CHAPTER 15
“Why should I tell you?” she shot back, crossing her arms and rising to her feet. Her ankle had healed, thanks to him, but she refused to acknowledge it, let alone thank him.
Rudra’s eyes darkened, his gaze cutting through her.
“Fine. I’ll ask him instead. And not as politely,” he growled, turning sharply to leave.
Panic surged through her. What would he do to Sanjay? She couldn’t let this escalate.
“We were at a café. The whole team went after work,” she replied through gritted teeth, hating that she had to explain herself.
He shot her one more icy stare before leaving the room. Kashish glared after him, furious. Who did he think he was? She wasn’t accountable to him. It was her life, and she could live it however she wanted. He had no right to question her.
Back in his room, Rudra sat down, staring blankly at his laptop. If the whole team had been at the café, it wasn’t a big deal. But seeing Kashish so close to another man stirred something dark inside him. He tried to refocus on work, on the emails that needed answering. He had a strict timeline—three months to finish everything before heading back to Paris. Staying any longer would only complicate things. But could he really leave her behind?
He had done it before, for 11 years. Back then, he hadn’t even known what she looked like, only imagined her face, filling in the blanks in his mind. That was enough to soothe him. But now, everything had changed. He knew her—the way she smiled around Shekhar and Anjali, the fire in her eyes when she was angry, the way she moved. Could he really walk away from all that? Could he return to Paris and pretend she didn’t exist?
His mind screamed no. She was everything to him, even if he was nothing to her. But how long could he hold onto this? She would soon be 25, free to leave this house and this family. What would happen then? Once she was gone, he would have no reason to stay. He’d be forced to return to Paris, closing the chapter of Kashish Bedi forever.
Frustration boiled over, and he slammed his laptop shut. The pain of knowing she’d never be his was suffocating. He stormed out to the poolside, trying to calm the storm raging inside him.
“Calm down, Rudra,” he whispered to himself, but it did nothing to ease the torment. What was this feeling? Why did it hurt so much? Hadn’t he suffered enough for 11 years? The years spent in juvenile detention were a nightmare—endless days surrounded by people who pushed him to his limits, manipulated and betrayed him, tortured him. He had nowhere to run, no escape.
A knock on the door jolted him from his thoughts. Lavina stood there, smiling.
“Hi,” she greeted, stepping inside. “You weren’t answering your phone.”
Rudra pulled his phone from his pocket. Five missed calls from Lavina. He had been too distracted to even notice.
“Sorry, I was preoccupied,” he muttered, sinking onto the recliner, his head heavy with thoughts.
Lavina gave him a sympathetic look.
“You always seem lost in your own mind. Sometimes, I get jealous. It’s like you forget the rest of the world exists.”
“Are you here to lecture me on that?” he asked, half-smiling, but there was no real warmth behind it.
“No,” she said, sitting beside him. “I came to talk about Tanuja’s birthday party tomorrow. She invited you, Shekhar, and some of the team working on her project. I wanted your thoughts on a gift for her.”
Rudra smirked. “Lavina Kundra, out of ideas? That’s a first.”
She chuckled, playfully nudging him. “Well, I have ideas. I just wanted to run them by you.”
“I’m not in the mood. Ask Shekhar Bhai,” he said dismissively.
“I did. But he’s as clueless as you. Are all Raheja men the same?” she teased.
“Probably,” he said with a half-hearted shrug. “So, what’s the big deal?”
Lavina stood, rolling her eyes. “Fine. I’ll ask someone who might actually help—Kashish. She’s always full of ideas. Bye!”
Rudra’s mood darkened as she left the room. Kashish was so easily accessible to everyone else but him. If only that terrible accident hadn’t happened. If he hadn’t been responsible for her father’s death, things could have been different. He could have approached her like any other man, won her over with his determination, his loyalty. If only he could erase that one tragic night from his life, his fate might have been completely different.
But he couldn’t erase it. It haunted him like a shadow, forever tainting any chance he had of being with her.
*****************
Everyone working at Raheja Designs for Tanuja’s project was buzzing with excitement about the birthday party invitation. It was going to be a grand event, the kind that everyone looked forward to. As Kashish sat in her cabin, engrossed in her sketches, a knock interrupted her concentration. Pallavi and Sanjay entered, grinning widely.
“Do you have a few minutes for us?” Pallavi asked.
Kashish waved them in, her pencil still poised over the paper.
“Had a good sleep last night?” Sanjay teased with a playful tone.
Kashish shot him a look. “Yes, I did. What’s up, guys?”
“We need to figure out the travel arrangements for tonight’s party,” Pallavi chimed in, excitement radiating off her. “The bosses and senior staff are heading in their cars. The rest of us need to make our own way.”
Kashish nodded. That was the reality of the hierarchy at Raheja Designs, and she was no exception. Even though Shekhar often offered her a ride, she had already declined, saying she’d go with the team. Besides, she didn’t have a car of her own.
“Alright, what are our options?” Kashish asked.
Sanjay quickly spoke up. “I’ve got my bike. You can ride with me.”
“That’s fine, but what about the others?” Kashish inquired, determined to ensure everyone was sorted.
Pallavi had already planned it all out. She listed everyone attending and who had vehicles. Just four girls would need to hire a cab.
“Sounds good,” Kashish said. “Make sure everyone’s informed.”
Pallavi and Sanjay left, satisfied with their plan, leaving Kashish to return to her work. She pushed aside the irritation that was beginning to creep in. She had a job to finish, and tonight’s party would have to wait.
*****************
At 7:00 p.m., Raheja Designs stood eerily quiet, the usual hustle long gone as the office had emptied out for the evening. Rudra, having just wrapped up a video conference, stepped out of his office, planning to head to the party alone. He had already sent Shekhar ahead with Lavina. Standing by the elevator, he waited for the doors to open when the soft sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Curious, he turned — and froze.
Walking toward him was Kashish, and she looked nothing like the woman he was used to seeing. She wore a sleek, knee-length black dress that hugged her figure in ways he had never quite seen before. Her usually simple attire was replaced by something that made his breath hitch. The fabric shimmered in the dim lighting, her curves accentuated perfectly. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves, bouncing lightly as she walked. She wasn’t just beautiful. She was...breathtaking.
For the first time in a long time, Rudra felt something stir deep within him — something primal. Desire. It caught him off guard, like a spark igniting in the pit of his stomach. He had admired her before, sure. He always respected her brilliance, her work ethic, her tenacity. But this—this was different. It wasn’t just admiration now. It was raw, sudden, and intensely physical. His gaze trailed down her body, lingering a little too long on the smooth expanse of her legs, the way the dress shimmered against her skin. His mouth went dry. He had always kept a lid on his feelings, but right now, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
Kashish, unaware of the intensity of his thoughts, shifted under his stare. His gaze was penetrating, searing through her, and it made her feel something strange. The dress didn’t bother her—she wasn’t uncomfortable wearing it. In fact, she felt confident in it. But the way he was looking at her? Like he was seeing her for the first time—that was unsettling. His eyes held a heat that made her pulse quicken, and she couldn’t understand why. She fidgeted, trying to focus on anything but the way Rudra’s attention lingered on her, making her skin feel hotter with each passing second.
“Why are you still here?” he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
She hesitated to answer, which only irritated him more.
“I’m your boss, Kashish. Answer me,” he demanded, his tone sharp.
She glared at him, hating how he used his authority to force a response. “I had some extra work to finish.”
“And your team?”
“They’ve already left,” she answered curtly.
Rudra’s jaw clenched at the thought of her staying behind alone. It wasn’t just the vulnerability of the office being deserted. It was the fact that she was here, in that dress, where anyone could have seen her like this. A protective surge mixed with possessiveness rushed through him. He hated feeling this way, but he couldn’t deny it.
“You’re the lead. You should make your team work with you, not slog here alone,” he reprimanded.
She shot him a defiant look. “My work was pending, not theirs.”
The elevator arrived, and they stepped inside, but the tension only seemed to intensify in the confined space. Kashish could feel his eyes on her again, but this time, it wasn’t just scrutiny. It was something else—something that made her skin tingle and her heart race. She wasn’t used to this. Was this...desire she saw in his eyes? And why did it make her stomach twist in knots?
“I’m heading to the party. Come with me,” he ordered, his voice low.
Kashish laughed, a harsh, sarcastic sound. “Are you delusional? Just because you’re my boss doesn’t mean you have any say over my life outside of work. Sanjay is taking me on his bike. I don’t need your ride.”
Every muscle in Rudra’s body tensed at her words.
“You’re not going on a bike in that dress,” he warned.
Kashish stopped, stunned by his audacity. Who did he think he was, telling her what to do? “You can’t stop me,” she retorted.
The elevator doors slid open, and she walked briskly toward the exit. Rudra clenched his jaw, frustration boiling inside him. Kashish threw a glance back at Rudra, aware of his seething gaze on her as she climbed onto the bike. She knew he was watching, and for a split second, something in her heart flickered. She wasn’t sure why his reaction mattered to her, but it did. Sanjay grinned at her before starting the engine, and they sped out of the office lot, leaving Rudra standing there, consumed by an emotion he wasn’t ready to name yet.
Rudra’s driver pulled up to the curb. Without hesitation, Rudra slid into the passenger seat.
“Follow that bike,” he commanded. “Keep your distance. I don’t want them to see us.”
He wasn’t following out of jealousy—at least, that’s what he told himself. He just needed to make sure she was safe. As he trailed them, he noticed Sanjay talking to her, making her laugh. That laugh. Would she ever laugh like that because of him? It felt like an impossible dream, a mission he would never accomplish.
The drive took thirty minutes. Sanjay parked the bike, and they both entered the party venue together. Rudra arrived shortly after but was stopped by Lavina and Shekhar, who immediately pulled him into conversations with other guests. He kept his distance but couldn’t help his eyes drifting toward Kashish. She was mingling with her team, talking to Tanuja, who greeted her with a warm hug.
Tanuja’s words reached Rudra’s ears. “That’s a lovely dress, Kashish.”
Kashish smiled modestly. “It’s one of my designs.”
Tanuja beamed. “It’s brilliant. You’ve got a genius mind. Where have you been hiding all this time? Or maybe Rudra wanted to keep you all for himself.”
Kashish’s smile faded at the joke. Her voice was sharp as she replied, “He has nothing to do with me, Tanuja.”
Rudra flinched, the weight of her words hitting him hard. Could he ever have her for himself? Could he ever claim that space in her life? He doubted it. He was nothing to her. Just a shadow of the man who had destroyed her world.
Sensing the tension, Shekhar quickly jumped in to diffuse the situation.
“Kashish is brilliant, but she wasn’t ready for big projects before. We’re lucky she chose yours, Tanuja.”
Tanuja smiled, oblivious to the undercurrents. “Well, I’m the lucky one. Enjoy the party, everyone!” she said before moving on to greet other guests.
Shekhar turned to Kashish, his tone softening.
“Don’t let your personal feelings slip into your professional life, Kashish. It could hurt our relationships.”
Kashish sighed, nodding. “I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry, Shekhar.”
“It’s fine. How about a mocktail? You deserve to relax,” he suggested.
“I’ll try one,” she agreed, watching Shekhar rejoin his circle of business friends. She would try to forget about Rudra tonight, but deep down, she knew that was impossible.
*******************
Sanjay handed a drink to Kashish, who was engrossed in conversation with Pallavi, too absorbed to ask whether it was a mocktail or a cocktail. Without thinking twice, she took a sip. Rudra, watching from a distance, clenched his fists. He had noticed Sanjay picking the glass from the cocktail section. Maybe it hadn’t been deliberate—Sanjay likely hadn’t known that Kashish had never consumed hard liquor before. But now she had, and the thought of her unknowingly drinking alcohol gnawed at him. Rudra knew he would have to keep an eye on her for the rest of the night. She could easily lose control or vanish, and the sight of Sanjay standing so close to her only added to his fury. He could have intervened, stopped Sanjay from passing her the drink, but he wasn’t there to babysit her. And even if he had tried, all Kashish ever gave him was hatred, and she wouldn’t hesitate to throw it at him, regardless of who was watching.
Kashish sipped the cocktail again, still unaware of what she was drinking, while continuing her conversation with Pallavi. The crowd erupted in cheers when Tanuja cut the cake. She asked Rudra to open the Champagne to celebrate their new deal, and he obliged, temporarily distracted. But as he served the Champagne to Tanuja and the others, his eyes scanned the crowd again. Something was wrong—Kashish was nowhere in sight.
A wave of unease washed over him. She had been there just moments ago. His instincts sharpened when he noticed that Sanjay was also missing. Panic surged inside him. He handed the Champagne bottle to Shekhar, quickly excused himself, and began searching for her, dread tightening its grip on his chest. Where had she gone? If Sanjay was with her, and they were alone somewhere, Rudra knew he wouldn’t be able to control his fury.
After several tense minutes, he found her. Kashish was alone by the bushes at the back of the venue, retching and pale. She looked weak and exhausted, clearly suffering from the aftereffects of the cocktail. Rudra exhaled, feeling a small surge of relief at seeing her alone, though she was obviously unwell. Without hesitation, he hurried over to her.