Veer thinks he has succeeded in keeping Bani away Karan. For the last two weeks he has set more bodyguards around Bani, instructing them all to not let that bastard get near to Bani. He made sure to drop her or pick her from the set everyday and spent every night together be it at his place or hers, like tonight; just the day before their flight. And right now standing there in her apartment facing Bani, it makes Veer's blood boil. He glares at Bani when she says that she'll be going with Karan.

"What did you say?" Veer asks in a deep low voice which makes Bani tremble inside.

"Veer listen to me. I can-" Bani tries to explain going for Veer's hand.

But Veer holds up, "I am. Explain."

Bani resolutely looks down feeling the piercing gaze on her and says with a straight face, "I didn't terminate my contract with Mr Grover."

"I heard that." Bani flinches at his gruff voice.

She closes her eyes not even being able to look at Veer right now in the eye. She's been dreading this moment since the day she got out from Karan's office....

"Are you blackmailing me?" She had said glaring at Karan.

"Yes I am, sweetheart." Karan had replied flat out, "I'll accept your termination just like your boyfriend told me to but let me tell you, as I sign this termination letter, my another signature will be on your best friend's cancellation letter. You reject me, I reject your best friend."

"On what basis will you do that? You've no right to harass Bella like this!!" Bani sneered.

Karan snorted, "Harass? What harassment, Bani? After days of promotion and preparation, now you're coming to my office with a fucking termination letter. Is that not harassment either?" He hissed, "It's my company, my event. I can choose whoever I want and if I suddenly change my mind to pick someone more experienced model instead of a mere struggling one, nobody can have a say in this!"

"You're evil!" Bani gritted out in disgust, "You picked Bella on purpose, didn't you?"

To which Karan had shameless laughed, "Gladly, sweetheart! But not more than you dear ex-husband. Instead of me why don't you think about your dear best friend?" He says with mock concern, "Think about how heartbroken she'll be when her team suddenly notifies her that it won't be her who'll attend the runway, but a newbie who's no way more deserving than her! Does she deserve it? And to think you're the reason she got pulled into this unfairness in the first place!"

Bani had thought. Thought hard about it and in no way she could bring herself to be the reason of her best friend's misery. Karan is evil and Bani knows that if Bella learns everything she won't blame Bani for any of it. In fact she herself would cancel the invitation but that doesn't mean she wouldn't be heartbroken. So that day, she came out of the building with the termination letter still in her bag. Not uttering anything to her management. Not even when Veer came to pick her up that day.

"Why didn't you tell me about this before? Did you not get any perfect opportunity to say all this until now?" Veer asks in unnervingly calm voice.

Bani bites her lips looking down. She did. She did get plenty of opportunities to tell Veer about this but she was afraid. She knew if she had told Veer about this, he would  do something fatal. And Bani didn't want that. She didn't want their love filled moment to get ruined. Also Low-key she wants to know Karan's motive. So she stayed quiet.

But right now Bani regrets it. Seeing how Veer's eyes scream disappointment before they turn cold, makes her wanna redo everything. She watches how Veer walks away from there. After spending two blissful weeks, this is the last thing she wants now.

Bani gulps shifting on her feet nervously and mutters in low voice, "Fo....for Bella... she's going for the same event. He- he blackmailed me that if I didn't agree -"

"Right. Bella." Veer snorts cutting Bani off, "Of course it's about her. The top of your priority. He said he'll exclude her if you don't agree to his proposal and you did!" Veer hisses on Bani's face, "What else did you do, hmm? Did you meet him sneaking behind my back? Is there something more that you did so that he doesn't sue your best friend?"

"Veer!" Bani gasps in disbelief. Her eyes showing the hurt, "Shut the fuck up, okay? You don't know what you're saying! If I want to do something for someone, that's totally my decision! You don't get to talk shit about it! Just because I said I'd terminate the contract, doesn't mean you get to falsely accuse me like this when I didn't! If I want to work with Mr Grover, that's my choice and you'll have to respect that!"

Veer smiles at her calmly yet his eyes burning with rage as he mutters, "Right. In fact I should be thankful to you that at least you've given me a heads-up and not embarrassed me at the airport instead, no?", his voice dripping sarcasm.

Bani closes her eyes taking a deep breath, "That's not true." She whispers, "You're angry right now, that's why you're talking like this. You didn't even let me finish! Please calm down a bit."

Veer stares at Bani for a long time then nods exhaling, "Right. Bye." He says turning on his heel.

Bani's eyes widen and she grabs Veer's hand immediately, "Veer! You can't just walk out on me like this! What the hell!" Her voice cracks, eyes stinging, "You know this is not the right way, right? You can't.....this...you-"

Veer turns back again cupping Bani's head between his palms and mutters clenching his jaw, "I know. I can't do this to you, I know." His throat bobs as he stares at Bani gravely, "I know this is not the right way but this is the only way right now Bani that I won't lash out on you any farther! You know me! You know how much I hate it when things don't go my way and how worse I can go for that, right?"

A teardrop falls off Bani's eyes. Veer stops it in the midway with his thumb brushing on her cheek and continues, "I'm furious right now, Bani. And it's not only because you changed your mind, but for... other things as well. I would've accepted your decision anyway if you had thought it was worth mentioning to me earlier. And I promised that I'll be better for you this time, yeah?" He says breathing heavy on her face, "So let me be alone for some time being, okay? 'Cause I'm yet to be good and I don't know what I'll do if I stand here for another second. Take care."

Veer presses a forced kiss on Bani's temple before leaving the apartment. Bani breaths out sagging her body, letting her tears fall freely.

🗼🗼🗼🗼🗼

Bani calls Veer on her way to the airport multiple times to find it unreachable. Tapish glances at her confused. Everything was fine untill last night when Bani called her saying they'll be going to Paris. Veer had instructed him earlier about keeping Bani out of Karan's reach somehow, and he made sure of that. The only time Bani went to his office is to give back the termination letter. Everything has gone smooth after that. Or so he thought. But seeing Bani's gloomy face when he came to pick her up this morning or when he called Veer asking if he should bring Bani to his private runway at the airport but got no answer in return tells him that something went wrong.

"I'm ordered to fly with boss today." He says glancing at his side, "Two of the bodyguards will accompany you in the plane. You can tell them or call me if there's any problem. I'll meet you at the airport after landing.

Bani turns to look at Tapish, "Veer's going to Paris?"

Tapish hums, "Briefly. He'll be flying out Nice tonight itself."

"Where will he be staying?" She asks absentmindedly.

Tapish stops, "I'm not informed about that."

"Ask him." Bani says looking ahead, "I want to stay there too."

Tapish doesn't reply to that for a long time. When Bani almost loses hope for any reply, she hears him saying, "I'll tell boss about it. But the organisers have already booked suits for all the models. You've one reserved in your name as well."

Bani doesn't says anything to that. She sends Veer a text,
         :  𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝙸 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 ?

Bani sees Veer in the airport. When they get inside the airport, Tapish helps her with the checking and then asks her to wait for a bit while he walks away talking over phone. Then she sees him. All clad in black jacket and black suit. His eyes covered in sunglasses; face unreadable. Bani watches him walking away to another gateway along with few of his men.

Bani gets up to run after him but Tapish stops her physically holding back, "Don't. What are you doing? There's press here!"

"I don't care. I need to talk to him!" Bani snaps desperately attempting to go after Veer again.

"Bani! Listen to me!" Tapish growls, "He won't talk to you now!"

Bani halts. Her big eyes meets Tapish's still ones, "What?"

Tapish sighs and his gaze softens, "He's busy right now. His phone is switched off so, he won't receive your call. I told him about you."

"What did he say?" Bani asks looking at his face

Tapish stays quiet. Bani shakes him, "What did he say?"

"He didn't say anything about that." Tapish replies, "Just asked me to see you off with the bodyguards and join him immediately."

Bani goes slack in Tapish's hold. She pulls herself away swallowing the dry lump.

"Don't think too much, Bani" Tapish says, "You are going there for work. Do that attentively. Remember this event is also important."

After that she stays silent. When Bella joins her in the flight, talking about her excitement, Bani acts nonchalant; chatting, smiling and all.

Once they land, Bani finds Tapish waiting for her at customs checkpoint. When Bani walks on there for immigration clearance, he informs them about the production management and what they are scheduled to do.

At one point Tapish says, "Umm...Boss said-"

"I don't want to listen." Bani cuts him looking away, "I'm here for work. And that's what I'll do. No need to inform me about your boss. I'll be busy in these days anyway." Bani says sternly.

Her heart feels heavy. She has tried in her way to mend things but Veer also can't give her this kind of attitude every time they have an argument. Call it her self respect or ego, but she doesn't want to pester him anymore about this issue. They were supposed to come together and the bare minimum Veer should've done is to not diss her to fly alone no matter how angry he was.

After all the procedure she stands at the exit waiting for Bella while her bodyguards goes to collect the luggages and then she hears him.

"Hello sweetheart! Here we meet again."

Bani closes her eyes gritting her teeth and then resolutely stares ahead. She wears her mask to hide the annoyance and turns back to see if Bella is coming. To her ease, she is.

"What? No greeting?" Karan stands in front of her looking smug. Bani vaguely wonders if they were on the same flight.

"Mr Grover." Bella's cheery voice comes from behind, "What a lovely surprise."

Karan schools his expression with his pretentious smile, "Ms Tripathi. The pleasure is all mine." They shake hands.

Bani frowns at them. She doesn't want Bella to mingle with Karan but she can't just say that to her right here. Bella's manager is standing right there. Sure she has given Bella plenty of "talks" to chat up the COO. Tapish would've done the same if it weren't for Veer.

"Bani, Is this the first time you are meeting Mr Grover? He was at the charity event that evening." Bella says to Bani.

Bani nods stiffly at her best friend, "Yeah. Saw him there."

"Don't worry Ms Tripathi. I'm sure we'll have plenty of opportunities to know each other more deeply, right Bani?" Karan smirks forwarding his hand at Bani.

Bani's jaw clenches as her hands ball into fist refusing to shake Karan's. She watches Bella and the other two giving her questioning look.

"Don't think that's necessary." Bani startles hearing the deep voice and she turns to her side to look at its owner.

Veer comes to stand beside Bani, sneaking a hand around her waist and growls again, "Let's be professional and keep the relationship strict on business, yeah?"

"Yeah? Under which professionalism are you implying this Mr Singhania?" Karan asks with a menacing smile while his eyes glare at where Veer's holding Bani.

Veer smiles sickeningly sweet in reply and holds Bani's waist tighter muttering, "Oh don't you worry about that, Mr Grover. I'll meet you and your models at the event like every other guests there. But right now I'd like to take my Girlfriend with me. So excuse us." Saying this Veer moves round and giving a slight nod at Tapish, he drags Bani from there to the exit.

It takes Bani a few seconds to understand what just happened, then she stops going still. Veer halts in his track too.

"What?" Veer looks at her.

Bani stares at him trying to figure out what she wants to say, "You-"

Veer cocks his eyebrows, "I- What?"

Bani opens her mouth blinking, "I didn't say bye to Bella."

Veer refrains himself from the eye roll and replies with thin patience, "I already told Tapish to help them get fully settled where they're staying. Also this isn't the last time you're seeing her. You'll be meeting everyday, no?"

Bani closes her mouth shutting up whatever she had to say. Her brain suddenly malfunctioning. Veer holds the car door open for her to get in.

Once they are inside, Bani opens her mouth again, "Where are we going?"

"To our hotel." Veer replies.

"To Our hotel?" Bani tries not to scoff, "I heard you were not going to stay there? And neither was I informed about it."

Veer takes his time to reply. And then he talks, in more calmer tone, "I won't. I'll leave for Nice this evening. So that will be barely 3 or 4 hours after we check in. I've...booked it for you to stay. Thought you'll have better facilities here. But that other one is still in your reservation. So if you want I'll call Tapish to take you there."

Bani doesn't say anything to that. She looks away through the window. Watching the afternoon sun in Paris sky. She ignores the feeling of Veer watching her from side. She bites her tongue clasping her hands together. After a few minutes of passing Veer rummages through his pocket to take out a card and holds it in front of Bani. Bani looks at him questioningly.

"Here's the number I'll be using here." He mutters eyeing Bani, "So if you need anything or wanna talk to me then call me in this number."

Bani takes the card wordlessly and puts it in her purse. "I called you this morning." She begins.

Veer's eyes snap at hers, "Oh?"

Bani hums holding his gaze, "You didn't see."

"That number has been switched off this morning." Veer says.

"I didn't know that!" Bani snaps trying to keep her voice calm, "All I knew was we were supposed to board together. You're mad at me, I get it. But was it too much to expect that you wouldn't leave me on hang? How long could it take to let me know that you'd change your number or you won't be able to fly with me?"

Bani watches Veer's face remaining as motionless as ever yet she can obscurely see his hand clenched into a fist. She continues, "I was right there at the airport and you walked away as if you didn't even see me! But you did! You knew Tapish went there with me, right? What could be the reason for such attitude, Veeranshu?"

Veer nods slowly drawling, "You're right. I'm sorry. I should've let you know earlier. I was running late for an urgent meeting. It was held in my jet on my way to here. That is why I couldn't bring you with me. Also if you still remember I wasn't supposed to be in Paris initially. I came here for you."

Bani's heart skips a bit but she doesn't show it on her face. This simply doesn't excuse his deed. So she looks away again admiring the outer view. It's only when they check in and enter their suite, Bani mutters looking ahead, "I want Tapish to keep the reservation for the other hotel under my name."

Veer stops in his track and looks at her. Bani looks away after a quick glance and continues, "And for this one also."

Veer sighs taking off his jacket, "Okay. But this suite is booked under my name and it will remain that way. You can stay wherever you want as per your convenience."

Bani nods wrapping her overcoat tighter around herself, "Hmm."

"Your bodyguards are in next doors of either side. Call them whenever you need them. They'll be outside of your room." He says

"I'm not a prisoner!" Bani chides. The thought of being guarded by two man repulse her.

Veer nods turning to look at her, "You're not. Neither are they prison guards. They'll simply do their job." 

"Guarding me when I'm in my room is not their fucking job!" Bani's voice rises as she takes a step towards Veer, "I can simply tell them my schedule and they can accompany me there."

"They do. We've already talked about this, didn't we?" Veer drawls leaning his head towards Bani, "I'm not here to do social service, Bani. People will be behind me and what's mine, just like my men are behind theirs. And you know what terrible things I do to them. So I need to be careful and keep you safe, yeah?"

Veer lifts his hands to cup Bani's pale face, "They'll be outside your room all the time when I'm gone. Two guards are set outside right across your window. You're not to go anywhere without them, got it?", he says as gently as he can.

"What are you here to do?" Bani asks shakily.

Veer's eyes roam over her face as he mutters, "Soliciting. Arms dealing. Drug shipping."

A muffled gasp escapes Bani's mouth. She looks at Veer's emotionless face. Those stilly eyes don't match his gentle vocal. She can't help but think about what Karan said the other day in his office,

"My men have spied behind him and they informed that Veeranshu will be taking an escort to France in their prostitution solitude. You can guess who that girl might be, can't you sweetheart?"

"Who are you showing so much loyalty to, Bani? That guy is using you! The moment you set foot on Paris, he'll have you under guard until he ship you off. You're too precious to him, sweetheart!" Karan had said eyeing her lucidly. His sneer haunting, "After all he killed his own father for you! He won't let that sacrifice go in vain."

Happy Reading 🤍🤍🤍
Hope y'all are doing well ❤️❤️❤️
Take care 💜💜💜