“And I’m not there to enjoy it with you,” he murmured, sounding disgruntled.
“We’ll enjoy Hawaii on our honeymoon,” she replied with a smile, her gaze drawn to the shack on the beach again. Someone was playing soft music, and a young couple was dancing, their arms around each other. A strange wistfulness moved through her. Had Ashish and she ever danced together like that? Or ever danced at all?
“Yeah.” Ashish’s annoyed voice brought her back to the conversation. “We will.” He hesitated, a strange undercurrent to his voice. “You’re going to miss the Banlay meeting. You’ve worked so hard to complete it and now you won’t be there for the final meeting.”
“I know.” Vedika chewed on her lip, lost in thought. “It’s shit luck but the team can handle it. Everything is done except for the signing.”
“Maybe you should try and reschedule it for a few days later,” he suggested.
She frowned. “Why? The team can handle it.”
“It’s a high, Vedu,” he said patronisingly. “Being the one to tie off the last of the loose ends. I just want that for you.”
She didn’t answer immediately, her mind turning over the things he was saying. Should she reschedule? She would much rather the paperwork got done on time than indulge in some feel good high.
“I can speak to Rakesh and-“
“Don’t!” Her voice was sharp enough to startle them both. “Please don’t interfere in my work.”
“I’m the one who brought Banlay to you,” he reminded her, hurt saturating his voice. “Rakesh was my contact.”
“I know. I know.” She massaged her forehead, wincing at the sudden friction between them. “I’m sorry. Please Ashish. Don’t be mad. I just want to handle this my way.”
When he didn’t sound immediately appeased, she offered up an olive branch. “I’ll see about rescheduling the meeting. That was a great idea.”
“Sure,” he replied, sounding vaguely mollified. “I’ve got to go now. Take care of yourself.”
“You too.” Whatever else she was about to say was cut off when he disconnected without a goodbye.
Shit. He was mad, she thought miserably. Everyone kept telling her to draw stronger boundaries but look what happened when she did…people got mad at her for it. She hated friction and conflict and went out of her way to keep her life and her relationships working on an even keel.
But ever since she’d dropped scalding, hot coffee on Daksh Mathur, her life had been on anything but an even keel.
Almost as if she’d conjured up the Devil, a thunderous pounding started on her door.
“Go away,” she called out.
“Nope.” The pounding started again.
Even that one word was enough to ruffle her feathers. She marched over to the door and flung it open.
Daksh paused, one hand still raised in the air, mid-pound. His uniform of black t-shirt and shorts must make dressing easy, she thought resentfully.
“What do you want?” she asked him, her teeth grinding together with the effort to stay polite.
“Get dressed, Mouse. We’re going to party.”
“Nope,” she said pertly, tossing his reply back at him.
“Why?” He narrowed his eyes and leaned on the doorjamb. “Are you allergic to fun?”
No, just allergic to you, she wanted to tell him, but she swallowed the words. This was her future brother-in-law. She couldn’t afford to keep sniping at him.
“I’m tired,” she said conciliatorily, pasting a sweet smile on her face.
Daksh’s eyes narrowed even more. “Why are you being nice?”
“I am nice!” Vedika was offended, her smile disappearing. She was bloody nice, thank you very much.
