But it didn’t last long. A smooth, growly voice brushed against the shell of her ear as he whispered, ‘You can’t lie to save your life,jaan.’
In an instant, Siya whirled around, and at the first sight of the smug expression on Abhay’s face, her heart kicked into arace. A flirty smile played at his lips as he caressed her with his burning gaze.
Siya gulped as she heard Swayam screech through the speaker on her phone. ‘Did he just call you jaan? I was right! There is something between the two of you.’
She was furious with Abhay for saying that when he saw she was on call, but she directed her anger at Swayam. ‘Shut up! That’s not what he said.’
‘I have to call Meera,’ Swayam said eagerly.
That kicked her into action and Siya threatened, ‘Swayam, if you want to stay alive, it’s not in your best interest to tease me, or I’ll tell Meera that you tried your chance on her favourite cousin.’
‘Hey! That’s not fair. Besides, I didn’t exactly date her,’ Swayam grumbled.
Hyper-aware of Abhay standing next to her, his eyes trained on her, Siya tried to maintain her focus on the call. She knew she couldn’t completely ignore the hulk of a man beside her, not with those whiskey-brown eyes burning a hole through her, but she could pretend her best.
‘It wasn’t for lack of trying. Now shut up and mind your own business. I’ll talk to you later.’ Not waiting for him to respond, Siya disconnected the call and looked straight ahead at the elevator doors.
The air between them sizzled as Abhay leaned sideways and said, ‘How do you survive in the legal world? You suck at lying.’
Unwilling to dignify his statement with a response, Siya walked into the elevator as soon as the doors opened. She turned to press the button but saw Abhay following her into the tight space.
Every thought flew out of her mind as soon as she saw the vintage gold chain dangling around his neck, peeking through the open collar of his black shirt. She hated that she still remembered the way it felt brushing against her skin. Her heart stuttered a clumsy beat, and she tore her gaze away from it.
Abhay walked past her and leaned against the steel back wall. He stood back far enough for it to be appropriate, but just close enough that she could feel his warmth.
Shaking her head slightly, she stepped forward and pressed the button for the private dining on the twenty-sixth floor. The doors slid shut, and the elevator began its smooth ascent. Just then, Siya realised they were together in a confined space after four years.
She clasped her hands in front of her and fixed her eyes on the numbers ticking upward, trying her best to ignore the towering man behind her.
‘So, I guess ignoring my texts was your way of saying hello?’ he asked, and his deep, baritone voice sent a shiver rushing through her.
Of course she’d noticed his messages when she had come back from the farmhouse. It’d been difficult to stop herself from responding, and she wasn’t proud of how her heart would skip a beat every time his name flashed across her screen.
Abhay hummed and then after a beat, he added, ‘I thought you might block me, but then again, leaving me on read is more your style.’
She didn’t answer, refusing to be goaded into a conversation. Just kept her gaze glued on the door, silently willing the elevator to rise faster.
Abhay shifted a little closer, and her pulse quickened. His cologne filled the small space and cocooned her in a flashing memory of their past. That addictive spice and woody scent was the exact reason she had been unable to get rid of the hoodie she’d stolen from him back then.
‘I hadn’t been expecting a reply, but I hoped for one,’ he said softly.
Siya forced herself to keep breathing normally. Her mind screamed at her not to respond, but she said, ‘I don’t owe you that.’
‘No, you don’t. You don’t owe me anything. But you could give me a chance to explain, at least once.’
The air in the elevator thickened in her silence. He moved closer, almost brushing her shoulder with his. His hand hovered near hers, close enough that if she moved hers an inch, they would brush against each other. She clenched her palm into a fist, but refused to move away first.
‘Don’t flatter yourself. You’re not that smart,’ she said, lashing out.
‘No, I am not. I’m the idiot who let you walk away.’
Siya turned her head to look at him, and the harsh words died on her tongue. His eyes were misty, and he looked so lost that she had to restrain herself from reaching out.
She had a lot of anger simmering inside her, but her words came out soft. ‘Just let it go.’
He chuckled, low and bitterly amused. ‘Have you been able to let it go, jaan?’
She clenched her jaw tight so that words that would tell him the truth wouldn’t come out. ‘It’s in the past, Abhay. There is nothing I can do about it.’
