Page 85 of Twisted Alliance

“Thank you for your help,” she said to the team of stylists.

“It’s our pleasure, Mrs. Thakvar. Please visit us again soon.”

Ishani forced out a smile and nodded.

Soon, the stylist team left, but she remained seated in front of the mirror, trying to keep her panic at bay.

Knowing she couldn’t stay in longer, she breathed deeply before leaving the bathroom. Her steps wobbled slightly with the high-heel platform shoes she had on for the night.

As soon as she stepped into the living room, her eyes fell on Shivay Thakvar talking on the phone while looking outside the huge glass wall of the hotel suite.

As though he sensed her presence, he turned and then momentarily froze.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” he said and ended the call.

He continued to look at her. While his gaze swept over her, she stared at him as well. He looked breathtakingly handsome. He was wearing a dark blue suit. She had only seen him in ethnic wear and buttoned Western shirts before. But seeing him in a suit made her feel like he wore it more often than any other attire.

“I-I am ready,” she said, fighting the nervousness and heat that crept into her cheeks.

A moment of silence later, he slowly walked towards her.

His eyes darkened in intensity. “You look nice,” he said.

“T-thank you.”

Her skin broke into goose bumps when he placed his hand on her back and led her out of the large hotel suite. Her fingers dug into the silver clutch she held at her side when they took the elevator to go down. The elevator doors opened to the lobby of a restaurant.

“Welcome to Cinnamon & Cloves,” a woman who must be the hostess greeted. “Do you have reservations, sir?”

Ishani watched as Shivay handed her a sleek card. Seeing the card, the woman’s eyes lit up.

“Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Thakvar. Your table has been readied.”

While the hostess led them inside, Ishani noticed that the place wasn’t crowded, but the tables were fully occupied. Everyone was dressed formally. The men wore suits, and the women wore beautiful dresses similar to hers. Most of the women’s eyes fell on her and Shivay.

There were looks of admiration and envy.

Feeling strangely possessive once again, she automatically moved closer to him. They were led to a table away from the others and had a view of the entire restaurant and the city.

The restaurant was beautiful, and the air held the sweet smell of spices. She took in the beautiful interior that was different from anything she had seen before. Even the group of musicians seated in the corner played different instruments that sounded pleasant and beautiful.

Had the circumstances been different, she would have enjoyed the novel experience. But the silver clutch burned against her hands. She placed it on the top of the table next to her. She didn’t want it anywhere near her, but she had no other choice.

Her cheeks flushed when she found him looking at her.

“T-the restaurant is beautiful,” she said.

His mouth twisted. “Yes, it is. Let’s hope the food and service matches up to its reputation.”

Just as he said those words, a man in a white uniform and a tall white cap walked to their table. He was dressed differently from the other restaurant staff.

“Welcome to Cinnamon & Clove, Mr. and Mrs. Thakvar,” the man said with a different accent. “I’m Massimo. It’s my pleasure to have you both join us tonight. I’m the head chef, and I have chosen a special pairing of food and drinks for you both. I hope you enjoy the meal.”

Shivay didn’t say anything, but she forced a smile. “Thank you,” she told the man.

The chef smiled as two uniformed waiters brought drinks and food dishes to their table. A part of her was fascinated by how interestingly everything was displayed. She was used to mostly eating traditional homemade food.

She tried to listen to the chef as he explained the details about the ingredients of every dish before the portions were served on their plates. She took small bites of the food that was different yet delicious. The food experience was elevated by the soft Western music played by the musicians.

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