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As Maya walked to the car, aware of Ranveer's heated reaction to her outfit, he held the door and followed her in, the proximity firing his desire.
The car halted at the porch of the Malik bungalow, a place Ranveer didn't particularly like. His concern for Dhruv and his happiness was the only reason he visited this family at social events like these. When they got down, the paparazzi started clicking them together. Ranveer placed his arm at her lower back, guiding her in. She felt warmth at his touch and managed to put on a confident smile as guests surrounded them.
“Eighteen hours,” he whispered, leaning closer to her ears.
He had started a countdown? That was both silly and scary. Yet, managed a smile for the cameras. With Ranveer, nothing was predictable, except the sparks that flew whenever they met.
Chapter 41
Malik House
Ranveer Malhotra kept meeting people he knew, shaking hands with them, and receiving compliments for his latest achievements, while Dhruv introduced Maya to his best friends, at a distance from Ranveer. However, every time she met his gaze, she noticed a predatory gleam in his dark eyes. An imaginary clock ticked in her ears, reminding her of the hours passing. The eighteen hours he mentioned when they entered this place had now reduced to sixteen, and not a single minute passed without that thought crossing her mind.
“I have seen you,” Shlok, one of Dhruv’s buddies, suddenly exclaimed. “You are a model, if I am right.”
Maya became alert. Her modeling career was in the past, and she had nothing to do with it at the present.
“No. I train models,” she shrugged.
“But I have seen you walk the ramp. I think some 4 years ago. I am sure it was you.”
Maya wasn’t prepared for this conversation, but she couldn't deny her past.
“I used to, yes. But I left modeling a few years ago.”
“Oh, that’s a pity. You really belong on that ramp, you know.”
“Exactly my wish,” Kunal Malik joined them. “I have seen her work up-close. She is the best.”
Maya sighed; he was purposely adding fuel to the fire.
“Not interested in that line anymore, Kunal. I am happy with whatever I am doing now.”
“Are you?” Kunal poked again.
Dhruv was called by another friend, and he and Shlok walked away, leaving the two alone.
“I won’t be surprised if someday ahead, you even quit Blitz and stay home.”
His comment instilled more anger in her.
“Why would you say that?” she snapped.
“Because I heard Ranveer Malhotra wants to marry you,” he answered. “I didn’t know the matter had reached this extent,” he added.
“What matter?”
“Your fake relationship, Maya,” he stressed on the word 'fake'. “I thought you were just playing with him, his money, and were on my side.”
Maya suddenly recalled their initial plan – her and Ranveer’s plan to uncover the Malik family's intentions. Recently, when Ranveer expressed his desire to keep her with him forever, he told her she didn’t need to participate in this deal any longer and that he would handle the Maliks on his own. Kunal seemed unaware of her double-cross strategies. Though Ranveer didn’t want her to interfere, she felt obliged to help him more if that would expedite the end of this Malhotra-Malik conspiracy.
“I am on my side,” she faked a smile. “I haven’t expressed my desire to marry Ranveer yet.”
“Then you should,” he murmured.
It shocked her.
“Really? It didn’t look like you would want that to happen when you met me in Jaipur. You pretended to have some sort of a soft corner for me there. Was it all a lie? Part of the game? To make Ranveer jealous?”
