Remaining Incognito.

Maira.

I bite on my lip ring and tug it as I stare at the screen of my fucking phone. I have read this post an unhealthy amount of times and I'm fucking sick of it.

#The Tattoo Princess: #Exposed

And just when I thought our beloved Tattooed Princess couldn't get worse, she became a gift that only kept on giving. The word is, M already had access to the Psych mid-term papers last fall and that's how she managed to pass the test. And my dumb ass secretly admired her wits. I AM THRILLED TO EXPOSE YOU! Why so stealth M? Did you think you could get away with it without even a notice? You know you can end up with a ticket out of Sigma with this information out in the open now or you could get your Daddy to your graceful rescue, either way, I'll be watching. ;) x.

"You're sucking all the energy in the room," Arijit says and I push to my feet reflexively upon noting his ambush. I turn off my phone and decide to deflect the question as he steps closer to me.

"What was that about?" I inquire after Vaanya decides to sit in my car in the lot and Arijit's brows knit with a frown. "With Sam, what were you talking about?"

His gaze flitters confoundedly and he looks away. "I was just messing with her," he grins and I nod. Arijit is a lot like his late brother, goofy and charming. "Hey, by the way, I wanted to thank you for everything you've been doing so far. I know you loved him just as much and it means a lot that you're here."

"Don't be a dimwit," I say offhandedly. "I wanted to be here. Plus, I did it for Kunal."

He nods silently and shoves his hands in his pockets. "So are you leaving yet or would you like to stay for a bit longer to have dinner with us?"

"What is this? Some Christmas vigil?" I scoff and glance at my wristwatch. "No thanks. It's getting late and Vaanya needs me."

"Is she okay?" he asks, averting his gaze towards the doorway and then back at me. "She was quite upset a while ago and now she's nowhere to be seen."

"Yeah, no, she's cool," I nod quickly but he doesn't look convinced. "It's been tough for all of us and Ella..." I look around to catch a glimpse of her but she is completely out of sight. "I guess she has fled." He nods and I pick my bag and jacket from the table. "Anyway, the service was amazing and thanks for everything," I add and he beams at me. "See you around Arijit, bye."

When I near my car in the parking lot, I find Vaanya tucked in the passenger's seat and staring at the screen of her phone. I yank open the door to the driver's seat and slip in and find her staring at her picture with Ranveer, they are both laughing and I refrain myself from snatching that fucking thing from her hands.

She looks so battered that I don't bother to shake her out of the moment instead, I key in and the engine roars to life in a beat. I pedal out of the parking lot and head straight to Mittal's Residence.

"What if he hates me now?" I hear Vaanya's coarse whisper as I pull around the corner and change gears.

"He loves you Vaanya," I say, my eyes fixated on the streets as the dusk begins to cloak the city and I watch the buildings pass by us. The air is crisp and it looks like it might rain tonight. "I just think it's too much for him to take in."

She sniffles softly before she asks, "What if he never speaks with me again?"

"It's going to be alright," I assert evenly as I glance at the rear mirror. "He won't give up on you so easily."

She remains silent and looks out of the window. "What if he leaves me? What am I supposed to do if he abandons me?" Her voice cracks with another sob that gets on my fucking nerve.

"Then find yourself another dude who's cool with you sleeping with professors to score grades!" I bite out and she looks fucking devastated. The air around me booms with her loud sobs and I curse under my breath. Fucking brilliant! I gotta learn to keep it together damn it. "Look I—"

"I'm sorry." I feel her gaze on me and I watch her from the corner of my eyes as she sniffles and tosses her phone on the dash. "I've been making this all about me since it happened. How are you holding up?"

"Nothing I can't handle." I like to believe that because that's the only fucking option I've got. As wary as I feel inside, I just want to get back to my place and be alone for the night. My wounds aren't healed and shit keeps badgering me on and on right at the spot that makes me the weakest.

"And what about Sam? Ella and Aagnay seemed to have hit the roughest patch." She turns on the stereo and Runaway by Yeah Yeah Yeahs fuses into the air.

"Ella and Aagnay are always on the roughest patch," I mutter and she sighs deeply. "That damage will remain for the time to come."

"You bet," she scoffs and chuckles softly. "He sure seemed vexed. I hope he doesn't blame Ella for all of this."

"He wouldn't be wrong altogether if he does," I point out and roll my eyes.

Her jaw drops and she swats my arm. "Don't say that. Ella is going through this as much as we are." Yeah sure but she was also the one with the freaking journal. Damn it. I sound a lot like Sam now. "Hey M?"

"Yeah?" I slow the vehicle down as I hear the alarm in her tone.

"Pull over," she demands and I glance at the rear mirror to check the traffic.

"What's going on?" I turn off the music and shift the gears almost immediately.

"Just pull over around the corner," she whispers and I kick the brakes.

"Why are you whispering?" I ask bewildered and she ducks down before I could shoot another question. "You do realize nobody can hear you except me right?"

"Look," she points her finger and I follow her line of sight silently only to find Saxena Sir laughing with another woman beside him. "Isn't that Sam's mom?" she asks and I squint my eyes to catch a glimpse of her closely.

Sam's mother looks like she is having the time of her life, flirting with someone a hell of a lot younger than her. She twirls her hair and chuckles to something he says and I'm so lost. "So that post wasn't a lie after all."

Ella.

I moan gracelessly to Jordan's mouth as his tongue dances on mine with deep licks, tugging the roots of his hair a little harder and he groans, his nails digging into my hips. This was an escape I was dying to dive into. In this luxurious car, behind the tinted glasses and the darkness of the somber night—there's not a soul to know about my illicit affair with him. Nobody would know how down and dirty I've grown to get with him.

His wet lips slide over my jaw and he sucks on the soft spot behind my ear, throwing me off the edge and anticipation builds like a rolling wave in my gut as I hear his zip slide; it echoes in the air around me. His hand lands on the vulnerable spot below my waist and I prop my hands against his well-defined shoulders as I lower myself to meet his length.

"I've been craving to be inside you," he purrs, stroking his length to harden it further and I bite my bottom lip with maddening excitement. His eyes glitter to the distant lights as he catches my gaze and I feel my cheeks flush.

I don't miss the stark vehemence flashing through his face fleetingly as I take him all the way in, and I gasp at the potent mix of palpable pleasures and pain of having him so deep inside me. I don't bother to fix the hem of my dress that's bunched up around my thighs and he grips my hips tightly. "Me too," I whisper, trailing kisses around his jawline and he begins to move in a slow tempo, allowing my body to relax to his pace.

"You're so sweet," he rasps, pinning my wrists behind me and I groan lowly. "So warm and so wet..." He presses his hand against my lower belly and circles my clit at a slow, agonizing pace. "And so tight." He hisses through his teeth, increasing his tempo as he slams into me and I feel my knees falter on the leather seat.

He balances me deftly, catching me by my hips with one hand as he continues to stroke his thumb against my throbbing clit, setting my nerve endings on slow crackle. "Do you like it?" he asks against the crook of my shoulder and my mouth is too dry to answer. I nod in agreement and rock my hips to match his thrusts. "Say it," he demands and my eyes roll back in sheer pleasure.

"Yes!" My moan echoes in the compact space and I watch masculine triumph stir on his features. "Yes! You're so good."

"Do you want me to stop?" he asks, drawing his thumb away from my sensitive bundle of nerves and I bite back a groan to the loss of contact.

"Do you want to?" I ask instead and he grunts, pumping faster into me. "Oh my God..." I bite into his neck and a groan spills from his chest.

"I can't," he murmurs, tightening his grip around me. "Even if I want to, I just can't." He curses under his breath and I feel the heavy desires roll down and stop right at the invisible spot he hits so expertly. "Shit. You're so good. I can't get enough of you."

The first wave of orgasm ripples through me with my blood roaring in my ears, his sharp gusts of pants fanning my face as I feel lashes of semen inside me, washing me and somewhere—I'm afraid to admit—claiming me.

JORDAN DOESN'T CARE if my hair looks like a mess—just fucked hair, as he likes to call it. It's fucking refreshing to be around him. I cross my ankles on his lap as he continues to steer through the night city.

"Thank you for calling me earlier," I beam at him and he looks in my direction from the corner of his eyes. "I didn't realize I needed this so much."

"Hey. For all that matters, I don't exactly care about that dumbass post." He juts his chin as I kick his thigh playfully and he chuckles. "However, is that why you cheat on him?" The playful air suddenly dissipates and I pull my legs away from him. He notes the tension instantly and sighs. "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it."

"Thanks," I mumble and look out of the window, leering at the pedestrians head back from their busy days and my shoulders grow limp. "I really would like to not talk about it." I don't meet his gaze and he nods.

"But if you do want to—someday—I'll be around," he grins salaciously and I smile at him. "Let's get something to eat." He parks the car near a resto-bar and I hop out of the vehicle after the engine dies down. "Your boyfriend's summoning me." I hear him say as he slides out of the vehicle and I pivot to face him.

"Aagnay called you?" I'm at a loss for words. "Well...what did he say?"

"Dude's losing his nuts and wants me by his side." He shakes his head and smirks. "I don't see how any of this is a big deal."

"Easy for you to say considering, you aren't in his shoes." I begin to proceed to the resto-bar, my heels clicking against the asphalt ground and he follows me. I hear his faint chuckle but he remains silent as I push through the door and plop in one of the booths.

Shelter by Birdy plays in the background as I pick the menu card and he takes his seat across me. "Anything particular that catches your attention?" You... I straighten to the invasive thought and cough awkwardly. "Here, grab some water." I sip the cool water from the glass and he peers at me. "Are you okay now?" I nod in silence and get back at the menu card.

"I'd like sex by the beach," I say and avert my gaze on him. He arches a brow in silent query and I bite my bottom lip to hide the smile. "The cocktail, I mean."

"Oh," he chuckles and rubs his nape. "Sure, let me place the orders and I'll be back in a bit." Before I could ask where he's headed, he stalks away and I'm left alone with my thoughts.

I want to share this with my girls. I wonder what Maira has to say when she knows that I—I'm not sure what I feel about Jordan...yet. I pull my phone out and unlock it to text the girls in our private chatroom.

You won't believe it if I told you that I totally have hots for this guy who isn't Aagnay!!!!

I stare at my unsent text and pucker my lips. What if this gets out though? Nothing has been under the wraps lately. I don't want another scandal and Jordan is the last person I want to be sensationalized with. He is too good to be a part of this. I quit the chatroom and tap on my inbox instead. The hyperlink pops up and I suddenly feel haunted by the words in that gossip column. I tap on the hyperlink again for the millionth time and sigh as the post flashes on my screen.

Miss Wannabe Perfect: #Exposed.

Some might call this one fucked up but I heard A, aka The Chocolate boy is a Weiner. Poor A—acting smarts in the street and not so sexy under the sheets! Is that why you often cheat on him E? Because he can never make you feel what you truly deserve? Looks like I have dissed you for all the wrong reasons but I won't be waving a white flag anytime soon. I refuse to bow down to the Regent queen.

We know how A must be seething right now! Would you want someone to pour you a drink while you kick and scream A? ;) x.

Bitch! Fucking bitch!

Who knew a stupid journal could do so much damage? I can barely control it anymore. Aagnay was so mad. "Is this your idea of some sick joke?" he had snapped at me with his gritted teeth that felt like nails against the chalkboard. "Do you realize the kind of damage this has done to me? How could you put my honor at stake like that?" He accused me until I realized it's pointless explaining him at all because anything I'd say, he'd still blame me for it, as always.

I break out of my haze as the server places the food and beverages on the table and my gaze catches Jordan's deep and piercing on mine. When did he show up? Was he watching me this whole time?

"Why are you reading that shit? It's morbid," he asks after thanking the server and sips from his glass. I shut my phone and drop it in my satchel. I remain silent and dig into my food, and so does he after a beat.

I swallow my food before I ask, "Have you read it?" His aventurine eyes flicker on me and I watch his throat work when he drinks the whisky from his glass. His stern silence answers my question and I get back to eating. "Very well then." He did question me earlier. Sometimes I'm an iconic fool!

"Ella, listen," he murmurs and sets his glass on the table. "I don't care about it. I don't care if you have slipped in the past. It only makes you human." I don't deserve such niceties from him. Only if he knew just how much I have slipped... "Okay, I'm going to be brutally honest with you and say it," he says placidly and I wait for him to continue. "I have always. Always. Loved you."

I gasp at his vehement admission, absolutely astounded by the words that just escaped him, and once again, I'm at a loss for words.

"I had a minor crush on you in the junior year and it later grew on me." He shrugs and chuckles. "You grew on me and got right under my skin Ella, without even trying."

"Then why didn't you tell me about it any sooner?" I ask curiously, still processing his heartfelt confession and his eyes bore into mine.

"Because you're my best friend's girlfriend and that makes you off-limits." I guess I understand but I'd have accepted him if he had approached. I guess. "You always seemed so happy with Aagnay and I didn't want to take that away from you. So I guess it was okay as long as you got what you truly wanted." His accent rolls out like satin and I'll admit my heart shreds a little in my chest.

My eyes sting with the pressure of unshed tears and I can't believe this dude managed to do that. Nobody has ever made me feel so special and wanted. Aagnay and I had our reasons to be together but I never felt this way about him as I do for Jordan.

"Do you still feel that way about me?" I whisper with my teary voice and he searches my face for a beat and then, he nods. "Good because I think I like you too." That seems to catch him off guard and his lips part to draw in sharp breaths.

"Are you—do you—are you sure?" His voice is a mix of excitement and joy that makes me smile and I nod in agreement. "Does that mean you will be with me?"

"Why of course, silly," I say and get back to eating my delicious food.

"You're amazing!" he grins and I giggle to the mouth of the glass before I sip the cocktail.

"I know." I wink at him and he gets back to his food.

I eye him furtively and my heart thunders in my chest. I feel...ashamed. Is this how Ranveer treats Vaanya? Is that why she is so mad in love with him? Maybe she was right all along and I was the one who was too blinded with the superficial shit. With stable love like that, anyone is bound to wear their hearts on their sleeves. I know I wouldn't care a damn in the world if Jordan were a nobody—I'd still feel the same way about him. Shit. I have been so fucking wrong this whole time and I see that now.

"So I was meaning to ask you something," I begin to say and he sweeps his gaze on me. "At Ranveer's boathouse party..." My mind falters as I meet his gaze. "Where were you?"

He shifted in his seat and his brows pinched to a frown. "At his boathouse, why do you ask?"

I purse my lips and pick on my manicure. "And where was Aagnay?" I glance at him and he looks away before he deliberates silently. "Did you know anything about his bearings?"

"I don't think so," he tells me and I nod slowly. "Besides the fact that he went to visit a friend, I have no idea. What's going on?" I space out as it begins to dawn on me silently. Son of a bitch! "Ella." Jordan's voice draws me out of my daunting thoughts.

"Huh?" Aagnay crossed a fucking line and he deserves hell. Damn it. I have gotten into some deep shit.

His lips curl to a smirk. "You know, you can't get far by remaining incognito."

I scowl at him in silent query. "I don't know what you mean."

He chuckles and drinks from his glass before he leans back. "You're aware of his bearings and you wish to know if I do too." It's not a question but his deduction comes off as crude. It didn't occur to me that I was being obvious all this time. It's disturbing.

I shake my head in denial instantly. "I didn't know he was with a friend," I say evenly but he doesn't look convinced. "I was just curious, never mind." He searches my face and I fake a chuckle. "I need another cocktail," I say sheepishly and he saunters to the bar to place our order for another round of drinks.

If Aagnay did—I have to find a way to fix it.

~~~~~

Hello Darlings!

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