Way to spend four hours straight on a Sunday! 😅

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Shivaay stepped out of the elevator walking towards the board room with his PA following him narrating his schedule. Shivaay stopped and turned around when he heard "Mr. Malhotra's son's wedding anniversary," he stared at Harish quizzically. "That's tonight?"

"Yes, Sir. I told you about it on Monday, you had asked me to send a confirmation with best wishes." Harish replied.

"Damm it!" Shivaay exclaimed glancing at his watch. It was five already and the party began at seven-thirty. He had a meeting with Mr.Kapoor in five. "You should have reminded me!"

"I sent you the schedule reminder for the day," Harish answered.

"Yeah, right! Next time I want you to verbally remind me."

"But Sir, you asked me to not remind you abou..."

"Shut up," Shivaay muttered briskly walking ahead. Harish grimaced, had it not been the handsome salary he wouldn't have stuck to this snobby boss.

Shivaay dialed Anika's number for the second time in the day. He needed to inform her to be ready. "Hello, Anika?"

"Sorry, this is Miss India speaking..." he heard Anika voice from the other end. He shook his head looking at the laptop screen, while Harish went on to the next slide. 

"Anika, there's a party tonight. It slipped out of my mind."

"Okay, I will tell mom you'll be late," Anika answered from the other end.

He screwed his eyes shut momentarily, "I meant we both have to attend it,"

"Oh, oh," Anika reacted.

"There will be thick traffic on the road around six, so I will get ready here and pick you up at around seven-fifteen." He informed.

"Okay, so umm, what should I wear?"

A momentary grin bloomed on Shivaay's face. Had he not been stressed about the meeting scheduled a few minutes away he would have taken the opportunity to tease. He got up from the chair briskly walking out of the room. He didn't want Harish to hear him suggest clothes to his wife. "A gown should be fine. Umm, remember the one we bought for the pre-wedding ceremonies."

"I thought... wait didn't you tell me that you returned them?"

"No, I did not. Ask mom for them."

"Shivaay, are you serious? Those were pretty expensive..."

"Anika, I have got to go, I have a meeting. I will see you soon!" He ended the call walking back in.

Shivaay stared at the woman dressed in a red satin blouse and tight black pencil skirt. "Shilpa Tendulkar?"

The lady smiled and turned to him. "Shilpa Kapoor now!" The lady spoke stepping towards him.

"You married Manish Kapoor?" Shivaay asked shocked. Shilpa was his batchmate from college. If he used crude language on women he'd label her a wanton bimbo.

"Yes, Mrs. Manish Kapoor!" She gave a sugar-coated smile forwarding her hand. Shivaay stared at her. He gave her hand a brief shake. "Nice to see you after so long Shivaay. You have changed a lot." She spoke giving him a head to toe glance.

Shivaay folded his hands looking away. He hated how the woman looked at him. "I was expecting Mr. Kapoor," Shivaay spoke. He just couldn't stand the woman before him. He was totally surprised that she married a man more than twenty years older than her. Either her preferences had changed or she was trying to get herself a jackpot. 

"Yes, I am aware. But there were some last-minute changes in his schedule so he sent me. His life and business partner. He could trust you enough to let me deal with you." She smirked and looked around. "Shall we start off then? I am informed that the ..."

Shivaay rolled his fingers in a fist. There was no way he was dealing with her. "Mrs. Kapoor, I think it was made clear that I would deal with the Chairperson himself."

"Shivaay, are you serious? We can catch up over a coffee later, let's finish this quickly."

"Make yourself comfortable, I need to make a call," Shivaay spoke through gritted teeth. He walked out of the meeting room seething in anger. 

"Hey, Shivaay," he was greeted by Kashish Mehta, one of his best legal advisors. "Sorry, I am slightly late. I had to pick up Karan from school and drop him home. All okay?" She asked staring at him.

"Shilpa Tendulkar is now Mrs. Manish Kapoor. She's in here to make the deal on his behalf."

"Oh, wow. When did that happen? I mean anyway, I think we made it clear that Mr. Kapoor himself has to.."

"Exactly!" Shivaay spoke pressing the phone to his ear. Kashish fell silent looking at him. 

Shivaay had barely ended the call and turned when he found a worried Kashish. "He said that she's a fifty percent owner so legally things are right."

"Dhruv is her legal advisor. Dhruv Bhatia." She said pressing her lips into a tight smile.

"What the hell, your ex-husband?" Shivaay exclaimed annoyed. "Am I the only one who's sensing something fishy?"

Kashish took a deep breath, "this deal is important to us," she laid the most important fact.

"Bring your ex-husband as the legal advisor can prove to be fatal for us."

"Shivaay, please let's not mix our personal and professional lives. You know when I work.."

"Kashish, I have never doubted your skills okay?" 

"Then don't even this time around. Besides, I know his weaknesses--"

"And he knows yours.." Shivaay spoke cutting her off. 

"Fine, call in Mehra to act as the primary leaguer advisor. I will work as a secondary."

"You two never work together..."

"This deal is important, I am ready to work as a secondary. That way we can exploit his weakness if required."

Shivaay looked stunned, he had known Kashish ever since he had started working, she had much experience working under his father. "If you say so, we'll have to push this meeting."

"Let's exchange pleasantries and schedule the next," Kashish smiled confidently and Shivaay nodded smiling back. He really admired Kashish's confidence. 

Shivaay entered the well air-conditioned meeting room behind Kashsih. Kashish grimaced to see her ex-husband's eyes on the women seated beside him. The two looked up and smiled.

"This is Kashish Mehta my legal advisor," Shivaay introduced pulling the chair for her to sit. He sat on the chair beside hers. His eyes looked at Dhruv. Pity that he let go of a wonderful woman like Kashish for sluts. 

"Nice to meet you Kashsih," Shilpa smiled leaning forward tossing an aspartame smile at Shivaay. Shivaay tried to keep his eyes on Dhruv, not falling for the cheap seduction Shilpa was trying to sell.

They had managed to buy some time on grounds of legal technicalities. "She's such a slut!" Kashsih muttered as they walked out. Shivaay sighed, "she is!"

"I have a few ideas in mind regarding the contract..." Kashish spoke noticing Shilpa and Dhruv walk out from the room headed towards them.

"Want to grab a coffee?" Shilpa asked Shivaay, "for old times sake?"

Shivaay managed to give her a cold smile, "I have other plans."

"Sure, maybe sometime else. Anyways we'll be meeting a lot more." Her lips formed a seductive smile. "See you later!" She walked away waving at them.

"We'll discuss this contract tomorrow. I will call in Mehra too. We need a thorough contract with no possible loopholes." Shivaay spoke his eyes fixated on the woman who just walked away.

"Alright, tomorrow then!" Kashish spoke and left. Shivaay walked back into his cubicle thoughtfully. 

* * *

Anika stood before the mirror dressed in a wine-red gown. She had hurried out of her office after receiving Shivaay's call and had made it home in time to have an hour to get ready. Pinky was helping her with jewelry. Freaking diamonds. "What if I lose them? You should put it back in that locker," Anika repeated nervously. 

"Shut up, Anika. They look amazing on you. And Shivaay will be mad at me if I didn't make you wear them." Pinky spoke adjusting the bracelet on her hand. Diamonds again.

"I don't think so..." Anika muttered staring at the bracelet.

"There, you look very pretty," Pinky announced giving her a full glance.

"Mom, don't you think this neck is slightly low. Can you not pin it up or something?" Anika asked nervously looking at the sweetheart neck that gave a peek-a-boo at her cleavage. 

Pinky chuckled, "it's fine, doesn't look bad."

"Seriously?" Anika shot her a sharp look.

"No, it's perfect. Besides you don't have to worry Shivaay will be by you."

"Is it really necessary for me to attend it?" Anika asked for the fifth time that evening. 

Pinky smiled, "Can you stop freaking out? Number one, no will try robbing those jewels. Number two, you look perfect. Number three, yes you have to attend it. Number four, it may be a little boring and you have to be very formal throughout. Number five, You'll have Shivaay by you so the evening will fly past. And finally, don't drink or let Shivaay drink."

Anika smiled, "okay, anything.."

"Bhabhi, Bhaiya's car is here!" Rudra's scream from downstairs interrupted the conversation. Pinky quickly picked up her sling purse and put her moniker into it while Anika swore her heels. Her foot still hurt but it was tolerable. 

"Have fun but not too much!" Pinky spoke walking her to the door. Anika turned and hugged her. "Love you!"

Pinky smiled. 

"Hi!" Shivaay said looking at her once she sat inside and shut the door.

Anika turned to find his eyes on her. Like he had seen a river of diamonds. Well, technically she had diamonds on. "Hi," she muttered shyly, her eyes taking in his form. The car reeked of his perfume. He was dressed in a black tuxedo. His hair perfectly set. He smiled and Anika felt weak in the knees. She looked at the time, "are we late?"

It took a few seconds for Shivaay to stop staring at her lips painted in a dark shade of wine red and process an answer to her question. She looked gorgeous. She really had to do nothing to seduce him. He couldn't help but stare at the cleavage a little longer than her dress. "No, we aren't. I said seven fifteen on purpose. To have you ready by seven-thirty."

Anika grinned, "I was technically ready by seven-fifteen,"

Shivaay smiled wider starting the car, "so my bad to keep my wife waiting!"

"Yup!" Anika answered looking out. It was hard to not check him out. But she didn't want to get caught. 

"You look fu-king gorgeous!"

Anika's cheeks flushed and she glanced at him. "Do you have to use that word?"

"It just delivers the right message..." he winked at her.

Anika blushed looking away from him. He chuckled his hand reaching out to hers. She didn't look at him but her hand intertwined with his and let it rest in her lap. He smiled remembering the first time he had held her hand in the car and she had literally jumped out of her skin. He loved this change. He moved his hand, his knuckles caressing her thigh through the soft fabric of the gown. He was glad for the automatic gears.

Anika could feel his hand move over her thighs. She was glad that she had chosen to intertwine her fingers with his, or his hand would be up to less subtle actions. She couldn't help but remember the kiss they had shared in the car when they had returned from Goa. She still vividly remembered how he got her soaking wet. Fudge! She shouldn't think about it, it was causing tingles between her legs. To distract herself and him she pressed the button to switch on the radio. 

* * *

Shivaay pulled the car to a halt on the side. Anika looked on confused. "I need to fix the bowtie," he explained turning on the light above them. He leaned towards her, his left hand leaving her hand to reach out to the back seat. Anika looked on, his closeness was messing with her head. She just needed to hug him and have his arms around her. She watched as he fixed the bow tie. "Is it sitting right?" He asked for her opinion. 

She nodded and then noticed the left side of her collar stuck inside. "Umm, the collar there is stuck," she spoke pointing. He frowned and leaned towards her.

She didn't expect that. She moved closer and used her fingers to make that proper. She heard him inhale sharply. Her cheeks colored up she was so tempted to kiss his cheeks. They were barely a few inches away. However, the dark lipstick Pinky had chosen would surely leave a mark. 

Shivaay loved how delicious she smelt. Had this party not been important he would have wasted no time in kissing her. But kisses between them became hot and were very arousing. He smiled when she pulled away. He didn't even risk dirty talking in that small constrained space of the car. "Thank you!" He muttered, his own voice sounding weird to him.

Anika pulled back and managed to smile. His "thank you," was also sounding dirty to her. He had messed up with her clean thinking big time. 

* * *

"Shivaay, I haven't attended parties like these before," Anika spoke softly looking at the lavishly lit lawn as Shivaay pulled the car into the driveway. 

"Don't be nervous, I am with you,"

"Am I appropriately dressed?" Anika asked as she noticed a woman dressed in a blingy black dress that hung to her body like second skin.

"I told you how you look, don't have second thoughts about that," he spoke.

"Just give me cues if you want me to talk or say something, I am.."

"Yes, now please give that confident smile that caught my attention when I first saw you!"

Anika's lips drew into a smile remembering their first meeting. Table number seven!

He handed the keys to the valet and held the door open for her. She smiled trying not to get overwhelmed with the posh atmosphere. Once she was on her feet Shivaay's hand curved around her waist. Like her nervousness wasn't enough. Je led her up the stairs. Damn, she was zero compared to the confident man beside him. She somehow managed to keep a small smile on her face as a few people looked at them. She kept telling herself that their eyes were on the diamonds not her, to make herself feel better.

* * *

Anika was like a fish put into a dessert. Shivaay was more or less by her side. He had introduced her to so many people that she didn't even remember what were the details for which one. Women were dressed in far more revealing dresses than the one she wore. Either it was a high slit showing off their long legs or a backless dress revealing the entire back or a deep wide plunge in the neck-line leaving very little to the imagination. 

Shivaay walked over and stood beside her handing her a glass of clear liquid. "What's this?" She asked analyzing the glass.

"What else would be in a wine glass? Your favorite - white wine!" He grinned.

She blushed, "seriously?"

"Sprite, Anika!" He answered glancing around. 

She looked the crystal glass in his hand that had a golden liquid that ha bubbles moving up. "What's that?" She asked curiously. Was he drinking? He knew he had to drive back right?

He turned to her amused. "What do you think?"

"I don't know," she answered honestly.

"Smell it," he spoke shifting closer to her putting his glass close to her lips.

"Apple juice!" Anika exclaimed, grinning. 

"Have a sip," he smiled and tilted the glass. She quickly took a sip. Definitely apple juice. However, her mind was soon on a different track. It just felt so nice standing beside him, with his body almost touching hers while she sipped from his glass. It just got her heart to bloat with a nice feeling.

"I never drink in parties outside the home. At home it's fairly safe Omkara or Dad has my back just in case I get drunk." He explained. She nodded, "and now I have you too!" He smiled turning to her. Their eyes met. Anika shouldn't have looked at him because now she had an urge to kiss him. This time the urge was way stronger than before. 

"Penny to your thoughts Anika!" He exclaimed amused at how she stared at his lips.

Anika flushed looking away. Did he notice that she was staring at him in a lecherous way? "I wasn't thinking..."

She heard him chuckle before she even completed it. His hand slipped behind her caressing her waist. "Next time, if you don't want to get caught be more discreet and cautious," he muttered and darn from.his glass. His other hand moved lower to her hips. Since she was standing with her back towards the counter his hand was well hidden. A smug grin colored his face with mischief as he squeezed her butt. 

"Shivaay!" She gasped. 

He turned his face and leaned over her, "did you like it?"

Anika flushed looking around hoping no one heard or saw them. "Don't do that!" She said softly.

Shivaay was amused and more determined to have some fun. He did it again and she almost squirmed staring at him. "It's very inappropriate!" She exclaimed with wide serious eyes.

"Is the answer- you like it very much?" He asked grinning as he squeezed again. This time Anika put her hand between them and tried to get his hand off her. He held on tighter, looking at her eyes with a challenge.

"Are you trying to do the same!" He exclaimed in amusement. Her eyes widened again and she pulled her hand back.

He chuckled, moving his palm back to her waist like a true gentleman. "Try it at home!" 

Anika gaped at him and then quickly looked ahead drinking some cold drink. Yeah, he made her feel like she was on Mercury instead of Earth!

Once she was done with eating and drinking, he led her to meet a few more people. "I don't remember even five people properly!" She murmured and he leaned forward to hear her. 

He smiled, "you don't have to, really," he spoke, his lips very close to her ears. She smiled, relieved on hearing that, hoping the night would end soon.

Would love to know your thoughts, now that I have given a glimpse at Anika and Shivaay's professional lives. 

This chapter particularly went longer to 3000 words!

Also, is the crackling chemistry between the two still intact? ;)

-Anami!♡