Chapter 20
I walked into the office, my eyes scanning the room for Vihaan. And, of course, he was nowhere to be found... until I saw him walking in with Sophia by his side. Again.
My annoyance spiked, and I felt a pang of jealousy. I quickly pushed the feeling aside and decided to take matters into my own hands. I pulled out my phone and dialed Raj's number.
"Hey, Raj. Where are you?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"I'm just grabbing a coffee near your office. What's up?" Raj replied.
"Meet me at the café down the street from my office. I need to talk to you about something," I said, trying to sound mysterious.
Raj agreed, and we arranged to meet. I hung up the phone, feeling a plan forming in my mind.
When Raj arrived at the café, I was already seated, sipping on a latte. I smiled at him, and he sat down, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
As we chatted and laughed, Vihaan and Sophia walked by, Vihaan's eyes locking onto us. I could sense his gaze, and I made sure to lean in close to Raj, laughing and touching his arm.
Vihaan's eyes narrowed, and he slowed down, lingering near our table. Sophia looked at him curiously, but he just smiled and put his arm around her shoulders. "Let's grab a table, Sophia. I want to discuss the marketing strategy with you."
The way he said it was casual, but I knew he was doing it to get a rise out of me. And, to my annoyance, it was working. I felt my heart rate pick up, and I had to force myself to focus on Raj's conversation.
Raj, sensing the tension, played along perfectly, smiling at me and putting his hand on my shoulder. "So, what do you think about this idea, Janvi?"
I smiled back at him, trying to focus on the conversation. But my eyes kept drifting back to Vihaan, who was now laughing and chatting with Sophia, his eyes sparkling with amusement. It was clear he was trying to get under my skin, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep playing along.
As Vihaan's eyes met mine, I could see the spark of challenge ignite within them. He thought he could play it cool, flaunt Sophia in front of me, and I'd just sit back and take it? Think again.
I leaned in closer to Raj, my voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "I think it's a great idea, Raj. Let's run with it." I smiled up at him, my eyes sparkling with amusement.
Raj's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled back at me. "I'll send you the proposal by the end of the day," he said, his hand still resting on my shoulder.
Vihaan's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on Raj's hand. I could almost see the wheels turning in his head, wondering what was going on between us. Good. Let him wonder.
Sophia, oblivious to the tension, chatted on about some art exhibit she'd been to, and Vihaan's smile seemed to falter for a moment before he recovered. "That sounds fascinating, Sophia. I'd love to hear more," he said, his voice smooth as silk.
But I knew better. I knew he was seething inside, his jealousy simmering just below the surface. And I was more than happy to fan the flames.
I leaned in closer to Raj, my voice barely above a whisper. "Let's grab dinner tonight and discuss the details. My treat."
Raj's eyes lit up, and he smiled. "You're on."
As we stood up to leave, Vihaan's eyes locked onto mine, a challenge flashing in their depths. The game was on, and I was ready to play. Bring it on, Vihaan. Bring. It. On.
I walked into the restaurant with Raj, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. Maybe this dinner would be just what I needed to take my mind off Vihaan.
As we were led to our table, I noticed Vihaan and Sophia sitting across the room, Vihaan's eyes locked onto us as soon as we walked in. I felt a flutter in my chest, but I ignored it, focusing on Raj instead.
We ordered our food and chatted about everything from work to movies to our favorite books. Raj was easy to talk to, and I found myself laughing and having a good time.
As we finished our main course, Raj reached across the table and took my hand. "Janvi, I have to tell you something," he said, his eyes serious.
I felt a pang of surprise, but I nodded, curious. "What is it?"
Raj took a deep breath. "I love you, Janvi. I've been wanting to tell you for a long time."
The room fell silent, and I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I didn't know what to say. I looked at Raj, seeing the sincerity in his eyes, and I felt a mix of emotions swirling inside me.
But before I could respond, I noticed Vihaan's gaze on us, his eyes narrowed in anger. Sophia was looking at him curiously, but he just shook his head and focused on his food.
I turned back to Raj, trying to process my feelings. "Raj, I...I don't know what to say," I stammered.
Raj's face fell, but he smiled and squeezed my hand. "It's okay, Janvi. You don't have to say anything. Just knowing how I feel is enough."
But it wasn't enough. I felt a pang of guilt and confusion. I cared about Raj, but I didn't know if I was ready for this level of commitment. And to make things more complicated, Vihaan's presence was throwing me off. Why did he even care? He had Sophia, after all.
As we finished dinner and prepared to leave, Vihaan caught my eye, a smug look on his face. What was he thinking? And why did I feel like I was trapped in a game I didn't know the rules to?