Love At Last Sight ✔

Chapter Fourteen

This chapter is dedicated to AasthaSondarva.
I didn't have the draft of this chapter and she helped me with the screenshots. Thank you again dear.
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Nandini Murthy

"How do you think I look?"

"Panty-dripping."

My answer makes him laugh. "You look beautiful too. Or wait, shall I answer in your terms?"

I shove my fist into his bicep, earning a chuckle from him, as we exit the hotel hand-in-hand. The cool air from outside hits my face immediately. Manik leads us and then I'm ushered into a car. Knowing his history with exquisite cars, I can tell, this car must be costing a few millions, minimum.

That reminds me of Audi Le Mans Concept but I seal my lips shut regarding the matter. I'll tell him sometime, surely but that is not now. Though he knows I steal, I'm not sure how he'll react after knowing that I stole quite a few millions of his.

The engine roars to life and the breeze gently caresses my face as the car picks up speed. Well, I'm still unaware of the place we're driving to. It's seemingly a party because we're clad so. Manik has picked a dress for me and a make-up artist has got me ready.

"Manik?" I grab his attention. "Mhm?"

"Where are we going?"

"Ivory Arch."

I frown. "What's that?"

"You've never heard of the Ivory Arch?" Surprise leaks through his tone.

I nod negatively. "Is it some sort of hotel, restaurant or resort, or something of that kind?"

He chuckles, "Nah! It's one of the leading casinos."

"Casino? Are you freaking kidding me?" I get hyper. "Why are you even taking me with you?"

"Because casinos are fun, duh!" He snorts. "Plus, I want my girl to be with me."

"But—" he cuts me off even before I can begin. "Trust me, Nandini; you'll enjoy. You need a change for God's sake. Do you even remember the last time you'd been to a party?"

I do. My last party was with my eleventh foster parents. It was a lovely birthday of a one-year-old. Cakes, balloons and shits everywhere, surrounded by nagging kids and flaunting aunties. Indeed, a very, very  lovely and unforgettable event. Argh! Only I know how I'd survived those freaking hell of a three hours. All those aunties had talked about nothing more than potties and shits. Not to forget their desperate attempts to prove themselves greater than others. Ugh, narcissists.

I cringe at the thought. Pushing it to the back of my mind, I question Manik. "But I thought, we were going to the party of one of your business delegates?"

"Indeed, we are." He takes a brief pause. "The earlier owner of the Ivory Arch went to a huge loss so he had to sell his casino. And my close business delegate, the one who invited us today, is its new owner. So this is, kind of, his success party."

I slowly let my head fall into a nod. Not wanting to think about it, I push my Ray-Ban back on its place when it slips to my nose. Even though, I don't need it now for obvious reasons; I've worn it so that people don't catch me staring aimlessly. I don't want to mortify Manik than I already may be doing.

He never said me to have something to cover my wayward stare but I'd insisted. He'd given into my stubbornness. I'm myself enough of a mortification, ain't I? I'm not interested in being anything worse.