Shauna shot him a sharp glare. How dare he try to put her on the spot like that in front of Reema? And yes, she absolutely had a problem waiting with him. She’d come here to meet her grandfatheralone. This meeting was meant to be the first step in her taking on a leading role at Sehgal Media. Itwas an important and private conversation for which she had specifically scheduled this time with him.
“I actually needed to speak to my grandfather privately,” Shauna told Reema, keeping her tone firm.
“Right,” Akash murmured. “Why spend even a minute with me?”
Reema gasped.
“Not everything is about you, Akash,” Shauna snapped. And before he could respond, she turned back to Reema. “Never mind him. We’ll both wait inside.”
Reema’s gaze flicked between Akash and her before she gestured toward the door. Akash stepped past her and into the office, hands sliding into his pockets, a corner of his mouth lifting in quiet satisfaction.
This… this smug arrogance, was exactly why she hated him.
And still, she’d been unable to stay away from him, a loud voice inside her head immediately chided her.
She’d blurred the boundaries between them. Again.
God. She wasn’t listening to that voice. Akash deserved her censure. He deserved far worse.
The moment the door closed behind them, she spun around and glared at him. He sank into an armchair, stretching his legs out, looking extra comfortable. And then he pulled out his phone and focused on his screen, ignoring her altogether.
Her temper flared.
“What is your problem?” she snapped. “Why do you have to make an issue about everything? You could have waited outside and met grandfather later. I have an appointment with him.”
He tapped on his phone several times, thoroughly testing her patience, before finally looking up at her. “Janak asked to see me first thing in the morning. Hence, I will respect his wishes. If you have a problem with that, you’re welcome to leave.”
Her jaw clenched. Ignoring her again, he looked back at his phone. God, she wanted to throw his phone out of the window.
“You know what, you’re right. Stay. I’ll leave,” she spun around, fully prepared to leave.
“Yes, run away,” he drawled, shooing her away with his hand. “That seems to be your signature move when you’re around me.” His mouth flattened. “Oh, wait. I forgot. That, and telling me exactly what you think of me.”
Her mouth dropped open.
Akash hadn’t moved. He lounged in the armchair looking like he owned the place, one arm draped over the armrest, his lips slightly pursed, his dark gaze locked on hers in open challenge.
“I only speak the truth,” she replied evenly. “Clearly, my words struck a nerve. But I stand by them. You are an asshole.”
His jaw tightened, and something dark flickered across his face as he rose slowly from the chair. The distance between them shrank with every step he took, and suddenly he was close. Too close. Heat radiated off him, sharp and unmistakable, sending an unwelcome shiver across her skin. He towered over her, watching her carefully.
She held his stare without flinching, even as her pulse skidded wildly beneath her skin. She drew in a breath, and his strong scent wrapped over her, reminding her how rattled he always made her feel.
Akash shifted, stepping even closer, and her eyes caught on the ink peeking over the collar of his shirt. The same ink she’d had her mouth all over two nights ago.
She gulped. She was not thinking about that at all. She forced herself to meet his gaze. He was staring at her, his expression filled with anger and… heat. The look in his eyes sparked something inside her.
“It’s very easy to hurl insults, Shauna,” he said. “I could do the same and call you rude, difficult, and stubborn, but I have more class than that.”
Her lips parted in outrage. He’d somehow managed to insult her without even sounding like he had. Fuck, he was an asshole. But before she could respond, the door swung open and her grandfather stepped inside.
Her stomach dropped. Akash didn’t so much as flinch. He stepped back from her with effortless calm.
“Hello, Janak,” he said smoothly, his expression composed as he walked toward the older man. He bent forward to touch her grandfather’s feet.
“There you are, my boy,” Janak said fondly. “You’re back where you belong.”
“It was time,” Akash replied.
