The billionaire criminal

Chapter 1 — The Order

Rain had covered Islamabad in a silver darkness.

The streets were unusually quiet, the lights of the city reflecting across the wet roads while the Margalla Hills disappeared behind thick clouds.

Inside a luxurious mansion, however, silence did not mean peace.

It meant danger.

Shahmir Qureshi stood beside the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the rain fall.

To the public, Shahmir was a successful businessman.

Powerful.

Respected.

Untouchable.

But behind closed doors, he was something else entirely.

A man who had built his influence through fear, secrets, and people who never questioned his orders.

Behind him stood Zayan Shah.

Twenty-eight years old.

Tall.

Calm.

Always dressed in dark colors.

He was Shahmir's right-hand man—the person trusted with the jobs no one else wanted to handle.

Zayan rarely spoke.

And when he did, people listened.

Shahmir turned away from the window.

"Usman Malik refused again."

Zayan's expression didn't change.

"The third time?"

"Yes."

Shahmir walked toward the desk.

"Three meetings. Three offers. Three refusals."

He picked up a file and threw it onto the table.

Zayan glanced at it.

"His company isn't worth all this trouble."

Shahmir gave a cold smile.

"I'm not interested in the company alone."

He opened the file.

"The land near the Margalla Hills is extremely valuable. I want control of that property, a thirty percent stake in Malik Holdings, and the international project rights."

Zayan remained silent.

Shahmir continued.

"Usman thinks his company belongs only to him."

"He'll never agree willingly."

"I know."

Shahmir looked directly at him.

"That's why we're going to give him a reason."

Zayan's eyes narrowed slightly.

"What reason?"

Shahmir pushed another file across the table.

Zayan opened it.

A photograph fell onto the desk.

A young woman.

Long dark hair.

Soft features.

A bright smile.

Her name was written beneath the photograph.

Meher Malik.

Zayan looked at the picture for a moment.

"His daughter?"

"His only daughter."

Shahmir leaned back.

"His greatest weakness."

Zayan closed the file.

"What do you want me to do?"

Shahmir's voice became colder.

"Bring her here."

Silence filled the room.

Zayan looked at him.

"You want me to take his daughter?"

"Yes."

"I don't kidnap people."

Shahmir smiled faintly.

"Tonight, you do."

Zayan's jaw tightened.

"What happens after?"

"We record a message."

"And then?"

"Usman signs."

Zayan stared at him.

"And if he refuses?"

Shahmir's expression hardened.

"Then we make him understand that his daughter's safety depends on his decision."

Zayan said nothing.

He knew what refusing Shahmir meant.

After a long silence, he picked up the photograph.

"Where is she?"

"University."

Zayan looked at the picture once more.

A girl who clearly had no idea that her life was about to change.

"I'll handle it."

Shahmir nodded.

"That's why I chose you."

---

Earlier That Day

Meher Malik was having the worst morning of her week.

And somehow, it was entirely her own fault.

She ran across the university courtyard with her bag hanging from one shoulder.

"Wait! Wait!"

Her best friend, Hania, turned around.

"You are late again!"

"I know!"

"You said you would leave home twenty minutes ago."

"I did leave!"

"Then why are you late?"

Meher stopped in front of her.

"My driver got stuck."

Hania stared at her.

"Your driver?"

Meher nodded seriously.

"Yes."

"You are literally the daughter of a billionaire."

"So?"

"So you have no excuse."

Meher laughed.

"Money doesn't control traffic."

Hania rolled her eyes.

"You are impossible."

Meher smiled.

"I know."

Her phone suddenly vibrated.

She looked at the screen.

Dad calling.

"Oh no."

Hania laughed.

"You're in trouble."

"Why?"

"You missed breakfast again."

Meher answered the call.

"Hello, Dad."

Her father's serious voice came from the other side.

"Where are you?"

"University."

"You were supposed to be home twenty minutes ago."

"I know, but—"

"Meher."

She sighed.

"Okay, okay. I'll come home early."

"You promise?"

"Promise."

The call ended.

Hania looked at her.

"Your father still treats you like you're twelve."

Meher smiled.

"Because I'm his favorite."

"You are his only child."

"Exactly."

They both laughed.

Meher had no idea that it would be the last ordinary conversation she would have for a long time.

---

That evening, the rain became heavier.

Meher walked toward the university parking area while checking her phone.

She sent a voice message to Hania.

"Guess what? Dad finally agreed to let me go shopping this weekend. I swear I'm going to buy everything—"

She stopped.

She looked at the screen.

Her eyes widened.

The message had been sent to Dad.

Not Hania.

"Oh no."

She immediately typed another message.

Dad, that was for Hania.

No response.

Meher covered her face with one hand.

"Perfect."

She didn't notice the dark vehicle parked farther away.

She didn't notice the unfamiliar figures watching from a distance.

And she certainly didn't notice Zayan.

He stood near the entrance, observing her calmly.

He had seen her photograph.

But photographs didn't show personality.

They didn't show how easily she laughed.

They didn't show how she talked to herself when she was nervous.

They didn't show the way she smiled at strangers.

To Zayan, however, none of that mattered.

She was simply Usman Malik's daughter.

A means to an end.

Nothing more.

---

The parking area became quieter as the evening progressed.

Meher looked around.

"Where is the driver?"

She checked her phone.

No missed calls.

She sighed.

"Great."

She took a few steps forward.

Then everything happened quickly.

Someone blocked her path.

Meher froze.

"Who are you?"

No answer.

Her fear rose instantly.

"Please move."

She stepped backward.

The next moment, she realized she was surrounded.

Her voice trembled.

"Wait..."

The rain became louder.

The world around her seemed to disappear.

---

When Meher opened her eyes again, she was in an unfamiliar room.

She immediately sat up.

Her heart raced.

"Where am I?"

She looked around.

A large room.

Dark curtains.

A locked door.

No familiar faces.

She stood and rushed toward the door.

It didn't open.

"Help!"

Nothing.

She knocked again.

"Please! Someone!"

Footsteps approached.

The door opened.

A man walked inside.

Black shirt.

Cold expression.

Calm eyes.

Zayan.

Meher stepped backward.

"Who are you?"

He didn't answer immediately.

She looked at him desperately.

"Why am I here?"

Zayan closed the door behind him.

"Because of your father."

Meher stared at him.

"What?"

"Your father."

"My father?"

She shook her head.

"I don't understand."

Zayan walked toward the table.

"You don't need to."

"Then let me go!"

"No."

Her eyes filled with fear.

"Please..."

Zayan looked at her.

There was no sympathy in his expression.

No hesitation.

"You are here because your father refused to cooperate."

"Cooperate with whom?"

"With my boss."

"Who is your boss?"

"Shahmir Qureshi."

Meher's face changed.

She had heard that name before.

Not in a good way.

"What does he want?"

"Your father's business."

She stared at him.

"My father won't give it to him."

"Then he will have to make a different choice."

"What choice?"

Zayan placed a phone on the table.

"A message."

Meher shook her head.

"No."

"You'll record it."

"No!"

Zayan looked at her.

"Meher."

She froze.

Hearing her name from him made the situation feel even more real.

He continued,

"You will tell your father that you're safe for now and that he needs to listen to Shahmir."

Meher's eyes filled with tears.

"I don't want to."

Zayan's expression remained cold.

"You don't have a choice."

She stared at him.

"You are a horrible person."

He didn't react.

"Maybe."

"You don't even care."

"No."

The answer came so easily that Meher fell silent.

Zayan pressed the recording button.

"Say it."

Meher looked into the camera.

Her lips trembled.

"Dad..."

Her voice broke.

She wiped her tears.

"I'm okay."

She wasn't.

"Please don't worry about me."

Her voice became weaker.

"Just... please do whatever they ask."

The recording ended.

Zayan took the phone.

Meher looked at him through tearful eyes.

"Will you let me go after this?"

"No."

Her expression fell.

"You promised!"

"I promised nothing."

She looked away.

"I'll never forgive you."

Zayan paused at the door.

Then he turned back.

"I don't need your forgiveness."

The door closed.

Meher sat on the edge of the bed.

For the first time in her life, she felt completely helpless.

---

Across the city, Usman Malik's phone vibrated.

He opened the message.

The video began.

The moment he saw his daughter, his face went pale.

"Meher..."

Her trembling voice filled the room.

Usman stood up.

"No..."

He watched until the video ended.

His hands shook.

He immediately called the number.

Someone answered.

Shahmir.

"Hello, Usman."

Usman's voice was full of anger.

"Where is my daughter?"

"Safe."

"If you hurt her—"

"I don't want to hurt her."

Shahmir paused.

"I want your cooperation."

"What do you want?"

"You already know."

"The land?"

"The land."

"The shares?"

"The shares."

"And the international project?"

"Exactly."

Usman closed his eyes.

"You'll never get them."

Shahmir smiled.

"Then perhaps you haven't understood how important your daughter is to you."

The call ended.

Usman stood alone in his office.

For the first time, the power he had spent his entire life building meant nothing to him.

All he could think about was one thing.

His daughter.

---

Back at the mansion, Zayan stood outside Meher's room.

He could hear nothing.

He should have walked away.

Instead, he remained there for a few seconds.

He didn't know why.

He had carried out orders before.

He had seen people frightened before.

But something about Meher's tears kept returning to his mind.

He clenched his jaw.

"This is business."

He turned away.

"Nothing else."

Behind the closed door, Meher sat silently by the window.

Outside, the rain continued to fall.

And somewhere between the storm, the threats, and the signed papers waiting to be forced...

two lives had already begun moving toward a future neither of them had chosen.

But neither Meher nor Zayan knew the truth yet.

The real danger had not even begun.

Because what would happen when Usman finally agreed to Shahmir's demands—and Shahm