It was 5 in the morning when nandni opened her eyes. For once she tried to recognise the room, and then realisation hit her hard. She felt frozen, unable to move as she laid there with manik’s arm tightly wrapped around her stomach. She could feel warm breaths at her naked shoulders.

He moved in his sleep and nandni swallowed hard as he drew her closer, filling in any space between their bodies. Her breath hitched in her throat, like this proximity going to be her death. After waiting for few seconds, she realised he was still in his deep sleep. She closed her eyes to cherish each second, being in his arms. If she could stay here for all eternity.

She knew it was a really delicate moment as he knew nothing about her real relation with him. Resisting the urge to be in his arms, she decided to get up and leave before he woke up. She wasn’t ready to face his accusing stares, so it’s better to avoid it.

Carefully she picked his arm from her stomach and moved around slowly to face him. She hissed when she tried to move her legs. A deep dark blush spread on her cheeks as last night events came back in her mind. Manik Malhotra made love to her, that too not once, infect again and again and how he wanted it once again.

She carefully removed his arms from her, trying not to wake him. She slipped at the edge of the bed, before setting his arm at its previous position. Silently stepped on the carpeted floor to gather her discarded clothes and dressed carefully.

Before opening the door she turned around for once. Looking with pained distress at his calm face, how messy hairs spread over his forehead. His firm biceps looking massive as his arm was spread over bed. She went back, couldn’t help to admit that how angelic he was looking while sleeping peacefully. She couldn’t resist the urge to move her fingers into his soft hairs. She touched them gently enough for him not to wake up. Placing a soft kiss at his cheek she withdrew herself back.

Don’t know when she will get chance to have such blissful night again, and this mere thought broken her so deeply that she shuddered uncontrollably. In the dead of silence, she left his room without letting him know. She felt like her part of soul left behind with him. How she wanted to woke up in his arms, but nothing was like before. Everything have changed.

Once she entered in her room, she closed the door behind her silently. Her stomach was still tied in knots. Whatever happened last night, started making her vulnerable. Palming her face into her hands, she imagined his every possible reaction after waking up. Pressing her back against the door she slid on the floor. Clutching her knees to her chest, she trembled in her cold empty room.

“Manik won’t accuse me for this night. No he won’t....!” She was mumbling like insane person. Her only wish was for him to never remember any moment of this night. She was scared, if he eventually found out about her sleeping with him, he might see her as the worst woman.

“Oh God, he was drunk, hopefully he would forget everything. Yes he will...!” She was answering to her own questions.

She stood up and went to take shower, to get ride of his cologne, which was blossoming at her each pore of skin. Turning on warm water she took long shower to sooth her aching muscles. Each time she closed her eyes, each moment of last night came rushing back into her mind.

After a long shower she went at front of mirror. Her eyes got stuck at bluish marks, her man left at every place of her body. She felt like, he marked her. Every inch of her was screaming she was his, and only his. Her fingertips touched hickeys and a tingling sensation forced her eyes to shut itself. She dried herself and wearing a bathrobe she went out. She fell on bed without changing into clothes. She didn’t have strength to do so. She didn’t want to close her eyes. She wanted to stop the time at this moment. How she was going to face him, all consequences were making her heart to beat at unusual pace. She turned at her side and once again she hissed in bittersweet tingles.

“Damn this man, as his manly body have grown more stronger and firm, his energy also have been doubled. How he can burn the whole night, with equal stamina....!” she thought while pulling blanket around her shoulders. She curled into a ball, looking through the window into the darkness.

           ------------

Victoria changed her side facing the door of her room. As she opened her eyes slowly, she gasped audibly. A tall figure leaning against her door looking at her. She jerked up at her bed, and her eyes frowned.

“What are you doing here....!” She was sitting dead on her bed looking towards Daniel’s smirking face. Black shirt with of-white pants, matching his devilish dark looks.

“And here my feisty lady back...!” He mumbled under his breaths.

“Came to wake you up princess....!” He replied casually, as entering in her room like a creepy creature isn't a big deal.

“And for that I don’t need your help...!” She replied curtly looking at him.

“I was thinking may be you would like to have morning kiss before leaving for breakfast....” He said, showing his evil smirk. Listening the word Kiss, she turned her face away. He smiled more widely as he noticed how she was fighting off the blush.

“In your dreams....!” She replied lowly before her cold eyes snapped back towards him. He laughed wholeheartedly, seeing this stubborn lady.

“Then dear I would love to even the score, because last night my dreams came true....!” He stated the truth, while closing the distance.

“That was a weak moment, such mistake won’t happen again....!” She replied, looking at his each step he was taking closer.

“Are you sure. Because I would love to burst your bubble happily. I would have my daily kiss and you are going to give it nicely, and its promise. ..!” suddenly she felt tight air in the room as he stopped beside her bed. Her expressions were screaming her defeated self. She knew very well that what Daniel promised he will get at any cost.

“Lets start from today....!” Holding her shoulders, he pushed her back at mattress. Hovering over her he kneeled around her thighs. Victoria’s priceless expressions were enough to turn him on. She was stunned. Without any delay he brushed his lips against hers.

“You know, when you behave like a wild cat, you look achingly beautiful...!” He caressed her cheeks with the back of his knuckles.

“Get up, have your breakfast first then we will do it more deeply....!” he commanded arrogantly and getting off the bed he started walking away. She was having hard time to gather her lost breath, but she pushed herself on her elbows in an attempt to reply him back. 

“No we won't...!” She shouted at his back, keeping her voice in check.

“Yes, we will...!” His eyes twinkled with challenging stare. His lips twitched into evil smirk. 

“Get up and come downstairs asap. Otherwise I’m gonna kiss you again....” He warned clearly fighting his smile, which was threatening to appear at his serious face.

         ---------------

Nandni turned towards the window and sun light forced her eyes to shut them tightly. She remained still, then slowly her eyes fluttered to open. She kept looking ahead aimlessly, before finally sitting up. She rested her back against headboard of bed, Her eyes felt heavy and a bit drowsy. She wanted to throw herself back, hiding into her blanket, for some reasons feeling scared to step out of her room. Fighting her wishes, she slowly got off the bed and began to make herself ready to meet everyone in dining room. 

She wore turtle neck shirt, covering her neck entirely. Hopping no one would take notice of love marks at her skin. Nandni stepped out of her room, And came downstairs with slow steps. Few whispers from dining room, forced her steps to a halt. Gathering her strength she entered in dining room and there she spotted him, sitting at dining table reading the news paper. Setting her eyes totally at breakfast, nandni went closer to dining table.

“Hey princess, good morning...!” Daniel turned his face back when he felt her steady steps. As usually he was in totally happy chirping mood.

“Good morning...!” nandni replied back softly. She raised her lashes up and she noticed manik’s dark eyes, staring at her from behind the news paper. Their eyes met just for couple of seconds and he moved his gaze down at news paper. His expressions totally blank, difficult to read but silence was showing totally peace.

Nandni felt confused as she wasn't able to judge what’s going on in his head. Pulling the chair out nandni sat at front of manik. Placing her hands in her lap, she was fidgeting her fingers. Daniel observed her silent lost self and turned towards her.

“Princess I think we both had a very good night. You are glowing...!” Daniel teased nandni, trying to lighten the thick air in the room. Jerking her head up, with widened eyes she looked back towards manik. Who just placed the news paper back at table and picked one piece of sandwich. He was eating in such cool way that nandni was sure he forgot everything. At one hand she got relaxed but in some corner of the heart she felt sad. Along all the previous blissful nights they spent together, he forgot last night also. Nandni dropped her lashes down and served the breakfast for herself.

“Yeah I had nice sleep....!” nandni replied digging her fork in pancake mercilessly. Daniel diverted his eyes towards Victoria, who was equally shocked as nandni. Sipping his coffee, monstrous smirk appeared at his face.

His lingering stare moved from her eyes, to her lips, collar bone and then it stopped below it. Victoria followed his gaze and she felt her deep neck shirt giving nice view. She looked up, and Daniel winked at her. 

“When are we going to finalise our deal....!” daniel asked manik about some deal nandni wasn't even aware about. Tomorrow I have meeting with whole staff of this hotel and day after tomorrow we going to meet our clients. Listening a long schedule nandni got stunned. She didn’t know their trip will be this much longer. She never knew it, she was going to leave Aaron for this long time.

All were having breakfast silently when Manik received phone call. Standing up he went towards the window.

Inserting his free hand in his pocket he received the call. It was the time when nandni noticed his dressing. Wearing golden brown jeans with black t-shirt he was looking younger than his usual appearance. All the time gelled up hairs were messy in rough style like after shower straight he came here. 

“How you got late when everything was already planned according to schedule. I asked you to be here before my meeting....!” suddenly manik’s thundering voice echoed in the silent dining room. Nandni looked back towards Daniel and Victoria. Looking at their confused faces she realised even they also weren't aware of the matter which was making manik malhotra angry. Daniel left the room after completing his breakfast followed by Victoria. Nandni left behind alone with her incomplete break fast.

Disconnecting the call he came back. He threw mobile at dining table and sat back at chair to finish his breakfast as well. Face to face alone with him, nandni felt air getting tight by the second. She raised her eyes up and she regretted her move. The way his eyes looking at her, made her body feel like it’s burning inside and out. Her heart wasn’t even recovered from all the panics, last night it suffered from, that now again it was fluttering mercilessly.

His gaze was seriously killing, he refused to drop it down. He brought his cup to his mouth and gulped down his coffee while his eyes remained at her. She started chewing her morsel while dropping her gaze down on her plate. Bearing his burning stare she was worrying about whether she should leave her half filled Plate at table or keeping manners in mind she should finish it.

In the corner of her eye, she noticed he leaned back in the chair but even after finishing his breakfast he didn’t leave. He was looking at his mobile, she never saw him this much cool and carefree. It was irritating her and as well giving handsome look to his manly features.

His face contorted in pure satisfaction and it reminded her of their last round in the middle of the night, when he finally showed some mercy at her and forced himself to roll off her. Still holding her closer into his arms he remained silent. He was so relaxed yet so exhausted that he didn't take time to fall into deep slumber. Remembering their blissful night suddenly her cheeks got dipped into pink. Blooming colour was enhancing her beauty.

She just picked the dishes from table and found it best way of distraction. She cleaned the whole table without sparing him a glance. She couldn't take risk meeting his eyes, so she didn’t go at the other side of the table to pick his dishes. She decided to leave the room silently.

“You didn’t clean the table properly...!” He whispered at her back rotating his mobile in his fingers. She stopped at her place, taking deep breath she tried to calm herself. She struggled to turn on her heels and went back. Stopping closer to his chair she arranged all the dishes in layers. She tried hard to keep her face free of annoyance but it was still evident. He was closer enough that she could smell his after shave. Taking dishes she was going to place in the kitchen when he once again stopped her.

“Be in meeting on time. I hate people coming late in my meetings....” manik mumbled still playing with his shiny expensive phone, and nandni felt dishes already slipping from her hands. She calmed herself first before gathering up enough courage to speak out.

“I told you yesterday I don’t need this job. I want to leave today, if you can arrange my ticket....!” she trying hard to shoot manik a determined glance but somehow she knew it, she can't win against him. He looked up with such intensity that his cold rage terrified her. His expressions made her scared and at the same time turned on also.

“I don’t like repeating words and if people disobey me, I don’t forgive them easily. I have my own ways to punish them...!” She looked up totally flustered, her cheeks felt hot. Why she felt he was reminding her about the punishment she got last night. But looking at his face, she saw pure business, arrogance, and then nothing else, totally blank eyes looking at her.

“I want to see my son. I don’t want to live here a single more day...!” She said, holding dishes tightly in her hands she got stuck at her feet. Manik stood up and walked around the table and she tried her best to brush off the panicking expressions appeared at her face.

Manik strides towards her and stopping closer to her he inserted his both hands in his pockets. She felt like she was lacking of oxygen as he was taking up all air in the room. Nandni couldn’t quite comprehend his thoughts and it was pissing her off.

“You should have think about your son before applying for this post. But now you aren’t allowed to take decisions...!” the serious look that surfaced at his face, set her back. Her heart sank in and a strange fear washed over her senses. Her eyes widened, in surprise. She tried not to panic but his serious features were pushing her senses towards worst.

            --------------

“So we are going at our first official date today...!” Daniel said to Victoria who was totally busy in her video game.

“Who said I'll go at date and that too with you...!” Victoria replied raising her eyes from her mobile. Daniel came and sat at coffee table at front of the sofa, victoria was sitting at.

“I’m saying we are going, and its enough for you to know...!” Daniel replied placing his both elbows at his knees he leaned forward to see her conscious face.

“And it would be enough to tell you that I’m not going. I won’t date you, even you are the last man on the earth...!” Victoria added hastily when she saw how he seemed serious about date. Grabbing her shoulders he pulled her at the edge of sofa, so that she was almost between his legs.

“From now, for you I’m the last man on earth, because I intend to be your only lover. You have no other choice....!” Victoria’s face was stunned but his words forced butterflies to flutter in her stomach.

“An...and if I already chose any other man then...!” She tried hard to not let her voice shiver. Daniel pulled her even more closer.

“I'll make sure there won’t be any other man. I'll kill him even if you let any one to touch you....!” He stated looking deep into her eyes.

“I..t...it’s m..my life my choice....!” She replied in unsteady words. She knew it, she was baiting him, still she wanted to have the last say. He can see how hard she was trying to make herself stable. She couldn’t help, she never imagined one day she will find her childhood best friend would be this much possessive for her. A heart stopping smile appeared at his face and leaning closer he brushed his lips against her cheek gently.

“Be ready, after meeting we are going. I'll behave nicely. I promise...!” He said like an order but heart squeezing softness in his voice didn’t let her say no. She just nodded her head slowly.

“You looking beautiful....!” Daniel fully smiled as he saw her red face. It was really new for him because he'd never seen her blushing. She was one of the ladies who always in charge and always stoic. Leaning closer he kissed her lips briefly, when suddenly nandni entered in living room.

“Oh my goodness. I’m sorry. I’m leaving....!” nandni was about to return when Daniel managed to let Victoria sit back properly at sofa.

“No. Stop princess I’m just leaving...!” Daniel said still looking at Victoria's flushed face.

“Lets continue it later...!” He whispered having dreaming note in his voice, before getting up from table. With a victorious smile he went towards nandni.

“Have a nice time....!” Daniel patted nandni’s shoulder lightly, before he marched out of the living room.

“I’m sorry, I just barged in without notice....!” nandni said to Victoria having apologetic expressions.

“I’m glad you came...!” Victoria replied turning her eyes at floor. Nandni smiled seeing her still uneasy gesture. Covering distance nandni went towards Victoria.

“Victoria. I’m happy you trying to give him a chance...!” nandni mumbled while sitting besides her.

“Its so complicated. I don’t know what to do. It’s so new. I never saw him more than a friend but he definitely wants much more than just a friendship....!” Victoria tried to speak out her worries. Taking a deep sigh Victoria threw her head in her both hands.

“just give some time to this new relation with him. He is very nice person. Let him win your heart. Ok....!” Nandni tried to give her sincere opinion.

“Thanks....!” Victoria felt little light after talking to nandni. Both turned their attention towards Tv after having little more chit chat.  

That whole day after breakfast nandni didn’t see manik. He remained in his room. She was happy that she didn’t face any more awkward encounters with him.

         --------------

It was evening, in such cold country sun was already hard to see but at this time it was already like full darkness outside. Daniel was in living room talking to someone at mobile, ready for meeting. Manik and Victoria were in their respective rooms. Nandni was watching TV totally ignoring the time, which was running out. She didn’t change, she wasn’t ready for meeting. At the sound of opening a door, nandni realised it was manik who came out.

At the very sight of manik she came to stillness. In his black suit he was looking extremely handsome. Seeing her still not ready his face held expressions of rage. She shifted her eyes back towards TV totally ignoring his killing stare.

“Daniel....! ask both ladies to be in meeting room on time...!” manik said to Daniel without looking at nandni who was trying to watch the TV.  Manik eventually came to a stop when she spoke at his back.

“Daniel tell him, Victoria will surely come but I won’t...!” nandni mumbled, her voice quite lower than usual. He paused, jaw got tightened with lightening rage at her attempt to refuse him.

“Daniel tell her, if she knows even little bit about my patience, Im sure she would be in meeting....!” Ignoring her totally, he attempted his steps out of the living room. Totally confused daniel was looking back and forth between two hot tempered husband wife.

           -------------

Meeting was going to held in a private room of ground floor of this hotel. When manik entered, all the members from other branches were also gathered in the meeting room. They all greeted their boss and took their respective seats. Manik started reading documents placed at front of his seat. Manik was continuously looking at his wrist watch like waiting desperately for something or may be someone.

Manik was totally lost in his thoughts when Daniel and Victoria entered in the meeting room. Manik felt his whole body on fire as nandni was still missing. He wondered is she really had decided to resign. The mere thought of her absence increased his rage more. He fisted his hands, as he was holding him back from smashing everything placed at the table.

Mobile ring brought manik back from his tight thoughts. He picked the call and nodding his head manik disconnected the call.

“Go out side my guards would be there. Tell me what they saying....!” manik mumbled while leaning closer to Daniel. Nodding his head he went out.

           --------------

“What’s the problem here....!” Daniel asked as he noticed the whole guard team trying to handle something.

Listening their boss's voice all guards turned around. It was the time when Daniel realised it’s not something, infect its someone whom all  6ft tall guards were trying to handle.

“who’s this...!” Daniel asked in his bossy dominating voice.

“Sir it’s Mrs malhotra’s son, Aaron malhotra. Alexander sir ordered to bring him here....!” for few seconds Daniel felt he must have listened wrong. But seeing a crying baby in one guard’s arms and a baby bag and all type of toys in all other guard's hands Daniel felt to laugh loudly. How these macular guards with monstrous physics looking like nursery teachers. They can handle weapons but handling a cry baby with delicate hands wasn't their cup of tea.

“Wohhhooooo...! Twist in love story....!” Daniel rubbed his hands like an excited child who just solved a tough puzzle. Daniel went ahead and he picked Aaron in his arms. As Aaron looked once again a strange face he started crying more. Daniel couldn't go in meeting room with a crying baby, one baby bag and lots of toys. For Gods sake it was meeting of multinational company. Totally helpless Daniel dialled manik’s number and in one ring Manik picked the call.

“Have nandni reached there or not...? Because her son is here. But he is crying so much.....!” Daniel told manik while rubbing his forehead with his thumb and index finger.

“I will kill these bloody losers. I warned them to bring baby on time and they are coming exactly in the middle of the meeting....!” manik whispered while clutching fon tightly in his hands. Nandni still isn’t here. Just wait for me.

I’m coming....!” after saying manik was going to cut the call when he got stopped. He felt his heart clenched as Aaron’s hiccups touched his ears. Clutching fon in his fist he stood up.

“Sir everything is ok. it’s quiet late. You never delayed your meetings ever....!” Victoria asked when manik started walking out of the room.

“Sorry for delay. Give me just few minutes. I will be back....!” manik faced the whole round table to inform the whole staff and People from different countries nodded their heads obediently. Manik took Victoria with him to handle Aaron first.

            ------------

“Oh young champ. I didn’t even do anything, then why you crying....!” Daniel was asking Aaron who once again pouted, all ready to cry.

“Look here this girl really hot. Isn't she....?” Daniel trying to divert Aaron’s attention, while putting mobile at front of his teary eyes. An item song video with full blasting music was played at his mobile. As Aaron cried once again Daniel immediately stopped the video and placed mobile back in his pockets.

“like father, like son. Hot tempered...!” Daniel face palmed helplessly.

“What’s happening here....!” manik’s thunderous voice echoed in the parking of the hotel. Daniel turned around to face manik, crying Aaron still in his arms.

“What did you do to make him cry...?” manik asked angrily looking towards Daniel.

“His scary face enough to frighten a baby...!” Victoria mumbled looking away while rubbing her neck. Manik and Daniel’s killing stare shifted towards her.

“I didn’t do anything, he was already crying....!” Daniel replied back like a kid who was just blamed for stealing candies. Aaron had his back towards Manik. Manik glued his attention at the baby, who was still sobbing. Manik silently looking at his tiny back where Daniel placed his hand protectively.
He got stunned as Aaron turned his face towards manik. Tears running at his chubby soft cheeks. His eye-lashes wet with tears looking more thick and long. The way he was looking here and there for any familiar face, showed how panic was he. Listening his hiccups manik felt like his head will blast with anger. Taking slow steps manik went close to Daniel.

A part of him craved to have Aaron in his arms. To kiss away his tears. He stretched his hands towards Aaron. Without any delay Aaron leaned fully in his shivering hands. Manik picked Aaron in his arms, looking deep into his chocolaty eyes which were resembling to his own ones.

Aaron pouted his lips like suppressing his sobs, while looking straight at manik’s face. Manik's thumb wiped his tears so delicately like little pressure will hurt him. Unintentionally enclosing his giant macular arms around Aaron manik pressed him into his chest. Manik got surprised the way suddenly Aaron stopped crying.

Aaron was looking behind placing his tear stained face at his shoulder. His tiny hand was fisting his shirt collar tightly. Daniel smiled while admiring the natural attraction between these two dad and son. Manik closed his eyes for a moment and let out a sigh of relief, like having cured himself of deep wounds.

Aaron raised his head up from manik’s tears stained shoulder and looked up towards his serious face. Manik smiled the way Aaron was looking at him without blinking his long lashes. Leaning closer he softly kissed his chubby cheek. Taking a deep hiccup Aaron again placed his head back at his chest like he was exhausted of crying.

“Call nandni and ask her to come downstairs asap. Either she wants to attend meeting or not but she must be here. I won’t let him cry any more....!” turning on his heels manik whispered to Daniel. Daniel dialled nandni’s number many times but it was switched off. Half sleepy Aaron still didn’t move his head from the crook of manik’s neck.

After pacing back and forth when manik felt it’s too late for meeting he decided to go for meeting with sleeping Aaron still in his arms.

“Are you going in meeting like this....!” Daniel asked manik but a anger-filled glare from manik stopped his words in the middle.

“I won't mind having my meeting with this baby in my arms, but as he’s sleeping I would hand him over to my assistant....!” manik mumbled lowly to avoid to make a loud noise, totally unknown from Daniel’s priceless smile.

       -------------

Manik entered in meeting room and each person in the meeting room got silent. In pin drop silence one loud gasp filled the air of the room. Manik looked up, his senses went mad when he detected her shocked state. Her palm at her mouth and eyes ready to fall out of their sockets. Manik remained at door, without removing his murderous stare from nandni’s face. Nandni pushed her chair back silently, and took her slow steps towards manik.

She tried hard to contain her tears and all manik did was stare at her with raged eyes. Seeing Aaron in manik’s arms was her dream, but it will come true this early, she never expected. She stopped close to this father son who were everything for her. Her eyes moved from Aaron’s sleeping face to manik's and again back to Aaron. She smiled between her tears, as she raised her trembling hands up to pick Aaron from manik’s arms.

She waited patiently for him to let her have Aaron, but he looked behind her. He signalled towards his assistant, entirely ignoring Nandni's out stretched hands. Taking a step away from nandni, he placed Aaron in his assistant’s arms.

“Outside my one guard is waiting. Take the baby in my room along his all other things. If he cried, you will regret surely...!” His words forced his poor assistant to gulp the limp and she nodded her head immediately. Nandni hanging her hands down kept looking at assistant, leaving room with sleeping Aaron. How her heart craved to have him in her arms for once but intentionally manik punished her for leaving him alone back home.

“Lets start the meeting, whoever is still interested in this meeting can have a seat....!” manik said while standing at the head chair of table.

“Don’t worry, its just his inner Possessive dad forcing him to do this...!” Daniel explained positively, leaning close to still shocked nandni. Placing his hand at her back he signalled her to have seat, so that they can start meeting.
During whole meeting her eyes barely met with manik. Manik kept discussing every needed topic, totally knowing her stare stuck ahead at nothing in particular. Her mind was still lost, thinking about her son just few floor up sleeping in his dad’s room. Manik took a sigh to take breath. His eyes shifted at her and he realised his mistake.

Her eyes seemed laced with pain. He felt like, he was no one to punish a mother like this. Perhaps, he went a little too far, his heart felt heavy. Regret, that was all he sat with, wanted to end the meeting asap so that she may go to see her baby.

“Have a good night. You all are free to go back in your rooms...!” manik was pointedly attentive towards nandni, who first time during the whole meeting saw towards him.

                --------------""""""---------------