Always & Forever (Billionaire Love- Virat Kohli)

|04| Lies for Starters.

Anushka and Virat remained caught in the moment, their eyes locked in a gaze that neither of them was ready to break. The intensity of their connection was palpable, and for a moment, the bustling world around them seemed to disappear.

Giya, growing impatient with the prolonged silence, decided to step in and break the spell. “I-I am sorry. I was busy looking out for my friends and didn’t see you. I am really sorry,” Virat said, his voice filled with genuine regret.

Despite being a billionaire, Virat was not a smooth talker or a flirt. Unlike characters like Christian Grey from fiction, he wasn’t used to women fawning over him. In fact, most people were unaware of his immense wealth.

Initially, Anushka had considered reprimanding him, but his sincere apology quickly changed her mind. She could see that his remorse was genuine, and that was more than enough for her. “It’s okay. Apology accepted. And partially, it was my fault too. I didn’t see you coming,” she replied, her tone softening.

Virat smiled, appreciating her understanding. He found her lack of rudeness refreshing. “It’s okay. By the way, I am Virat. Virat Kohli,” he said, extending his hand for a handshake.

Anushka hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand. “And I am Swati. Swati Sharma,” she said, giving a quick handshake and then withdrawing her hand. She used a false name to maintain some anonymity, unsure of how much she wanted to reveal to a stranger.

“Nice name, Swati,” Virat complimented, not realizing it wasn’t her real name. Anushka laughed nervously, hiding her surprise at his compliment.

Giya, sensing Anushka’s discomfort, decided to help her friend. “Hey Virat! Did you forget to greet me? I’m Swati’s friend,” she interjected, drawing Virat’s attention away from Anushka.

“Hey! Nothing like that,” Virat said, feeling a bit guilty for not noticing Giya earlier. “I was just lost in conversation. I’m really sorry.”

“I know. I’m just kidding,” Giya said with a playful grin. “By the way, I’m Giya. Swati’s best friend.”

Virat shook her hand warmly. “Nice to meet you, Giya.”

“So, what are you doing here at Disneyland?” Giya asked, her curiosity piqued.

“I came here with my friends,” Virat replied, looking around as if to locate them. “But I seem to have lost them.”

“Oh!” Both Giya and Anushka said in unison, understanding the situation.

The three of them continued to chat for a while, with Anushka and Giya learning more about Virat. Just as Anushka was getting interested, Virat casually mentioned that he worked as an editor at a publishing house in L.A., deliberately omitting his true identity.

Anushka, who had always dreamed of working in a publishing house, was intrigued. “Is there any vacancy there? Maybe for a part-time position?” she inquired.

Virat thought for a moment. He knew there wasn’t a vacancy at the moment, but he didn’t want to disappoint her. He saw the excitement in her eyes and didn’t want to miss the chance to get to know her better. “Yes, you can apply for the position of my assistant. It’s a manageable job. You’d need to come in every evening at 4 to help select the manuscripts I’ll review for editing,” he offered.

Anushka weighed the offer in her mind. Her classes were from 9 to 11 in the morning, so there would be no conflict. Plus, the job would allow her to support herself financially while doing something she loved. She looked at Giya for her opinion.

Giya gave her a thumbs-up, indicating her support. “Go for it, Swati. It sounds like a great opportunity.”

Anushka smiled, feeling encouraged. “I’ll definitely apply for the position. Could you give me the name of the publishing house and its address?”

Virat happily provided the details. “Of course, here’s the information.”

Giya, ever the practical one, added, “Can we have your card? We might need to reach you for further details.”

Virat’s heart skipped a beat. He knew that if he handed over his card, his true identity would be revealed. “Sorry, I left my card in my car,” he fibbed, hoping it would suffice.

“That’s okay. We’ll manage,” Anushka said, her suspicion momentarily piqued but unspoken. She didn’t want to confront him about it.

As Virat was about to respond, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Siddharth and Hridaan standing behind him with smug expressions. Virat knew they were likely to tease him, so he gave them a pointed glare. Siddharth and Hridaan burst into laughter.

Hridaan and Siddharth joined the group, and Virat introduced them to Anushka and Giya. Anushka felt a bit awkward each time Virat addressed her as Swati, a name she wasn’t used to. Nevertheless, she tried to stay composed.

Virat mentioned Anushka’s interest in the job at the publishing house. Siddharth and Hridaan were surprised to learn that Virat had not been entirely truthful. They noticed the chemistry between Virat and Anushka and speculated that Virat might be interested in her.

“Swati and Giya, if you two don’t mind, would you like to join us for lunch?” Hridaan asked.

Virat was relieved that Hridaan had extended the invitation. He had been unsure how to ask Anushka himself, feeling inexperienced when it came to these matters. Anushka was happy to join, and she looked to Giya for confirmation.

“We’d love to,” Giya said enthusiastically. “Right, Swati?”

Anushka nodded, her smile brightening. “Absolutely.”

As they walked to the car, Virat placed a protective arm around Anushka, ensuring she didn’t get bumped by the crowd. Anushka appreciated his attentiveness and thought, *He is definitely a good person.*

When they reached the car, Virat opened the passenger seat door for Anushka before joining Giya, Siddharth, and Hridaan in the back. Anushka’s phone beeped with a message from Giya. She opened it to find: *“Mr. Editor owns a bloody Audi R8.”*

Anushka laughed at the message, surprised by the contrast between Virat’s supposed job and his apparent wealth. She wondered about the true nature of his employment but kept her thoughts to herself.

The group then headed to Vapuccino’s, ready to enjoy a meal together and continue their day. The casual atmosphere and lively conversation were a welcome change for Anushka, who found herself looking forward to what the rest of their time in L.A. would bring.