FROM DARE TO LOVE (Editing)✔

CHAPTER 19

I felt my stomach growl and checked the time, its 3pm I will quickly have something to eat and then do the last-minute inspection and around five return to resort to dress up. I entered the open restaurant, since it's a beach resort they will have awesome sea food and I will try them. I lick my lips with the thought of it.

I looked at the menu and ordered fried shrimps, I have worked really hard today so today is my cheat day. The waiter looks at me and informs me that they had only one plate of it left and they gave it to that man, he points to a person who is seated with his back to me. I nod. I will go and request him to share with me, or give it to me. I walk up to him.

'Excuse me' I say politely

The man turns and I rolled my eyes. What luck! God, Why?

Riad looks at me with his eyebrows raised 'Are you following me?' he asks, his tone disinterested.

'You wish...I just want your shrimps...there is that left' I say and point at his plate. I knew he will refuse but to my surprise he turns around, his attention back to his plate 'Get a separate plate'

I didn't know if I was hearing right or did he actually agreed to share the shrimps with me. I happily go get my plate. He carefully divides the shrimp, equally and gives the sauce to me.

'Thank you' I muttered, but as I am about to sit he sticks out his palm at me, I frown

'Go sit somewhere else, somewhere far away from me' he says bitterly. I knew it! he can't be good; I stick out my tongue at him (which goes unnoticed by him) and walk away taking my seat in the extreme corner of the restaurant.

I keep glaring at him while I take a bite of a shrimp, suddenly I have lost my appetite. I take my plate and walk over him. I stand there for few seconds, Riad continues to munch on his shrimps pretending to be oblivious that I am standing here. I slammed my plate, he is taken aback. He looks up at me and frowns.

'I am not hungry' I say and turn around to leave but I stand for few seconds hoping he stops me.

I hear crunching sound, when I turn I find him continuing to eat his shrimps. I twitched my nose and pressed my lips tightly, I glared at him for few seconds and turned to leave.

It's 4.30pm, I have to rush. As I make way towards the kitchen I am greeted by Anil. I am relieved seeing him, he looked tried nevertheless, he smiles at me. I ask him to go near the beach and see if everything is alright, the lighting and all. I also added that if there are any last-minute changes he informs me ASAP. He nods his head and leaves.

I checked my list and everything is double checked, I have to go to Kitchen now for final inspection. I wondered if, Riad is here or left. As I am about to enter the kitchen I hear "his" strong baritone. He is talking something with the chef? Why is he interfering? He might mess up. I hate it when people try to interfere in my work.

'What are you doing here?' I say placing my hand on my hip. Riad tastes little of the hot soup, he closes his eyes and then opens it quickly and then nods at the chef. He then looks at me

'Doing what you were supposed to do?' he says matter-of-factly. My mouth drops, he walks up to me and snatched my notepad.

What? Is this a way to treat a woman? He looks at me and then back to the notepad. He shakes his head

'I wonder what talent Mr. Kapoor saw in you...'he says and I clench my fists tightly feeling uneasy. I don't want him to ruin my chances on getting the wedding contract.

'We had ordered only Veg but I see fish in starters?' he says and looks up at me. I look away. I agree they had ordered only Veg but I added fish thinking a non-veg item will give variety.

'I have cancelled it and next time, you don't have to use your head' he says

I look at him angrily, enough is enough he can't show me attitude and why is he showing me attitude?

'Mr. Ali, I thought fish will give variety...everything is veg, it will be boring' I say looking into his eyes. Riad raises his eyebrows and walks towards me, involuntarily I take a step back.

'Ms. Siddiqui, Rizwan is allergic to non-veg and Liqa too doesn't prefer non-veg.' he says

'Oh' is all that I could say. The chef informs us that thankfully, they had made only one plate of the starters. Riad asks the chef to get the plate, he nods and within minutes returns with a plate full of small chunks of fried fish that would have been starters. Riad gestures him to hand it to me, I am surprised.

I take the plate looking confused. The chef leaves to attend to some other work, apparently, he has to look into the salads.

'I am going back to the resort...you haven't eaten anything... have this' he says, before I could react he walks away.

For some reason, I find this gesture of his sweet, but I snap out from it and quickly wipe the silly smile off my face. I should stay as far as I can from him. Maybe he is plotting a revenge for that night. But then he just handed lunch, no biggie why am I over-thinking?

Why am I even thinking of him?