Page 119 of The Ex Factor

I stood and tapped the table twice with my perfectly manicured nails. “Nice talking to you, Manoj. Take care.”

With a brilliant smile, I walked off, completely avoiding eye contact with Sujit.

As I exited the restaurant, I saw Imran walking toward me.

“Ms. Aarti, do you wish to go back home?” he asked with his usual courtesy.

“It’s all right, Imran,” I said with a smile. “I have the car service waiting for me.”

“Please let me drive you,” he insisted and I was curious.

“Sujit will need you,” I argued. “When they are done with their dinner.”

“Boss will be here for a while. I will be back in no time.”

I shuddered against the cold and acquiesced. “Thank you,” I said with a short nod.

“I’ll bring the car around. Please wait indoors if you need to. It’s a cold day.”

In about two miraculously short minutes, Imran drove up and rushed to hold the door open for me. I called my driver and asked him to retire for the night.

“I hope you are alright, Ms. Aarti. I know it is not my place, but I hope things are good between the Boss and you.”

I smiled with surprise. “The Boss and me? What do you know, Imran?” I asked with a curious lift of my brow.

He responded with as sheepish grin which I spied in the rearview mirror.

“Only that my boss cares about you very much,” he replied. “He is a good man. I’m requesting you to give him a chance to show you.”

I sighed deeply. “I wish it were that simple.” I was already dreading the impending conversation with Sujit.

He tried to read me in his mirror. “Whatever it is, he will know of a way to resolve it. He always does.”

“I know you’re his friend, a close confidant. But you don’t know who I am.”

He didn’t miss a beat. “I know you, Ms. Aarti. I’ve known about you before anyone else did. And I am still here assuring you that he’s never been this happy—truly happy—before you.”

“He wasn’t happy with Tara?” I asked with utmost curiosity.

“He was happy, but not this happy. Not this relaxed, this comfortable. It’s different with you. From the first night I drove you both to Marco’s. That’s why I’m asking you to give him a chance.”

“You love him, don’t you?” I asked with a smile.

“He was there for me when I had no one to turn to. He’s done more for me than any family would. He loves me like a brother, and I respect him like one.”

I heard his breath quicken as we neared my building.

“He’s a really good man, Ms. Aarti,” he repeated, as if he needed to convince me of it. “He is going to come over tonight. I’m sure of it. I’m kindly requesting that you don’t close the door on him.”

I smiled wide at his metaphor. “You are a smart, sharp man. I am glad you have Sujit’s back.”

His eyes were averted but he waited as if he were eager to hear those words from my mouth.

“You don’t need to worry, Imran, because the truth is I like your boss and I care about him, too.”

There was a wide, giddy, happy grin on his face as he came around to hold the door open for me.

“Thank you for everything,” I said softly and he returned a quizzical look. “Thank you for keeping our secret and for believing in our happiness,” I explained. “Thank you for everything you do for him.”

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