Page 16 of One Hellish Desire

Hurt flickers across his eyes.

“That stings, Cub. I complimented your work, your boutique. Can't you return the favor with a few kind words?”

“Then start behaving worthy of them, Prince Pompous. I know arrogance suits you, but that scowl of yours is off-putting.”

He looks almost impressed as he closes the distance between us. “Do I scare you?”

Our locked gaze charges with some inexplicable energy that has me frozen in place. No matter how much I try, I can’t look away. Something is terribly wrong with me. Vikram doesn’t scare me, but something about him does.

A knock at the door breaks the spell. I shove him away and yank it open, praying it's just my secretary, Geeta. But it's Shyam standing there, his bright smile faltering when he takes in Vikram behind me.

“Shyam?” I swallow hard, shifting aside.

“Hi,” he says to both me and Vikram standing behind me. I quickly move aside.

“What is he doing here?” Shyam asks in confusion, clearly disliking seeing me with Vikram in my cabin.

“And who do you think you are to ask me that?” Vikram retorts.

“Maahi’s fiancée.” Shyam replies, clenching his jaw.

Vikram lets out a sarcastic chuckle.

“Not yet, Mr. Trivedi. But I’m Maahi’s family and I have every right to be wherever she is concerned.”

“Vikram, stop it,” I finally intrude in their hot argument. “Shyam, I… I forgot an important file at home so Daadi sent him here with it,” I clarify.

Vikram puts the file I need over my desk and walks out without a proper goodbye to me or Shyam, not that I expected one but it was evident in his behavior that he clearly doesn’t like Shyam.

As soon as he's gone, I release the breath I've been holding.

“So you two are friends now?” Shyam asks, curious.

“Does it look like that?” I shoot back, exasperated. Grabbing the file from my desk, I turn to Shyam again with forced cheer.

“I don’t know. You tell me. If you both patch up, I’ll be happy. At least then I might see you smile again. Because ever since he came back, you’ve lost your pretty smile.”

“He’s not friend material, Shyam. Anyway, I’m so busy right now that I really can’t afford to spend time with you. I have a client coming.”

“It’s fine,” he nods. “I’ll leave, but how about we go out for dinner tonight? I’ll take Daadi’s permission if you want.”

That sounds like a good plan. I haven’t been out much with Shyam, but we’ve had a few casual dinners discussing our dreams and ambitions.

“And this time, no more talking about dreams and ambitions,” he says, stepping closer.

I don’t like it. I should like it, but it feels weird. He gently tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear and smiles. “We’ll talk about our future.”

Future? Yeah, we have to discuss it someday, so why not today?

“Sure, sounds good. See you at eight,” I reply, already stepping back to put space between us.

As Shyam departs, I exhale slowly. He's a good man - kind, respectful, everything I should want. But something between us is off. My friend Preet thinks we have no chemistry. Maybe she’s right. But marriage isn’t always about chemistry. Or is it?

VIKRAM

I storm back to Ratna Mahal, my home, but I'm utterly unfocused. I can't shake the discomfort of Shyam intruding on my conversation with Maahi. How dare he show up unannounced like that? He may be her fiancé someday, but they aren't engaged yet. Why does he have to insert himself wherever she is?

I inwardly cringe at my own thoughts. Obviously if they plan to marry, they'll spend plenty of time together. But the idea unsettles me in a way I can't explain. I can't picture Maahi with someone like Shyam - there's something stiff and ill-fitting about the match. Maahi deserves better.

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