ArShi SS: Cruise Adriana [COMPLETE]

CHAPTER 1: STILL WATERS RUN DEEP

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His calm demeanor always made him stand apart in a room full of people.

For years and years, his headstrong ideologies and calm approach towards things served as the fundamental citadels of his life. His family was invaluable to him and the world wasn't alienated to the fact, given each journalistic piece ever written on him and his accomplishments always quoted him saying how much he credited his family for his success.

Khushi let out a deep breath as she spotted him exchanging a few words with his colleagues, a glass of champagne quietly residing in his one hand. Her eyes darted towards the other ends of the huge hall, congeniality reflecting in its entirety, or so what it seemed to be.

Celebrations, grand parties, had always been a regular affair since her childhood. In fact, if she were to take a deep dive back in time, the flashes of her existence that she could envision from the tiniest childhood memories of her life were of her roaming in a frilled frock in one such party thrown by her father to commemorate his achievements in business.

Life used to be much different then.

Wandering anywhere and everywhere, paying no heed to how and what people thought of you, and of course, not being confined within the superficial walls of sophistication and pretense.She sighed as her sight once again settled on the man standing a few feet away, his hand still holding the same champagne glass, half empty.

She decided to move to another spot when he signaled her to come forward, practically so that he could introduce her to his colleague. Khushi slightly nodded in approval as she took her strides, reaching him and he soon snaked one of his arms around her petite waist.

She feigned a small smile, humbly responding to the stranger verbally and also reciprocated the handshake that he offered...

It was a long day and if there was something good about it, it was that now it was over and she could finally retire to her room.

Changing into her night clothes, she quickly made her way to the queen size bed in her room, when a strong pair of hands held her shoulders, deeming her immobile for that very moment. She didn't need to inquire who it was, for that touch was now something she got habituated of, ever since her life took a drastic turn.

Holding her breath, she turned slowly and faced him, while he stood there looking directly into her eyes, his countenance displaying a subtle state of emotions, but his eyes speaking otherwise.

"Did you enjoy the party?"

He asked her calmly, and she only nodded slowly in affirmative.His lips curved into a small smile as he took her right hand in his, almost whispering into her ear, "Good."

Khushi probably didn't comprehend that she had held her breath for so long until she felt a peculiar constriction in her chest, both her mind and body somewhat anticipating what was to come.