Chapter 24 Kiara
These mornings are becoming my dream, the kind I’d love to hold onto forever.
Shirtless Manav, his strong arms wrapped around me, one hand resting softly on the pillow while the other keeping me securely against his chest. I can feel his heartbeat against my back, steady and grounding, his warm breath brushing against my ear.
But then—oh God—something very hard poked against me. His… morning wood?
Oh, Holy Mother of sweet Roses.
My body froze, and I tried to shift ever so slightly, hoping not to wake him.
Instead, he pulled me closer, his lips brushing my temple in a lazy kiss as if in his sleep.
My heart skipped several beats, and I managed to wriggle out of his grasp, his arms falling loosely to his side as he remained blissfully asleep.
I fixed my hair quickly, avoiding my reflection, and headed to the kitchen. I need coffee. Strong coffee. Something to wake me from this dream before my sanity melts away completely.
As I stepped into the kitchen, a voice startled me, soft but firm. “Good morning.”
I nearly tripped over my own feet, clutching the counter for support as my heart leapt out of my chest. Turning around, I saw Sasha sitting at the kitchen island, a cup of coffee in hand. Her gaze was calm yet piercing, and she nodded toward the stool beside her.
“Hi,” I stammered, drawing out the word.
“We need to talk.” Her tone was direct as she placed the coffee cup down, gesturing for me to sit.
My nerves buzzed as I slowly took the offered stool. Whatever this is, it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a casual morning chat.
“Manav is still sleeping. Do you want me to wake him?” I was fidgeting nervously with the empty coffee cup in my hands.
“No,” Sasha replied calmly. “I want to talk to you.”
“Is everything okay?” The last time we met, it was clear she wasn’t exactly my biggest fan.
“I know we got off on the wrong foot,” she said, closing the laptop she’d been working on. “But I’m not here as Manav’s PR advisor. I’m here as his sister.”
I blinked, trying to make sense of the words coming out of her mouth.
She took a breath. “The last time Manav got hurt… it crushed him. Completely. He was… devastated.”
“I’m not here to hurt him.” My voice was steady, but my heart ached at the thought of him in pain.
“I know,” she said, her tone sincere. “I’m here to ask you for a favor.”
“A favor?”
“He’s been working tirelessly to close this deal in Mumbai.
But there’s insider news that he might not make it.
The decision-maker is the Queen, and… well, with all the rumors and controversies surrounding his last girlfriend and her disappearance, people are questioning his integrity.
The Queen doesn’t think he’s the kind of gentleman she wants to associate with for a deal this big. ”
My fingers trembled around the coffee mug.
“If this falls through, it could seriously damage his reputation—and the business.” She said, taking another sip of her coffee.
My brows furrowed. “How can I help?”
“There’s already a lot of buzz about you two being together, and people genuinely believe he’s in love with you. If you’re by his side, it could sway the negative perception of him.”
I glanced toward the hallway where Manav’s room was. “He hasn’t said anything about me going.”
“And he never will,” Sasha said, her voice firm. “Manav will never put you in a position where you feel obligated to help him. But without you by his side, he’s going to lose this deal.”
I stared at her blankly. “What would I have to do?”
“Just be yourself. Your presence will show that he’s not the man the rumors make him out to be. That he’s capable of… love, stability.”
I swallowed hard, glancing at the counter. I managed to pour some coffee from the machine.
Sasha’s expression softened. “Look, I’ve known Manav my entire life. He’s brilliant at what he does, but sometimes he needs more than just business strategies. He needs someone who can remind the world that there’s a human side to him. That’s where you come in. Trust me, he’ll want you there.”
Manav had been through so much more than I’d realized, and now I understood why he was so guarded. It wasn’t just about protecting himself—it was about protecting everyone around him.
My heart clenched, and I looked away, trying to gather my thoughts. “Do you think he’s ready to trust someone again?”
Sasha’s gaze softened. “I think he’s already started. For the first time in years, he looks… happy. You’re breaking through the walls he’s spent years building.”
____________
I looked at Manav sleeping peacefully, the soft rise and fall of his chest a calming rhythm. I slid quietly beside him on the bed. It had been just ten minutes since I went downstairs for coffee and ran into Sasha, but I already missed this—the warmth, the safety of being close to him.
As if sensing my presence, his arm instinctively wrapped around me, pulling me closer into his embrace. My lips brushed against his stubble, and he murmured in a husky, sleep-laden voice, “Good morning—”
A happy smile spread across my lips as I leaned in, kissing him softly.
His hand cupped my cheek tenderly while his other arm held me firmly against him.
I kissed him deeper, letting myself get lost in the moment, in him.
Manav’s lips moved against mine slowly, tenderly, as though he was savoring every second.
His hand on my cheek was warm, his thumb brushing gently along my jawline, grounding me in the moment.
When we finally broke apart, his forehead rested against mine, as he whispered, “I might get used to these good mornings.”
I chuckled softly, letting my fingers trail through his messy hair. “Well, someone looks like they slept well.”
“Better than I have in years.” His voice was warm, laced with sleep, and the slow, lazy smile that followed made my chest ache in ways I wasn’t ready for.
For a moment, we stayed wrapped in silence. I tilted my head up. His gaze was already on mine, fingers gently tracing the skin of my arm. I closed my eyes when his touch skimmed my chin.
“Cheeseball, what’s wrong?” His fingers grazed my chin gently.
I hesitated, then opened my eyes. “What time’s your flight?” I asked, voice unsteady.
“We’re meeting Dadi for breakfast in an hour. I leave after that.”
A beat.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Do you trust me?”
His brow furrowed, that familiar crease of concern. He shifted slightly, his full attention on me.
He paused. “Did you have a bad dream?”
“No,” I whispered, shifting against him. “Sasha thinks I should come with you to Mumbai... but you never asked.”
He exhaled. “Kiara, this isn’t the right time for—”
“Are we not even friends?” My voice broke.
“Kiara…”
“Just answer me. Please.” I held his hand softly, “If you don’t want me there… just say it. If you don’t trust me—”
Before I could finish, he shifted, flipping us gently as his lips found mine.
The kiss wasn’t rushed.
It was tender. Raw.
A confession made of touch instead of words. Like he was giving me something he’d kept locked away for years.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against mine.
His voice was rough.
“Do you know what’s been eating me up these past few days?”
“What?” I whispered.
“How the hell am I supposed to survive four days without you?” He exhaled, brushing my hair back behind my ear. “Without your hugs. Without these eyes, I’ve grown addicted to waking up to.”
My throat tightened. “Manav…”
He cupped my cheek, thumb tracing my skin like he wasn’t ready to let go. “I care about you, Kiara. So much, it scares the shit out of me.”
He looked down briefly before meeting my gaze again. “Mumbai’s going to be chaos—business, press, ghosts I haven’t dealt with. People will twist everything.”
He paused. “They’ll call me cold. Heartless. Ask why someone like you would choose someone like me.”
A sad smile tugged at his lips. He closed his eyes for a second.
I pulled him closer by his shirt. “You want to survive four days without me?” I whispered, brushing my lips against his. “Then let me be there. Let them say whatever they want. I don’t care.”
His hands gripped my waist, tighter now. Steady.
“You don’t know what they’ll say—”
“I don’t care what they say.” My voice was firmer.
And then he exhaled.
One long, breaking breath.
And he kissed me again.
Hard.
Passionate.
Like something inside him had snapped—finally, finally giving in.
His hand cupped the back of my head, the other anchored at my waist, pulling me impossibly close. There was no hesitation in the way his lips moved against mine now—just want and fear and all the words he didn’t know how to say.
When he pulled back, just barely, his forehead resting against mine, his breath warm on my lips—“You’re coming to Mumbai.”
____________
“Dadi, he’s not a broker; he’s a businessman,” I corrected her for what felt like the seventeenth time since Manav and I joined her for breakfast.
We were at Dadi’s house—ShantiVan—sharing breakfast with her, who had unsurprisingly taken quite a liking to Manav. Actually, who wouldn’t? The man was now patiently teaching her how to use Instagram and block all the nosy relatives, earning him major brownie points.
“Any plans on becoming a farmer?” Dadi asked Manav as she waved at the staff to bring pudding.
Before I could interject, Manav gently pressed my hand—his calmness almost unnerving. “Sounds like an interesting idea.”
Dadi’s face lit up with excitement. “Well, when are you getting married?” she asked, her gaze shifting between us with a mischievous glint.
I choked on my water, coughing violently. Manav casually handed me the glass. He leaned back in his chair and smiled. “Whenever Kiara is ready…”
My jaw dropped, and I turned to him, wide-eyed, while he gave me a look that said, Play along.
Dadi beamed at his response, while I, on the other hand, was on the verge of an existential crisis.
Married?
To Manav Oberoi?
To his abs?
Is that even legal in this universe?
Stop it, Kiara. He’s just acting. This is for Dadi, I reminded myself, but my thoughts weren’t helping.
Dadi’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she turned to me. “She seems ready to me.”
“Dadi… it’s time for your medicine!” I managed to sputter, desperate to change the subject before I spontaneously combusted.
Manav, of course, was loving every second of my misery. His adorable smirk and the faint dimple on his cheek betrayed just how much fun he was having.
And yet, despite my humiliation, I couldn’t help but notice how perfectly he played along.
Damn him and that unfairly cute smile.
“Okay… you two… time for my nap. See you at my birthday dinner,” Dadi announced, attempting to stand.
Manav was immediately by her side, assisting her with a steady hand as they strolled toward her room, casually discussing the side effects of chemical pesticides like it was the most natural conversation in the world.
I remained seated, staring at the now-empty table, my mind racing in circles. The warmth of his hand pressing mine earlier, his calm demeanor, the way he seamlessly fit into Dadi’s world—it all felt… too real.
This is fake, I reminded myself.
It’s all part of the plan. But deep down, my chest tightened.
What would happen if Dadi found out?
The thought alone was enough to make my head spin. She wouldn’t just be upset; she’d be heartbroken. Dadi adored Manav already, and his perfect execution of the “ideal boyfriend” act was making it all the more dangerous.
The lines between real and pretend were blurring, and for the life of me, I couldn’t tell if I was more afraid of Dadi uncovering the truth—or admitting how much I wanted it all to be real.
But I couldn’t let myself fall further. In a few days, I’d be on a flight to France.
For now, I had to hold myself together, keep the lines between Manav and me clear, and stay focused on my dream.
It wasn’t just a goodbye to him—it was a step toward the life I was meant to create.
At least, that’s what I needed to believe.
Dadi would throw herself into her charities, settle back into her perfectly chaotic version of normal. I needed to focus—on the life I’d carefully planned for myself.
A life without distractions.
A life without Manav Oberoi.