AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Okay,” his wife accepted for both of them.
“I don’t like this,” Rajiv muttered.
“You don’t have to, my love,” Sheena replied. “But you have to respect her decision.”
Avantika addressed her friends. “Thank you, both, for coming here. It means a lot.”
Rajiv nodded. “We will continue to stay in London for all the remaining days you have to spend with Luthra.”
“You don’t need to do that,” Avantika said. “The kids…”
“Shiven and Nia are with us,” Sheena explained. “We are more than happy to stay in London for a few days. Rajiv has work here in any case.”
“But…”
Rajiv shook his head. “Don’t worry. It’s fine. We are here for you.”
“I’m so delighted to see you both. Unfortunately, you need to leave now.” She faced Rajiv. “Hedespises you, and if he sees me with you, I’m not sure how he will react.”
Rajiv frowned. “Why? I mean, we’ve been foes for a long time, but why will he behave the way you’re saying?”
She gave them a naughty smile. “Because I told him that you asked me to marry you. And he kinda lost it.”
“Why? That was ages ago,” Sheena said.
Avantika shrugged. “Well, it was a sure-shot way of riling him, and it got the reaction I wanted at that time.”
“Bloody hell. He’s never gotten over you, isn’t it?” Rajiv correctly surmised. “You need to be careful around him. And don’t egg him on, for God’s sake.”
“You’re brave, Avi.” Sheena laughed. “Keeping him on edge like that. Nice.”
Rajiv’s eyes softened as they fell on his wife. “Princess, that’s not quite what you ought to be telling her.”
Sheena gave him a heated look, one filled with pure love. It made Avantika’s chest hurt. These two were perfect for one another and so much in love.
“I think she’s rather enjoying egging him on, sweetheart…” Sheena gave him a naughty wink.
Rajiv’s gaze alternated between Avantika and Sheena, and finally, he addressed his wife, “Okay, what has Avi told you that I don’t know about?”
“Sheena, tell him later,” Avantika began. “I have to leave now.”
She stepped out of the restroom first, a smile on her face that froze as soon as she spotted Dev getting off the elevator. His gaze filled with suspicion as it landed on her. Her steps slowed as she neared him. His eyes crossed hers and latched onto someone behind her. One emotion after the other chased through his amber eyes—confusion, anger, hurt, and then there was nothing at all. His usual calm and languid countenance, one which she suddenly realized she’d grown accustomed to, changed to that of cold stone. Without turning, Avantika knew what he’d seen. Dev pivoted and jabbed the elevator button.
Bloody fucking hell! This exact reaction of his was what she’d wanted to avoid. But now, there was no choice but to face it. And him.
A few more people entered the elevator behind them. Even across the distance separating them and the people around them, she could feel the anger rolling off of him.
The lift stopped at their floor, and she got off first. A shiver ran down her spine at Dev’s chilly presence behind her. No sooner had they entered the suite that Dev grabbed her arm and pushed her against the wall. His palms rested on both sides of her head as he stared at her. His face lowered, and her heart began to trip.
“Meeting your lover in private, Avantika?” Dev said, his tone dripping with ice.
She grimaced. “Rajiv is not my lover.”
“So easily you take his name. But mine…you don’t.”
She clucked her tongue, ignoring his comment. “He’s just a friend.”
His jaw flexed. “A friend? One who cares so much about you that he followed you all the way to London to check on you? Did you tell him that less than an hour ago, my mouth was on your skin?”
