Rishi leaned against her desk, saying something animatedly while she laughed, a takeaway cup in her hand.
‘You’ll know when it’s time to know,’ she told him.
‘Fine,’ he said, quickly straightening up as I walked towards them. ‘Jai sir. Good morning.’
A smile bloomed on Ananya’s face, slow and sweet.
I gave Rishi a nod before glancing at Ananya on my way to the office. ‘My office in two minutes.’
Just as I put the paper bag down on the coffee table, the door opened, and Ananya stepped inside. ‘Everyone issocurious about the board meeting. Rishi was asking—’
‘They’ll know soon enough. But first—’ I closed the distance between us, brushing my lips against hers.
I sighed at her sweet taste and pressed another kiss on her mouth. For a long moment, everything disappeared. Ananya was all there was. She was all that mattered.
My thumb caressed her cheek. ‘I’ve got something for you.’
Her eyes fluttered open. ‘Hm?’
‘Come here,’ I said, taking her hand and making her sit next to me on the sofa.
I picked up the bag, pulled out the container, and handed it to her.
‘You brought me food?’
‘Open it.’
She lifted the lid, then stilled.
Inside sat an avocado toast, the bread carefully cut into the shape of a heart.
She looked up, surprise and amusement dancing in her eyes.
‘Will you go out on a date with me?’
A smile curved her lips. ‘Didn’t you ask me that two weeks ago?’
‘I did, but between the board meeting and its preparations … we didn’t get to go,’ I said. ‘And the morning of the most important meeting of my life, you were the one I woke up thinking about. I refuse to wait anymore.’
‘I’d love to,’ she said softly.
‘Great. We go straight after work.’
‘But I’m not wearing date clothes,’ she said, looking down at her formal shirt and trousers. ‘And I don’t even have any make-up—’
‘You look perfect.’ I kissed her again, slower this time. ‘I cannot wait to see you later.’
‘Ambitious idea, Jai,’ Sanat, Karamchand nanaji’s assistant, said, shaking my hand. ‘I think he’s going to love it.’
Mom’s father was a brilliant businessman. Dad valued his opinion greatly and I was looking forward to his feedback. It was a shame he couldn’t make it. Now that I thought of it, he hadn’t attended a single board meeting in over a year.
‘Means a lot. Thanks, Sanat,’ I said. And I meant it. His endorsement of the pitch was worth something; Nanaji didn’t hire fools.
‘Good work, Jai.’ Mr Mistri, the last board member, shook my hand and walked out of the conference room.
‘This has the potential to transform the company completely.’ Dad’s smile was wide and proud when he hugged me. ‘You were brilliant, son.’
I felt a rush of pride. ‘Thank you.’
