Page 55 of Wicked Trap

“Ready for what?” Tanvi asked absently, clicking on her desktop screen.

“Oh my God! Don’t tell me you forgot!” Rashmi’s voice yelled over the music.

Tanvi frowned and then she recalled. Oh shit.

“Don’t you dare ditch us!” Rashmi threatened. “You promised a party on Friday night for your new job. We are heading to your place. You better get ready soon. We will be there in a few minutes!”

Tanvi knew her friend would lose it if she said she was still at work.

“Okay. Give me thirty minutes.”

There was some grumbling, and then the line cut off.

Tanvi suppressed a smile and put her phone away. She stared at the screen for a few seconds before letting out a sigh and shutting down the system. She supposed she needed a break from her snooping. Hopefully, blowing off steam with her friends over the weekend will help her think of a better way.

***

She only had ten minutes remaining to get ready. Closing the lift door, she hurried down the hallway toward her apartment. She heard the giggles followed by a deep drawl.

She couldn’t see anyone in the hallway. When she neared her apartment, the sound of giggles grew louder. It was coming from the arrogant neighbor’s home.

Is he on a date?

With a dark frown, she turned towards his apartment. She could see the small living room. But what surprised her was to see Rashmi and Kavita seated on the couch. They were blushing and giggling like school girls.

“Tanvi!” Rashmi greeted when she saw her. “We got here ten minutes ago. Since you weren’t home yet, Arjun let us wait at his home.”

Tanvi’s eyes automatically shifted and fell on her arrogant neighbor watching her with his usual amused smirk.

“Since we both can’t seem to stay away from each other, I propose a deal to give it a try and date each other.”

Her cheeks heated, recalling their last kiss and his outrageous proposal. She had deliberately stayed away from him for the last five days. She had left for work early and returned home late. But although she had avoided the man, his arrogant presence along with the memories of their burning passion remained inside her head to haunt her all week long.

“Thanks,” she murmured. Then dragging her eyes away from him, she looked at her friends. “We’ll leave in a few minutes.”

Rashmi looked excited. “Arjun suggested a new restaurant and bar lounge where one of his friends works as a manager. We can go there. I was just asking Arjun if he can join us too.”

“No!” she said immediately. “I’m sure he’s busy and has other plans already.”

“Actually... I am somewhat free tonight,” he drawled.

Her eyes flew to him, and the jerk looked amused. She glared at him, only to see his amusement increase.

“Unless my presence bothers you in some way, I can join you guys later tonight.”

Feeling cornered and not wanting to show that his presence affected her in any way, she raised her chin. “No. You don’t bother me at all.”

His eyes flashed in amusement.

Rashmi clapped excitedly. “That’s so awesome!”

Feeling cornered and unable to find an excuse, Tanvi scowled at her friends. “Let’s go.”

As soon as she stepped out and unlocked her apartment door, her friends burst out with questions and comments.

“Oh my God, he looks so hot!” Rashmi said excitedly. “I thought it was my imagination when I saw him briefly a few weeks ago.”

“He’s so charming too,” Kavita added.

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