“Had a good night’s sleep?” Teresa asks from near the stove as soon as I return downstairs, freshly dressed in another of Nova’s hoodies. It’s long enough to be a dress, reaching the middle of my thighs. Nova had almost pushed me back into the bed after one glance.
I skipped from the room before he could, making sure to grab my Kindle.
“Yes.” And one hell of a morning. My mushy brain had forgotten we were at his parents’ house. “I hadn’t had so much fun in so long.”
“Are you feeling unwell, Rose?” Teresa squints her eyes in concern. “Sore throat?”
Oh my god. Ground, swallow me whole.
Do I sound that bad?
I want to die from mortification. I hide my flaming cheeks with my hair and clear my throat. “Must be from the chilled water I drank during the night.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make you tea,” she sweetly replies. “It’ll make you feel better.”
“Thank you.” I thank God that Nova isn’t close to hear this conversation. “Can I help?”
“I’m almost done. Hope you like samosas and kachori. And if you eat light in the morning, I also made peanut butter sandwiches and fresh fruits.”
“Sandwich please,” I reply. “And if you don’t mind, can you pack me some samosas and kachori? I’ll eat them later.”
“Of course, sweetie.” She laughs. “I’m so happy I finally have someone who loves to eat since I enjoy cooking. Nova and his dad are too health-conscious. Counting calories and all that goes over my head, I swear.”
“Don’t tempt me like that or else I’d be here every day.”
“You’re my favorite person in the house now,” she teases, and then whispers, “don’t tell Nova though.”
“It’ll be our secret.”
“Absolutely.” Passing a burning hot cup of tea, I watch her pack me a bag with food. “Do you have a dress ready for this Saturday, Rosalie?”
The after-wedding reception. “Yes, I have one picked. Who all will be there? I thought most people showed up at the wedding.”
“We only invited the closest friends and family. This will have even more press and all the business associates and Bollywood acquaintances as well. You know how it is.”
My whole life has revolved around these lavish parties.
Teresa continues, “It’s mostly for appearances. Everybody is eager to officially meet the new couple. For women, it’s an event for gossip while for men, it’s all about business and new deals.”
“I understand. Although, I haven’t seen you attend many.”
“Yeah, I’m not very good at socializing even though it should be second nature by now. Plus, my health issues rarely allow to attend many.”
Even though Teresa has a vivacious personality that distracts one from noticing how she’s a little on the thinner side. The shadows under her eyes. Especially the sadness and the demons she hides beneath the surface.
Every time I’ve seen her in public, even at my wedding, she hid it exceptionally well.
I wish I had the courage to ask her about it.
“Maya also mentioned some kind of announcement to be made.”
“Did she?” Teresa hums. “Maybe Danish has one. I’m afraid I don’t recall. Anything business-related bores me. Why don’t you grab my phone from my bedroom and I’ll ask her?”
If Danish has one, my father must know it.
Since he will not tell me, I need to replace out another way.
“Sure.”
Standing from the stool, I climb the stairs down the hall from the open kitchen. From the tour, I remember her showing me her bedroom is at the very end of the hall. Nova’s childhood home rivals mine. Though, it’s built loft style.
And yet, I get lost.
“Shit,” I curse, realizing I took a wrong turn. I’m about to turn around when angry voices drift to my ears. I recognize Nova’s easily and I’m surprised the other is Danish’s. It’s the first time I’m hearing him lose composure. He’s always so unruffled.
Are they fighting? Is it related to the previous night’s tension?
I follow the sounds, curiosity piqued.
“Why haven’t you hired a private investigator yet?” demands Danish. “Hire Kian. His company is the best in handling corporate espionage.”
“Because I don’t want to jeopardize the progress I’ve made in the Middle East project. If they hear we have a mole in our company attacking our clients, they’ll walk away without blinking,” replies Nova in the same tone. “Mihir has been eyeing them too.”
Hearing my dad’s name makes my heart thud. Does he think my dad is behind whatever happened to his company?
“Who all knows about it?”
“Just my core team.”
“Can they be trusted?”
I hear Nova heave a frustrated breath. “I have someone looking into them. None have raised my suspicions. We’ll never catch the traitor if they get wind we’re looking into them. And if the media got wind of it, it’ll be another headache.”
“Do what you think is best.”
“I heard you’re planning to announce the new shipping port at the reception. Don’t you think you’re jumping in bed too soon with Mihir?”
“The deal was made a long time ago, son. I’ve put it off for as long as I could,” says Danish. “We still have controlling shares; he can’t do anything. It’ll be a as much of a loss for him as for us.”
“But he has more to gain if it’s completely under his control. It did belong to the Kapoor family first. Mihir still sees it as his. Doesn’t matter that the authorities took it over for a while and we bought it fair and square.”
“Then he would’ve caused problems before.”
“You can’t be that naïve, Dad,” taunts Nova.
“And you can’t be that cynical,” comes Danish’s aggravated response. “How about you keep Rosalie happy so Mihir doesn’t cause problems in the future?”
“He doesn’t give a fuck about her. He’s ecstatic he got rid of her and made her our problem.”
Problem.
I flinch and fight tears. One word and he’s reduced me to dirt beneath his feet. He says it so callously, it guts me right open. His pretty words and possessive claims are just that… hollow promises. Nova is still the manipulative and selfish man he always was.
Like a pathetic girl, I fell for his act. How many times before I learn my lesson?
I’m just a shiny new toy he’s obsessed with.
Nothing but a nuisance that landed on his lap.
“You don’t know him like I do,” I hear Danish ominously say. “He might not care for her but he will use her if he thinks we aren’t treating her right.”
I don’t stay to listen to his reply. Instead, I run back downstairs, intent on hating Nova till my last dying breath.
***
“He’s a skittish one,” says Sami, the owner of the animal shelter.
After Nova dropped me off at home after a tense ride since we were both occupied with our own thoughts, I fed my dogs and spent time with them. After working on my current project that brought a moment of peace, I decided to visit the shelter today.
“What’s his name?”
“Jelly.”
“Really?” asks Iris, who I invited to join me. She’s also a dog lover. “What made you pick that?”
“He’s always slipping from our fingers,” answers Sami with an amused smile. “It’s easier to remember their names if it’s based on their habits. Plus, it’s fun. For example, those two,” she points at the pair lying together in the corner, “we call them Husband and Wifey.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Why?”
“They’re our resident couple. Always attached at the hip. He’s super protective of her and doesn’t let the others, especially males, sniff around her. I’ve had to break a couple of fights.”
“Wow, he and Dash would be best friends,” jokes Iris. “Maybe we should gift them to Bianca and Dash for their wedding present. What do you say, Ro?”
Their wedding is approaching in three months and I couldn’t be happier for my best friend. She’s getting her happily ever after. While I have no clue where my life is heading.
Disaster, that’s what.
“I have to get my gifts pre-approved from Bee,” I confess. “Or else I’m not allowed to be the bridesmaid.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep.” I nod and smirk. “But you have my blessing.”
We move along the cages and the next one has my heart breaking. I lower to my haunches and peer at the dog huddled in the corner, sound asleep. Half of his skin is gone and red. The street dogs in India are already slim but he’s almost skeletal. “What happened to him?”
“Some kids poured acid on him,” sadly murmurs Sami, crouching next to me.
Iris gasps loudly behind me while my eyes tear up as I stare at the sleeping dog. “What’s his name? Is he going to be okay?”
“We found Veer abandoned on the side of the road two weeks ago and were able to give him immediate treatment from our part-time vet. He’s stable for now and still on pain meds, and we have to feed him with IV tubes. Unfortunately, he’s not even the worst of our cases. Every day, I’m surprised how low humans can go.”
Having humanity is a rarity these days. The world is becoming crueler every day and voiceless creatures bear the brunt from the worst of monsters. People have two opinions about this breed of street dogs. Either they hate them or feel sympathetic.
I hear horror stories in newspapers that break my soul.
I wish I could help them all but it’s impossible. Most shelters are understaffed or short of money. It’s why I try to donate as much as I can. If not all, I’m going to save as many as I can.
“This is worse than low, it’s horrific,” angrily says Iris.
I cautiously stretch my arm and caress his injured face, the texture uneven. He stirs, eyes blinking open, and he lets loose a tiny sound, leaning into my palm.
I fall in love.
I’m going to adopt him as soon as he’s better, I decide right then.
“When is the vet coming to check on him?” I ask, watching him fall back asleep.
“Depends on their private clinic hours,” replies Sami. “We can’t afford to hire a full-time doctor as we provide free services. Our staff can handle basic first aid and treatments but for major surgeries or treatments, we raise money through social media and contribute however much we can.”
We stand and I face her. “If you have someone in mind, let me know and I’ll pay their fees. As well as two or three trained nurses. Then the rest of you can focus on the day-to-day tasks.”
“Wow. Really? That would be a tremendous help.”
“I might not be able to visit daily and contribute physically, but financially, I can support you.”
“And I can help you with social media content,” offers Iris.
“Thank you so much,” Sami cries with happiness. Then she hugs us both. “You’re both angels.”
“You’re an angel, Sami,” I say. “Most people would look the other way.”
Sami leaves to start making calls while Iris and I busy ourselves feeding the stray dogs. They all run to us and most of them patiently wait as we offer food. I notice how a lot of them are crippled but they haven’t lost their spirit, which makes me happy.
It’s almost evening when we’re finally free and just playing with a mother and her one-month-old pups. One has made herself home on Iris’s lap.
“Chat with Nathan yet?” I casually question.
“He’s been busy.”
I squint my gaze. “Or you chickened out.”
“I did not.”
“How’s the stalking going?”
An embarrassed blush covers her cheeks. “It’s called investigating.”
“So, we’re being delusional, are we?”
“Did you know Kian owns The Mirage?”
I lurch back in shock. “The elite gentlemen’s club?”
“Might not be for long. The women working there are disappearing.”
“You think Kian is behind it?”
“No evidence yet. Just rumors.” She shrugs, expression grim. “Heard he also has a silent partner. Maybe he’s behind it.”
“Nathan wouldn’t want you anywhere near it,” I finish for her, petting a puppy who starts to play with the elastic band around my wrist.
“If it’s not his brother’s story, it’ll be something else. I want to work in investigative journalism, Ro. Risk will be an occupational hazard. I cannot let it deter me from doing my job.”
“I understand. You’re meant for great things, Iris,” I tell her truthfully. “I would only suggest that you be careful and listen to your gut feelings. Don’t ever doubt them.”
“I will, Ro.” Smirking, she teases, “Besides, I know you’ll set the person who hurts me straight.”
I make a sign of a gun with two fingers and shoot at the sky. “You bet.”
My phone rings, interrupting us. I frown at the unknown number. “Hi, who’s this?”
“Your husband.”
Nova. My heart skips a beat at his deep, masculine voice.
“Your very pissed husband,” he growls.
I might have a clue about why he is upset. After the event of today’s morning, I was feeling a little—okay, a lot—petty. So, once I got home, I went straight for my iPad, made my account public, and posted a very embarrassing photo of Nova as a kid in his birthday suit.
It’s everywhere now. Trending, in fact.
“Why?” I feign ignorance. “Bad day at work?”
“Delete the damn picture.”
“You look cute, Nova.”
“I’m naked.”
“Hmm, really? I didn’t notice.”
“Rose.” His voice is a low growl, signaling he’s fighting for patience.
“Relax, I censored the naughty bits.”
“I’m turning your ass red when I get home,” he threatens. “And, Rose?”
I shiver. “Yes, Nova?”
“Save my number.”
“Block you? Will do right away, hubby.” I hang up and do just that.
When I look, Iris is staring at me like I’m a lost cause. Both our gazes flit to her phone when it starts to ring. I have a sneaking suspicion who it is.
Iris picks up and murmurs, “Hello.” Biting her lip, she extends it to me. “Nova would like to speak with you.”
Rolling my eyes, I take it. Bringing the speaker closer, I clear my throat loudly so he hears me on the other end. Then I hang up once more. “He got the message.”
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