Page 107 of Fixation

“Yes,” Armaan sighed. “I agree.”

Vedant rose. “Do you both really expect me to let her walk into danger?”

“It could be nothing,” Reina said, knowing in her heart that it wasn’t the case. But they couldn’t simply sit and wait in silence any more. She had to hear what Su Min wanted to say to her. She had to find out, if at all, which of these two women were working with their enemy.

“Vedant, we have to do something,” Mihir said. “Like you predicted, Ivan may have acted soon after Armaan’s happy news was announced to the world via one of these women. Let’s try and eliminate our enemies, brother. Only then can we live without fear. You know we have the power and means to protect Reina. Besides, it may turn out to be nothing. But for knowing that also, we need to act.”

“Then I’ll go with her,” Vedant said.

“No,” Armaan refused. “The moment you do that, they will know something is up. The women might talk easily to Reina if she’s alone. We cannot lose this window of opportunity if at all it is that.”

“Armaan,” Navya called out. “I can’t believe you’re agreeing to this. You cannot expect me to put my baby sister in danger.”

“I can fight,” Reina told her. “You know Rajiv forced all of us to learn self-defence.”

“That’s how you knew how to punch,” Mihir said. “I was impressed that night by the way you struck Vedant.”

Armaan chuckled.

“Again, this is not helping right now,” Vedant growled.

Reina smiled at Mihir. It was the first time she was properly interacting with him after London and when he’d come to visit Vedant. But at that time too, their interactions had been stilted and formal. That was mainly because she’d been still mad at him for holding her hostage there. So far, she didn’t know the man well. The only thing she knew was that he loved his brothers and would do anything for them. Right now, that was enough. She’d have ample time to get to know him and pass judgement on him once they got through the next few days.

“She can’t fight as well as I can,” Navya looked at Reina. “You were too busy working to even finish all the classes Rajiv insisted upon.”

“Oh God!” Vedant groaned. “That gives me no confidence whatsoever.”

“I am doing this,” Reina announced. “Besides, we can choose a public place and meet during the day. It will be difficult for them to try anything then. We need to find out why these women are here. Even if it turns out to be nothing.”

“Or it could be something dangerous,” Vedant muttered.

Reina stood and cupped his cheeks. “Then let’s find out. You and I need to work on being together. But for that, we cannot have the sword of these two women hanging on our heads. Let’s deal with them head on, and if it turns out to be nothing, then well and good. At least we’d have learned that then.”

Vedant shut his eyes for a long moment. They were clear when he opened them again. He kissed her forehead. “Fine, but that means you will do exactly as I say.”

Reina lowered her chin. “I will.”

The moment she said that, the brothers called their security guards inside, and all of them began to plan. But through it all, Reina desperately prayed that she wasn’t making the biggest mistake of her life.

38

Vedant rubbed his sweaty palms against his denims. He checked the time on his watch. It was ten past one, and their plan was already in motion. Reina was seated at a table in full view of everyone in the restaurant. But their quarry still hadn’t showed up.

Both Reina and Navya had insisted on involving their brother and telling him the plan as well. Rajiv, in turn, had helped them choose this particular restaurant.La Soireewas one of the most exclusive and premiere restaurants in Dubai. The owners happened to be Rajiv’s very close friends, and they were extremely anal about their own security. Hence, this restaurant, too, had a private entrance.

Thanks to that, Mihir and he were seated in a far corner across from Reina, facing away from her, yet able to see her through the mirror panelled walls. Both of them were dressed casually in denims and tees, much unlike their usual formal attire. Armaan was outside in a car with Rajiv and their bodyguards, many of whom were strategically seated at various tables inside the restaurant. The restaurant was also filled with other patrons, indicating a usual busy day for the staff. Onany other day, he would have taken time to appreciate the fine interiors of this swanky new restaurant, but today, his nerves were all over the place.

He noted Reina’s worried expression through the mirror. She adjusted her purse, in which a listening device was connected to all the men seated around her, watching her. Everyone had a discreet earpiece in their ears, and they were simply waiting and watching. He looked to the side, then quickly turned his gaze forward when he saw Su Min appear. They had decided that Reina ought to meet Su Min first. Accordingly, Reina had messaged her, following which she had messaged Laila, asking her to meet her an hour later in the same restaurant. It was important to see how these two women reacted to each other’s presence as well. They needed to know if they were working together or not, if one of them was working with Ivan, or if neither of them were.

Reina stood to greet Su Min.

“Reina, there you are…” Vedant could clearly hear the conversation between the women. “I’m so happy you came.”

Su Min leaned forward to give Reina a hug. Reina patted her back, and Su Min sat facing her.

“You haven’t been replying to my calls or messages,” Su Min began. “Is there a problem? Are you mad at me?”

A waitress came forth, and both the women placed their beverage orders with her.

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