Page 65 of One Hellish Love

“Rudra… how about a coffee while we wait?” Jay suggested, trying to stall.

“No, Jay. I’ve got to go. The pilot just messaged me. They’re ready,” Rudra said, his voice firm.

Jay gulped, knowing he had to think fast. “Just… wait a few more minutes, Rudra. Please.”

Rudra frowned, suspicion creeping into his eyes. “Excuse me?”

Jay quickly backpedaled. “I, uh, had a question about the Nainital deal. Are we sticking with the bid the Mehtas gave us?”

Rudra, distracted for a moment, gave him a brief answer. But as more time ticked by, and another call from the pilot came in, Rudra grew impatient.

“Peter, I’m coming in a minute,” Rudra said before hanging up.

Jay’s heart raced. He couldn’t stall any longer.

“Rudra, I was just wondering… should we handle the pay scale hike now, or wait until the next quarter?”

Rudra’s brows furrowed. Something was definitely off.

“Jay, what’s going on? Why are you trying to keep me here?”

Jay paled, caught. “Uh… Kashish called. She told me to stop you.”

Rudra’s entire body tensed.Kashish wants to stop me?Why, after all of this? He had done exactly what she wanted—he was leaving, for good. His jaw tightened.

“Go home, Jay. And don’t forget to give her that envelope.” Rudra’s voice was cold, final.

Jay gave a shaky nod and retreated to the car, knowing he failed Kashish. Rudra turned away, trying to steel himself.This is it. The goodbye he never wanted but knew he had to face. As he started dragging his bag toward the entrance, he heard a voice that stopped him in his tracks.

“Rudra, wait!”

His heart seized.Kashish?

He turned slowly, and there she was—breathless, her face flushed from running through the airport. She looked exhaustedbut determined. Her presence sent a torrent of emotions crashing through him.Why is she here?

“You don’t have to do this,” she managed between breaths.

“Do what?” he asked, his voice sharp with suppressed frustration.

“Leave. You don’t have to go to Paris,” she said, her tone pleading.

Fury bubbled inside him. He glared at her, his eyes dark and stormy.

“You lost the right to stop me when you told me to get out of your life. Forever.”

Kashish flinched. His words hit hard, but she pressed on. “I was selfish. I see that now.”

“Go home, Kashish,” he replied bitterly and turned around to head back to the airport's private terminal.

“You have a family. They need you more than I need you to be gone,” she continued, trying to keep up with him as they reached the security line.

Before he could hand over his passport, she snatched it from his hand.

“Are you even listening to me?” she demanded.

Security noticed the commotion, but Rudra gestured for them to stay out of it. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side.

“What is your problem?” he hissed. “I’m not some puppet you can control whenever you feel like it. I’ve made my decision, and I’m leaving.”

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