Page 217 of The Redemption
I’ve been sitting on my desk in our bedroom for almost an hour now, completely immersed in a new shoe design. The laptop screen is filled with sketches, leather textures, and colour palettes, while my fingers move effortlessly between the mouse and the stylus lying beside it. Every now and then, I lean back to study the curve of the heel before making another tiny adjustment. Work has always had this strange ability to pull me in, shutting out every distraction around me.
So when I hear the bedroom door open, I barely register it. I know it’s Raghav. I continue working, completely focused on perfecting the proportions of the design in front of me.
My focus wavers only when I realise he’s already standing behind my chair. Before I can turn, Raghav’s hand closes over mine. My fingers freeze as he leans in, so close that I can feel the warmth of his breath.
“Princess...” His lips graze my ear as he murmurs. “We need to talk.”
My heartbeat instantly loses its rhythm. Ever since last night, ever since he let me see the most vulnerable side of him, my heartbeat races whenever Raghav gets this close to me. But right now, I force myself to stay calm.
“Not now, RK,” I reply without looking at him, clicking the mouse again as though I’m completely unaffected. “I’m busy.”
He exhales, and before I can continue, Raghav turns my revolving chair around. The movement is so sudden that I instinctively grip the edges of the seat.
“Raghav...”
Ignoring my protest, he places both his hands on the armrests of my chair, turning me to face him. He’s standing between my knees now, both his arms caging me in. There’snowhere for me to look except at him. Then he bends slightly until we’re almost at eye level.
“One rule, Siya,” he says.
I raise an eyebrow.
“No matter how busy either of us gets...” His gaze never leaves mine. “We’re never too busy for each other.”
I agree. But unfortunately for him, I’m not about to make this easy. A grin slowly spreads across my face.
“That’s a lovely rule,” I say sweetly. “But you know I’m not very good at following rules that I didn’t make myself.”
“Siya...” His jaw actually tightens.
I almost laugh at his adorable frustration.
“Fine,” I sigh dramatically, pretending to take pity on him. “You have exactly two minutes. Tell me whatever you have to say. I really am busy, so make it quick.”
He stares at me for a long second before finally straightening up. “You’re coming out with me tomorrow evening.”
I blink. “Out? Where?”
“You’ll find out tomorrow.”
I fold my arms across my chest and study him thoughtfully. “Give me one reason why I should agree?”
He frowns as though the question itself is ridiculous. “Because you’re my wife.”
“So?”
“So…” he exhales. “I can take my wife wherever I want, Siya.”
“No, Mr. Kundra.” I immediately shake my head. “Just because I’m your wife doesn’t mean I’ll blindly go wherever you decide to take me. Convince me... then maybe I’ll consider coming along.”
The look on his face is priceless. The man seems genuinely offended.
“Convince?” He looks as though nobody has ever dared to use that word with him before. “Me?”
I nod.
Raghav scoffs in disbelief. “You remember we had a deal? I speak to Haider about Esha, and in return, you give me something. Considerthisis it. I’m asking for tomorrow evening.”
“Oh, really?” I can’t help smiling. “As far as I remember,” I begin thoughtfully, “Haider still hasn’t confessed his feelings openly to Esha.”
