Knotted Destiny

20

a cheater?

"You're joining today?" Purvi asked as Purab brought the car to a stop near the staff entrance.

Purab shook his head, glancing at her. "No, just here for a tour. I'll officially join once Papa announces it. Besides, the HR team needs to finish the formalities first."

Purvi scoffed lightly as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "A tour of your own hotel? How fancy."

Purab turned to her, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Then tell me-why did you turn down the CEO position when Papa offered it?"

"I'm not cut out for that role," Purvi replied firmly. "There are people far more capable in the hotel who deserve it. Unlike you, I have no idea how any of this works. I just want to focus on becoming a Michelin-starred chef."

There was a fire in her eyes-one he hadn't seen in years. It reminded him of the Purvi from before she married Vikram.

A proud smile tugged at his lips as he nodded, watching her step out of the car. "My baby sister wants to be a Michelin-star chef... all grown up, huh."

As he drove toward the main entrance, Purab noticed two sleek cars pulling in. Several hotel staff had gathered at the door, looking ready to welcome someone important. He frowned. But I didn't inform anyone I was coming... Maybe a celebrity. I'm not the only famous one, after all. He shrugged.

But when he caught sight of who stepped out of the car, his expression soured instantly. Aarav Malhotra emerged, flanked by his assistant and two bodyguards.

"The fuck is he doing here?!" Purab muttered under his breath, jaw tightening. "Don't tell me he's here to meet my sister..."

He tossed his car keys to the valet and hurried inside. Employees froze, shocked to see the chairman's son suddenly appear after vanishing to London for over three years. His presence alone whispered of something serious.

Purab strode straight to the reservation desk. "Check if Aarav Malhotra has booked any room," he demanded.

The receptionist hesitated-guest privacy mattered-but he was the chairman's son. Almost the owner himself. She swallowed.

"Sir, Mr. Malhotra hasn't booked a room," she said carefully. "But he has a lunch reservation. Table for two, in the restaurant."

Table for two? Purab's stomach twisted. Don't tell me he's here to have lunch with Purvi. In her own hotel?!

He scoffed inwardly. Pathetic. And my parents thought this guy was good enough for my sister? No one deserves her. She's too precious.

"Excuse me? Reservation under the name Aarav Malhotra," a feminine voice chimed from the side.

Purab's head snapped toward the sound. A tall woman stood at the desk, poised and confident.

What the-?

His mind raced. Is this woman here to meet Malhotra? Don't tell me... Is he cheating on my sister? And in her hotel of all places? This bastard-

---

M

eanwhile, Purvi stepped into the kitchen only to be greeted by cheers, bouquets, and a sea of beaming faces.

"Congratulations on your engagement, Chef Purvi!" her colleagues chorused.

Purvi blinked in surprise before breaking into a warm, genuine smile. "Oh my God... thank you so much, guys!"

"We missed you!!" the chefs and trainees exclaimed, clearly thrilled to be reunited with their favorite chef.

"Aww, I missed you guys so much too," Purvi replied.

"Also, your fiancé has a booking here today," one of the chefs said.

Purvi raised an eyebrow. "He has a booking here and didn't even tell me? No, it's not like I'm trying to be a possessive fiancée. It's just... I look dumb right now because I have absolutely no clue about this, and that's probably written all over my face while everyone is staring at me!"

"Aha! I completely forgot about that. He did tell me he had a booking at our restaurant today. Is he here already?!" Purvi quickly added, trying to sound far more confident than she felt.

"Yeah, he is."

"Chef, if you don't mind, can I quickly go and meet him?" Purvi asked her senior chef.

"Yeah, sure, go ahead," the chef replied with a chuckle.

Purvi headed toward the restaurant and quickly spotted Aarav at his table.

"Get up. I need to talk to you," she said in a commanding tone.

Aarav looked up at her. "Listen, your family may own this restaurant, but I'm not here for you. I'm here for a meeting with my client."

Purvi took a deep breath. "Listen, I'm telling you again-get up. I need to talk to you. I can't talk here because people are staring."

Aarav glanced toward the chefs who were openly watching them and gave them a small smile. Clearing his throat, he stood up and followed Purvi.

She led him to the back area and crossed her arms.

"If you're coming to our hotel or have a booking here, just let me know beforehand. Don't put me in an awkward position in front of everyone, yaar. They all thought I knew you were coming! Look, I have zero interest in your life, okay? But I don't want workplace gossip about our relationship."

"Okay, I'll let you know next time. I didn't even know my secretary had booked the meeting here. I only found out after I arrived," Aarav explained.

"Okay, let's go. I have work to do," Purvi said before turning around and walking off.

Aarav followed her back into the restaurant.

The moment they stepped inside, they heard a voice.
"Tell me that bastard is your boyfriend, right?!"

It was Purab, speaking to the model who had come for the meeting with Aarav.

Fuck.

---

[A/N]: Hi, hope y'all have been well, I'm back after almost a year,so sorry for the delay,been busy with my trainings and life so much that I couldn't come here. Now that I'm back hope I can complete the two books that are published if not the one's I had once thought I would write.

Also thank you so much for 13K it's a lot for someone like me who thought her book wouldn't even reach 10K