Page 87 of One Hellish Love

With that, Lavina rushed out, leaving Kashish feeling deflated. She had been so certain that everything would go smoothly, but now it seemed like her plans were failing. Had Rudra somehow manipulated this situation to avoid the appointment? She checked the clock. It was already noon. The appointment was at 4:00 p.m., and the clinic was half an hour away. She had just three and a half hours to convince him.

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“Come in,” Rudra called from behind his desk, his fingers typing away at his laptop. Kashish stepped inside, clearing her throat.

Without looking up, he continued working. “Speak, Miss Bedi.”

Kashish moved forward. “I’m here to make a request.”

Rudra paused, finally lifting his gaze to meet hers. His expression darkened.

“If it’s about visiting Dr. Akash Dixit at 4:00 today, you can leave my cabin right now.”

Kashish’s heart raced. How did he know about the appointment? She had only told Lavina, and that too over the company messenger.

“Confused?” Rudra stood from his desk, walking slowly toward her. “Wondering how I know all this?”

She glared at him. “You’ve been intercepting my chats?”

Rudra didn’t deny it. Crossing his arms over his chest, he met her gaze unflinchingly.

“How dare you invade my privacy? And why?”

“Because this is my company,” he replied coldly. “I can do whatever I want. Personal conversations are not allowed on the company communicator. Don’t misuse it.”

Kashish clenched her fists, seething. Now she understood why Lavina had been conveniently assigned another task. This was his doing, his way of avoiding the appointment.

“I’m only interested in healing your life.”

Rudra’s expression darkened as he took another step forward. “Who gave you the right to fix anything in my life? I didn’t ask for your help, and I don’t need anyone meddling in my personal space, telling me what to do.”

She stood her ground, unwilling to back down. “So now you’re going to threaten me?”

“If that’s what it takes to make you back off,” he replied, his voice sharp.

Kashish’s heart hammered, but she mustered her courage.

“And what if I don’t back off?”

Rudra froze, his brow furrowing as if he hadn’t expected her defiance. His eyes burned with warning.

“Get back to work, Kashish,” he commanded.

But Kashish wasn’t done. “I won’t. Not until you agree to visit the doctor today. I spent all night arranging this. You won’t waste my efforts.”

Rudra’s face hardened. “Who asked you to make such efforts for me?”

“Who asked you to settle my problems with Uday Khatri? Who asked you to take me home safely from that party when I was drunk?” she fired back, catching him off guard. “You have no answers, do you? Just as you went out of your way to fix my problems, I’m trying to help you. And I don’t think I’m wrong.”

Her words left him speechless.

“I’ll be waiting downstairs at 3:30 p.m.,” she continued, her voice steady. “I’m going to accompany you to the doctor, Rudra. Please be there.”

With that, she turned and left his office. Rudra stood frozen, his fists clenched. She was pushing too far, crossing lines she had no business crossing. This had to stop.

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It was exactly 3:30 p.m. Kashish had wrapped up her work and was pacing in the lobby, anxiously waiting for Rudra Raheja. She kept glancing at her watch, frustration creeping in with each passing minute. Why hadn’t he come down yet? Deep inside, she held on to a flicker of hope—an inexplicable confidence that he wouldn’t disregard her request, that he wouldn’t shatter the effort she’d put into helping him. Where did this certainty come from? Did she believe he had feelings for her? Was that even true? But no... the way he argued with her, the cold indifference in his voice, none of it reflected any interest. So why did Anjali think otherwise?

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