Him
The last time when I stood waiting in front of her office, it was when she had no idea who I was. And my bizarre sense of disguise made it almost impossible for her recognize me. Which is great because that way I was following her everywhere without her knowledge.
I’m not shy being a little overprotective. She’s all that I have, anyway.
I check the message on my phone and text Divit back telling him that I’ll be coming back after dropping her home. Safety is the most important thing right now, especially since this situation; the bizarreness of it has kept both of us busy the whole day.
I had predicted most of it in my head before even looking for it.
The day Jessica came to her and talked about the spiked drinks and the attitude of the management towards them, half the puzzle was solved already. But we still tried to look for clues to clearly suggest what I already knew.
But today when she remembered the alias, the dig became so much easier.
Black, along with Hades and Kraken took the digging in their hands, while I checked into every single device I could, considering the fact that the deceased asshole Aniket had told her about our private moments being filmed.
Thankfully, none of my cams in the apartment were hacked. But I did find traces of data being copied from our society cam.
I also had to go back and check for leakage of footage from the places that we’ve visited. Except the club and a few others, everything came out clean.
While checking her phone cam for possible hacking traces, I learned about the email id she had logged in from. Why the fuck did she need to open any suspicious mail on her fucking phone? She’ll need to learn to avoid those kinds of traps.
As expected, she unknowingly downloaded a hacking tool while opening the mail from her mobile phone. I deleted any nudes or private shots that I had filmed with her for our personal album, the moment she opened the damn email.
I know more than she thinks I need to know. But that’s something I’ll have to keep to myself for the time being. I know she’ll panic, and I’m not going to fucking risk it.
When she emerges from the office building, I ready myself for her phone call. But when she books a cab, the smile from my face fades away. Why would you want to keep it to yourself, muffin?
So, I do what I do best... And start following her.
When the cab takes a left to a road more secluded at this hour of the night, I pull over in front of the cab making it come to a halt almost instantaneously. The driver spilling colorful curses, but I ignore him. My eyes on the dessert that climbs out of the car and comes over as I pay him off.
“What are you doing here?” She looks pissed, obviously at the stunt I just pulled.
“Missed you too muffin...” I smile in response to the angry teddy bear before pulling her in a hug.
“Couldn’t you call or text? I –” She stops right before finishing that sentence, pausing for several seconds. Her eyes on me but she looks lost. Her throat bobs before she speaks, “Forget it!”
“Can you shut up for a moment. I need to recharge my batteries.” I speak.
Her eyes narrow in irritation, “Recharge your what? Do you work on bat –”
My lips find hers before she can finish. My hand holding her tightly by the waist while the other goes behind to the nape of her neck pushing her mouth into mine. Her frantic thinking comes to rest; her body relaxing as my tongue explores the sweetness inside her mouth.
When I sense her eased, I pull away giving her space to breath and calm down. “And I’m done – for tonight, of course. I may need another shot soon,” I grin.
I had stopped believing that I could see the day when she would blush at this face. God! The depths I want to fall, when it comes to loving this girl.
“But really, what are you doing here? I thought you would be back at your cabin. You guys were researching something, weren’t you?”
“Have you forgotten that I’m your landlord too? I wanted to collect my monthly dues in person, from my favorite tenant.”
The butterflies inside her chest seem to escape with the sharp breath that she pulls on my comment. Crimson paints her pink cheeks.
“Nakul... I – I have work tonight. I’ll talk to you in the morning – okay?”
“You’re working after office hours. Since when?”
The color from her face drains on my question as she starts looking away, possibly looking for an excuse, “Since today... Look, I have been assigned a new team lead. I have more work than ever. I hope you understand –” Her voice dying off at the last word.
“Are you lying on my face muffin? Because that would be so bad for you, and so deliciously appetizing for me.”
“I really have work. You don’t – you don’t believe me?” She tries to look me in the eyes in an attempt to look confident and truthful. But the lip biting and stuttering is a giveaway. Lair!
“I trust you. I know you way to well to doubt your intentions muffin.” I blatantly lie. I know her too well to know that she would be a world class liar when scared.
“Look Disha, I only intend to keep you safe. And right now, you look too stressed to be okay. You know you can let me know if you want somebody’s nose broken. Just say the word.” She knows she can tell me if she wants someone dead.
“I know.” There’s a hint of sadness in her voice. Too hard to hold back the whole truth.
Cupping her face in my hands before making her look into my eyes, I say, “Listen carefully muffin, you don’t need to fear anyone. And I mean it. If someone wants to reach out to you with the wrong intentions, they’ll only be able to do it over my dead body... And do you think that’s going to be easy?”
Her eyes are locked on to mine; tears creeping in them very slowly. Her breath turns heavy as the words slip out of her mouth, “Nakul... Jess is missing.”
“What? How do you know that?”
“She did not show up to office today so I tried calling her; texting her. But she’s not responding to anything. And then...” Her voice trails off yet again.
“And then? Is there anything else to it muffin?”
“No... I don’t understand whatever’s going on...” Eyes looking everywhere, clicking knuckles, heavy breathing. So easily detectable. She’s lying on my face.
“Okay. I’ll check with Divit once I get back,” I fight the urge to sound pissed.
Waiting when you know that the words are never coming out is such a pain. But I make sure to mask it when I drop her off.
You shouldn’t have lied to me, muffin. Maybe, you need to be punished again.