My New Boss - Season 3 - Part 30

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Chapter 30


Khushi’s POV


I check the watch. It’s sharp 06:00 pm. A faint smile crosses my lips as I recall Arnav’s threat of coming to my cabin and carrying me in bridal style in his arms to take me to the club tonight. I’m very sure he won’t be doing anything like that. And just when I shut my laptop down, the door opens and Arnav Singh Raizada barges inside.


“You.. you scared me,” I snap at his sudden entry but instead of responding, he takes off his suit jacket.

“Can you hold this for me please?”


Why does he want me to hold it? I don’t ask him more queries. Maybe he is feeling hot or something. I get up from my chair and grab the suit jacket from his hand. The moment I do, Arnav starts rolling up his shirt sleeves. What the hell is he doing? But whatever it is, the man has never left his gaze from mine. He looks a mixture of super anxious and angry, both which I think I like seeing him this way. Hold on. Is he rolling up his sleeves to carry me in his arms.? Before I can do anything about it, Arnav drapes his arm around my back and within a second he leans down to carry me in his arms. I can’t even resist until he already has picked me up. I curl my hands around his neck for support.

“You can’t be serious. Put me down, Arnav.”

“Mission cannot be aborted now, Khushi Gupta. You should have thought of it before challenging me.”

He marches to the door with me and I am completely mortified.

“Arnav, behave. We are at office. I am your Boss.”

“And office hours are over. Now, you are my girlfriend and I can carry you the way I want. Who will stop me?”


The door suddenly opens and Aman Mathur, my assistant, barges inside with some file.

“Ma’am, this…” he pauses and tenses as he sees us and then quickly turns away. “Umm.. sorry.. I … I didn’t..”

“Cut the excuse, Aman and open the door for us please. We are leaving,” Arnav says.

“I.. I could see that.. Of course.. Good… goodbye, Ma’am.” Aman keeps the door open for us and Arnav walks out with me in his arms.


I am so embarrassed that Aman saw us like this.

“Arnav, put me down. I’m coming with you. Okay? Just put me down.”

“Too late, sweetheart.”


Fortunately, he doesn't take me to the usual elevators which the staff uses to commute but he special ones whose access only top VIP of the company has, including us. There’s no one around these elevators.

“Can you press the elevator button for us?” Arnav nonchalantly asks and I frown, not moving an inch to do as told. “Okay,” he grins, “let me find someone who can do it then.”

He is about to turn when I shout. “No No. I’ll do it.”

“Sure?”

“Yes,” I scowl pressing the button and the elevator doors open in a few seconds. I haven’t left glaring at him as he still holds me in his arms like I am a delicate child.

“I don’t want to hurt your arms. Please put me down, Arnav.”

“You are not that heavy. I don’t mind if you put on some kilos even.”


God! This man is making me blush and annoyed both the same time. Is that even possible? The doors of the elevator open at the parking lot and Arnav steps out with me curled in his arms still.

“Don’t let Mohan see us like this now.” I grip his shirt collar. “Your driver doesn't need to know we are dating.”


Arnav grins.

“You think I care who knows about us and who doesn't? If you allow me, I won’t mind announcing to everyone, that I am dating Khushi Gupta, the CEO Of AR Group.”

“Really?” I am amused. “You are so proud to date me?”

He just winks without responding to my question. Mohan opens the backseat door for us and Arnav doesn't put me down until we reach the car. I get inside and he follows me in. I see another black car following us immediately and when I turn to Arnav, he reads my query.


“Guards. We will always have them. Especially you. They will always be around you and don’t worry, you will hardly know. I don’t want to take risks.”


I understand.

“Arent, you going too far in doing all this? First the private investigators, now a full-fledged security team 24/7?”


Arnav shrugs.

“I’ll go to any extent to protect what’s mine.”

I can’t shift my gaze elsewhere from his face after hearing that. He claims me as his.. Am I? Can a man want me so badly in his life that he is ready to cross any extent to keep me safe?


We reach the club in around 40 minutes and thankfully I am not in very much formals today. I am wearing a pencil skirt and a casual sleeveless top, all black while Arnav is still in his three-piece grey suit but he has taken off his jacket and its around his arm now. We get seated at one of the VIP couches. The music is buzzing down where couples are dancing and having fun. I have never been a clubbing woman and all this still feels awkward.


“What drink will you have?”

“Any Mocktail is fine..”

Arnav rises up to get it and I lean back on my couch, staring at him as he makes his way to the bar and orders drinks. This is the first time I am observing Arnav so openly. He has beautiful features, handsome, extremely charming face, sharp jaw and a straight nose. There is steadiness in his eyes and his voice.. Gosh. I sometimes don’t get what he speaks.. Specially in that husky tone. As if he realizes I am checking him out, Arnav turns behind and grins.


I quickly shift my gaze back on the phone and fiddle with it until he returns with our drinks. He’s got same mocktail for himself which is surprising.


“No hard drink for you tonight?” I ask, sipping mine.

“Nope.” He leans over the table to continue. “I want to be sober tonight to remember this date forever.”


Butterflies tickle in my stomach so I change the topic.

“Your mom and dad, anything happening in that angle? Seems like your father is impressing your mom now.”

“He is..” Arnav nods. “Though I think its too late, I want him to try. Mom deserves it, you know.”


He sips some drink and then keeps stirring it.

“Why did they separate?”

I don’t know if he would share that with me. I never asked this to him or Ayush Sir before but now that I am a part of their family, I want to know.

“Dad’s work life drifted them apart,” he replies. “Dad ignored her at times and she needed attention… a lot of it. With their egos high and no one ready to bend for the other’s wishes made it rough for them. Mom felt suffocated in the house without Dad who was mostly out for business. I was born amidst their already tensed relationship. They loved me, they both did but their couple life was hanging on a loose thread. Mom finally decided to walk out and she came back to my grandfather who was in London.”


It’s sad. I keep listening and soon I realize I am holding his hand over the table. To support him. I don’t pull away yet. He places his free arm on mine and strokes the skin at the back of my palm as he continues.


“Grandfather tried to put some sense in both but Dad was adamant that he wanted his wife to understand his work pressure as he was doing all of this to give us a better life. Mom on the other hand was stubborn not to be his trophy wife so they finally agreed for a mutual divorce.”


He pauses to look at me and God knows I sympathized him.


“Mom got my custody legally but Dad was allowed to meet me whenever he liked. Since it wasn’t possible for him to see me so often because of his work, he came to see me once a year and spent time with me for a month at least.”


He leaves my arm and leans back, rubbing his stiffened jaw.

“I have grown up seeing them apart from each other. Mom tried dating again but nothing worked as deep in her heart the only man she loved was my father. It’s strange isn’t it? When you love someone so deeply why can’t you sacrifice a bit? Even Dad.. his family pressurized him to re-marry but he never cared to fulfil their demands. They wasted their precious years of life in staying apart from the person they loved the most. Not worth it.”


I understand what he’s saying. His parents could have taken constructive decisions in their young age, not just for themselves as a couple but also for their only son.


“They say with age you also become wise. I see that sense in them now.. Dad has realized his fault and wants to amend it. Mom is yet to forgive him for all that he didn’t do for her and me when the time was right.. So she is not going to give in so soon, I know. But if you ask me, I have a feeling eventually they will become one again.”

“I hope they do” I add. My throat parches listening to his parent’s story. Obviously, Arnav was so bitter to commit. I don’t want to know what his stand on marriage is at this instant. We are dating that’s enough. There’s no hurry to think so much ahead for now.

“What about your parents?” he shifts the topic on me. “If I may ask. But if it makes you sad, ignore it. I don’t want you to be upset thinking about them.”

I shake my head.


“I can never be upset thinking about my parents. It’s just the way they died makes me sad.”


I go quiet for a second to gather some courage to speak about them.

“Dad and Mom had a love marriage and I was their only child so they pampered me with everything they got. We were a typical happy middle-class family until…six years ago when that accident happened.”


I think Arnav sees tears shining in my eyes which is why he gets up from his chair and sits next to me on the couch, holding my arm.


“Stop it right here. I don’t want to hear it further.. It’s okay.”

I like his sensibility but this is the first time I wish to share more. With him.

“It was my Mom’s birthday and Dad was home early to take us out for dinner. He drove us in our new car to the restaurant where we celebrated her birthday and then while coming back-”


I pause to breathe. Oh god! I can’t breathe. Sweat beads form on my forehead and I feel dizzy. The music feels harsh and I want it to stop right away as my head starts aching.


“Breathe..” Arnav gently strokes my back.. “Breathe Khushi. Nicely… Take a deep breath on my count.. one..”

I take a deep breath as he rubs my palms.

“Good.. One more… come on… you can do it..”

I take another deep breath and the symptoms subside slowly.

“One more.. please… for me…”

I take a deeper one this time and exhale harshly feeling better. He passes me some water which I drink.

“Feeling better now?”

I shake my head in agreement and he continues.

“Good.. We won’t talk about it again.. I don’t want you to fall sick. But on a serious note have you consulted a doctor for this issue?”

I gulp some more water and then put the glass down.

“I am fine..”

“Now you are but that doesn't mean you can stay like this for your entire life. I am taking you to a psychologist.”

“Arnav, shut up. I am not going anywhere. I am fine..”

“Fine my foot..”

The server returns to check what we would like to order. We order some starters and more mocktails and thankfully I get time to compose myself and divert visiting the psychologist topic. But even when the starters are served, Arnav coaxes me on the same. Visiting a doctor and I agree for the moment because I don’t want to extend this conversation. When we are done, I realize a woman sitting at the other corner with three more people with her is staring at Arnav like she wants to eat him up. Jealousy gushes in every vein of my body as I stare between her and Arnav who is telling me about his life in London.


Even before when Shyam and I had been out on dinners like this, I have seen women giving him a hard stare too and I felt nothing. In fact, I found it funny that I was more than willing to let those women occupy my position in Shyam’s life but when that same thing happens tonight, I can’t bear it.


I realize she’s literally undressing him with her eyes. And that’s beyond my control. Arnav’s top three shirt buttons are open giving a perfect view of the wide expanse of his chest to everyone. Why wouldn’t women gawk at him then? Since he is next to me, I quickly put my fingers on his shirt and start buttoning him up again. Arnav stiffens.


“What are you doing?” His husky voice fills my ears and I realize I have never did something like this before.. buttoning up a man’s shirt.. Shit!!

“Umm.. I…” I am short of excuses so I am about to pull away when Arnav holds my wrists and doesn't let me move my fingers from his shirt.

“Jealous, aren’t you?”

“Excuse me?” I snap. “Me and Jealous? Of whom?

Arnav grins. “I don’t know.. Maybe of the woman who is staring at me from quite long.. The one who is checking me out like she wants to have a bite of me..”

“I dare she tries that..” I scowl, gritting my teeth. But I instantly repent as I say it out loud.


Arnav grips my wrists tighter and pulls me closer to his body.


“Buttoning me up wont help Khushi.. If you want to make her stop gawking at me completely, you need to prove her that I am taken… by You..


What.. what is that supposed to mean?

“Pretend to kiss me..” Arnav declares with his brows twitched high. “Trust me she’ll get the message and wont bother us again.”


Did he really say that?

“Come on.. I am not asking you to kiss me.. Just pretend.”

“Pretend?” I mock.

“Hmm.. Crane your neck in the right angle and the way my body covers you from her view, will make her believe we are kissing. And she will get the message loud and clear.”


He is smart.

“Does it work?” I ask.

“Lets try”


I can’t believe what makes me agree to do this but it is quite thrilling. To pretend such an act to give a false message to someone else. Now that I am slowly living my life a bit, and trying new things, I decide to give this silly idea a go ahead.

“Okay…”

Arnav swallows painfully before sliding his palm at my nape and cranes my head to the angle he needs to pretend we are kissing. He then covers that woman’s view by his back facing her and god knows anyone would think we are actually kissing. He bends a bit on my body to give the real effect and I lean back on the couch we are seated to give him space. This is funny but exciting. The next second, Arnav grabs my arm and makes me slide it in his hair..


“For added effect” The wink that he gives at the end makes my heart flutter and I grip his hair to show how much involved we are in the fake kissing.

“I .. I can’t see her..” I say, swallowing nervously as our pose does something to my lower body.

“But I am sure she is staring at us still.. hoping she was in your place..”


My body burns in anger again.

“Would you want that too? She in my place?” I mumble.

We stare at each other for long.. my fingers clenching and unclenching in his hair as if its normal to do so.. Arnav hasn’t replied to my question yet but despite his silence, the way his thumb has began to stroke my chin and rising up to touch my lips gives me the answer I need.


The only woman he needs this moment with is me.. No other woman can ever get lucky like I am at the moment.


To be Continued.

NEXT PART 

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Back To You: Enemies to Lovers Standalone Romance.

"She is a distraction, I can't afford to lose."

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