If You Could Stay

3. Naira

I slam the door to my apartment shut and kick off my heels. I drop my purse onto the floor and slump down onto the couch, closing my eyes shut.

"What's wrong? Who do I have to murder?"

I open my eyes and smile at my roommate and best friend, Mayuri.

I drop my head into my hands and groan. Mayuri comes and sits next to me.

"Don't tell me you've already murdered them and left me out of all the fun. It's alright, as long as you let me help you hide the body."

I laugh at Mayuri's exaggerating words. "I didn't kill anyone....yet."

Mayuri crosses her legs under her and holds a pillow to her chest, getting comfortable. "Ooh tell me everything."

And so I do. I tell her about the cafe incident. And about how the same handsome devil turned out to be Kartik Goenka, the most important man to our company right now. Mayuri's eyes widen so big, I'm afraid they'll pop out of their sockets.

"Wow", she breathes out and I groan. I just ruined one of our biggest milestones of the year. But that's alright, because I'd rather break a financial contract than work with a heartless, pathetic human being. If he can even be called a human.

"Naira, I know you had a terrible day today but..." Mayuri hesitates.

"But what Ri?"

"Your brother called. He was looking for you, said you weren't answering your phone."

I tense.

"He's here in Mumbai and wants to have dinner with you. Tonight."

"What?!" I stand up. Mayuri gives me a sympathetic look.

I may be one of the youngest successful businesswomen in this industry, but I'm still a child to my over-protective older brother. Ever since our mother passed away, he's raised me as his own while my father slowly drifted away in grief. Now he handles our proliferating hotel chains while I oversee our diamonds business. I was set to become the official CEO of Singhania Diamonds as soon as this merger was initiated. I've proven myself worthy of the position time and time again. And now, a coffee-hating man who's angry at the world just ruined it all for me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Right this way ma'am."

The restaurant hostess leads me through the shining plaza of the hotel and into the five-star restaurant. I spot my brother sitting at one of the cloth-covered tables in the corner. With his leg crossed over his knee, his pressed navy blue suit, and his phone in his hand, he looks like the epitome of a businessman. I thank the hostess kindly and make my way toward my brother.

"Bhai."

He looks up from his phone and stands to give me a hug. We take our seats and a waiter immediately comes over to take our orders. After the waiter leaves to get our meals, my brother turns his attention to me.

"How are you Naira?"

"I'm doing well bhai. What brings you to Mumbai?"

"I wanted to see you. Can't I stop by to see my little sister? How's the merger going?"

My shoulders tense.

"It's going well," I lie. "I just finished my new Nryta line of ghungroos and maang-tikkas. They are scheduled to launch in a few weeks through the production with Goenka Medias."

My brother nods. "Good. We'll have both announcements on the same day."

My eyebrows furrow in confusion. "Both announcements?"

"Yes. The announcement of your CEO position as soon as the launch is made public. And the announcement of your engagement."

"What?!" I nearly fall out of my chair. "Bhai, I'm not ready to get married now."

I still had so much I wanted to do. Both professionally and personally.

My brother takes my hand in his and holds it softly. "Now's a perfect time. And I've found the perfect suitor. He's the only son of a Tech tycoon in London. He's smart, rich, and he's my friend. You'll be happy Naira."

My mouth dries as words fail to escape my lips.

"Naira, I'm not saying anything needs to happen now. There are still weeks before the launch. Meet him, get to know him."

I don't know what possesses me when I speak the next words. "I can't get married. I love someone else."

My brother releases my hand and his gaze turns icy. "Who?"

I rack through my brain for a name. Any name. The tall, cold-eyed businessman with a pink drink spilled on his chest flashes across my eyes.

"Kartik. Kartik Goenka." Yup, I'm definitely possessed by something.

My brother's eyes narrow. "The Chief Director of Goenka Medias? The client for our merger?"

I nod.

"We met a couple of months ago when the deal first came to works. And then things slowly began to progress between us. I was going to tell you, bhai." My voice turns into a whisper.

My brother stays silent for a moment. Even though soothing music and soft conversation fill the room, it feels eerily quiet. Then he speaks up.

"Okay."

I almost choke on air. "Okay?"

"I want to meet him, of course. But he's a very eligible suitor. And I want you to be happy. If he makes you happy, then he's who you'll have."

My 5-star meal tastes like cardboard. I'm barely able to swallow the rest of my dinner. What did I just do?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The room turns into a blur as I spin harder on my feet. The sound of the ghungroos on my ankles grows louder as my bare feet fall rapidly against the cold marble floor. Shankar Mahadevan's, Breathless, plays loudly from the speakers, but I hear different words in my head.

You really are Lucifer in a suit.

I hereby sever all pending contracts with Goenka Jewelers.

I love someone else.

Who?

Kartik Goenka.

I fall to my knees with a thud as the song ends. My chest rises and falls rapidly as I take deep breaths of air.

I know what I have to do now.