Page 17 of One Hellish Love

Rudra tensed again, disliking the idea, but when Kashish didn’t refuse, he stayed silent. The two women left for Kashish’s room, and Rudra watched them disappear upstairs, his mind swirling.

Shekhar approached him, a hand on his shoulder.

“Good news. Kashish has agreed to work with us—for Tanuja Mehra, at least.”

Rudra’s heart skipped a beat. Kashish had agreed? The thought filled him with equal parts joy and dread.

“She knows she’ll have to see me nearly every day for the next four months?” Rudra asked, his voice strained.

“She’s fine with it,” Shekhar replied, though his confidence wavered.

Fine?No, she wasn’t. Rudra knew Kashish better than that.

“Do you have a problem with her working for us?” Shekhar asked cautiously.

Rudra remained silent, his thoughts racing.

“If it makes things easier, I can handle everything, and she won’t have to report to you directly.”

“No,” Rudra said quickly, though his voice lacked its usual conviction. “I’ll handle it.”

Shekhar smiled, patting his shoulder. “I think she’s trying to move on from the past, Rudra. Maybe it’s time you did the same. Let’s hope this client changes things for all of us, for the better.”

Rudra nodded, but deep down, he knew it wasn’t that simple. Moving on wasn’t just about flipping a switch. And for someone like Kashish, it would take more than time. She wasn’t doing this for herself—she was doing it for Shekhar. Whatever her reasons, though, Rudra silently vowed to ensure that her work brought her some happiness. That, after all, was the only thing he had ever wanted for her.

CHAPTER 7

Kashish stood alone on the terrace, a shawl wrapped around her upper body, shielding herself from the biting chill of the night breeze. Tomorrow would mark a pivotal moment in her life—the day she would step into Raheja’s Office, not as a visitor, but as an employee. She was about to embark on the project forTalaash Boutiqueunder Tanuja Mehra. She had full confidence in her work; she knew her designs could impress even the harshest critics. Yet, despite her excitement, an unsettling thought loomed in the back of her mind—the presence ofhim. She would have to face Rudra repeatedly, and she knew she had to carefully manage her emotions, ensuring her indifference toward him didn’t attract the attention of others. This wasn’t just her reputation at stake; Shekhar was involved too, and she couldn’t allow her personal feelings to jeopardize his standing.

Unbeknownst to her, someone had been watching her in silence. Rudra stood in the shadows, hidden behind the terrace plants, his eyes fixed on her. Sleep had eluded him tonight, as it often did. Despite his exhaustion, he found no solace in rest. Seeking fresh air, he had come to the terrace, only to find her already there. As she stared up at the night sky, lost in her thoughts, he stayed in the darkness, unable to tear himself away. For a moment, he thought she might be communing with her father, seeking solace or perhaps wrestling with her anger at having to face him again. But no—she stood there calm, her gaze steady, as though planning for the days ahead.

His silent vigil was interrupted when Shekhar joined her on the terrace.

“Kashish?” Shekhar called out.

She turned, offering him a soft smile.

“I searched everywhere for you,” Shekhar said, approaching her. “It seems your childhood habits haven’t left you. Whenever you were upset, you’d come here to complain to your father.”

Rudra’s chest tightened at the revelation. How little he knew of her. For the past eleven years, she had haunted his every waking moment, yet the woman he had feared and obsessed over was still a stranger to him. He didn’t know what brought her joy, what made her sad. His memories of her were hazy, a blurred image of the 13-year-old girl he had seen once—outside the courtroom, all those years ago.

But now, she was a woman, standing before Shekhar with a quiet confidence.

“Today, I have no complaints,” Kashish said. “I came here to thank my stars.”

Intrigued, Shekhar asked, “Thank your stars?”

She nodded. “I’m excited to finally shape my career. If it weren’t for you and Anju, I’d never have taken such a bold step.”

Shekhar smiled warmly. “That’s wonderful. But are you prepared to work with Rudra?”

Her body stiffened, and Rudra saw it too. His name was enough to drain all warmth from her face, leaving only coldness in its wake.

“There will be countless moments when you’ll cross paths with him,” Shekhar continued, his tone gentle but probing. “Are you ready to face him? I’ve noticed these past few days—you don’t even acknowledge his presence. How will you manage that at work?”

Kashish turned her gaze back to the stars, avoiding the question. Shekhar gently patted her shoulder.

“Find your answers. Now go get some rest. Tomorrow, we leave for the office together.”

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