Breaking the rules.

Chapter 5

Riya's P.O.V

Sahil was still a great guy in my eyes. But in everyone else's eyes he was the one for me.

"There's a plethora of things to be set up still." I was busy with figuring out which outfits were going to be worn by the models. I had been planning this fashion show for months and I hadn't completed deciding on the catering yet. It needed to absolutely perfect and spotless and the food had to be exquisite. I cannot screw this up.

"Trust me, her restaurant is amazing. They don't really cater but I know the owner who is also a chef really well, she's an amazing cook and her restaurant is really top notch, high class." Meera had finally convinced me to check out this chef's restaurant.

Little did I know that this meeting would change everything!!

I walked into this fancy place with a single, simple name, flavours!! Meera had already booked us a reservation for dinner, so we could try out the food in an informal setting first.

"So how is Sahil? Are you going to bring him as your plus one?" I hadn't really thought about it to be completely honest. I wasn't really into that stuff. I don't want someone on my arm for the heck of it.

"I don't really know. He may have to work on that day." The thought of bringing him as my date for the fashion show hadn't even occurred to me.

We were halfway into the meal, the food was absolutely delicious. I had made up my mind and this was the caterer I would hire. "Meera, why didn't you tell me you were coming here?!" A voice behind me asked. Meera squealed in excitement and stood up to hug the woman.

"Riya, this is my friend Aisha. She's the owner and head chef of Flavours." Aisha smiles and reaches out her hand. I shake her hand and I don't know what, but something about her made me shiver. Meera excused herself because she had to leave.

"So what do you think? Is my food deserving of your fashion show?" Aisha asked me. "Your food doesn't deserve my show, it deserves its own show." what the hell am I talking about?! She has her own fucking restaurant!! "But I'd love to to have your food at my show."

"I can't believe she's never mentioned you before. I mean she's mentioned her boss. But I didn't expect her boss to be so timid." I looked away as she said those words. "Well your cooking is so delicious I'm speechless." I felt intimidated but I wasn't going to let her call me timid. The restaurant was almost empty, it was closing time. A few customers came up to her and complemented her. She shook their hands and asked them to come again.

The restaurant was deserted. We had been talking for more than an hour, it was getting late. Her co-workers had left and she had to close up. "Do you mind helping me close up?" she pulls the keys from her pocket. "Kicking me out already?" I smirk.

"Nonsense. I've got a car just round the corner, and I'm gonna drop you home, because I'm chivalrous as fuck!" I wanted to call an uber but she refused and offered me a ride home.

"Well thanks for dropping me home. I guess I'll bring the papers for you to sign." I don't know why but I was flustered. I suddenly forgot how opening a seat belt works. "Let me help you with that." she shifts toward me. Our bodies are near and I can smell her perfume. Her hand touched mine as she tried to help me with the seat belt. It was as though there was a shock of electricity between us. "There you go." She looks up at me. "You can let go of my hand now." she smiles at me and it takes a few seconds for me to register what she's talking about, but then I realize that I hadn't yet let go of her hand. I blush and let go looking flustered.

I unlock my door and pull myself together. That was weird!! My body felt warm all over. But that could also be the hot weather in Mumbai.

"You're here." Sahil jumps out from the shadows and hugs me. "Hey. I should have told you. I met the Chef who's restaurant will be doing the catering for my show. I went for a sampling." He kisses my cheek. Was he even listening to me? He kissed my cheek and went down to my neck. "Sahil. I'm tired. Not tonight." I moved away and he looked dejected.

Sahil slept over like he usually did. I couldn't fall asleep no matter how hard I tried. I was sweating beads all over my body. I kept replaying the moment in the car with Aisha. Maybe she just had that effect on people. "Riya, go to sleep. It's very late. You have to work tomorrow." he rolls over and snores once again.

The night went by slower than I wanted it to. "Morning babe." He walked up to me and kissed my cheek. "You don't look like you had enough sleep?" I ignored the question and went on with my day.

"You've got a call on line three." My assistant entered my office. I nodded and answered the phone. "So when can I expect a visit from you." The voice on the other end was Aisha's. She sounded cheerful and in turn it made me smile. "How about today evening? I'll bring the papers over and maybe then we could talk." I was secretly hoping she would agree. "Sure, I'll send you my address and I'm cooking."

I couldn't wait to meet Aisha. I was anxious all through the day. I just wanted the meeting I was in, to end as soon as possible. "Okay. I'm done for the day. See you tomorrow." I hurried out of my office and planted myself in the car, punched Aisha's address into the Gps and did my makeup.

I had been checking my hair and playing nervously with my fingers as I approached her front door. She lived in a pretty good neighbourhood. Her house was fancy and I could see her cook with finesse as I watched her. "You know... People say staring is rude." she winks at me and I swear my heart fluttered a bit. She gestures for me to approach her stove and hands me a steak knife. "Since there's no pressure, we can go nice and slow. She stands close behind me and puts her hand on top of mine. I can feel her breathe against my neck and I tremble at her touch. "Nice and slow." she placed the knife against the meat and cuts it gently.

"What do you think? Is my cooking up to your standards?" she laughs and lifts the spoon up to my lips. "You don't even need to ask me that." I reply and blush. She spent the whole of dinner trying to explain to me what the meaning of garnish was and what the meaning of marinate meant. She laughed at my confusion and sympathetically handed me her own cookbook. I handed her the contract that my company had printed out for her and she glanced over it and signed it without hesitation.

"So are you gonna give me the grand tour?" she nodded at my question and gestured for me to follow her. "And lastly this is my bedroom. This is where the magic and the tragic happens." she declared openly.

The night was so perfect that I didn't want to leave. Sahil kept calling my phone so I had no option but to cut the night short. "I'm so sorry I really have to go. My boyfriend is getting a bit needy." I giggled. I saw her flinch at the word boyfriend but maybe I had imagined it. She nodded at reached me to my car. We had an awkward goodbye hug and I drove home thinking about Aisha.