Page 126 of One Hellish Love

She realized he was playing with her. She should have known better than to get caught up in this ridiculous back-and-forth.

“Fine! Eat whatever you like. I don’t care,” she snapped, reaching to take the pancake dish away.

But before she could, Rudra caught her hand, stopping her in her tracks. His touch was gentle.

“You only need to say it, Kashish.”

Her pulse quickened at his words. “Say… what?” she stammered, feeling the warmth of his touch spreading through her hand. Why was he affecting her like this? She clenched her jaw, refusing to let him have the upper hand. But she wouldn’t let her efforts in making the pancakes go waste.

“I want you to eat the pancakes,” she finally said, her eyes locking with his in defiance.

Rudra’s lips curled into a boyish smile. He released her hand and served himself the pancakes. As he took his first bite, he closed his eyes, savoring the taste as if it were the best thing he had ever eaten. She watched him captivated by how he enjoyed the simple meal she had prepared. He devoured the pancakes in minutes, then turned his gaze back to her.

“They were perfect,” he said softly. “It’s like you poured all your dedication into these pancakes.”

Every time he praised her like this, it felt as though she was losing her grip on her emotions. She remained silent, unable to respond, her throat tightening with the effort to suppress her reaction.

“Thank you, Kashish. I won’t ask you to make them again, but I want you to know that I truly appreciate how much you care. How you always seem to think about my needs... it means a lot to me.”

She swallowed hard, trying to regain her composure. “I’m just... repaying the debt I owe you and your family.”

Rudra’s smile faded, replaced with a deep frown. But before he could counter her statement, Vimal entered the house, interrupting the moment.

“Good morning, Sir. Morning, Ma’am. I’m here to take you both to the client’s office.”

Rudra nodded curtly asking Vimal to wait in the living room while they finish their breakfast. Kashish hurried to finish her breakfast, but as she stood to leave, she remembered Rudra’s words from the previous night. He didn’t like being left alone while he was eating. Despite herself, she sat back down and waited for him to finish it too. Rudra noticed the gesture. It was a small shift, but it mattered. She was beginning to soften, to change. Now all he needed was for her to realize that she wasn’tdoing this out of some misplaced sense of obligation—she cared for him in ways she hadn’t yet admitted, not even to herself.

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Mehta’s Office - Jaipur

The staff at Mehta’s office greeted Rudra and the entire Raheja Designs team with utmost professionalism, leading them to their designated workspaces. Kashish immediately immersed herself in managing her team, while Rudra handled the higher-level management and client relations. His charisma and sharp handling of discussions left the Mehta group thoroughly impressed, exceeding their expectations.

As the day stretched into a grueling work session, the team finally began to wind down. Rudra, with his usual purpose, made his way to Kashish’s cubicle. Unlike the spacious area she had back at the Raheja Designs office, here she worked in a smaller, more confined space. But he knew she wouldn’t complain—she never did. He found her engrossed in conversation with Molly, one of her team members.

“Molly, we only have two days left to finalize these designs,” Kashish instructed. “I’ve already spoken to the lead at Mehta’s, and they expect the presentation on the third day.”

Molly nodded earnestly. “Yes, Ma’am. The team will be ready.”

“Great. You can all leave now. I’ll stay back to finish a few more things.”

Molly gave a respectful nod before leaving. As soon as she was gone, Rudra stepped inside Kashish’s workspace, his presence filling the small cubicle.

“No one is working beyond hours tonight,” he declared firmly. “Pack up, we’re leaving.”

Kashish glanced up at him, her gaze cold. “It’s easy for the management to make these calls,” she shot back, her eyesreturning to the sketches. “But when deadlines aren’t met, it’s the staff that gets the blame. I’m not about to upset my boss.”

Rudra smirked, leaning in closer. “Oh, you have plenty of ways to make your boss happy.”

Her hand froze mid-sketch as she met his eyes. Was he seriously flirting? He leaned in further, placing both palms on her desk and bending toward her.

“Just three little words, Kashish. That’s all it would take to heal your boss’s aching heart.”

Her cheeks flushed a deep red. Kashish quickly scanned the room, her heart racing, afraid someone might have overheard him. Fortunately, the office was nearly empty except for a distant peon.

“I don’t have anything to say that would ease your heart, Mr. Raheja,” she replied, keeping her voice even.

Rudra leaned back, arms crossing over his chest, a playful gleam in his eyes. “Lying doesn’t suit you, Miss Bedi.”

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