AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Maya froze as understanding dawned. The flowers were not from her father, but Ranveer. Would he ever stop pretending and faking things to this extent? She walked over to the bouquet and searched for the note hanging there.
‘Tum theek ho?’ (Are you alright?)
The sheer audacity after last night's events. Garima peered at the note. “Why did he ask that?”
Crumpling the paper angrily, Maya avoided the question. “Ignore it, I'll make coffee.”
She escaped to the kitchen before Garima could pry further. Her mother was oblivious to what had transpired at the party to make Maya so upset with Ranveer again. His ‘thoughtful’ bouquet only stirred Maya's resentment anew. She would not be pacified or swayed so easily.
Afternoon
“Maya, Ranveer has been calling you, and you don't seem to be receiving his calls? I don't know what went wrong between you two again, but maybe he wants to talk to you about it,” Garima exclaimed.
Maya continued cutting the veggies. Pammi had gone back to her home, but she was soon going to join them again in 2-3 days.
“Mom, please don't get into this. I know what I am doing.”
“What kind of reply is this? Men don't tolerate so much attitude from a woman. Remember that.”
“And what about the attitude they throw at us? Unnecessarily?” she snapped.
Garima nodded.
“Fine. I am out of this. You handle it the way you like.”
She walked back to her room. The doorbell rang. Maya wiped her hands and headed out to open the door.
“Aisha?” Maya was clearly shocked.
“Ma'am, Sir is on the line,” she extended her mobile phone towards Maya. He sent Aisha all the way down here so that he could speak to her? Only because she was not answering his calls? He could do anything. She wanted to avoid it, but it might have a straight effect on Aisha's job, which she could not afford to let go because of her. She took her phone and headed inside to talk to the man himself.
“What?” she snapped, answering him.
“I am not going to remind you always about not ignoring me and my calls,” he barked from the other end.
“I am mad at you. And even if you apologize, that's not going to mellow me down this time.”
“Apologize?” he laughed sarcastically.
“Yes, apologize,” she scowled again. “And you can laugh as much as you want, but you really crossed limits this time, Ranveer. I had made you well aware before we got into this agreement that I am not going to work on this deal if my dignity is at stake. You have to be in your limits, or else I am not going to do what you want me to do.”
“Try me,” he growled. “Try me by denying my orders, and you will see what I do.”
“What will you do? Cancel my mother's appointments? Defame me like you did last time? Do it. That's all you can do. And I don't care. Until you apologize to me sincerely and promise me that you will never repeat it again, I am not going to work for you. Goodbye.”
She hung up and walked out to return the phone to Aisha, who had been waiting patiently outside.
Chapter 20
Ranveer lay in bed, thoughts consumed by Maya and their heated kiss at the party. He had lost all self-control in that moment, driven by raw desire and possessiveness. The feel and taste of her mouth had been branded into his memory since then. He had no further doubts that he wasn't just attracted to her. Every time she was around him, his body failed to be in his control. She had started messing with his dirty mind even. Lately, he had been hallucinating her even when he showered. Even now, he grew aroused recalling how her lips had yielded to his brutal kiss before she turned defiant. Around her, primal instinct overruled logic.
When she teased him with the Crushers group, he could have easily shoved her away or given a dangerous warning never to discuss it again. But he chose the other way instead. He used his lips to zip hers. And he felt no regret, only burning need. Ranveer craved her with an intensity that shocked him. She had become an obsession.
And now she had challenged him that she wouldn't obey his commands until he apologized. As if he would bow to her will. He held the power in their arrangement not her. In time she would beg for his kiss, his touch, just as he now craved hers. This bewitching, maddening woman would be his, to control and conquer.
************
Maya headed back to work on Monday morning. Ranveer Malhotra had made no efforts to call her back after she told him what she expected him to do. She needed his apology and a confirmation that he wouldn't repeat such things again ever. Only then would she continue taking his next set of orders. But her mother's next appointment was already on her head. Though it was pre-booked and prepaid, she couldn't forget that if Ranveer got pissed, he could even cancel all of it. What would happen then? Could he be so inhumane? She hoped not.
