Toxic ~ Even if we can't be together in the end - Chapter 23 Up ! - Page 41

Originally posted by: sweetsorrow18

Really enjoyed the new chapter!! I can't wait where the story goes!

Originally posted by: gprs

😊

Originally posted by: SRKPC07

Okay it took me a while to read this because Inhave been super busy but OMG I love these two so much!!! Haha I love Anjana super excited for the next update. And don't worry we know you have a life too outside of this so update whenever you have time

Of all the things I hold in high regard, rules are not one of them

~ House of Cards

Aditya's POV

I stop at Mrs Gupta's desk "Everything set ?"

She hands me my coffee "Locked and loaded, Sir"

I raise an eyebrow at her chirpiness. Mrs Gupta is nothing but professional with a capital P. Her responses always precise and impassionate. "Is there anything you want to share ? Any good news ?"

She beams like the goddamn sun "My son got an admit from London School of Economics for his Masters"

I return her enthusiasm "Holy crap ! That's awesome Mrs Gupta. I told ya you got a winner"

Mrs Gupta's son Amit had interned with Meridian Corp. When I had asked him to write a short financial review from the year end balance sheets, the lad surprised me with a 50 page detailed analysis with charts and graphs, somehow making sense of astronomically abstruse numbers.

I collect the pendrive she holds out for me "How much is it going to cost you to send him there ?"

The smile disappears from her face "Oh, yeah ..." she hesitates and dodges my question diplomatically "We need to take a huge loan but it will be worth it"

"Alright then" I smile and head towards my cabin. Mrs Gupta is a self- respecting woman, she would never disclose her financial struggles to her boss. Her poise and class is something we don't find easily in today's world. The point of class which encompasses a word that unfortunately has seemed to have lost its meaning. Class is not about the price tag on your outfit. If I had a rupee for every girl who called herself classy because she was wearing Louboutins I'd never have to work a day again. Talking about class, I had to deal with a very classy woman today. Yes, I am being sarcastic - just in case you had any doubts.

I check the time - 2pm. I had maybe a thousand issues to handle before dealing with the one classy woman that shall not be named. Success is not owned but rented and the bloody rent is due every goddamn day. And mine was due for the last one week.

I had postponed all meetings which required me to leave Aloha. If we want to go into numbers - four. Four propositions hanging in uncertainty because of the girl in my room at my home. My girl. Talking about work - because if I talk about her I won't be able to get anything done and we can't do that, can we ? - anyways, one of the stalled project was my baby - Media Solutions, one I had been courting for weeks. Finally I had them where I wanted them on a deal that will revolutionize social media. Narcissistic techies will blow down like it's the second coming of Steve Jobs.

I had postponed Media Solutions.

A new emotion kept me at home, never far from Zoya's presence. The terror that she would wake up one morning and disappear again. It kept me anxious and snappy. The thought of coming back to Aloha to find her gone - well let's just say that I hated the very idea.

I take the stack of files and my steaming hot cup of coffee into my office. Dumping the files on the table, I settle in my chair and give myself a moment to relish the feeling. Letting it sink again. Even though I had very little idea about the woman she had become in the last eight years. She was my only hope. The only person who could spark any emotion in me. She made me care, which believe me is a huge feet in itself. I had cracked open a lot of oysters in the last eight years but none compared to the pearl that is Zoya.

"I am going to take care of you sunshine"

"I have plans Zoya and each and every one of them involves you"

My phone pings with an incoming message. Order #134543555 Delivered.

I smile.

Flowers. Lots of women say they don't want them since they die anyway and all. But every woman is happy when they get them. Which is why I had arranged to have them delivered to Zoya everyday. Eight bouquets at a time. That's one bouquet for every year we were apart. And although I know Zoya's favourite are white lilies, I specially told the florist to avoid them. Instead, I have chosen exotics-bouquets with brightly colored petals and strange shapes. The kind of flowers Zoya has probably never seen in her life, from places she has never been. Places I want to take her to.

Mrs Gupta knocked on the door and deposited my favourite task on my desk - Meridian Corp financial sheets. She cringed and then smiled sympathetically while closing the door and leaving. Talking about cringing, I cringed at the million records in the debit section and cursed the ridiculous effect of merging on share prices. A cool, naturally condescending tone cut through my cringe fest.

"Where is Aditya ?"

I check the time again - 3 pm. Class department might be compromised but the lady was punctual.

My office door opens next. I flash her my most charming smile "Hello Miss Ramona. What can I do for you "

She takes a seat at one of the chairs in front of my desk. In the style of all shrewd attorneys, the guest chairs were positioned six inches lower than mine, giving me the advantage of looking down at my visitors.

Cutting straight to the chase, she delivered in an airy voice "This civil suit will destroy Meridian Corp"

"Since you no longer work at Meridian Corp., I don't see the reason for you to be there"

I got up, locked the door and drew the shades on the window. I turn around to face Ramona "And a very good afternoon to you too"

I take back my seat on my custom made leather chair "Correct me if I am wrong - you are banking on a civil suit for wrongful dismissal to bring down Meridian Corp ? I thought you were smarter than that ..." I glance at her finger "Miss Ramona"

"I am getting married"

"I am happy for you. You deserve this Ramona. White picket fence, prince charming and the whole goddamn fairytale"

So the fairytale didn't plan out, huh ? They seldom do. If it was up to me, I would enforce a ban on all the once-upon-a-time crap. Young girls read and watch Cinderella and make her their idol. What kind of a example is that ? A mindless twit who can't even remember where she left her damn shoe, so she has to wait for some douchebag in tights to bring it to her ? Give me a frigging break.

Ramona Cinderella is wearing a skimpy, clingy, stretchy dress that showed lots of leg due to it being uber-short, lots of arm due to it being sleeveless and lots of back due to low vee. I frowned. It was unlike Ramona to dress so boldly. She always tilted towards sexy but conservative styles. I shrugged - who knows what happened since I fired her. She was supposed to get married. The ring is missing. She is dressed as a sleazy bar dancer. Since, it was none of my business I filed it in 100-million-things-I-didn't-give-a-crap-about cabinet.

She opens her mouth but I raise my palms in warning. Her mouth snaps shut. "You talked to Harshwardhan Hooda and he wants to settle out of court. Ofcourse. He doesn't want this to go to court. Can you imagine the news ?" Harshwardhan Hooda would have a heart attack seeing his son ensnared in a sex scandal. I also received a text message from him yesterday.

Dear Son, deal with your s**t.

Such concern ! My heart weeps in love. But, that's my father, Harhwardhan Hooda - the intimidator. He's a man of few words, which means when he speaks, your ears better bloody be listening, because he's saying something worth hearing. And he has no problem firing people. My Dad makes Donald Trump look like a pussy. Doesn't matter if you're the sole family breadwinner or a pregnant woman in her last trimester - if you are not getting your job done, you are out on your ass. As crude as his text message was, I got the order - loud and clear.

Talking about fired employees - there was a time I respected this woman. Respected her for her brilliant mind and no-nonsense approach to life. I thought we were similar - pragmatic and business minded. How right I was - she was definitely business minded. "I set you up with a ludicrous severance package and wrote you a glowing letter of recommendation Ramona. You could have easily got a job anywhere"

45 lakhs - I gave her a severance package of 45 lakhs. Easily ten times any company would for wrongful dismissal. Why ? Because I knew it was wrongful dismissal. I had fired her because of my basic requirement of keeping my life simple and with her impending marriage, mess would have been our relationships' headline. She was convenient for ten months and then she was not.

She crosses her long legs in defiance "Civil suit for wrongful dismissal and evidence for money laundering all the way to Swiss f**king bank" My disinterest unsettles her confidence a bit but she continues "Five crores, Aditya. It's not certainly much for you"

I lean down and look her dead straight in her eyes "Listen, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I don't care if I have the money to pay you off. I will not be threatened and extorted to some bullshit accusation"

The money laundering charge was true. We did shore up some money in Swiss sweet tax-free bank. It was only justified with the bribes you have to pay in this country to get even one single signature. I was not ashamed of it. It was what it was.

She gets up from the chair and shrugs sympathetically "I was just being courteous because of our history" she shrugged "I will see you in court then"

"Go to the courts if that's your wish but it's only fair of me to remind you of the consequences"

"Yeah, yeah we both know that you will win. But, what will happen to your squeaky-clean reputation soon-to-be CEO Aditya Hooda ? And what about Meridian-f**king-Corp ? Money laundering isn't exactly a stellar point in your company's CV" she snears.

"Don't worry about my reputation Ramona think about yours" I smile mock-pleasantly "I always have a backup plan. Always. Did you really think I would sleep with you without an insurance policy ?"

I open a small on the left side of my desk and take out another pendrive "For your po*n collection. A small gift from me"

I slide the pendrive towards her. Ramona was outraged, red hot heat flushing her face "You can't be serious" she screamed.

"As a heart attack, honey" My smile drips with sweetness. The fake kind. And then it disappears. "And this is just one of the many" I pick my intercom "I need guards in my cabin. Right now"

To all the ladies who survive on romantic crap dished out in mills and boons. Sorry to break your illusion but in real life bad boys don't follow cardinal rules : never hook up with a woman from office, never have sex with the same woman twice, never bring a chick to your apartment and blah blah blah. I didn't care where I get laid - my place, her place, the observation deck of the Empire State Building. And it served me right. During one of our long f**k fest in the conference room, we got recorded. I knew we were but I didn't give a rat's ass at that moment. I had retrieved that footage with the noble intention of wiping it out but stopped at the last moment. Never thought I would actually use it one day.

"You have two minutes before you are dragged out from here"

I raise my coffee cup in a toast "To reputation"

Ramona opens the door in defiance and ... my victory smile slips right off my face when I see Zoya standing in the doorway. Her hand raised in mid-knock. Her face registers more shock than the hijackers who carried the Sept. 11 attacks on Twin Tower in hopes of spending eternity in paradise being fed honeyed-cakes by 67 virgins in a tree-lined garden, only to be fed boiling feces of traitors by malicious, laughing Ifrit.

I look up the ceiling and thank God for his never ending kindness and impeccable timing.

Ramona looks between me and Zoya - understanding dawning in her eyes. She smiles. Wickedly. She leans down to whisper something in Zoya's ear which I don't catch. But, I didn't need to. Zoya's widening of eyes was reaction enough.Then the white-dressed vixen tosses her hair and saunters away.

I take Zoya's hand, pull her inside and shut the door "What did you listen ?"

She closes her eyes and her hands clench as if in physical pain. Then she says something I least expect "Do I want to know this ?"

"Probably not"

She nods as if it was settled "Okay then"

It was my turn to make the shocked face "You won't ask anything ?"

"No"

"No ?"

She answers determinedly "No. I won't ask you any questions. Just one promise"

I nod in bewilderment "What promise?"

"You won't do that with me. Right ?"

Alright, so she had listened enough.

"I will never do that with you" I pinch the bridge of my nose "I didn't record it on purpose Zoya. The camera in the conference room did"

And I blurred my face and edited out the parts in which I reigned as the po*n star before dishing out the tape to her. I wanted to add but she cuts me off "That's it. I don't want to know anything else" Then she shakes her head, her voice shrill and desperate "Don't put images in my head for god's sake"

And I realized what she was doing. She was holding on to the idea of us. She should have slapped me. Punched me. Screamed at me. Anything but the denial she was showing right now. She was the victim of most manipulative force on earth : love. I had my task cut out for me. I had to put her back piece by piece. My Zoya Qureshi was the woman who, in the immortal words of Eddie Murphy in Coming to America, could arouse a man's intellect as well as his loins. Not this broken angel in front of me.

But, for now I was not above using her delusion to my advantage. Are you offended by my crudeness ? Get the f**k over it - this is not a tale the moral police will enjoy.

"What are you even doing here ?" I ask slowly. She should be at home where I left her 5 hours ago. Admiring the exotic flowers I sent. Thinking about me. Taking a breath, analyzing our situation. Oh hell, at this point I would take maxing out my Platinum Credit Card if it saved me from her look of disappointment.

"I thought about spending some time with ..." she shrugs and opens the lock to exit the door " forget it" And she walks away.

As strong as she was, I knew there was a fragile casing underneath that would crack if she lost the last hope she was holding on : ME. Call me a sick f**k, but her vulnerability called out to me more than her feisty side. This is what had been missing in life for the last eight years, this need to possess which bothered on madness.

Scroll down for Part 2

Zoya's POV

Some people grow up gradually, the foundations of their childhood and teenage years steadily sinking into the earth so slowly they barely notice the change. Until one day they are simply standing on their own two feet with little idea of how they got there.

Then there are people whose teenage years are smashed to bits in a blow. They topple into adulthood, flailing about for something to hold onto, and the terror of falling leaves a permanent scar on their psyche. Do these people ever end up feeling safe ? I wonder about that, because I fell hard. For so long there were days when it seemed as though I was still falling, when I couldn't find a single good thing to hold onto, when nothing felt safe and secure.

Then I met Aditya. Again. Somehow, he caught me. He is peace and warmth and hope, and I find myself holding tight, afraid that if he lets me go I will be in a free fall once again. The fact that one person has so much power over my happiness scares the shit out of me. I know how fragile life is. Here today, dust tomorrow. But only a fool cuts his one lifeline. And I am no fool. So I will do whatever it takes to keep Aditya.

When the elevator arrived at Aditya's personal Parking Lot Level, I stepped out and spotted the car I had taken from Aditya's entourage of eight cars in his garage. I stopped in surprise when I saw him leaning against the white Camaro, waiting for me.

The whole lot was empty besides our cars. Privilege of being the boss and all. When I had borrowed the Camaro from his garage - God help me, which had eight cars - I was waved right into the personal Parking Level. The guard must have assumed I was some family member.

"I didn't expect to see you here" I said honestly.

He watched me approach, his eyes locked on me. I had seen a picture or two of his in tabloids though he maintained very low key but even in those random pictures his dark pools of sin made an impression on you. They saw right through your depths and question yourself.

"I couldn't leave things the way they were between us. Hopefully you don't think I am that big of an asshole"

Actually, I didn't think that he was an asshole at all.

He gestured casually to the car "Can we talk ?"

I pushed the unlock button on her key, and the Camaro headlights blinked "Have a seat" I walked around and slid into the driver's seat of the car. Aditya climbed into the passenger seat, his long legs and tall frame filling the space next to me. He was the epitome of the word debonair. His smooth linen shirt and clean dark jeans suggested understated elegance, a man from money. A fact somebody living under the rock, unaware about his heir apparent status at Meridian Corp, could easily discern. He didn't have this aura before. And it made me nervous.

I angled myself in the seat and, without saying a word, leaned forward to kiss him on his cheek. "That was for the flowers and the note" I said when I pulled back.

His eyes shone like opals and he ran a finger along my cheek, his voice husky "Thank you for trusting me"

There was trepidation in his tone "What did Ramona whisper ?"

"You'll hear a speech soon - right before he f**ks you. Trust me lots of women have been down this road with Aditya. I just got a gift for trusting him. Honey, the sex will be off the charts but believe me he is not worth the heartache"

I shrugged "That you have commitment issues"

He hooked his finger in my belt loop and pulled me closer "What if I have the same commitment issues with you ?"

Then I wouldn't know what to do with my life anymore. That day on the railway station, I had bet on our connection - a connection that had been stale for eight years. Maybe it was plain stupidity. Hell, the practical half of my brain knew it was. But, it was often stomped to silence by my other half. The one that had only had sex with the boy who stole my heart in NYU. The one that felt like a virgin in his presence.

"Then we will deal with them when we get there" I slid my hands inside his suit and shifted closer to the warmth that radiated from him "So tell me this, Aditya Hooda. Where do we go from here ?"

He tilted my chin up, his eyes debating, calculating and finally making a decision "New York"

"What..." he put a finger on my lips which had opened in argument. "I want you all to myself Zoya. No Aloha. No Meridian Corp. Nothing"

He smiled openly at me, and it was the most shockingly beautiful sight. He looked so damn young, almost angelic "Just you, me and New York"

I wondered if I should tell him the truth. But, the truth always seemed like a bad idea. Sucking in a breath, I tore myself from his embrace and stepped out of the car. I heard his side of the door open and close in quick succession. He came to stand in front of me.

"I need to tell you something"

His next words stumped me but they shouldn't have. He was always one step ahead. His voice was low and rough, like he just ate cigarettes for breakfast "That you left me because you entered witness protection for testifying against John Luchesse"

I could only stare dumbly at him, my thoughts had been blasted to submission. I wasn't even sure if I was breathing or if my heart was beating or if the shock had wiped away everything like a giant supernova. I guess I wasn't very good at being subtle because he felt the need to explain "I have my ways"

I shut my mouth, nearly clamping down my tongue, as my heart ached and crumbled and slowed in my throat. My thoughts skittered over the past in spurts, never staying on one subject for long as his coal black eyes stared back in sympathy. His eyes never left mine - hypnotizing me, looking right into my soul. My fists clenched at the thought of living through the pain and agony. Again. "I can't go to New York"

His features grew harsh and shadowy under the harsh parking lights "Right. Zoya Qureshi can't go to New York" he tilted my chin up "but Zoya Siddiqui can"

Zoya Qureshi. Guilt sliced through me with an unsettling intensity. Zoya Siddiqui's life was a lie, a well crafted layered lie but still a lie. Samaira Kapoor had felt so unattached and foreign that I would never have responded to that name. Ever. That's why I had stuck to Zoya - a risky decision but I was willing to take it for some modicum of sanity.

Zoya Qureshi. Hearing from his lips, it was a hard slap in my face. I felt like I was drowning in my own sea of half-truths and deceptions. My love for him was hitting me like a brick and along with it came my insecurities and the desperate need for his love in return. I hoped I hadn't come up for air to only drown again.

His raspy voice saved me from my own thoughts. His hand as hot as a radiator on my cheek, his mind reading skills on damn bloody point "Why couldn't you just tell me all of it ? Why do I have to pry every detail out of you like I am trying to extract a splinter from under my fingernail ?"

"I am not the saviour you so desperately want me to be. I am not. I have done deplorable things in the name of money" He runs his fingers over my cheek before placing his palm against my throat, his fingers gripping around my neck "I have stolen and I have lied and I have shown no mercy to people who may have deserved some" Pain flashed through his eyes and then it was gone "I am not a good man, Zoya. I am not your Adi"

And I believed him. Adi and Zoya Qureshi were lost in the past. I smiled ruefully. He offered me a chance at survival only to be destined for drowning. Again.

My throat is warm and presses against his hand as I try to swallow. I don't know why it was important, but I wanted to know "Would you release the footage if Ramona goes to court ?"

He answered without hesitation "Yes, I would. And I would plant false stories in the media, dragging her name through the murkiest mud possible. Not a single soul would believe her even if she tells the truth. She won't be able to get a job anywhere. I will ensure that. I would destroy her life, Zoya. Every inch of it" He grew scarily silent for a moment, then said with utmost sincerity "Even if she doesn't knock on the useless doors of courtroom she will pay for trying to threaten me"

I shook my head, dispelling the coldness reeking from him "I can't believe I am having this conversation with you. Look Aditya, we can't go to New York"

"We can Zoya. Money can't buy you happiness but it can sure buy you endless resources" his voice deepened to a whisper like he was sharing a secret. Maybe he was "Resources which can build an impenetrable background identity"

"Do you remember the time I interned in Colorado ?"

That wrenched a smile out of me "Ofcourse, your favourite place in the world"

Aditya had interned in middle of nowhere West Colorado. Even though the location was shitty, it added valuable pro bono internship experience in his resume, something no other freshman could boast of.

He glared "Oh, it was three months of hell. But it did teach me something I still carry with me"

It was the first time he was saying something remotely positive about that-shitty-internship' "I am curious"

He stuck his hands in his pant pockets "When storms blow in from the West, Colorado's cows move the opposite way to stay ahead of the bad weather. But slow cows can't outrun storms, and they end up stuck in the rain, wind, snow and hail."

He paused, looking if I had his complete attention. I did.

"In contrast, buffalo always run directly into approaching storms. As the storms blow in, the buffalo charge through them, quickly passing out of the bad weather. They keep moving no matter how bad the storm" He looked me dead center in my eyes "When life's storms arrive, don't run away. Move directly into the worst weather. Confront your problems head-on with faith in your ability to deal with them."

"How many times did you practice this speech ?"

The corner of his mouth twitched "Ten times but I tell you it has an impeccable success rate. Because everyone wants to be the buffalo diving head first into the storm"

I debated the merit of his prophecy "Can I be the cow ?"

He shook his head, a full-blown grin adorning his handsome face "You are impossible"

"Don't give me cattle themed motivational speech next time"

"Next time I will give you the gorilla speech"

"There is a gorilla speech ?"

"And a cat, a mouse" He clapped his hands daintily like a prom queen "Oh darn almost forgot the very best, I even know a mosquito one"

I glared "Don't do that ever again"

His smile was still intact "Too much ?"

"Very"

"You won't be photographed anywhere. I will make sure of that. Come with me Zoya. You can't live like this all the time"

"I don't know what to say"

His hand came up, tucking a wayward curl behind my ear. His fingers captured the diamante chandelier earrings I wore, tugging gently "Then don't say anything, just come with me" He bent his head, breathing into my ear "I will take care of everything"

My heart clenched as his gaze locked onto my lips. A black ravenousness filled his eyes that any hot-blooded female understood - virgin or promiscuous.

I jerked back, but with his fingers holding the earring, I couldn't move quickly or far. "You belong to me. You can change your name, your hair color, your eye color, everything about you. But your heart will always remain. I will always remain" He bent forward. His tongue licked my earlobe just once. A lightning bolt arched from his tongue to my belly. A crack. A fissure. A deep cavernous ache I needed, needed to fill. "I am the blood in your veins"

Quicksilver memories of another time and another Aditya tried to twist my present with my past. Ripped clothing, sweet nothings. Our time in New York shot bright in my thoughts. His loving words, feather touches, his mind-melting kiss. They say life colors how you see the world, and the New York I knew before was completely black and white. Full of love, laughter, friendship and safety. Now there was a hue, that dangerous citron I could feel from the other side of the world. "Why were you so suspicious ? Why did you dig through my past ?"

His face dipped to my neck and blazed a path of punishing nips and rewarding kisses "I wouldn't be a very good businessman if I wasn't suspicious of everything and everyone. You learn to spot the signs. And you my dear sunshine have always been an open book for me"

"One week. That's all I am asking" he stopped his ministrations and looked up. Our eyes met.

I have never believed in love at first sight. I barely believed in lust at first sight. I didn't believe in anything except to right the wrongs in my life. Atleast, I hadn't for the last eight years. But, at that moment, this man saw me. This man, I had been in love ever since I laid my eyes on him. I felt like he must have seen everything I concealed under layers and layers of perfection.

And then he smiled.

I blinked, forcing myself to cling broken-nail tight to sanity.

I always believed that best decisions stem from empirical analysis and informed choices. But, was it true ? I had always done the right thing. Always. I no longer wanted to do the right thing. I felt his eyes, burning into me, like my body was as flammable as parchment paper. Daring me. "I will make you more than survive" Promising me " I promise you will see things you have never seen before. I will make you live"

I wanted to let go of my past and embrace my future.What had happened to me was something out of a movie, except it wasn't a movie. This was real life. My one decision took away all the good in my past and robbed me of a future. I never became the person I wanted to be. Instead I became someone else. Zoya Siddiqui was a lie I had worn like smooth silk but it didn't leave my soul unscathed. I wanted to be lost and crazy and wild. I wanted his complete attention because he sure as hell had mine.

Could randomness be so bad ? Only one way to find out.

"Let me be your Aladdin and take you on a f**king magic carpet ride"

I laugh. He grins, his happiness remedying me like a tonic. Trust Aditya to ruin an intense moment with his wisecracks.

"Okay" I concede with sputtering giggles.

Aditya's POV

I take her hand in mine. They're a perfect fit. Like two school children experiencing their first crushes, we stand like that for a few moments, smiling at each other.

Wordlessly, I lower my head and press my lips to hers. And she is right there with me, opening for me - warm and wet - taking everything I have to give and kissing me back with equal ardour. I jerk her towards me, my one hand behind the back of her head and the other around her waist. Her hands clung to my shoulders, kneading the muscles, pulling me to her. She kissed me back, her pace easily matching my frenzied one, an appetite unleashed. Our tongues and lips meld like satin and sparks, and the more I got, the more I wanted.

I spun her around so her front was pressed to the car and her back was melded to my chest. I bite her earlobes softly "Those little breathless moans you make when I kiss you. Your lips get swollen, and your cheeks get flushed, and all I did was kiss you. Imagine what it will be like when I make you come. It's been eight goddamn years and I am not waiting one more day, not even for New York, to make you mine"

I am not serious, not by a long shot. Zoya is too damn hot when she's angry too pass up the chance to see her fired up again. And she doesn't disappoint me. Her indignation is warranted by it doesn't come out as strongly. Her voice still breathless and shaky "Aditya Hooda you might be the CEO of Meridian Corp but this is my decision - when, where, how - if at all we do the deed"

She tries to push away from the car but I hold her in place. Her cheeks press in the unforgiving metal as I whisper "Oh, we are doing the deed sunshine. You can count on my persuasive powers"

I am not hitting on her and no I am not gonna sandbag her with flowery words and eternal promises. She is still too raw. She is hurt and vulnerable and that's not how I want her. When it happens to Zoya and me - and it will happen, very soon - I want her ripping my clothes, and her own for that matter, because she can't wait a second longer to have me inside her.I want her moaning my name, scratching my back and screaming because of the sheer magnificence of it.

Having said that, I can't keep my hands off her completely. How can you ? It's like eating ... oyster. If you have never eaten it, you think, "Eh, maybe". But once you have tasted it ? The chance to eat it again gets your mouth watering like the goddamn Niagara Falls. Because you know how f**king delicious it really is. Even just the thought of her ... I have admired her body since she came to Aloha - and I plan to explore every f**king inch of it, up close and personal. Soon. Very soon.

She jerks away from my hold and I let her. I move back a step. She folds her hands across her chest, ignoring me "Just so that we are clear - you are no Jack, I am no Rose and this isn't goddamn Titanic. You even think about filming us and I swear to God, I will kick your balls so deep in your spine that they will remain shriveled forever"

A wolfish gleam shines on my face "Don't start foreplay. Yet. We are in the parking lot... Unless you are into exhibitionism." My hand slips into her tank top which she slaps away and glares at me. I smile, palms out in a sign of surrender "I have no issues if you don't have any"

I stick my hands in my pant pockets "And for what it is worth, Jack was a pussy. If I were him, I would've tied Rose up, gagged her, and tossed her ass in a lifeboat. Then I would have gotten in after in. I would like to point out that if Rose had just done what the hell Jack told her to, they both would have survived"

"And I am going to New York with such a romantic soul" she sighs dramatically.

"And you are going to enjoy every bit of it"

I open the passenger side door and she slips inside. I hop on the driver seat and the white Camaro races out of the parking lot towards Hooda Mansion.

We had bags to pack. Flight to catch.My father is gonna blow his ever loving shit when he comes to know of my Houdini act. Tough luck ! He just have to deal with it.

Zoya Qureshi was adventurous, unapologetically demanding, spontaneous and confident. She wasn't afraid to slap me if I f**ked up. And I want her back. I want to play Adam and Eve with Zoya, not my usual one ride per customer-no rewinds, no repeats. That ladies and gentleman requires patience.

Lucky for me, I had it in spades...or so I thought.

I hold one deep grudge against ITV - they never explore the career graphs of the lead characters. We are just told they are millionaires. We have to accept that people can be filthy rich while sitting on their asses forever. Like seriously ! This update was my lame attempt to include the career angle in the story.

Drop in a line and let me know your thoughts. I am actually pretty nervous about this one. 😊

I send PMs for each update, hit me up with a Buddy Request if you are interested.

Chapter 22 : A day without laughter is a day wasted