Chapter 3: Keeping a Promise

"Hello, Miss. Sharma, I am phoning up about further details of our meeting tomorrow night as I promised," Kabir Mittal crisply informed Pooja over her phone

"I see," Pooja replied feeling a mixture of emotions.

She had been irrationally hoping all day that she would not receive a phone call from Kabir Mittal . So then she could convince herself he had forgotten, or been lying and misleading her yet again, and she could feel justified in classing him as the uncaring big business man that she believed him to be.

But just when she was feeling sure he wouldn't call; the phone rang later that evening.

Knowing it might be him, she had hesitated before picking it up. But then she thought about Haven, and the women who would be depending on her, so she hurriedly answered it.

She couldn't let Mandira and the others down just because she had taken a personal grudge against Kabir Mittal . If he was willing to listen to her, she decided she would happily agree to meet him in hell if she had to.

"Sorry I have left it so late to get back to you, but I got held up at the meeting, and I could only make the arrangements now for tomorrow night. So I have booked us a table at Gianni's Restaurant for eight o'clock. If that is alright with you?"

"That sounds fine," Pooja replied airily, as if she went out to dinner with wealthy property developers every night of the week

"Great, well I will pick you up between seven and seven thirty, so you had better give me you address," Kabir Mittal then suggested

Pooja reluctantly gave it to him. Her imagination suddenly started to work overtime, realising that now he knew her address, he could pay a hit man to take her out if she threatened him any further with going to the newspaper.

She shook this thought out of her head, silently chiding herself for watching too many late night thrillers on TV, which had lead her mind wander into the realms of fantasy.

But now she had other worries to occupy her mind, like what she should wear?

Gianni's sounded pretty up market, and was probably some expensive restaurant that was a far cry from 'McDonald's' or 'Burger King', where she would normally eat out. She imagined her usual Mandiras and a top wouldn't really be appropriate

"Is Gianni's the sort of place where you would usually eat?" she then queried warily, deciding to double check

"Yes," Kabir Mittal replied, "Is there a problem with that?"

"No, I just making sure, so I know what to expect." Pooja hurriedly replied

"I have to say, I am looking forward to tomorrow night Miss. Sharma. I hope you appreciate my efforts in finding the time to give you this chance to state your case, I am a very busy man."

"I am very grateful to you Mr. ," she grudgingly managed to get out through gritted teeth, remembering Mandira's advice to be nice to the man at all costs, "And I am sure, once I do state my case, you will realise why I have went to so much bother to try and get your attention"

"Well tomorrow night you will have my full attention Miss. Sharma, I can assure you of that,"

Kabir Mittal's tone had softened, becoming less brisk and business like, making his statement sound a little too personal.

Pooja decided to put it down to her over active imagination again. But she never had the chance to find out, as he chose that moment to abruptly hang up without so much as a 'goodbye'

"What a rude man!" she muttered into herself, frowning at her receiver. He was making it clear she was no more than an inconvenience to him, just something he wanted dealt with as quick as possible.

Well all she would have to do was persuade him to extend the lease on Haven for another few months, at least until they were able to find somewhere else. Then she could assure him, he would never have to see or hear from her again.

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The following day Pooja found herself cursing Kabir Mittal in frustration for putting her in the situation. She had been rummaging hopelessly through her wardrobe for something that would look alright going for dinner in a fancy restaurant.

She only had one decent dress, which she had bought over a year ago for a charity function, to raise money for the Refuge.

It was a little dark blue strapless number, with a thick black band around the waist and straight skirt that just reached to her knees. There was also a dark blue wrap that went along with it, to go around her bare shoulders.

But she hoped it didn't make her look overdressed, she didn't want him thinking she was going out of her way to impress him.

In the end, one of her friends from work came to her rescue, offering to lend her a black jacket to go along with the dress. It made it look less formal, and more business like.

She decided it would have to do. She also allowed her friend to do her make up and hair, Pooja was never one to make a fuss over her appearance. and she resented that she had to go to all this bother just to meet Kabir Mittal

But as the time drew nearer for the dreaded dinner meeting, she started getting jittery about the whole thing. The significance of it all was starting to sink in.

She had the feeling he had deliberately put her in this situation, knowing she would feel out of place, like fish out of water. And he probably knew fine well, that sitting in some fancy restaurant, with a wealthy powerful business man like himself, would make her nervous. He probably would enjoy seeing her discomfort.

It made her realise she could not underestimate Kabir Mittal . But she was not going to let him intimidate her either. There was too much at stake

She had overcome much bigger obstacles and trials in her short life. She decided with a new determination, that she wasn't going to let a poxy meal with him be overly daunting..

But still, as she anxiously glanced out the window of her small one bedroom flat, and caught sight the large familiar silver grey car belonging to him, pull up beside the pavement down below.

Her heart felt like it was in her mouth, but there was no going back now. She grabbed her purse sitting on the nearby sofa, and hurried down to meet him as he got out of his car. She had no intentions of meeting him at the door or inviting him into her humble home so he could turn his nose up at it.

Kabir Mittal was about to climb the first flight of stairs leading to Pooja's flat, but he only reached the second step when he heard the clatter of feet on the concrete stairway.

Looking up, he didn't immediately recognise the young woman who appeared suddenly in front of him, which made him stop dead in his tracks.

But then he realised it was Pooja Sharma, looking startlingly different from the day before.

Her shoulder length auburn hair had been loosely curled and hung down around her face, and although her make up was subtle, done somewhat sparingly, it still made a big difference, enhancing her fine cheekbones and those large hazel eyes.

The dark colouring of her dress and jacket complimented her pale skin and slim figure, making her almost attractive, and worth a second look

Pooja could not help but get a little twinge of satisfied pleasure when she seen the surprised look on Kabir Mittal 's face, as he first got caught sight of her on the stairs.

"Did I scrub up well enough for you Mr. ?" she queried lightly, but those hazel eyes had a hint of mockery in them which he did recognise, making him smile.

"Yes Miss. Sharma, you have scrubbed up very well," he assured her. Kabir Mittal stepped back down the stairs to wait on her to join him, so they could walk to his car together.

She took the opportunity to size him up.

He was sharply dressed in a dark suit, and tie that gave him the aura of a powerful businessman. His dark hair was cut short and slicked back, his face showing his strong jaw line, his brown eyes rested on her, his expression now unreadable, giving nothing away of what he was thinking.

Which she found a little un nerving.

Because she had never actually met him face to face until the day before, Pooja had always pictured Kabir Mittal as some middle aged fat business man, with a receding hairline and chewing on a cigar.

So she had been slightly l taken aback when she realised he was much younger than she first imagined.

Not that it particularly mattered at the time. All she had wanted to do was vent her annoyance at him for ignoring them, and get his attention

But tonight it was different. The whole dinner meeting scenario had forced her to acknowledge him in a new light.

She was suddenly made more aware of his powerful masculinity, and she just hoped she looked far more confident than she felt, as she let him lead her to his car all she wanted was to get the evening over and done with as quick as possible.

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