‘This is a terrible mistake. We never should have done this.’
Aadith’s mouth tightened. ‘Speak for yourself. I certainly enjoyed it and don’t have any regrets.’
Nina blushed furiously. ‘Mixing business with pleasure can backfire so easily, besides which I’m not ready to join the long line of women who’ve graced your bed.’
‘A few minutes ago you didn’t seem to have any such reservations and I’d go so far as to say you wanted it as much as I did,’ he said harshly.
‘Maybe I did but I don’t intend to act upon it in the future and I’d appreciate it if you kept your distance too,’ returned Nina sharply.
Ice flashed in his eyes as he leaned forward, his hands encircling her wrists, his movements precise and controlled, radiating a tightly leashed power. Yet his voice when he spoke was alarmingly cool.
‘Nina, you and I both know where this is going to end. In my bed. I for one feel the thrill of the chase will make your surrender that much sweeter. So I will look forward to it immensely.’ He raised her hand to his lips and placed a kiss there, looking for all the world like an old school gentleman bidding adieu to his beloved.
But a gentleman he definitely was not. A rogue, more like, Nina thought, narrowing her eyes in warning. He audaciously winked at her and let himself out, closing the door gently behind him. She flopped down onto her chair and rested her burning forehead against the coolness of the glass table. It was hard enough resisting temptation, but doing it for the both of them was going to be next to impossible, especially when he had made it clear that he wasn’t going to play by the rules.
Nina’s mind went back to the bitterness in his tone when he had spoken about love. Granted, he’d grown up without a mother’s love, but as far as she had known his grandmother had showered him with a lot of love to make up for it. She faintly remembered his father being a bit aloof, just as hers had been. But it still didn’t add up to the almost cynical disbelief he’d displayed when talking about love. She couldn’t help wondering if there had been someone in his past who had marked him so. There was no time to dwell on it as Payal entered her office.
She took one look at Nina’s face and a slight smile hovered on her lips, but she didn’t deign to pass a comment. Nina felt grateful that for once Payal had chosen not to pepper her with a million and one questions. She was not in any kind of shape to even attempt answering. Since they lived close to each other they usually opted to share their ride to and from the office. Today was Payal’s turn to drive home, which made Nina doubly grateful as she sank back into the seat of the i10 listening to the soft melodic tunes that were the usual nighttime fare on the FM station.
The following days were just as busy for Nina as she scrambled around to get everything organised for the audio and trailer launch of the movie. Music composed by the legendary Ranjit Singh promised to be a treat, from what she’d heard.
They’d chosen the historic Taj Palace and Tower hotel in Mumbai as befitting the period genre of the movie. Nina had sent out invites to the who’s who of the industry, who were all clamouring for a first look at the movie.
Nina changed her outfit half a dozen times but nothing seemed to fit the occasion. She wanted something businesslike but not too severe. She was bound to be overshadowed by several beautiful actresses who would be there, but that didn’t mean she had to be a wallflower, did it? She knew she wanted something chic and feminine but didn’t stop to examine why when by all accounts she was supposed to be avoiding Aadith’s unwanted attentions.
Trying not to think too much about it, she finally settled on a less than businesslike but far more feminine blush pink lace sheath that had been one of her rare extravagant purchases. Pearl drops at her ears and a loose messy side braid added the right touch to keep the look flirty yet formal.
The big ballroom of the luxurious hotel was in a flurry of activity when Nina arrived. Huge pillars and curved domes were decorated with gauzy chiffon and silk drapes interspersed with beautiful flowers. Waiters stood by with sparkling glasses of champagne. Soft melodic music greeted the guests upon their entry.
Nina stood just inside the ballroom directing and assisting the media people who had been invited to cover the glitzy event. An excited flurry at the entrance heralded the arrival of Aadith. The entire media group she’d been assisting immediately descended on him. He fielded the dozens of questions thrown at him with practised ease.
His eyes scanned the room until he found Nina watching him from behind the throng of reporters. His blood felt hot and thick as he took in her hourglass body encased in a form fitting dress. Aadith had never been turned on by a shy or coy look yet, when she lowered her lashes to hood her eyes, he felt an involuntary need for her that stunned him in its intensity.
When he walked into a room everyone else paled in comparison. He radiated a raw masculinity and vitality that instantly drew people to him. He was born to hold attention, thought Nina dazedly. It felt as if there were an electrical current zinging between them. It was almost palpable, and was turning her into a puddle of nerves.
Nina didn’t want him to have that sort of hold on her, so she quickly fished her mobile out and pretended to be busy. She refused to look at him even when she felt him staring at her, willing her to look at him. She watched in trepidation from under her lashes as Aadith broke away from the group and made a move towards her. Nina could not decide if she wanted to stay or run to the nearest exit and disappear.
Then a stunning young girl waylaid Aadith with an adoring smile on her face and when he leaned in to hug her Nina felt a sharp pain cut through her. Trying to be indifferent towards him didn’t seem to be working for her. She felt a primal urge to rudely rip the girl out of his arms. She watched him lead her to a seat in the front and wondered in irritation about her identity.
The event went off without a hitch and everyone seemed to appreciate the first look at the movie and the music. Soon they all headed to the buffet area for dinner and just as she was about to follow suit a disturbingly familiar voice behind her called out softly, ‘Why didn’t you say hello earlier?’
Nina’s heart was hammering wildly as she turned around to face him. Aadith had been waiting for her to acknowledge him the whole evening and when she hadn’t he had felt disgruntled.
‘Well, I was busy and then later there was no time,’ murmured Nina.
‘Oh, really?’ asked Aadith sceptically. Nina bristled at once.
‘Of course I was. We don’t all lead charmed lives where we just have to grace the occasion—some of us have to work hard for a living.’
Aadith’s mouth quirked. ‘Nina, if you’re trying to pick a fight with me, it’s not working! Why are you hiding from me? I let you hide the first time around but this time … I don’t think so.’
In the past she had been the one who had kissed him and then completely cut him off the next day. Yes, he had pushed her away but she had made him feel as if he had been the one in the wrong. He never should have stopped trying to sort things out with her, he thought wryly. It didn’t seem to have done her any good, nor him; he still wanted her badly.
Nina stiffened. She knew he was referring to what she had done all those years ago. She remembered that disastrous evening long ago. When she had finally scrounged up enough courage to try to seduce Aadith, he had gently pushed her away after a single steamy kiss. She had felt bewildered and insecure that he had found her unattractive. Monica’s comments afterwards had left her humiliated to the core and she had refused to see Aadith when he had repeatedly tried to meet her. She had known that he was moving away shortly, so until then she’d avoided running into him.
Well, that was then! She had been an anxious teenager with an unrequited crush on him. Not