She kept on watching the jewelry on her finger in her left hand. The ring she was supposed to return was still with her. She had forgotten about it completely. It crossed her mind much later when she almost reached her destination. She considered going back but it was out of question. She didn't want to set a foot into that office again, not so soon, not right after she escaped it furiously claiming she'll never work there. It's almost funny how things always get messed up between them one or the other way. The peaceful period only lasts for a while before they both fly at each other.

He almost had her. She had given in. If it wasn't for his commanding attitude, she was persuaded. Hadn't he brought up their kiss, she had been working there by the time. But he did bring up their kiss. She did feel belittled and defeated. Her pride and self-esteem at the stake. Furor had taken over her at that time. She will not ever give in to that Arnav Singh Raizada's demands. However small and not-so-well paid it may be, she still had a job and was fully capable of supporting her family on her own. She won't take his help.

She could beat herself up for the kiss. No, she didn't regret kissing him. And there she touched her lips again as she thought about it. It was one of the most wonderful things that ever happened to her. She had always wondered and thought about it, how it feels to kiss someone. It was just the way she imagined it would be.

Sure, at first it somehow felt gross, to exchange saliva with someone else. But as he kept on pulling her closer and the way he kissed her delicately, she hadn't been able to bring herself to withdraw. It just got better and better, felt sweeter. Once she started liking it, she wanted more and more of him. And that's what she fears.

The door opened and she took a long deep breath before stepping her foot inside the café. She put on a smile and greeted her colleagues and the manager Mr. Dubey. She was met with confusion on his face.

Dubey - Khushi, what are you doing here?

She was to move past him to go into the dressing room but blinked at him, baffled by his question.

Khushi - Ji?

Dubey - I thought you resigned. A man called, just an half hour ago and said you quit. You won't be coming here anymore because she got a job at AR.

She raised her eyebrows in amusement and anger altogether. He dared to call at her workplace and resign on behalf of her. How dare he?

She rested her hands on her hips and flared her nostrils. He needed to be taught a lesson. But for now she has to clarify the matter.

Khushi - No Dubey ji, it's not like that. I was offered a job there but I rejected. So he just wants to get back at me. I don't want to leave this work. I like it here and am happy here.

She passed him a faint smile. Mr. Dubey shrugged his shoulders and nodded. She went into the staff room and kept her bag inside the locker. As she closed it, her eyes again fell on the ring. It was a sight she could not ignore. It was penetrating and attention-seeking. She should take it off, but she couldn't. It was from him. It was a symbol, well, meanwhile it was a hope for their happy future. Besides, it was an expensive piece and a real diamond. She can't afford to lose it.

She sighed and turned but saw her colleagues standing right behind her. She gazed them almost wide-eyed. She caught their view.

Sonia - You got engaged. Congratulations.

Monica - Ya congrats. And going by the size of the diamond, your fianceé seems to be quite the catch. What are you doing here?

Khushi looked down at her hand and then up at them. She gulped the lump in her throat. She needed to do something with the ring, hide it somehow. And for now she needed to deny. She can't have people think about her being engaged when her family doesn't even know about Arnav being her de-facto fiancé.

Khushi - N-no, I'm not engaged. This, this isn't real.

She fled the room not waiting for the girls' reaction. She didn't want to talk about it. She didn't want to lie more than she already did. She hated lying, she hated it every time she had to lie to someone. But sometimes you just can't avoid being dishonest. Nobody ain't a saint. Nobody is perfect and Khushi Kumari Gupta too wasn't.

*

Aman has his eyes fixated on his boss while he had busied himself with typing things on his laptop. There was an important meeting to be held in few hours and he was supposed to talk about it.

Aman - I've got everything-

Arnav - No Aman. I need you for something else. It's about him.

Aman closed the file he had been holding in that very moment and lowered his arms. He saw his employer finally meet his eyes and speak up. He listened attentively as ASR assigned an important task to him. A task which he would never ever trust someone else with.

Arnav - Two things. First, I need you to put an offer to him. He'll do it. But he wants an offer that he can't deny. So take care of it. Because I want to get rid of that bastard as soon as possible. I want him out of the city. I don't want him anywhere near her.

Aman - It'll be taken care of. But be assured, he will use this opportunity. He'll press a lot of money out of you.

Arnav nodded averting his eyes towards the laptop screen. He put his elbows on the table and gazed back at Aman, his man for everything.

Arnav - I'm aware. But it's worth it. I want him out of our lives, at any cost.

Aman blinked and smiled reassuringly. That was everything he wanted to hear. But before leaving, there was another assignment.

Aman - And second?

Aman looked at the man sitting on his master chair. The devilish look changed in a matter of few minutes. His eyes revealed a kind of naughtiness, even though his face remained stern.

Arnav - Second, I need Khushi to work here. So you know what to do?

This was something they didn't even need words for. These two were a team paired up by God himself. There were moments they didn't even need to communicate verbally. Aman just needed to look into his eyes and he could read his mind. He knew what to do and unfortunately he had to do it. Because even if Aman opposed it and could express the same, he was least allowed to interfere in his personal matters. And Miss Gupta was anyway a delicate topic, ever since she entered his grumpy boss' life.

*

It was late in the afternoon when Khushi was called aside by Mr. Dubey. It came as a shocking surprise to her when he told her she's fired.

Khushi - But why? I do everything as told and I serve people as fast as possible. I even work through breaks. Please Dubey ji, you can't do that. I need-

Dubey - Khushi, I am not firing you!

She scrunched her brows at him. Was she being fired or not? He emphasized the I so she waited for him to continue.

Dubey - The café was bought over by someone, for a very high price. And the new owner is firing you, not me!

Khushi - But, why? I mean, is all the staff being fired?

There was no reason the new owner would fire her only. It had to be all the staff. Unless he is Arnav Singh Raizada. The new owner. She feared it. If it's only her who's being fired then it has to be that Laad Governor twisting things in his favor.

Dubey - That's the strange thing. Nobody else is dismissed. It's just you. As if, it's something personal.

She gritted her teeth looking down to the ground now. Of course it's personal. He took over the whole coffee house just to fire her. And she didn't need to ponder over the why he did what he did.

She traveled to the staff room and got her phone out of the bag. She bounced on it angrily dialing his number. It was picked up right after the first ring.

He curved his mouth up, smiling his signature smirk. He had been expecting her call.

Arnav - So...changed your mind I suppose?

All she heard was the sound of his ego in a sugar coated voice. He seemed so proud of his action, thinking he got her right where he wanted her. But she was Khushi Kumari Gupta, a girl with a lot of willpower. You knock her down as many times you want, she stands up each time. And she won't grant him the triumph.

Khushi - I just called to inform you that you can't buy all the coffee houses, restaurants and hotels in this city. I will find another job as waitress. You, Mr. Raizada will go bankrupt if you continue taking over all the shops I work in. And if you don't, Delhi is a big city. I will still find another job in another company. Even if I have to work as a maid.

She savagely cut the call with a satisfactory beam on her face. In her mind, she just now shattered his entire selfdom and thwarted his plan. The money he spent on this café went in vain, for nothing and that was how she won.

He slipped his phone back into his pocket and sat down with a poker face. Oh, he wasn't feeling defeated. It was not the end game. He will determine the endgame. He will be the one to finish it. And the result will be in his favor.

Khushi Kumari Gupta, you have no idea what cards I'm having up my sleeves. It's only a matter of time. But you will end up right here in this office.

His eyes sparked with soon-to-be-his victory. This was fun. He was liking this game.

He raised his head as he heard a knock at the door. Aman entered the cabin and raised his brows.

Aman - So if you're done playing Tom and Jerry, can we get back to work? We got a meeting to attend.

Arnav authoritatively cocked a brow at his employee who had an amusing smile playing on his lips. Aman didn't fear the beast. He knew him too well for that. And sometimes it bothered Arnav. But he didn't have any other choice than to to live with it.

Damn it.

Arnav - I'm coming.

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I know, I updated after long. But we had guests at home and I was out lots. So hardly had time to write. Now they're gone. Hopefully I'll be back to regular updates.