Dually Devoted ✓

Chapter 33

"Mehul's not here today, so you better tell me." Leela propped her elbows on the table.

"Tell you what?" Arpita tilted her head, her expression pleasant.

Leela giggled. "What else, Arpi. No one else might be observing, but it's not hidden from us... The way you've changed."

A smile spread across Arpita's lips, a slight colour tinting her cheeks at the thought.

"And, this has been increasingly happening since the day you couldn't let our boss have his lunch alone. Around the same time, coincidentally, he started going to parties and galas without a date. How strange!" Leela fake gasped, covering her mouth with her hand dramatically.

Arpita chewed on her lip, trying to hide her face behind the veil of her locks. She should've known this was to come, Lee is a part of the PR team, after all.

"Oh, and the sudden change in your dressing style. That's an icing on the cake," Lee squeaked, not able to hide her excitement any longer.

"Stop," Arpi dragged.

"Why? You rarely even join me to lunch. Now, you're not even interested in talking to me?"

"Lee!"

Leela waved her hand dismissively, sighing, "I understand. His player ways are old days. Our boss is settling down, and so is my friend." She grinned.

Arpita pushed her, earning a chuckle, before hiding her face in her palms. "Shut up!"

***

After escorting Mr. Rathore and Mr. Ahuja to the office, Arpita was about to leave, but Sid called out authoritatively, "Arpita."

"Yes, Sir."

"Remain here," he commanded, before turning to the two men to talk about the project they had come here for.

Arpita hadn't planned for this. Since Sid wouldn't need any meeting report for this one, she'd presumed she wouldn't be staying. She chewed on her lip.

Sensing that she was simply going to stand there in thought, Sid inwardly sighed. Ya, stand there for an hour, he sarcastically chided her in his mind. Waiting for the right opportunity, without disturbing the flow of the conversation, he gestured with his eyes for her to go occupy one of the chairs across his desk. She suppressed her smile at his frustrated gaze, settling down with her notepad on her lap.

After the meeting, he called her back.

"Should I have to tell you to sit down, Arpita? What do you have a brain for?" he asked her from up close.

"That- it's just,"

"I don't need your reasons. Stop over-worrying about work. Learn to take care of yourself," he scolded her crossly.

She couldn't help but smile at his angry face. He's acting just like Arnav. I mean, he is Arnav. But still... Oh god, it's just so unbelievable sometimes.

"What are you smiling at? It's not a joke," he said, trying not to be affected by her smile.

'It's not a joke.'
Arnav used to say that so often, she chuckled.

He lifted his brow, catching her happiness, her smiling lips perfectly kissable. A smirk grew on his lips as he cupped her face and crashed his lips on hers. His fingers entangled in her curls, as he kissed her impatiently, possessively.

The intensity of it took her off guard, overpowering her senses. A short moan escaped her, as she stood on her toes, kissing him back with raw desire. Her hands gripped his shoulder tight, their bodies glued to each other, and their mind consumed in passion.