Page 56 of One Hellish Passion

“Where is this race?”

“Same city. And I will drop you before midnight,” he kept looking at her expression, especially when he used the word midnight. She was really trying hard to understand why midnight?

“Midnight?”

Ranveer took a deep sigh.

“You ask too many questions, and I hate to keep responding to each one of them. Not used to it, you see,” he sounded mischievous. “So, I will pick you up on Saturday evening. Be ready.”

Maya nodded. Ranveer rose from the couch, as if to escort her out. Confused, Maya stared at him.

“That's it? You called me here just to send me away after five minutes?”

Ranveer smirked knowingly. “I wouldn't mind if you stayed the whole night, but didn't you forbid any unnecessary pretense of being a passionate couple when we're not being watched?”

Maya flushed, realizing he was right. She was annoyed at herself for even asking him something so foolish. She got up to leave.

“And leave your car here,” Ranveer added. “Someone will drop it at your place tomorrow. My driver will drop you home tonight. I want you safe until we know who was following you.”

That was a good decision. For the first time she liked his protectiveness. Without arguing with him, she headed for the private elevator.

That's when Maya realized she had left her phone inside, likely on the couch. As she turned back to retrieve her forgotten device, Maya stumbled into Ranveer's arms. His hands instinctively gripped her waist, preventing her from falling and injuring herself. His touch, though firm, felt electrifying against her soft skin. Maya gasped, feeling the heat radiating from his body, his breath tantalizingly close to her cheek.

Ranveer held Maya close, their sudden closeness igniting a spark between them. Maya's lips parted in a silent gasp, her hazel eyes widening with surprise and anticipation. Ranveer's heartbeat quickened, desire coursing through him as he fought the urge to kiss her then and there. With as much restraint as he could muster, he gently steadied her, ensuring she regained her balance.

Maya saw raw hunger in his hooded eyes before he steadied her. She hurriedly grabbed her phone from him, which he was here to return and escaped into the elevator, clutching her racing heart.

The doors slid shut, and Ranveer exhaled sharply. The temptation had been excruciating. He yearned to kiss those sweet lips and run his hands over every inch of her perfect body. But they had agreed to restrain themselves, to avoid complicating their pretend relationship.

As Maya leaned weakly against the elevator wall, a silly part of the woman in her who had never been this close to a man before, found herself wishing he had given in. Her skin still tingled where he had held her. Their attraction was undeniable. She didn’t know it was only a matter of time before the fire between them would consume them both.

Chapter 17

Garima sat alone in the living room, watching television. Ritu had gone to get her medicines from the store, and Pammi had left to see some friends who happened to visit the city that day. Garima flipped through the channels; there was nothing interesting on TV, just the same clichéd movies and serials. Bored, she didn't want to call up Maya because she knew her daughter would be very busy at Blitz. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Why did Ritu ring the doorbell? She had the keys. The bell rang again.

“Coming,” she got up from the couch and slowly made her way to the door, opening it.

Her eyes filled with tears of joy upon seeing the man standing before her.

“Vivek,” she murmured.

Vivek Bajaj entered the house and shut the door. He stretched his arms and scooped Garima in for a hug. She cried.

“I missed you so much, Vivek.”

“I also missed you, Garima,” he said, kissing her forehead.

After a minute, reality struck back, and Garima became serious.

“You shouldn’t have come here. If anyone sees you, they will not like it.”

“I couldn’t resist seeing you, Garima. Ever since I heard about your panic attack and hospitalization, I was so desperate to come and meet you. But you kept denying me.”

“Maya is so against you, Vivek. And I don’t want to upset her. She is right on her part though.”

Vivek zipped her lips, placing a finger on them.

“I will handle her. She is my girl after all. How far can a daughter be from her father?”

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