He was pleasant, engaging, asking thoughtful questions about her baking process and flavor combinations. He listened whenshe talked, laughed at her jokes, and treated her like an actual person rather than just the mafia king's wife.
It was... nice. Refreshing, even.
"You know," he said over dessert—an uninspired chocolate mousse that made Advika mentally critique every element, "the embassy is hosting a cultural exchange event next month. We're looking for a caterer who can do both Indian and French pastries. Would you be interested?"
"That sounds amazing," Advika said honestly. "It would be great exposure for the bakery."
"Wonderful. Here—" He pulled out a card. "My direct number. Give me a call next week and we can discuss details?"
Advika took the card, already mentally planning what she could create. "I'll definitely—"
"My wife won't be available."
Sidharth's voice cut through her thoughts. He'd appeared behind her chair, his hand settling possessively on her shoulder. His voice was pleasant enough, but Advika could feel the tension in his touch.
"Oh?" Rohan looked between them, clearly picking up on the sudden shift in atmosphere. "That's unfortunate. I was hoping—"
"She has prior commitments." Sidharth's grip tightened fractionally. "I'm sure you understand, Ambassador."
Rohan's eyes narrowed slightly, but his diplomatic training held. "Of course. Another time, perhaps." He stood, nodding to both of them. "Lovely chatting with you, Mrs. Singhania."
As soon as he walked away, Advika shrugged off Sidharth's hand and stood. "We're leaving. Now."
She didn't wait for his response, just headed for the exit. She made it to their car—the driver had been dismissed earlier—before he caught up with her.
"Advika—"
She spun on him. "Don't. Don't you dare 'Advika' me right now."
"He was—"
"He was what? Being polite? Offering me a professional opportunity? Treating me like a capable businesswoman?" Her voice rose with each word. "God forbid someone shows interest in my work instead of just seeing me as your property!"
"That's not what I—"
"That's exactly what you did!" She yanked open the car door, climbing into the backseat. "You swooped in like some territorial caveman and basically announced I'm not allowed to make my own business decisions!"
Sidharth slid in beside her, closing the door. The privacy partition was already up—thank God, because this conversation was about to get ugly.
"He was looking at you like—"
"Like what? Like I'm a person? Like I'm interesting?" Advika turned to face him fully. "You don't get to be jealous, Sidharth. You don't get to decide who I talk to or what opportunities I accept when you won't even admit I'm more than a contract to you!"
"You are MORE!" The words exploded from him, loud in the confined space. "You're so much fucking more and you know it!"
The admission hung between them, raw and desperate.
"Then say it," Advika demanded. "Stop dancing around it. Stop hiding behind 'you're mine' and possession and jealousy. Tell me what I actually am to you!"
"You're everything!" He grabbed her face, forcing her to look at him. "You're the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing before I sleep. You're the reason I come home early and the reason I can't focus in meetings. You're the woman who makes me want to be better, do better, be the man you see when you look at me instead of the broken bastard I actually am!"
Advika's breath caught. "Sidharth—"
"I watched him make you laugh," he continued, his voice rough. "Watched him look at you like you hung the moon. Watched you smile at him the way you smile at me, and I wanted to rip his throat out. Not because he's a threat to some business arrangement, but because the thought of anyone else having your attention, your smiles, your time—it makes me insane."
"That's not—"
"I know it's not healthy. I know it's possessive and probably fucked up. But I can't help it." His forehead dropped to hers. "You've gotten under my skin, Advika. Into my head, my heart, and I don't know how to function with you there and the thought of you not being there terrifies me even more."
