Love : A Wicked Game

Chapter 6 : You Don't Trust Me ?

Rajveer was seated in the hall. A chessboard was placed on the coffee table infront of him but his sharp gaze was fixated on the man, sitting opposite him. Suraj Advani. The person who had given Sajawat the contract of his son's wedding decor, due upcoming week. When Liam told him that Advani was from among his circle and had also invited him over dinner a month ago, he realized that he could go the technical way instead of violence this time.

He looked at Liam who was standing alert at a distance and discreetly nodded his head. Liam slightly bowed and taking steps back, left the hall.

“Alright there ?” - he asked as Advani gazed hard at the chessboard, searching a way out for Rajveer's clever move. Advani's was white whereas Rajveer's was black. And the black side was dominant on the board.

When Rajveer had called him, inviting on a dinner as a 'thank you' for his hospitality last month, Advani couldn't keep his feet on the ground and it was apparent in his tone. An invitation of dinner from Rajveer Shekhawat himself ? Who would miss it ? Rajveer then had asked Liam to dig out about Advani and find his weakness. Which was, surprisingly, chess. And Rajveer knew he had already won because he was the master of that boardgame.

“I have never lost a game of chess and I won't this one either. Just let me think...” - Advani said, never taking his eyes off the board. Beads of sweat shining on his forehead despite the fully air conditioned hall.

“Take all the time of the world.” - Rajveer said calmly.

Because Advani might have never lost a game of chess but he had never lost anything. Nor was he planning to.

A man, looking to be in his mid 30s, his hair blond with an American skin, walked into the hall. He was wearing casual blue jeans with white shirt and square shaped spectacles on his eyes.

“The tour was wonderful. I'll love decorating your home.” - he said as he came to sit on the sofa.

“Mr. Advani, meet Chris. He is the owner of the best and most famous wedding planning company of United States.” - Rajveer introduced.

That grabbed Advani's attention. Apart from chess, Advani's other weakness was flashy and extravagant things.

“The best in the entire US ?” - Advani asked, his interest peaking.

“Oh yeah.” - Chris affirmed in his American accent.

Advani played a move, not really paying attention, before turning to Chris again.

“My son's wedding is next week and I'm looking for the best wedding planner for it. Do you think you'll have time ?” - Advani asked, making Rajveer smirk.

“No problem Mr. Advani. You can take him with you. It's your son's wedding after all whereas I'm just having a party.” - Rajveer said generously.

Advani's eyes shined. “Really ?”

Rajveer leaned forward in the sofa, his eyes now on the chessboard. The white king was on the mercy of his black queen and a dangerous smirk appeared on his face.

“Checkmate.”

~

Samaira and her team was on the venue next day; the house of the 10 year old. They were finalizing the decor while the father had taken the girl out so that she could receive it as a surprise.

“Samaira ma'am!” - Rania came running towards her, her expressions grave that made Samaira frown.

“What happened ?”

“Mr. Advani has cancelled the contract.”

Samaira blinked several times in surprise. No customer of theirs had ever cancelled a contract before. So why all of a sudden Mr. Advani did that ?

“But he does know our company's policy that the advance is nonrefundable, right ?” - she asked Rania.

“Yeah. He said he doesn't want the money back.” - Rania replied.

Samaira frowned. That was weird.

“Okay fine, we'll discuss about this later. Focus on the task at hand.” - she instructed.

Rania went away and she returned to the work as well. But her thoughts were cluttered.

~

Her belly full of Sonia's handmade potato rice, Samaira retired to bed around 10 in the night. It was a long day at work but she was contented when the little girl had smiled brightly upon getting the birthday surprise. That was another reason she loved her job so much. Because the smile on people's faces watching their dreams come true, it gave another kind of feeling. Peace.

Smiling to herself, she adjusted her pillow and laid down but just then, her phone started vibrating on the nightstand.

‘Unknown number ?’ - she frowned at the screen.

“Hello...” - she said receiving the call.

“Hope I didn't disrupt your sleep.”

She sat up with a jolt. That silky and deep voice...

“Rajveer here.” - he confirmed her suspicion.

She couldn't believe her ears. He was calling her on her personal number when she hadn't given it to him! How ?!

“Ms. Purohit, are you listening...”

She pulled herself together and forced herself to behave normally.

“Uh no, you didn't disturb and yes, I'm listening.” - she was proud that her voice came out steady.

“Actually, I wanted to try one last time to persuade you to adjust my party into your busy schedule.” - he said, a hint of mischievousness in his tone.

She unconsciously bit her lip, a sudden thought strucking her brain. Was he behind the cancellation of Advani's contract ? But she brushed that thought away. She was thinking too deep into the matter. Why would he do such a thing ?

“Um...” - she trailed off. Despite having no project at the moment now, she was hesitant to say yes to him. He was a criminal after all and she wanted to stay clear of him as much as possible.

“Actually... we are free now but...” - she didn't know how to get herself out of the situation.

“Whatever are your terms and conditions, I'm up for it.”

God! Why was he so hellbent to have her as his party planner ? She agreed their company was among the best ones in the city but it was not the only one!

“O...kay... our team will need to visit your home first to get an idea which type of decor will fit. So the address-”

“Just let me know when do you want to come. The chauffeurs will be at your service.” - he cut her off, his tone superior but... not arrogant.

“That's generous of you but I like doing my work on my own Mr. Shekhawat.” - she said calmly.

“But that's my work you are doing.”

“I know but-”

“You don't trust me ?” - his voice turned deeper and her breathing hitched.

He was seriously asking that after hijacking a mall in the broad daylight and getting a man killed by his guards infront of her ?!

“That's not it, it's just...” - she lied, her bottom lip suffering from the misery of her teeth again.

“You won't face any trouble, I promise.” - he said, his tone solemn.

She didn't know why, and however crazy it sounded, but her mind believed his promise was not empty.

“Okay. I'll discuss with my team tomorrow and then... let you know about the visit.” - she said at last.

“I'll be waiting.” - came his reply in an instant. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.” - she replied and quickly disconnected the call.

She just had agreed to go to a criminal's house who most probably was a mafia head. She slumped back on the pillow as the graveness of the situation dawned upon her.

‘A visit to a criminal's house!’ - her brain cheered and she pulled the dovet above her head with a groan.