Sensing her discomfort, Nitin changed the topic. “Who wants a beer?”
The three of them immediately raced in to grab some chilled beer from the fridge. Within an hour, Tanya had a faint buzz and she was feeling pleasantly exhausted after the tiring work week. She thought about the good old times with her two best friends. While all the other girls were a part of a girl gang, it was the tiny Tanya who’d hung out with these two guys. Being an only child to two studious professors, Tanya had hung around Ritwik and Nitin out of sheer boredom. What started as an annoyance for the boys, soon grew into a lifelong friendship between the three of them.
Tanya didn’t know when she’d started to have feelings for Ritwik. Nitin and Ritwik had always fought with her; but, when it came to other guys, they turned disgustingly protective. Thanks to their ‘protection’, initially she’d had no dates. With time, academics, work, and Ritwik took over. Now, she was left wondering where all those years went by.
Tanya let herself into her cute, little house with a sigh, mentally and physically exhausted after a long day.When did life get so complicated? Date with a hot chick?Immediately, Tanya felt like throwing up. For some reason, she remembered Neil’s words before she slept.I do know when a man is not noticing the woman even after her pathetic attempts to please him.
Chapter 3
Monday morning came in all too soon. Tanya put on her D&G black three-inch high heel sandal as she hurriedly stepped out of her house. High heels were her only weakness; okay, one of them! The others were coffee, books, and of course, Ritwik. Knowing she barely topped five feet one inch, Tanya tried adding inches to her frame by wearing stilettos. She secretly believed that the added height made her legs look longer, more attractive.
She walked into the office, her heels clicking against the floor, and placed her handbag and laptop in her cubicle. Immediately, she felt more than saw Ritwik enter the executive area. “Hey, TinTin. How was your weekend?” The guys had taken to calling her TinTin after her name and her love for the comic.
“Busy. As usual!”
“With what? Laundry and Netflix?” Ritwik asked with a grin.
“Shut up! And, who’s to blame for that?” Tanya asked him in an irritated voice.
“What? What did I do?” Ritwik continued, oblivious to her irritation.
“You and that moron called Nitin hardly allow me to date. Scaring any potential man within an inch of his life. If I die a cat lady, you both are to be blamed. Entirely!” Tanya reproached him in mock anger.
Ritwik laughed out loud, the uninhibited laughter enhancing his good looks. Giving in to the mirth, Tanya couldn’t control the answering grin that crept up her face.
“Alright, so I take the blame. And I promise not to shoo away any more prospects. Happy?”
Tanya nodded with a smile. She didn’t want anyone else. But, she wasn’t telling him that either. Not just yet!
“Speaking of dates, my Saturday night was spectacular.”
Tanya’s euphoria vanished in a second.Spectacular?“What?” Tanya blurted out.
“Well, let’s say she was worth waiting for.” Ritwik finished with a wolfish grin.
Tanya barely managed to save her devastated expression. Before she could fathom a reply, the dreaded voice spoke from the doorway. “If you both are finished discussing your colorful love life, can we get to work?”
Trust the devil to come in at the wrong time, thought Tanya. She simply glared at Neil before stopping to pick her laptop. Ritwik managed to look sheepish, before walking towards Neil’s cabin.
“Still being a faithful puppy, I see?” The taunt infuriated her, making her stand still by her desk.
“What?”
“He’s having fun while you are mooning over him. That’s what!”
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business, Mr. Grover.” Tanya hissed at Neil. She tried to walk past him, but Neil gently caught her wrist to stop her. Although it was fleeting, Tanya felt an uncomfortable current pass through at his touch.
Neil’s jet-black eyes looked into her grey ones, behind her glasses. “Make him want you, Tanya. He should know you’re worth it. That’s all I am going to say.”
Ignoring his words, Tanya pulled her hand back and strode past him. Neil followed her at a slower pace, his expression thoughtful. They both entered Neil’s cabin just as Ritwik was murmuring into the phone in soft tones. “Babe, anytime for you. After last night, I’d be very happy to come back tonight; you know that. Eight o’ clock then?” Ritwik ended the call, as Tanya looked at Neil with a stricken expression.
“I…I will be back in a few minutes. Excuse me.” Without looking at the men, Tanya rushed to the restroom and took several deep breaths. Ritwik’s conversation clarified several things at once for her. He was never going to look at her as potential girlfriend; not until she did something drastic.What should I do? How can I make him look at me as his woman?Splashing some water over her face, Tanya took another deep breath, her mind trying to come up with something, anything. Promising to tackle this later, she walked back to Neil’s cabin. Tanya knocked as she reached Neil’s cabin, and entered. She was surprised to see only Neil present behind the Mahogany desk. “Aren’t we having the meeting? Where’s Ritwik?”
“He had to leave to meet a client. I also presume you needed some time to collect yourself?” Neil’s clear gaze met hers.
Tanya stood by the door, uncharacteristically hesitant. She knew she should leave, but her heart was prompting her ask him something first. Was that sympathy that she detected in his eyes?
“I think I should also let you know right now that he will be traveling for the next two months to meet some of Neo’s clients and business partners. Ensure you get all the pending approvals done from his side before he leaves tonight.” Neil’s brows rose in the arrogant manner that she was used to seeing by now.
