[Sequel of Warm Love, hence can't be read as a standalone.]
In the first phase, Reyansh concealed a web of mysteries, but as they stand face to face once more, it's Kiraz who holds the tantalizing secrets waiting to be unveiled. These hidden truths...
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Reyansh.
My fingers halted. The cursive art of my name glided by in ink, only to stop abruptly. A small, dark pool of deep blue started forming on the frail paper. Gulping down the unease, I continued the stroke from where I had stopped.
Since the early evening, this chilling gut feeling has been poking at my back. I've been shaking it off, but now it's managed to hauntingly drop his name into my consciousness every few minutes. I closed the file, clicking the pen shut.
It was eight o'clock. Rayer was open for another three hours.
But my mind refused to allow me a moment of peace, the stanching thought that something was not alright persisting. Not good. Like an empty puzzle, I was pushed back into the array of nightmares I had endured for the past six days.
I reached for my phone, scrolling through my contacts. I had dialed his number four times. Each time it rang, but there was no answer, not even a message. Where the hell was this man?
I pinched the bridge of my brows, rolling my shoulders as I retreated back into the chair, moving the rolling chair to my convenience. Blank eyes stared at the ceiling above me. I had sent Veer back with Kavya, as she was on her way home from college. So, one headache was gone, only to return harder than before. My temple throbbed with nauseating pain. I had hardly slept last night, given how he had kept me awake, not letting me sleep for an hour. Yet my eyes refused to close, and instead of dizziness, all that blessed me was a whirlwind of anxious thoughts.
Was he ignoring me? If God he is, I swear I will haunt him with a sledgehammer.
I sat up straight as a knock sounded at the door. Clearing my throat, I invited the person in.
The door was slightly ajar, with Vishal peeking through the gap, his eyes downcast. "Ma'am, I'll be downstairs for a smoke."
"Yes, you can go ahead with your task. I'm almost done here; I'll meet you downstairs," I replied.
With a subtle nod, he closed the door behind him. Sighing, I slipped my feet into my heels. Every inch of my body was sore and begged for rest. But the worry of that chameleon bastard just ruffled my feathers. I wished I could throw him off a cliff or, worse, to the wolves.
Grabbing my purse, files, and laptop, I exited the room, locking it behind me. Moving towards the adjacent door, I knocked on the hard wood with my knuckles. Twisting the knob, I entered the room with a welcoming smile for Priti. "Here's the file."
"Did you check everything?" she inquired.
I nodded subtly. "I don't think we should delay it any further. The proposals for these dishes," I traced my fingernails over the names, "are solid. And I think we should offer more varieties. Let's introduce time-based discount offers on them and observe their reception in the market. If customers like these dishes, we'll add them to the menu next month."
