But through it all, part of my mind was occupied with planning the evening.
I made several phone calls during breaks. Called the best restaurant in Tokyo and made special arrangements. Called my assistant back in India to handle some other details. Made sure everything would be perfect.
By the time I returned to the hotel around seven in the evening, I was satisfied that everything was in place.
I showered again and changed into more casual clothes. Dark jeans, a fitted black shirt, no tie. Tonight was not about business or formality. Tonight was about my wife.
At seven forty five, I called Viya's room.
She picked up on the second ring.
"Hello?"
"I will be waiting in the lobby at eight."
"No!" She said it so quickly and firmly that I almost laughed. "Do not wait in the lobby. Somebody might see us together. Can you wait outside? On the road?"
I frowned.
"Viya, I am not lurking on the street like I am doing something wrong."
"Please, Armaan. Just for tonight. I promise we will figure out a better way to handle this, but for now, please?"
The pleading in her voice got to me. This woman could make me agree to anything. Absolutely anything.
"Fine," I sighed. "I will wait outside in the car."
"Thank you. I will be down in ten minutes."
I hung up and shook my head with a smile. She was going to be the death of me.
I took the elevator down to the parking garage and got into the rental car I had been using during my stay. I drove out and parked along the street just outside the hotel entrance, where I had a clear view of the doors.
Eight o'clock came and went. Then eight oh five.
I was about to call her when I saw her emerge from the hotel.
My breath caught.
She was wearing a white dress. Short, showing off her legs, fitted perfectly to her curves. Her hair was loose and flowing around her shoulders. She had done her makeup subtly but beautifully.
She looked stunning.
She also looked around nervously before spotting my car and hurrying over. She slipped into the passenger seat and immediately leaned over to kiss my cheek.
"Sorry I am a little late. I could not decide what to wear."
I could not stop staring at her.
"You look beautiful."
She blushed, that pretty pink color spreading across her cheeks.
"Thank you. You look very handsome too."
I forced myself to focus on driving before I decided to cancel dinner and take her straight back to her room. Or mine. Either would work.
The restaurant I had chosen was about twenty minutes away, right on the coast. As we drove, Viya chatted about her day. About the training sessions and the Japanese technology they were learning. About Akshita's excitement over everything.
