Anissa's mind came out of the hazy mist of lust as she grasped that she gave into him so easily. I can't believe I let him take advantage of me like that. She scolded herself.

Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she focused on her anger. He release her wrists and caught her waist as his lips went up to her neck and nuzzled in and kissed her throbbing pulse.

"Get off me now." She rasped and pushed at his shoulders to get him off. She felt pinned down as the weight of his bulky muscular body crushed her lower abdomen and legs. His intoxicatingly scent whiffed in her nostrils. His heat seeped through and engorged her already hot skin.

"Hmm, baby, I don't feel like it." He murmured against her throat. "Besides, I'm so fucking turned on right now."

Anissa gasped lowly and swallowed hard. No doubt her body was heavily aroused, after all, it was all a physical reaction to the stimulation it received moments ago, but she didn't want their first ever intimate interaction to be in this dismal state of affairs. Not when he treated her like the way that he did and not when she wanted answers.

"Is that how it's going to be? You're going to punish me if I defy and reward me if I be good?" Anissa inquired, her breathing escalating.

Shehryaar smirked. "Yes, that's exactly how it's going to be." He admitted and propped on his arms, facing down to her. She felt relieved to have his weight off of her.

"So each time you disrespect me, you just expect me to submit? Then you'll reward me?Then what if I disrespect you? Will you punish me?" Anissa said, her voice low as tears welled up in her eyes. "What is wrong with you?" She mumbled.

Shehryaar's eyes darkened. He immediately caught her wrists and his fingers dug into her wrists causing her to wince in pain. "Dare to cross me on that Tara and you'll regret it. Trust me on that." He growled, his handsome face morphing into that of a dark angel. It frightened Anissa to no end and she knew instantly that he was dead serious.

But she wasn't giving up either.

"Then don't disrespect me either. I want our relationship to be built on mutual respect and understanding." She began to sob, her dread making her weep her unfortunate fate.

And then what that woman had told her circulated in her mind and wouldn't stop nagging her. She didn't understand why she was so bothered by it.

"Stop threatening me all the time." She cried and thrashed underneath his hold.

"Why the hell did you marry me? If you can't respect me then why did you marry me? If you wanted a woman of your standards and expectations then you could've married some rich heiress. Why did you marry me?" She shrieked and began to thrash harder under him.

"Where the fuck is this coming from?" Shehryaar asked, his tone laced with anger and frustration.

"Tell me," she paused and stared deeply into his angry smouldering eyes. "If you want me to at least respect you then at least you should treat me with respect as well. All I want is to live with respect and dignity. That's all I have Shehryaar. Don't take it away from." She cried, her tears falling from her temples to her hair.

Shehryaar found her sorrowful and disheveled state so immaculately sexy. His desire rose to new heights and he wanted nothing more then to claim her but he knew it was too early. She wasn't ready. And he wanted her ready and wanting him.

"I'll respect you and even listen to you willingly if you make a reasonable request." Her voice pulled him out of his reverie. "You cannot coerce me to do everything that you want. I want to make this marriage work but I can't if you keep trying to hurt me like that." She stated, her sobs racked in her chest.

Shehryaar saw pure hurt in her innocent hazel orbs and it tugged at the strings of his heart.

The humane part of him began to scold him for what he made that innocent girl go through. But he shut it down immediately and put on his cold emotionless mask. He willed himself into his cold hard exterior for he needed it in order to execute his plans.

He didn't understand why she was making such a big deal out of this whole issue.

Why couldn't she just simply submit to him already? He now knew that it would take more work and effort to break her down and have her submit to him.

"Get your shit together." He said and got off of her.

Her tears kept rolling down as she wept. Hugging herself closely, she thought hard in how to make him understand. Minutes must've passed as Shehryaar emerged from the bathroom in a grey shirt and sweats, rubbing a towel on his wet hair. He didn't spare Anissa a glance as he went straight towards the door. Anissa sat on her knees and faced him. She wiped her tears away and pulled her hair behind her ears.

"Shehry," Anissa called softly, her voice gentle and sweet.

Shehryaar halted in his steps.

Anissa got off the bed and approached him. Her hazel orbs shone with sincerity as she braced his shoulders gently and stared deep into his eyes.

I'll just have to make him understand through softer means, she thought as she leaned in and planted a chaste kiss on his lips.

"I am your wife. I am yours." She murmured against his lips. His eyes widened for a fraction of a second until he resumed back his coldness.

"Please treat what's yours with respect and dignity. I bear you name after all." She said gently and cupped his cheek.

Shehryaar was taken aback by the sudden change in her attitude. One minute was she was crying her eyes out and the next she stood in front of him confidently.

"Oh really?" He smirked and caught her waist.

Anissa shuddered from where he touched her. Her grey eyes becoming dark and hooded.

"Yes," she replied, her voice a whisper.

Shehryaar stared at her blankly, trying to understand what she was scheming.

She could see the wheels in his head working.

"Tell me, if you were engaged before, why did you leave her and marry me?" She inquired.

His grey eyes hardened. "Who told you that?" He gritted, his jaw setting tightly.

Anissa licked her dry lips. "Our hostess. She told me that you were engaged to her sister."

Shehryaar smirked and leaned closer to her lips. "Is my Tara jealous?" He rasped.

Anissa pulled back instantly as his touch burned her, her eyes widening. "W-what? Of co-course not. Why would I be jealous?" She stammered, feeling utterly embarrassed. Her cheeks flushed bright red.

Shehryaar chuckled in amusement when he saw her reaction. But when his laughter died down, he eyes with solemness. "Yes Tara, I was engaged once. It was to a very important heiress. My union with her wouldn't secured my position in the elite, virtually making me untouchable. And my Mafia would've gained even more power from the merger. But," he paused, his eyes roaming on her face, his fingers gently stroking her dark heavy glossy tresses.

"She wasn't you. No one can ever be you." He muttered, the hand that was gently stroking her hair gripped her scalp while the other gripped her waist tightly. She gasped at the sudden crassness as he brought her face up, lifting her body up such that her feet was hanging from the floor and his lips came crashing down on to hers.

He kissed her with such a heated passion: it conveyed a lot to her: his choice and his desire for her.

She moaned into his mouth as his tongue plunged into her warm mouth. His tongue coaxed hers into a dance and caressed every corner of her mouth.

She was breathless. She wanted to breath as her head began to spin with his bruising kiss.

He released he just as she was about to faint. She panted and hungrily gulped in the surrounding air.

He rested his forehead on hers and closed his eyes as he breath d in deeply. "No woman can ever be you, Anissa." He mumbled. His answer satisfied him and she felt relieved. She didn't understand why though. But she was glad nonetheless.

He opened his eyes and his intense gaze pierced into hers.

"There's just you." He mumbled and pecked her lips.

Anissa frowned as she calmed her breathing.

"And besides, you're my submissive docile wife. You're a woman. It's your job to obey and submit. I expect nothing less." He declared, straightening up but he kept his hold firm on her. "So just sit back, relax and enjoy whatever I give you. However, in the end, all I want is you." He stated firmly.

Anissa was left gobsmacked at his statement. She couldn't believe how parochial minded he was.

She was offended beyond reprieve.

It was one thing to be dominant and overbearing, but it was a completely different thing to be narrow minded. She had not expected this from him.

"And of course, you're suppose to be a good wife and please me. I'm sure that you wouldn't want to cause me any displeasure now would you? After all, that's what women of your standing are taught, are they not?" He further surprised and disgusted her by his comments. "After all, a rich heiress could never do that for me. I don't want a spoilt woman. Rather," he let his fingers gently trail down her throat. "A simple, innocent and middle class woman who I can easily monopolise." He murmured.

He was deliberately patronising her.

Her eyes stung with bitter tears.

She was already wounded with her past and her pride was dented so bad and now this.

She wanted to yell and scream at him that he was wrong. But she couldn't find her voice: knowing fully well that she herself was a target of ended inequality. Her own biological parents had disowned her simply because she was a girl and didn't serve the same purpose as a man.

She couldn't blame him. How could she blame him and correct him when she herself was a victim to this tragic reality?

What had the society come to? What was the world coming to?

This male oriented society functioned in this way. It was as if they were living in the tenth century instead of the twenty first century.

She hadn't expected this from Shehryaar. She had thought that he would be more open minded but apparently she was wrong. After all, she didn't know him at all.

And that caused her to grow angry and furious at his low mindset. How could he possibly subject her to this?

How could he think of her as just an object to be used and abuse? To be displayed whenever he felt like it and to be showed off as if she was a prize?

This whole conversation gave her a glimpse into the enigmatic mind of Shehryaar Ghulari.

Shehryaar didn't say anything as he released he and left her. She felt her anger boil her blood. How could he leave her handing like that?

She stomped her foot on the marble floor in disbelief. What a heartless, cold, self conceited bastard! She screamed mentally and retreated to the bathroom. Although she had already taken a bath earlier, she felt dirty after what he did to her and besides, she needed a stress relieving cold shower.

The cold shower would help to cool down her temper.

She was practically fuming. But the soft spray of the cold water helped to untie the knots in her back.

How the hell will i ever change him? She thought as she rubbed the makeup off her face.

When he was treating her with such blatant disregard, how could she ever over look it? When he was shredding her dignity and always imposing himself on her, then how will she ever bring about any change in him?

He didn't see her as an equal.

He only saw her as a woman and a defenceless and dependent woman at that.

Now another challenge had rose.

Now she was to prove him wrong.

And she will make sure to change his way of thinking as well.

And she was strong. She knew that she could do it if she put her mind to it. She had spent her whole life fighting inequality and proving herself as more then just a pretty face. And now, she was going to do the same.

For all she knew, he only wanted her body, not her heart.

But perhaps, if she changed him, there might be some chance that the heart might get involved as well.

But she knew it wouldn't be an easy task.

People don't change.

And even if they do, it takes a long time. But she would try. There was no harm in that.

With that decision, she Blocked away the events of the evening and fell into a deep sleep.

************

"Well well well, if it isn't my little brother."

Shehryaar resisted the urge to pounce at the man and beat him to a pulp.

Calm the fuck down.

Calm the fuck down.

He chanted mentally. His hands itched to reach for his gun and shoot down his enemy. But he had bigger things to worry about so he reigned on her anger and composed himself as he sat at the head of the table in the large conference room.

"I'm glad you could join me Azhar." He said in monotone.

Azhar stood at the entrance with two buff body guards ready on standby.

"Need I remind you that this is a truce meeting. No weapons." Zameer spoke. It took him a lot of convincing for Shehryaar to finally agree to hold this meeting. He knew that Azhar was a shithead who loved to rub it in and would spare no opportunity to humiliate or degrade his own brother.

Azhar gave a cocky smirk as he pulled out a chair and sat down facing Shehryaar. "Ah yes I know but still, I can never be too careful. I'm in enemy territory." He claimed, his voice proud and confident.

"This is a friendly discussion between brothers," shehryaar said, balling his hands into fists to control his anger and rising disgust and hatred for the low life scum that sat in front of him.

"Brothers?" Azhar scoffed. "Last I checked, I killed one of them because apparently he was getting out of control and had to be contained." He chuckled dryly.

Shehryaar was about ready to pounce at him when Zameer caught a hold of his shoulder. This asshole is intentionally tryingto provoke Shehryaar. Zameer thought with disdain. Well we only need him to agree to our terms then we're all set.

"Yes well, we aren't here to discuss about the past. We are here to discuss about the future." Zameer told.

"The future you say. Then what possibly could the Saeen of the south want with the Saeen of the north?" Azhar scoffed, his tone interested yet unenthusiastic.

"Just like Zameer said, the future," Shehryaar spoke, masking his voice and gave into a hard cold exterior.

"I am the boss of the south and periphery of the Sikhai while you are the master of the north. I have decided to put aside past grievances and propose an alliance." Shehryaar said, his voice strong and powerful.

"We both share the same enemy. The bastard son of Hameed Ghulari." Shehryaar leaned back into his seat and crossed his right ankle on his left knee. Knowing his fingers together, he saw the man sitting in front of him: the man exuded confidence but from the beads of sweat on his forehead and awkward stance of his shoulders easily gave him away. Shehryaar was aware that Azhar was truly a fool and a power hungry idiot.

Nawaaz was growing powerful by the day and was crossing into the Sikhai region and gaining supporters and men on both sides. If action isn't taken soon the it'll be turned into a full blown war with the involvement of the Army.

And before that could happen, Shehryaar wanted to gain control of the situation: he planned on gaining Azhar's trust, making him agree to take in a faction of his Mafia into his territory and then striking and getting rid of Azhar as well as Nawaaz all in one go. It was like killing two birds with stone.

This would lead to the ultimate prize: gaining control of all of the Sikhai region for those who controlled the Sikhai region had the entire country in the palm of their hands.

But Shehryaar didn't care about that. It was just a added bonus. What he cares about was avenging his twin brother's death.

"He is infiltrating into my territory as well as yours. He's a fool for not only making an enemy out of me but also you. And since we are true half brothers, we can easily gain an upper hand by joining forces. I have the Chinese Mafia on my side while you have the Punjabi alliances at yours. Together, it's a strong combination. Nawaaz'a group may not pose a threat now but slowly he's making the peasants and the poor immigrants his supporters. He is gaining power steadily." Shehryaar said.

Azhar leaned back in his seat. He looked visibly shaken. "So what? What can a couple of peasants do? They are all worthless low lives. They pose no threat." He said.

Shehryaar looked at him internally smirked. " is that what you thought as well when they raided in Shikarpur and caused riots and destruction?" He inquired. Nawaaz had managed to get into Shikarpur which was a major town in Sikhai and gained the people's favor there.

"Don't underestimate the power of a common man Azhar. It's a mistake you'll regret." Shehryaar spat. He wasn't able to control his anger for long if the dim witted idiot didn't agree to his proposal soon enough.

"Still, Nawaaz isn't that strong."

"No but he's growing. I have intel that he's gained the support of the militants in KPK and balochistan. And that surely presents a problem." Shehryaar bluffed. He knew Azhar would easily buy it.

And it was right when he saw Azhar's face become pale. Gaining the militants support meant Azhar would cornered since the Sikhai came in between the country.

"And how do I know u can trust in this proposal of yours."

Bingo! Gotchya! Shehryaar smirked and slide a piece of paper to Azhar on the slick polished table.

"We take a blood oath. That should be enough assurance." Shehryaar said and stood up. He took out his pocket knife and sliced his thumb and stamped it down on the contract.

Nothing was more serious for a Saeen then a blood oath. It meant that betrayal would be met with death and it was code that even the most evilest of criminals honored. But Shehryaar had his own way of getting Azhar in his trap without breaking his blood oath.

Azhar stood up and studied Shehryaar for a moment. Of course Shehryaar masked a blank and emotionless expression.

"Very well," Azhar agreed and took out his knife and sliced his thumb, signing his stamp in blood on the contract.

"Well then brother," Shehryaar resisted the urge to gag upon calling the killer of his twin brother. It too everything in him to not just kill the bastard while he was there. But he had bigger plans and for that he needed Azhar for that.

"I will be sending Ina faction of my divisions to khairabad. You can send a faction to Karachi. I'll be visiting Shanghai soon for reinforcements." Shehryaar notified.

"Very well brother." Azhar exclaimed and engulfed Shehryaar into a hug.

This sentimental fucker just signed his own death warrant. Shehryaar patted himself on the back for the job was easily done.

"Very well. I will also notify the Punjabi alliances." Azhar agreed.

Shehryaar sealed the deal with further contracts sighed in. And Azhar blindly sighed in without asking for the outcomes. Zameer was right; Azhar really was stupid.

Soon, I'll have all the power in this entire Subcontinent. My Mafia will be the most powerful and untouchable Mafia. And my revenge will be the perfect cherry on top. Shehryaar felt excitement pulse through him.

This was what he lived for; bloodshed, power, control and dominance.

***********

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