Chapter 15 #2
She typed back, her fingers striking the screen harder than necessary.
If you’ve got any guts, stop hiding behind a screen and tell me who you are.
The reply came almost immediately.
I know you’re just as desperate to see me. Don’t worry, babygirl. I’ll grant your wish soon. It’s your birthday, after all.
Dread began to build in her chest, and she immediately blocked the number again. Kashvi held down the power button until the screen went dark. Then, because even that wasn’t enough, she tossed the phone onto the sofa across the room.
She pressed her palms flat against the desk, leaning into it as she tried to steady her breathing.
The shrill ring of her office phone cut through the silence so jarringly that Kashvi flinched. If the man could send flowers to her office, he might have her office number too.
She hated feeling nervous on her own turf. Acting on impulse, she grabbed the phone and hit accept. ‘What the fuck do you want, you asshole?’
There was a beat of silence. Then a familiar voice came through. ‘Kashvi?’
‘Swayam?’ she breathed as the suffocating pressure under her ribs eased. The anger that had flared so quickly faltered just as fast, and she sank into her chair.
‘What the hell is going on?’ he asked, his voice tight with concern. ‘You just hung up on me like that, and then you answer the call this way. Are you okay?’
Kashvi closed her eyes, pressing against the bridge of her nose to ease the throbbing pain. ‘I’m fine.’
‘You don’t sound fine,’ Swayam countered. ‘I’m coming over.’
‘No, you don’t need to do that,’ Kashvi said quickly.
‘Then tell me what happened.’
She fidgeted with her pendant, trying to figure out what to tell him. What if it was just someone messing around, stupid enough to think this was funny?
What if he thinks I’m overreacting?
Kashvi cleared her throat, her gaze darting once towards the bouquet. ‘It’s just someone who works under my father. He was bothering me about pending work, that’s all. But don’t worry, I can handle him.’
‘Are you sure?’ he asked, unconvinced.
‘Yeah, it’s really not a big deal. I’ve got it under control. Besides, you mentioned a surprise. Is it done?’
After a beat, Swayam sighed. ‘No.’
‘You’re just going to abandon that? You do know I have very high standards for my birthday gifts, right?’
‘Yes, I know. But don’t you know I care more about making sure you’re okay than about a surprise?’
Kashvi held the phone a little tighter. ‘I’m okay. And if I’m not, I’ll call you, and then you can come here and play action hero. Deal?’ she asked, hoping it would work.
The protective note in his voice made her chest ache. ‘Alright. But you better make sure to give me a detailed list about them. I like to be thorough.’
‘You got it,’ she said, glad to let go of the topic.
Then he asked, with an undercurrent of doubt in his voice, ‘Why is your phone off, Kash?’
‘I forgot my charger at home, and my phone died,’ she said lightly.
Swayam hummed. ‘And what about the flowers you mentioned?’
‘I don’t know who sent them,’ she admitted.
‘Well, I can guess,’ he said with a huff of amusement. ‘It’s probably someone from one of the departments. You’re about to be their boss with a very generous budget. Of course they’d try to impress you early.’
Could he be right?
Kashvi shook her head. It didn’t make sense. None of them would send a cryptic, anonymous bouquet with a personal note.
‘Yeah, I didn’t think of that,’ she said.
A mischievous note slipped into his voice as he teased, ‘See, you’d be lost without me.’
Kashvi managed a half-hearted chuckle. ‘That’s debatable.’
‘Or…’ he trailed off, sounding thoughtful. ‘Could it be from an admirer?’
She didn’t laugh this time.
‘It wouldn’t matter anyway,’ he went on. ‘I don’t mind competition.’
‘You sound confident,’ she observed dryly.
‘Why wouldn’t I be? I’m the one who has a date with you today.’
Her tattered heart skipped a beat. ‘You didn’t say it was a date.’
‘Kash, you can call it whatever you want, but one thing is certain. You’re coming home with me tonight,’ he said without a hint of hesitation.
She bit her lip to tamp down the heat flushing her cheeks. ‘That’s not really an achievement. I kind of have to come home with you because we live together, remember?’
His soft chuckle reached her before he said, ‘Even if we didn’t, I know you’d still choose me.’
‘So, last night didn’t scare you off, huh?’ The question slipped out from the depths of her mind, where she shoved her worst fears.
‘Kash, listen to me,’ he said, immediately pulling all her attention. ‘I meant what I said. You make me feel alive, and there’s nothing I’m scared of, as long as I’m with you. All I’m asking for in return is a chance to prove that I’m not going anywhere.’
‘Idiot,’ she whispered, because she couldn’t tell him what she really wanted to say.
Keep that promise.
‘For you,’ he said fondly. ‘I’ll pick you up in the evening. And just so you know, I’m counting down the minutes until I see you.’
‘Me too,’ she whispered back.
The line clicked, and Kashvi placed the receiver back in its cradle. His promise lingered in the air, drawing a faint smile from her.
It faded the next moment when her gaze fell on her phone.
Pulling herself together, she crossed the room and picked it up. While it switched on, a thousand scenarios ran through her mind. But when no pending notifications appeared on the screen, she clutched at her chest in relief.
Whatever the hell this was, it was over. And if she believed it hard enough, maybe it would stay that way.