OUR OBSESSIONS - FATE of LOVE

Chapter 13

AUTHOR POV

"I'm sorry," Jay said, finally looking back at Esha. "I was out of town this morning for work. But when I heard you took a whole week off with a family emergency and your... huh... girl stuff, I wrapped up my meeting and rushed over here." His eyes softened as he apologized, his concern for her written all over his face.

Esha furrowed her brow. "But... how did you know I took leave for a week? Dhruv told me that he emailed only to our manager about it."

Jay hesitated before speaking. But before he could explain, Dhruv cut in, his voice cold and matter-of-fact. "Because he's the future CEO of Grace & Grandeur."

Esha's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. "What?" Her voice cracked with a mix of shock and disbelief. "You're the next CEO?"

Jay's face softened, guilt clouding his features. "I didn't want to tell you like this, but yes."

Esha's heart dropped at the revelation, and she felt a sudden pang of betrayal, though she couldn't fully explain why. The fact that he had been hiding such a major detail from her, especially when she thought they were good friends, stung deeply.

"Esha, I didn't want—" Jay started, but Dhruv immediately interrupted him, his tone sharp and full of authority.

"Enough of that. Call her 'Esha' sweetly one more time, and I'll take your tongue out and put it in your hand."

Jay's fists clenched at his sides, his anger boiling over. "Try me, and we'll see whose parts end up scattered across the room." His voice was low and threatening. "At least my truth won't make her cry her lungs out."

The tension was unbearable, the air thick with unspoken hostility. Dhruv stayed firmly in place, his posture unwavering, as the words left by Jay stung him, deeply, relishing the words he said to Esha. From the pain that he had in Esha since childhood to that evening, everything flashed in front of him again.

Esha, feeling her heart race, quickly stepped between them by widening her hands horizontally, her voice shaking with a mix of exhaustion and frustration. "Jay, please. Don't. He's not –" She didn't finish the words but sighed and Jay understood the meaning beneath it.

Her unfinished words hit Dhruv harder than any punch could. Jay's anger slowly subsided, replaced with confusion and a trace of concern for Esha's state of mind. He looked at her, his gaze softening, but the tension in the room was far from over.

Dhruv's eyes didn't leave Jay's, and in that moment, the weight of everything—the secrets, the tension, the unsaid words—hung thick in the air.

Jay's voice was soft, almost fragile, as he spoke, each word carrying a weight that was impossible to ignore. "I'm sorry," he began, his eyes downcast, "but I won't ever hide anything from you again. I thought... I thought if you knew this, it would make you uncomfortable around me. That's why I kept it from you."

Esha listened closely, her gaze unwavering, as his vulnerability washed over her. She understood—more than he knew—why he'd kept this secret. It wasn't out of malice, but fear. Fear of losing her, of pushing her away. With a small nod, she responded with a quiet conviction, "I understand, Jay. But there's one more person you need to tell about this."

Jay blinked, confusion clouding his features. "Who?" His voice was low, wary.

"Pooja," Esha answered, her gaze steady, as though the answer were obvious. "Did you forget? She's our friend too and I think you get how it will affect friendship once she knows the truth. 'Ours's Friendship'."