Page 40 of Reckless Hate

Samantha was annoyed. “He can help me with calling the list of vendors to get an update on the delivery schedule,” she said.

The senior girls looked horrified as though they couldn’t imagine a Simha guy doing such menial work.

“Ved is a basketball star!” a girl said as an excuse. “He won’t have the time to place those calls.”

“I have tennis practice too,” Samantha snapped. “But I’m doing it.”

The senior girl’s eyes narrowed. “Neela madam wanted an update about how you two are helping with the masquerade event. Would you like me to convey your attitude and problem to her?”

Samantha shut up while her enemy looked amused.

Hours and days of torture continued before the masquerade event finally arrived. It was considered one of the biggest events of the year. It was more like a tradition that had been continuing for decades.

The night before the masquerade, she assisted the professional decorator and other senior students to put up the decorations while her enemy strutted around taking pictures of ‘behind the scenes’ for the masquerade event. Most of the decorations were actually antique items that were repurposed each year, but professionals did the rest of the decor that included fabric and flower decorations.

“You have a good eye for the material and texture, Samantha,” the decorator said with a smile. “I’m glad you suggested velvet rather than satin for the backdrop. The lighting wont bounce off the walls.”

Samantha nodded. “Thank you.”

She was finally wrapping up before the event when she overheard the conversation between a female volunteer and her enemy.

“So who are you taking to the masquerade, Ved?”

“I haven’t asked anyone yet.”

“But the masquerade is tomorrow!”

There was a cocky smirk, flashing his dimples. “Yes, I know.”

Samantha knew his cockiness came from the fact that girls like Keya Gupta would probably wait until the last-minute hoping Ved Simha would ask them to accompany him to the masquerade.

“And what about you, Samantha?” another girl asked. “Do you have a date for tomorrow’s event?”

She didn’t want to go, but she knew if she didn’t show up on the day of the event, the dean might come to know.

The cocky look on Ved Simha remained while he waited for her to reply. She knew he was expecting her to say no one.

“Yes, I do have a date,” she said coolly.

His dimples disappeared and something flashed in her enemy’s eyes. “Who?” he asked with an edge to his voice.

“None of your business,” she replied.

Since they could no longer get into public fights like the dean had warned, she held back some choice words.

The senior students looked at them with bated breaths as though expecting them to break into a heated fight or argument. The tension lay thick between them as they glared at each other. Even though they were forced to volunteer together for the masquerade event, the hate and anger between them remained the same.

She was the one to turn away first. “I’ll see you all tomorrow,” she said calmly before leaving.

She was tired after a long day of classes, tennis practice and a few hours of volunteering for the masquerade event. But when she went back to her housing unit, she couldn’t relax.

She picked up her phone and left Rishi a text message.

Samantha:I need a partner for the masquerade tomorrow. Are you available?

She got a reply in a minute.

Rishi:For you, I will always be available, darling. Let’s kill it tomorrow.

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