth and then closes it before rushing up to her and hugging her to his chest.

His hands travel down to her waist, circling around. Nandini looks confused but she puts her arm around him regardless. She wasn't much of a hugger but he looked like he really needed and she waited, only a few minutes, as reality hit him and he pulls away and tries to walk away without an explanation before turning around and reminding her of the meeting at his place tomorrow.

She nods slightly as he walks out, giving her one last glance. She breathes out at the bipolar nature of everyone she had met so far.

The next day, Nandini went to college and was surprised to see Manik there, sleeping on the stairs. . A piece paper fell on Manik and she touched his forehead to remove it but he wakes up feeling something and she withdraws her hand.

"What are you doing here?" She tried to hold back her smirk but she couldn't, watching him rub his eyes before standing up.

"Waiting for you." He leans against the railing of the stairs and she just shakes her heat at him.

"Manik, go home." She walks away, leaving him staring at her back, contemplating taking his advice. Finally, his sore muscles won and he decided to go home.

Alya talks to Dhruv about his feelings for Nandini and during the middle of the day, Manik comes into college and comes to learn about Nandini and Dhruv's friendship and asks Nandini about it.

"We were always friends. Why do you care?" Manik had everyone in this damn college in a chokehold and that is called dictatorship.

"I don't like it, Nandini. Break it off." Nandini just ignores him and they both just go to the room where the party for Raghav was held. While dancing, Manik and Nandini somehow end up dancing together.

At the party, Nandini's drink is spiked and she and Manik spend the whole night together. At the start of which, Nandini nearly strips for Manik, saying that it is way too hot. She makes him chase her around the whole college. In the end, Manik just picks her up and takes her to the canteen. Nandini does not vomit as she is used to all this. In the canteen, Nandini pecks Manik's lips making him widen his eyes and open his mouth in shock. they lay on top of his car, with Manik feeding Nandini the lime. 

The next morning, Nandini dressed in a white shirt and light grey trousers is sat on the stairs with Manik, discussing what the neurologist said about Dhruv's condition.

A guy comes up to Nandini and waves his hand, "Hi."

"Can I help you?" Nandini looked at the handsome guy in front of her as Manik looks on from him and her.

"You don't remember me? From the club." What were the chances that on a night out to the club, she makes out from some from the same forsaken college.

Hearing this, Manik looks at Nandini and remembers that he was supposed to ask her about it. He knew he wasn't wrong that he saw her there. Nandini just nods at the guy before he gets the hint and walks away altogether but not without a backward glance which Manik notices and grits his teeth. 

 Manik, to divert her attention from the guy, changes the topic. "Who gave you that drink?"

"I don't know." Nandini had a growing suspicion that the drink was not meant for her. Spiking drinks was child's play in the manipulation game.

Nandini gets up and leaves from the stirs, handing him the file to read on his own and in the hallway, she meets Dhruv and at first, she didn't notice his new haircut and clothes but when she does, her heart melts. He looked adorable.

"You look great, Dhruv." She pats his cheek before walking away, making him smile and gaze at her back, brimming with hope.

~

 Hope you enjoyed this chapter and please vote and comment on the chapter because it lets me know what you guys think about it.