Nikhil asked Julie, his assistant to go on as his mother was calling. Leaning back against the door of his car, he answered the phone call. "Hi, sweetheart. Good morning." Even though he was talking to his mother, he would call her endearing names to tease his father when he was younger and by now, it had become a habit.

Rasika Khanna greeted, "Good morning! Hope I didn't wake you up."

"No, uh not at all. I actually have a meeting in five minutes."

Rasika scolded him at once, "You're unbelievable! Working even on a Saturday? No wonder Sonia left you."

He groaned at the mention of his ex-girlfriend's name. "Mom."

"Okay, okay. Sorry. I just called to ask if you found her."

By 'her', he knew who she was talking about without needing clarification. "Unfortunately for me, there are hundreds of Esha Shah in the area."

She chipped in, "Also unfortunate for you, you were an idiot for not having asked for her cell number."

He defended his lack of action. "And come off as creepy? What girl would give her number after talking for a minute?" Deep down, he knew he was an idiot. Once the flight landed, things had happened so hectically that he lost her in the crowd and the thought of getting her number had not even occurred to him.

"For being such a successful person, your personal life sucks, Nick." She chastised, behaving his age and talking to him as a friend instead of his mother.

As such, he had told his parents about Esha and what had happened in Vegas a week ago. Even if 26 years of age, he did not hide such major things from his parents. Living in different cities as well, he still kept regular contact with them.

He sighed, requesting after checking his wrist watch, "Yes, mumma. We've established that this year for sure. Can we talk later? I have to go."

This year, in particular, had not been the best for him. First, Sonia left him having given him an ultimatum to commit more to her and less to his work. And then the weekend that he was not proud of because he knew he was a better guy than that.

"Oh, alright. Go, but really Nick. You've got to get better at balancing work life and personal life," she gave one last piece of advice before ending the call.

With another sigh, he discarded his phone in his pockets. He knew she wasn't wrong. He did need to focus on his personal life now.

That image of Esha as he had first seen her in that night club was imprinted in his brain. He couldn't rid it no matter how hard he tried. Also, he knew. She might not remember the night but he recalled every single moment and it was impossible to forget. Even for him - a guy deadly focused on his work had been drifting off in memories this whole week at work.

Stepping inside the elevator, he closed his eyes for a moment. He told himself he needed to get it together. He couldn't let one girl take over all his senses completely. A girl he had known for few hours. But, no. The second he closed his eyes, her smiling face conquered his resolve yet again.

That smile on her face but those empty eyes. They made for a deadly combination.

The way she had held his hand with such right and dragged him away from the bar and towards a private section of the club.

The comfort with which she had so easily dissolved the concept of personal space and sat on his lap not caring for the fact that they were strangers to each other.

At the ding of the elevator, he opened his eyes. His mission of trying to bring focus to the coming meeting utterly failed. As the silver steel doors slid open, his eyes traveled up from the floor to meet to eyes of the female standing at the other end.

His eyes widened seeing her. For a second, he wondered if he was now starting to imagine her out of his thoughts. Because if so, he was going to have to book an appointment with some psychiatrist for hallucinations. But then, she spoke. "Nikhil?"

His name from her voice. In the years, he had gotten habituated to hearing Nick. Even his parents called him that now. But, no. Not Esha. When he had told her his name was Nick, she had called him out on it and made him tell her his proper Indian name, not the one he insisted as a child that he be called trying to fit in as an American born Indian.

He realized she really was standing in front of him. "Esha. Hi. You work here?"

She nodded with that polite smile of hers, "Uh, yeah." She was still trying to reel from seeing him - especially in a business suit. It beat the business casual she had seen him in on the flight. She was, however, quick to recover for she did not let people's looks affect her so. "Let me guess. Nick?"

The elevator door started to close and he realized he was still standing inside. She stuck a hand out to keep it open taking a small step forward just as he moved forward to step out. She held her breath as he suddenly invaded her personal space - her vision filled with his broad shoulder.

Her eyes flickered up to meet his, tilting her head back in the process. He was already looking at her. His hand had stalled mid-air by her side in reflex when he had thought they might crash into each other but when they hadn't, he hadn't touched her. A deep part of him wished he had. He would have had an excuse, wouldn't he?

Simply standing so close to her and yet not touching anywhere seemed to be an intimate gesture. And, oh. Such torture.

She caught a whiff of his cologne that had her breathing again and side stepped to move away, her hand dropping to her side and allow the doors to close. "Sorry," she said out of politeness.

He swallowed his thoughts away, recalling her last spoken words and forced his brain to reply, "Yeah, it's easy for people to say than Nikhil. Where's Julie?"

It was a safer bet to be around her where others were present as well. Atleast until he could get his physical reactions in control. He had to remind himself he was no teenager and needed to have a better hold over his impulses.

"Oh, they're inside getting coffee." She nodded her head, asking him to follow her. She escorted him to the conference room, her mind blank of all thoughts. "Mr. Santora, Mr. Khanna is here."

"Please. Nick." He offered along with his hand and the two guys shook hands.

Louis introduced, "This is Camille, our creative director and Esha, her assistant."

He answered at the mention of Esha, "Oh, I know."

Louis asked, "You two know each other?"

Esha was quick to answer, "No, not really."

All eyes turned to her as Nikhil explained, "We happened to be seat buddies on my flight back from Vegas a week ago."

Everyone nodded, quick to let it go and see nothing more in it, took their seats around the conference table. Pressing a button with a remote, Esha turned off the lights and fired up the projector. While Louis and Camille gave the presentation, Esha only changed the slides when either of the two nodded at her, giving the go sign. She looked at Julie and Nikhil now and then to try and conclude their expressions.

It was easy to read Julie, but not Nikhil. She couldn't tell if he was impressed or not.

At the end, Esha turned the lights back on. Camille asked, "So, does this seem like something you might be you're looking for?"

Nikhil sat up further in his seat instead of leaning back like he had been when the power-point was being presented. "I'll be honest: it's too grand for my liking. No doubt, it fits the standard we have for our hotels." He paused, his lips pressing together as he figured out a way to say what he wanted to.

Without meaning to, Esha answered, "You were looking for something more intimate."

Nikhil's eyes snapped up to her, and she thought he wouldn't have liked to be interrupted, but was left surprised when he nodded, "Yes, intimate."

The word itself flashed a memory of holding her close, her body under his. He thought how it should be against the law for her to say such a word in a professional environment.

He forced himself to continue speaking knowing others were waiting on him and that only happened when he blinked away from her captivating eyes and towards Louis and Camille. Those eyes had gotten hold of a part of him since the first second and blinking away was an impossible task in itself that he had to manage.

"It's a bed and breakfast, after all. If we wanted something grand, we would have opted for another hotel, and these ideas would have been perfect for that. Don't get me wrong, Mr. Santora, it's just... Evan, the youngest heir to Jace, he wants to start a chain of bed and breakfasts for a typical middle-class couple looking to get away for the weekend or a quick holiday with children. He wants something an average working guy can afford for his family."

Family. His heart wasn't listening to his brain as they found his eyes traveling to her again.

"That's a nice thought." Camille answered, and Esha seconded that. She was impressed as well; though she hadn't met the man behind these thoughts, she could tell he must be a guy respected well by others.

"Yes." Nikhil agreed, "Now, I would love to collaborate with your company for this project. I do like the figures you have proposed, but we'll have to change a few things around, creatively speaking."

Louis spoke, "Ofcourse, we can definitely come up with designs that will better fit your idea."

Nikhil nodded, "Perfect. Is a week time enough? We can meet again and revisit terms then."

Camille answered, "A week is good. Don't you worry Nick, we won't disappoint."

Nikhil got up and looked at Esha while answering, "I'm sure you won't."

Something about the way he said it and looked at her confused her. She couldn't help but wonder if he was talking about something else as well. But if so, what?

He then continued, "I take it you will be working on the project?"

"I..." Esha began to explain, but Camille beat her to it, "Ofcourse, she's going to lead the project."

"What?" Esha's head snapped at hers. That wasn't true. From what she knew, she was going to handle another project, something low-scale since she was still learning the ropes of this company. Camille had said it herself.

Camille gave her a quick glare, telling her to shut it. Esha abided, though she could not believe this was happening. She did not deem herself ready to lead such an important project.

Nikhil commented, "That's wonderful then. We'll see you in a week." He shook everyone's hand at the end, and when he shook hers, a warm feeling passed on to her. It was the way his thumb brushed back and forth on the back of her hand for a quick second. That little action of his was familiar to her. She just couldn't pinpoint it, but the back of her mind kept telling her how familiar it was.

Esha tried to offer a smile, pushing her thoughts back, trying to convince herself it was nothing.

Nikhil nodded in response, pulling his hand back. He could tell it had bothered her. The first time he had met her in that bar and had introduced himself, shaking her hand, this action had been unintentional. Her skin was just so soft and her hand fit so perfectly in his, he couldn't help doing it. Right now, however, he did it intentionally to see if she remembered atleast that.

The confusion on her face told him she did find it familiar, but needed a slight push to remember.

He was definitely going to enjoy working on the project. It had been a pleasant surprise running into her. For the whole week, he had been distracted from work.

After this, he found his focus on work returning - albeit still half-distracted by her thoughts ever-ready to invade his brain. But atleast by some play of Fate, he had run into her again and he could rest assured that they'd see each other again very soon.

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Once Julie and Nikhil were down the elevator, Esha questioned Camille, "What was that? I'm not even supposed to be assisting you on this project. How did I become the lead?"

Louis chuckled, apparently finding my hyper state to be amusement. "Alright, I'll leave you two to it. I'm going back to bed. Good luck, Cammie." He stepped inside the open elevator and left the two of us alone.

Camille turned to walk towards her office.

"I asked you a question!" Esha exclaimed, following at her heel.

She started to pack her laptop in the bag, "Do you really have to ask?"

"Uh, duh!" Esha answered, placing her hands on her hips, "I'm way underqualified to lead such a big project and you know it!"

Camille sighed, walked up to her, and placing her hands on her shoulders, made her sit on the chair. "Esha, you're brilliant, okay? The number of years of experience mean nothing if you have no talent. And you, my dear, caught on to what he wanted when he was still trying to figure out the words to say it. You two have a connection. Trust that. Go with it. I have no doubt you'll come up with the best designs this company has ever seen for this project... and that's saying something coming from me because I happen to hold that record thus far."

Esha objected, "But, it's different to say what they wanted and actually pen it out on paper!"

Camille walked around the table to her chair, "Are you always going to only assist, Esha? We both know your end goal is to create your own designs and see it become a reality for someone. You couldn't have found a better project to start with, if you ask me."

"But what if I can't do it? I don't want the company to lose such a big project because of me." Esha voiced her fears. She wasn't ready to have such a huge load of responsibility on her shoulders.

Camille let out a laugh, worrying Esha of her superior's mental stability for she did not think this was a matter to laugh about. "Really, Esha? That's never going to happen. The guy is a hardcore businessman. Why do you think he's only twenty-six and yet the second in command for Jace & Sons? Not even Richard Jace, the senior-most member of the board and founder of Jace & Sons, questions his judgement. He knows what he does, and what he wants. He doesn't spare a glance back at anything that doesn't meet standards the first time around. Nick giving us a second chance in itself is a signed deal."

Esha questioned, "Wait, if he doesn't give chances, why would he give us one?"

Some reason, it didn't gel-well with her. If he was the person Camille was describing him as, what reason did he have to give up his seat and sit in economy class next to her, a stranger? He shouldn't have spared a second glance in her direction, or be bothered enough that some creepy guy was bothering someone - again, a stranger. Camille's description and the glimpse she had seen were stark opposites.

"Because, I dare say, he's smitten by you." Camille went on to comment absent-mindedly, continuing to gather her things about so she could have the rest of the weekend. "Without you even trying with that buttoned up shirt and the boring way you have your hair styled. Huh. Who would have thought?"

"Excuse me?" Esha was still stuck on the very first statement. Smitten by you? Me?

Camille shook her head, getting up and grabbing her bag, "Just... whatever, Esha. You're obviously not going to believe it. If Louis didn't bother to correct me in there, the project is yours. End of discussion. Oh, and thanks for getting that big ball of stress off my back and onto yours. Now, go enjoy your first weekend in Portland, and allow me to get back to my boyfriend. Lock up the conference room on your way out. See you on Monday."

"Bye." The one word was all Esha could manage to say since Camille left not even a second in between for her to squeeze in an objection.

Her mind thought back to the split second of closeness when Nikhil had stepped out of the elevator and the warmth that she had felt when he'd brushed his thumb over the back of her hand.

She knew then itself... she was in trouble.

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Esha returned to her two-bedroom apartment each with their own bathroom attached. In a way, it might as well be a penthouse, taking its size into consideration. This is what happens when both the sister, Sanam and brother-in-law, Arjun were rich, and refused to let her live anywhere that they considered 'unsafe'. Even her parents didn't object. In fact, they sided with them once Arjun had brought up the safety point. After which, neither her mom or her dad listened to a thing Esha tried to say about renting and co-leasing an apartment so she'd have room-mates.

Still, that didn't stop Esha from posting an ad on a couple of Facebook groups so she could have someone occupy the spare bedroom.

She was met with a strong smell of food the second she stepped inside.

"It smells good in here Watcha cooking?" She voiced out to Reba, her room-mate. She dyed her hair blonde, naturally brunette, and had blue eyes. She had recently graduated a state college with her AA and was now enrolled in a four-year institution working on her BS in computer science.

Reba turned off the stove, stirring the pot, "Casserole. Don't worry, I made it vegetarian, so you can eat too."

Esha grinned and hugged her from the back, "You're the best." The deal they had when Reba agreed to be her room-mate was that Reba could pay half the rent Esha had originally planned on, if Reba cooked. Esha, for one, hated cooking - never mind the fact she didn't know how to. It worked out perfectly since cooking was therapeutic for Reba. The only slight problem was that Esha was a vegetarian, so Reba had to take that into consideration.

Reba laughed, nudging her away with her elbow, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a lesbian - not that I have anything against them."

Esha huffed, "Whatever, I'm just open about showing love to my girlfriends, kay?"

"Uh-huh. Sure. Why don't you go get a boyfriend to show that love to?" Reba teased, placing food on the table.

"Nah, they're over-rated." Esha answered, taking a seat at the table. Reba shook her head.

"I don't understand you. You're so warm and affectionate, until it comes to guys. Then you become a cold bee-yatch."

"Well, yes. Because they're all assholes. Anyway, let's just eat. I'm starving." Esha commented, given she hadn't had breakfast as she had to rush to reach the office early. Also, this wasn't a topic she wanted to get into. If she did get into it, she would be ranting about all her past dates for hours and she was sure Reba wouldn't want to listen to that.

Reba dismissed it, having understood in the week of living with her that some topics, Esha wasn't comfortable discussing, and guys happened to be at the top of that list. "Alright, I was thinking we go out today. Get you to see the city."

"I'm down."

Reba grinned, "Cool, I've got a few places in mind. You might want to wear pants instead of that skirt. It's a bit chilly out today."

She knew Reba had a point. The October weather was starting to get chilly - especially today given it was cloudy. Still, Esha made a face at being told to wear pants for she hated them. She was a dresses and skirts type of girl.

But, she wasn't going to let it get in the way of her exploring the new city she was in.

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