Page 84 of Wicked Trap

“Jealousy,” her friend replied. “Apparently, letting the guy know he has serious competition will make him commit and not take you for granted.”

“Oh.” Tanvi’s frown grew.

She didn’t know if Arjun was the kind to ever be jealous of another guy. He was way too cocky and arrogant to believe she would be interested in anyone else.

She did use Sameer briefly to make him jealous. But the arrogant jerk would know immediately if she tried to pretend once again that she was interested in Sameer.

“What if there is no competition?” she asked.

Kavita smiled. “Then simply make up one.”

Tanvi didn’t think that would work. She opened her mouth to say something when her phone began ringing. It was from her father’s office.

Letting out a sigh, she answered the call. She expected it to be about signing more documents related to the trust.

“Hello?”

“Miss Shetty. Your father has asked me to inform you that there is a party event being held on Sunday at home. He wants you to attend it.”

Tanvi’s heart jerked. “What event is this?” she demanded. “Who is the guest of honor?”

“Uh... I was told that the guest of honor is a business acquaintance of Mr. Girish.”

“What’s his name?”

“I’m not entirely sure, madam.”

Tanvi frowned. “Does he happen to be from New York or America?”

There was a pause. The assistant seemed taken aback by her questions. She usually didn’t bother asking questions about any of the parties or events her father invited her to because she had barely attended any of them.

“I’m not sure about that too, madam. I can check with your father and get back.”

“Yes. Please do. And also tell him I will be attending the event.”

The man murmured something polite and ended the call.

“What happened?” Rashmi asked. “Why do you look so excited?”

Tanvi smiled. She knew her smile was that of satisfaction. “I’m going to finally meet the chairman of Prism Corporation. He is attending the party my father is hosting.”

Her friends looked surprised. “How do you know it is him?”

Tanvi wasn’t sure. But her father’s words and her gut instinct said that the guest of honor, the billionaire from New York who would help fund her father’s elections, was the same bastard who wants to build the mall in City Central Park.

“My father hinted that I shouldn’t hound him at the event. I promised him that I wouldn’t.”

Rashmi laughed. “Are you going to keep up the promise?” she asked.

Tanvi smiled. “No,” she replied. “I’m going to let that bastard know exactly what I think of him and his project.”

***

Tanvi got back home and began planning while getting things ready to cook dinner. She had only two days to prepare for the party. Although she didn’t care about what she would wear and the rest of the logistics, she had to plan on how she should be cornering the guest of honor so she could speak to him uninterrupted.

Maybe I should dress sexy.

Her stomach turned at the thought of trying to catch the attention of the ruthless bastard who cares more about his profits than the fragile ecosystem or health of nearly a million people living in the city.

---