A Bargain Made with Frosting

ch 16 A Fiery Encounter

After a few weeks, Shivay, with the help of a great team, has found a way to manage his two companies effectively. He focuses on Oberoi Industries while a trusted manager keeps him updated on the other company's progress. This newfound efficiency allows him to start his days a bit later, giving him quality time in the mornings with Annika. Initially hesitant about his help, Annika eventually gave in to his "business mode" persistence. Their new routine involves Shivay cooking breakfast and then driving Annika to her bakery. The contract that brought them together seemed forgotten as their relationship blossomed.

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The café door chimed as Rohit Oberoi swaggered in, his gaze sweeping arrogantly across the room. Mumbai’s summer heat seemed to cling to him, reflecting the simmering entitlement in his eyes. He spotted a young girl sitting alone, engrossed in a book, and sauntered toward her table. His gaze lingered too long, lips curling into a smirk. Leaning in, he made a lewd comment loud enough for the entire café to hear. The girl, visibly uncomfortable, mumbled something inaudible and buried herself deeper into her book.

Annika’s smile faltered. Rohit, his back to her, continued his harassment, oblivious to the discomfort he was causing. A spark of anger ignited in Annika’s eyes. She didn’t know this man, but the arrogant smirk on his face and the way he spoke to the girl fueled her rage. In a split second, she was around the counter, her hand connecting with a resounding slap on Rohit’s cheek.

The café fell silent. All eyes were on them. Rohit, momentarily stunned, spun around, hand flying to his stinging cheek. Fury contorted his face, a dangerous glint in his eyes. But then, something unexpected happened. Rohit’s anger seemed to dissipate as quickly as it had arisen. He stared at Annika, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"Firecracker, aren't you?" he chuckled, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

Annika roared ignoring his comment. " "Don't you dare! Back off! Don't you have a sister? Wouldn't you want someone to protect her?"

Rohit shrugged, his earlier arrogance replaced by a playful smile. "Whoa, easy there. I was just messing around. Besides, a beautiful woman like you shouldn't be stuck behind a counter. You deserve a better view."

Annika bristled. The nerve of this guy! After what he did, he had the audacity to flirt with her? "Get out, or security is coming," she threatened, her voice hard.

Despite being strangely drawn to her, Rohit simply nodded. "I'll leave because you asked," he said, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper. "But before I go, one last thing. Meet me here tomorrow afternoon," he continued. "Same time, same place. Let's see if you're just as feisty outside of this cafe."

Before Annika could respond, he winked, an unexpected gesture that sent a jolt through her. Then, with a theatrical flourish, he turned and exited the cafe, leaving Annika speechless and fuming under the confused stares of the other customers.

Back at his luxurious mansion Rohit, faced his mother's scolding. "Rohit! You're back at last! Believe it or not, Shivay got married before you and even took over the Oberoi mansion while you were off gallivanting!"

Rohit smirked. "Relax, Mom, I'm back. And Shivay won't be Oberoi head for long. As for a wife, I think I met your future daughter-in-law today. Don't worry, you'll meet her soon."

Fuelled by a newfound interest, Rohit retreated to his room, determined to learn everything he could about the fiery woman who dared to drench and slap him.

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The next morning, on their drive together, Annika recounted the shocking incident at the cafe to Shivay. His anger flared. "Annika, you have to be careful around these creeps! Why get involved in other people's problems?"

Annika, ever the defender of the innocent, countered, "I can't stand by and watch someone get hurt. Besides, I know karate, I can take him if he shows up again."

Shivay sighed, remembering the time Annika came home late because of work. He'd offered to financially support her so she could quit, but she'd launched into a passionate speech about independence, self-sufficiency, and her ability to handle herself. He knew better than to bring it up again – one lecture about female empowerment later, he'd be begging for mercy.

With a determined glint in his eye, Shivay hatched a plan. He'd help Annika, but discreetly, without her ever knowing.

Shivay, after dropping Annika off at the bakery, wasted no time. Reaching his office, he summoned his most trusted assistant, Mishra, with a curt wave. A knock on the door, and a brisk "Come in" had Mishra entering the cabin.

"Mishra," Shivay began, his voice firm, "I need information, and I need it fast. Head down to Paradise Cafe and inquire about the man who caused a scene yesterday afternoon. Get everything you can – name, background, the works."

Mishra raised an eyebrow, surprised by the request. Why would Shivay need information about some random troublemaker at a cafe? Shivay's reputation preceded him, and getting mixed up in petty brawls wasn'  t exactly his style. Nevertheless, Mishra was a loyal assistant and simply nodded. "Consider it done, sir," he assured and exited the room.

The next half hour felt like an eternity for Shivay. He couldn't focus on his work, his mind fixated on the task at hand. He needed to find this guy and deal with him before Annika's afternoon shift started.  One nagging question swirled in his mind: why did he suddenly feel so possessive about Annika? He brushed it aside, attributing it to his duty to protect her, especially since she was officially his wife.

The wait stretched on, and just as Shivay was about to call for Mishra, a knock on the door startled him from his thoughts.  Shivay practically yanked the door open, ushering Mishra inside. "Did you find out who he is? Tell me quickly!"

Mishra entered, his usual stoicism replaced by a hint of surprise. "Sir," he began, hesitantly, "about the man from the cafe..."  He paused, then blurted out, "It was Rohit sir, your stepbrother."

Shivay's jaw clenched, his surprise morphing into a scowl that could curdle milk. Rohit? His notorious playboy of a stepbrother was back in town, and apparently, back to his old tricks of harassing innocent women. This revelation left Shivay feeling a mix of annoyance and a strange sense of responsibility.

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