Once Upon a Time in London

Chapter 43

I am hit with an impending sense of deja vu, except I know it's not because I've been here before. In what feels like a lifetime ago, this has happened before, the same eyes had looked at me and I'd been standing outside just like this staring at him with a blank face. It is all happening all over again.

"Rahul" the word leaves my lips before I can stop myself, I shake my head, "Sorry, I mean Mr. Khanna."

I look around myself awkwardly before turning my gaze back towards him when he doesn't say anything, "Uh, could I help you with something?"

"Get in Sharma" he says, eyebrows knitting together slightly.

I just look at him, it's raining really hard now, his window is rolled down and raindrops are trailing down his face as he waits for me to move.

I don't, I just look back at him, "Oh that's okay, I'll just take a taxi back.

He doesn't move, he sighs, "Sharma, I know you don't really want to see me right now but I'd rather you not get sick" he pauses for a second before continuing, "Especially with the team dinner tomorrow, you've worked really hard for this all week, I'm sure you wouldn't want to miss it either."

I contemplate his words and glance at him again, he doesn't seem willing to leave anytime soon, I press my lips together in defiance, when have I listened to Rahul Khanna anyway.

When I don't reply, he speaks up again, "Get in Sharma, don't make me ask again, I can wait here all night if you'd like" he's glaring at me now.

"Fine" I move closer to his window, "You can wait here all you'd like" I turn away, walking past his car door and ahead of his car. If he won't leave, I will.

I'm not sure what I expected but I bite my lip, annoyed, as I realise Rahul's tailing me in his car, I turn around to glare at him after a minute.

He looks unbothered, one hand on the steering wheel while he is leaning his face on the other hand. He truly would follow me home, how free was this man?

I stop all of a sudden and half expect to get hit with his car but I don't, I turn around only to make eye contact with Rahul's steely gaze.

The rain isn't stopping anytime soon, I don't even bother holding the bag over my head anymore, I'm soaked to the core. I gnaw on my lip as I look up at the car in front of me. I could keep walking but Rahul seems to have no plans of driving away anytime soon. I'm still thinking about this when I sneeze, realising just how cold my clothes feel pressed against my body, a shiver running down my spine.

It is at this moment that the car door slams shut, I watch as Rahul walks over to me in quick, long strides, I don't get a chance to react as he grabs my wrist and drags me over to the passenger seat.

"Let go" I claw at his hand, trying to free my hand.

He looks at me coldly, "You're already drenched, you are going to get sick. Do not test me right now Sharma" he opens the door for me, his eyes are thunderous as they meet mine.

His hair is drenched and falling in his eyes now, his perfectly ironed suit quickly getting wet in the rain  the longer he stands there, daring me to say no.

"I'm wet and grimy" I finally say, "Your car seat is going to get dirty."

"I don't care" he responds, leaning down as one hand still holds onto the top of the car door, "Now get in" there is no room for negotiation, I can tell by the way he says the words, I purse my lips, holding back from saying anything aggravating now. If he won't leave me alone, perhaps the quickest way to get rid of him would be by letting the man drive me back.