It's a double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
~ Niccolo Machiavelli
Note: The flashbacks are in blue font.
Kunal jumps to his feet. "We've had enough of this slander. I can assure you, Mr. Hooda, you can expect a lawsuit from us."
Deep brown eyes that all girls go stupid for are fixated on me as he retorts "Truth is an absolute defense to slander. In other words, bring it on."
Kunal turns towards the Commissioners, in full damage control mode "The farmers oppose our development because they want it to be built by someone approved by themselves." His voice is laced with disdain as he continues "Aditya Hooda is not an environment lover, quite opposite if I may say"
I force my expressions into calm lines as my heart competed with Usain Bolt in racing.
Here it comes.
"Can you elaborate on your claim? Do you have any proof ?" Commissioner Shobha asks.
"As a matter of fact, I do" Kunal takes out a recorder from his pocket and motions towards Shobha "With your permission ?"
"Go ahead" She gives the green signal.
Kunal starts the recording with the sound set to its highest level.
"I don't like the lobby, it's too general. Commonplace. I know we can't build a Venetian in Aloha but I want an exotic theme for the hotel. Were aren't exactly on a shoestring budget here, are we ?. Give me something better"
"But, Mr. Hooda this is the best we can come up with. We have already modified the design thrice"
"I am not hard to please Mr. Mehta but I am only content with the very best. You have a week to get back to me "
"Let's assume that we redesign ..."
"I don't want to assume. I want to know. Can you or can you not ? And for goodness sake do away with those multi-colored glass flowers for the ceiling"
" Very well Sir. I will get started right away"
The recording goes on for the next five minutes as Aditya discusses the golf course and hotel design in excruciating detail. I catch his expression from the corner of my eye and it makes me stop short.
Disgust. Pure unadulterated disgust.
"Is it you, Mr. Hooda?" Commissioner Manohar wipes his glasses with a handkerchief.
"Yes, Commissioner it is. Who else, do you suppose can be such detail-oriented?" Aditya turns towards the Commissioner and answers with a hint of amusement and egotism. An ego born out of an unflinching ability to tear down anyone and anything into pieces.
That earns him a smile from the old man. It was evident that he and the Commissioner went back a long way. Just what we need to win the case. Bloody fantastic !
"Phone tapping. Impressive! Do yourself a favor and just ask me next time. I will hand over the proof with a ribbon on top. Pinky promise" Aditya was happy as a witch in a broom factory.
Kunal hissed out a breath as Aditya continued. "However, as you are well aware, we have made no secret of our plan to build a hotel and golf course. They are the essential impetus required for tourism inflow"
"We oppose the developer and not the project" He flicked a glance my way.
Yes, ladies and gentleman, 'my' way. We were done playing 'Have we met before?I don't know you. Nice meeting you' game.
"Also we will sue the district in case the development is approved" he added casually. As a matter of fact.
Tension descended in the room at his direct threat. Anyone not paying attention to the proceedings, now definitely did. "Damn" Arjun breathed next to me. "He did not just threaten to sue the entire district if the development is approved."
The Commissioners straightened to focus on him.
"Mr. Hooda, are you really saying you'd sue the district?" Commissioner Manohar looked down his librarian nose at him. His tone was more impatient than angry.
"We take the preservation of Kushsundar Lake very seriously, Commissioner. You bet we'd sue the district, as well as the developer and every applicable landowner, should the lake be threatened."
"Young man, I don't appreciate being threatened" Commissioner Shobha declared sternly.
"I understand, Commissioner. I would hate to do this but desperate times call for desperate measures.We don't need to sacrifice economic development in the name of environment preservation. But, what we do need is an absolute commitment to protecting the lake." Aditya looked imploringly at the Commissioners who looked undecided. Few meaningful looks passed between the them but not a single word was uttered.
"This hearing is over" Commissioner Mahohar banged his gavel and declared that a decision would be issued within a week. They stood, and the crowd began to mill around Aditya.
Many people were talking to him at once but his eyes were latched onto mine. He stood silently as his intense gaze tangled me into knots. I tilted my chin in defiance. His full lips twitched and a sparkle lightened those eyes just enough to make them gleam like a predator hunting at night.
"You have to get me out of here" I whisper to Arjun. I was staying at a lodge located on the outskirts of the town. A cute little thing I had rented for my short stay in Aloha.
And I just wanted this day to end.
One more day. Just one more. You got his girl. My flight back to Delhi was a day after. I made a mental note to reschedule it for tomorrow itself. I was so done with Aloha.
"Of course. Let's get you out of here" Arjun began to pick up the folders scattered on the table. And I grabbed the exhibits.
"Don't worry, Assistant. It'll all work out." Arjun dropped a light kiss on my forehead. Wow. I instinctively take a step back. But, he doesn't notice my reaction and nods towards the exit.
After 30 minutes ...
Arjun maneuvered the car onto the highway as I stared miserably out the window.
"Are you okay?"
"Can't decide if I need six shots of vodka or two weeks of sleep."
He laughs "That bad, huh?"
"Will I get fired ?"
Arjun's voice is cautious. Hesitant. Like he doesn't want to answer the question "Frankly, I don't know. I will see what I can do. You had no idea about the drafts ?"
"None. But, I guess I will be the scapegoat, right ?" I smile ruefully.
Arjun doesn't reply. I rub my eyes hard. Frustrated. Aggravated with myself. " I will be fine. It will be okay" I murmur consoling myself.
Drops of rain began to fall as the clear sky became clouded. I realized I didn't know the real Aditya Hooda at all. Whoever he was, the man would win. Would do anything to win. His sheer confidence and air of mysteriousness both attracted and scared me. The less he revealed, the more I wondered. I closed my eyes as memories flooded me.
Boxes cluttered the bottom of the closet and a couple of files were strewn in one of the partitions. Millions of loose papers were scattered on his bed. Laptop, tablet and a used mug were lying unattended on the desk. Shoes formal, sneakers, sandals, loafers and what not were tossed in every possible direction on the floor.
What in holy hell was this?
Was he sixteen?
How did he even sleep here?
I overcome my momentary shock when my cellphone beeped with an incoming message.
Back to work.
Sifting through the boxes, I came across pictures of Aditya as a child. My, my, my, someone was a chubby cute toddler. I placed everything back the way I found it and closed the closet. They didn't have anything of value. I walked over to his bed and started sifting through his papers. I noticed a couple of hotel booking receipts all from Delhi. All of them around a month old.
What was he doing in Delhi?
Must be some case. He took Supreme Court cases every now and then.
Deeming them unimportant, I placed them back and knelt down the bed to peer beneath.
Nothing.
Frustrated with my futile search I walked over to his desk. The laptop was password protected. Obviously.
I clicked on the iPad but immediately kept it back. I heard footsteps in the hallway and leaped to a small hiding place between the closet and Aditya's bed. My heartbeat blasted through my ears and my palms became sweaty. I got out of sight in just enough time.
Aditya walked into the room wearing only a pair of distressed blue jeans and drying his hair with a towel.
Why was he home?
I saw his car leave and I hadn't heard it return.
Today is a bad bad, a very bad day in my life.
Have you seen those wildlife shows on National Geographic which devote two hours to show the murder of a gazelle by a lion? Slowly and steadily but surely the lion traps and corners the unlucky gazelle. Have you noticed the poor gazelle's face, his frightened eyes, and trembling mouth?
No?
See me now and you would have a fair idea.
I was the gazelle, just that the lion hadn't noticed me. Yet.
He switched off the lights and opened the window. The room was bathed in soft moonlight as he continued drying his hair. He draped the towel on the chair and moved towards the window. Even with my fear of being caught, I couldn't look away from the way the corded muscles of his back stretched with his arms.
There was no way I was getting out of here without him noticing. Any minute he would turn around and I would be caught.
I came out of my hiding and took a deep, painful breath.
Where is the invisible cloak when you need one?
"Aditya" My voice was low.
His whipped around and his gaze narrowed on me "Zoya?"
His gaze scanned me from top to bottom and I controlled the urge to fidget like a small child.
"Pray, do tell, what are you doing here?" He crossed his arms and asked calmly.
"Well, I thought about what you said in the coffee shop yesterday. You are right. We can be adults about it. Let's become friends. I wanted to start by wishing you Happy Birthday"
Lamest excuse. Ever.
His lips twitched but otherwise, his demeanor was all calm. But those eyes, they were openly making fun of me. He might as well as roll on the floor laughing.
"First things first, we cannot be friends. If by friends you mean friends with benefits then of course yes. And second, you broke into my room to wish me Happy Birthday, two weeks after my birthday?"
Shit.
"Can I sneak into your bedroom to tie you a friendship's day band tomorrow?" I held my ground as he approached.
I fought for words but held his stare.
What would get him to shut up?
His still wet hair was mussed and the amusement in his eyes made me feel stupid.
I was in his room. He was half naked. And he was asking questions I couldn't answer.
I had to escape. Now.
Turning, I sprinted to the door. But, he was faster. He slapped one hand against the door and wrapped the other around my waist from behind.
"You are going nowhere, Siddiqui. Entering this room was your choice, leaving is not" His whispered in my ears as droplets from his bare chest soaked my tank top. "Let me go" I tried to twist and wiggle my way free, but he only jerked me harder against him and tightened his hold.
Goosebumps spread across my arms and his breath tickled my ear. "What are you looking for Siddiqui?"
I stopped struggling after sometime realizing its futility.
I took a deep breath and turned. He let go of me but his hard chest was still pressed to mine. His naked chest shimmered in the moonlight coming through the window. His head was level but his eyes were downcast with a penetrating gaze.
Oh, what the hell, I had developed a death wish lately. May as well drown in it.
"I have something for you." He watched me with wariness as I leaned in. "Happy birthday Aditya Hooda" I pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
I could practically read his thoughts. He was conflicted.Lost between kissing me and strangling me for truth.
He didn't pull me close but didn't push me away either.
I could work with that.
I pressed into him and when I felt his mouth move with mine, I wrapped my arms around his neck. My lips parted and I teased him with my tongue, sending it out to lick his top lip. When I bit his bottom lip lightly, he pulled my hair in retribution.
"Don't get your hopes up. You are not getting away" his words were muffled as his lips glided down my neck in hot, frenzied kisses.
"I know" I gasped out.
He should stop. We should stop. This was such a bad idea.
"Why are you here Zoya?" His voice was sharp as his hand slid underneath my top to caress the side of my waist.
"I told you, to wish you Happy Birthday" My voice sounded like a pathetic little mouse, squeaky and inaudible.
"Liar"
He nipped my ear sharply as his hand curled in my hair.
"Liar"
His other hand cupped my breast, squeezing it over my bra.
"Let's start over, what are you doing here?"
"I ..." Chills spread across my chest and I gasped when he unhooked my bra "I was looking for something"
Gripping my ass with both hands, he lifted me up, forcing my legs around his waist and we fall back on the bed, him coming down on top of me.
"I guessed that part. What were you looking for?"
He lifted my tank top to just under my bra. His fingers skimmed over my stomach while he stared down at me.
"I need to go" I tried getting up but he held onto my shoulders firmly.
This interrogation was not finishing anytime soon.
I gulped.
Aditya and I both jumped at the sound of knocking on the door.
"Adi, you ready yet? We are getting late"
Arjun pulls in front of my lodge. It is tucked at the end of a secluded road on the outskirts of the town, perched on a hilltop with perfect view of the town below. It's quiet here. All you can hear is the wind brushing through the thick trees that surround the house.
We sit in the car silently, side by side."You want me to help you with the exhibits and walk you up?" Arjun asks.
I climb out of the car "No. I'll be good. I can manage"
"Will you be okay tonight?" he says, eyes brimming with concern.
"I'll be fine. No biggie"
"If you need me for anything" he says "call me and I'll be there"
I nod and offer him a real smile. He deserves it for being so kind to me "I will"
I grab my exhibits from the backseat and duck into the rain. I keep my head down against the drizzle as I cross the walk and climb the steps to the front door. After I turn to wave, Arjun flashes his lights and heads down the road.
I balance the boards and exhibits against the wall. I fumble around inside my purse touching just about everything except the key. Bingo ! Finally, I manage to get it. The key stalls midway and doesn't reach the keyhole as a voice stills me.
A voice I knew too well.
"Running, are we, love?"
Remember the part where Aditya mentions that he is not expecting a second Venetian? Venetian is actually a resort-casino in Las Vegas. Its design is inspired by various Venetian landmarks. It's truly a work of art. Here's a picture for your reference.
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Chapter 5: Greed is not a financial issue. It's a heart issue
This content was originally posted by: adventure_gurlwow awesome job so far really well done
This content was originally posted by: MissRightOkay...WOW... Well played Zo... so they both played dirty... he stole her drafts.. she stole a VR.. the flashback was intense... tbh if I was in a room with HC half-naked... i'd give horrendous excuses too... dimaag kahan chalega ;)
Who was on the door?!?????So he's at her house... hmmm...Too good!!Update soon!!!
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