"You're late," Ruhaan chastened as she took a seat on the park bench next to him.
Mishti huffed, "I'm sorry. There was a meeting that I couldn't get out of." That was not strictly true. It had been a meeting alright but of a more intimate nature between her and Ronobir. Mishti hadn't told him about the developments in her relationship with Ronobir. just that she'd been getting closer.
"Anything new?" She asked watching a young mother happily play with her toddler and their dog.
"Everything you've brought back so far has been tied only to the legitimate business," Ruhaan tapped his knee in irritation. "I need more than just the summary of meetings."
"They don't exactly make a point of discussing guns and arms during Sunday dinner," She snapped frustrated. "If they do then it's not around me. They're still feeling me out." Despite moving on up to Ronobir's bed that didn't mean that he fully trusted her yet.
"It's been almost five months Mishti. I need something," the desperation in his voice was evident.
"I'm trying my best ok. Do you think they just leave everything lying around for me to find? Ronobir and Ratan keep me on a need-to-know basis when it comes to business and Avish hates me so he's always watching me," She explained.
"It's ok. I understand," Ruhaan softened his tone. "I just want this to be over and for you to get out. I don't feel comfortable with you so close to him."
"I'm fine," Mishti dismissed looking down at her shoes to avoid his eyes.
"Still, he's a dangerous man you should never let down your guard with," He reminded her.
"I know that."
"Good," He answered with finality.
She closed her eyes, "I just need a little more time to get them to trust me. We never said this would happen overnight. just a bit more time."
"Of course."
"I'm heading to Langley next week. You'll check in with Viraj until I get back," Ruhaan stood up.
Mishti nodded absently, "I've no problem with that."
Ruhaan observed her knowing she was hiding something. He didn't push her though knowing that if she had any troubles, she'd tell him. He was more concerned about her mental state. She'd been getting close to the girl and there was a chance it would cloud her judgment. She'd already made a point of telling him that Avantika had no real knowledge of the business. That it was strictly between the brothers. He hoped that when the time came, she would be able to detangle herself from everything Chatterjee.
For all their sakes.
"You wanted to see me?" Mishti poked her head into Ronobir's office. He was seated on his desk with a MacBook open, typing rapidly on the keyboard.
"Take a seat," He instructed without looking at her.
Mishti complied, wringing her hands together nervously. She wiped them on her skirt to remove the sweat. It was impossible to tell his moods most times. He maintained a near-constant neutral expression that remained impenetrable. She only saw it morph when he wanted to charm investors, express annoyance at his siblings, or pride whenever he made her writhe in pleasure. All in all, the man was a wall. Thick and well-built. To chisel away at what stood behind it all would require a tremendous amount of backbone. Or a really big hammer.
"Something interesting has come to my attention," Ronobir started, his eyes still fixed on his screen.
"Oh," She prayed her voice didn't sound shaky, revealing the fear she felt at those words. "What is it?"
He finally looked up after what felt like an eternity, "I haven't taken you out on a date."
Mishti nearly cried in relief before the meaning of his words hit her, "What?"
Ronobir stood up and walked to where she sat, placing his large hands on her shoulders, "Don't get me wrong, I enjoy our time spent horizontally, but I believe we would have a more enjoyable time using our mouths for other things." Heat pooled between her legs. It was ridiculous how easily she got turned on. Previous sexual encounters had been lukewarm and mild compared to this. He reduced her to a nearly constant state of arousal, one look or touch away from melting into his ministrations. Sometimes even being in the same room was hard. A few times Mishti had nearly stumbled on the words she translated during meetings just because his heavy gaze fell upon her. Oftentimes she wondered if a real agent would have this problem. If they would allow themselves to get so caught up in the lustful orbit of their mark. She couldn't ask Ruhaan about it, at least not now. He had taught her that complete immersion was necessary sometimes. Mishti had completely immersed herself in the pond that was Ronobir.
"What brought this on?" Mishti cautiously questioned. Ronobir pushed the collar of her blouse down her shoulder bending down to press a kiss that trailed upwards to the back of her ear. She bit her bottom lip enjoying the feeling of his soft lips against her skin. Her breathing hitched ever so slightly.
"Unless it's not something you'd like to do?" He pulled away as if burned.
"N-No I would but I didn't think you'd be very interested in that," She stood up to face him. "I sort of assumed you wanted to keep this strictly physical." Mishti had been fine with that. She could work with that. But the prospect of going on a date with him, getting closer to him for the case sounded promising.
Ronobir had an unreadable expression, "Tomorrow night by 8 pm. I'll send a car to your flat."
"Alright," Mishti smiled hoping to get a reaction from him. It worked; he pressed a chaste kiss to her lips and walked back to his chair. "I'll see you later then."
"Good night Ronobir."
As with all things fashion-related, Mishti was forced to consult with Avantika about what to wear to the said date, who screamed loud enough to crack the windows in her penthouse flat when it was revealed who she was going on a date with. At least she didn't know that they'd been sleeping together. Avantika might have brought down the entire building on them.
"I knew it!" She jumped up and down clapping her hands. "He's always had eyes for you. I noticed it even at the party. I'm sure that might have been why he was such a tosser to you."
Mishti raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"Ronny's always been the pigtail-pulling sort," Avantika explained, searching her massive closet for something that would fit Mishti. "He can't ask out a girl like a normal person so he needs to always make some sort of arsehole first impression. It's what he did with Swati, his first wife. Too bad her bitch act was 24/7."
"Huh," Mishti drifted in thought until Avantika emerged from the closet with a gorgeous knee-length blue dress in hand. It looked like it would be her size.
"This is the one," Avantika grinned, holding it out.
"This is too much," Mishti immediately protested.
Avantika snorted, "You think anything more than a colored paper bag is too much? You are a gorgeous woman. Learn to dress like one. Besides, you can only go up from here since my brother has already seen you naked."
"Avu !" She squealed in surprise.
"What?" Avantika chuckled. "You two are so oblivious. Besides, Ronny can't muster the self-control to look away from you when you're in the same room. Your business trips must be wild." It shouldn't have been a surprise to her. They'd never tried to hide their involvement with each other but she just assumed it would be wise not to make a show of it since they were just sleeping together. Avantika was far more astute than she was given credit for.
"And you're ok with this?" She asked cautiously.
"Better you than anyone else. I trust you," Avantika replied with a warm smile. The guilt spun inside Mishti. Avantika trust ed her. If only she knew the real reason. That she was here to destroy her brother right from within.
"I honestly don't know why he's doing this," Mishti exclaimed standing up to pace the room. It had been on her mind the entire day. She knew the sort of man Ronobir was. Before they started sleeping together, she'd seen the sort of women who escorted him to events and who he took on dates. They were all gorgeous women in the league of his ex-wife. While she was no troll herself, she knew she wasn't the type of woman who normally went for. She thought he'd already be satisfied with their carnal relations.
Avantika sighed already used to her friends' brand of self-flagellation, "He wants to date you. Where is the complication coming from? I guess the question, is do you want to date him?"
Her mouth was dry. Did she? Yes, for the mission.
That was the mantra she repeated to herself the next night as she dressed into the very same blue dress on the way to the restaurant. She was taken off-guard though at how empty it was. The hostess led her to a secluded table where the man himself was seated looking devilishly handsome in a suit with a glass of whisky already in hand.
"You look lovely," Ronobir complimented with a grin.
"Thanks," Mishti tried to sound dismissive, ignoring the butterflies in her belly. "Are we both early?"
"No. We're the only ones tonight," He replied.
"Why?"
"Because I rented out the restaurant for tonight," Ronobir casually informed her.
"Wow," She remarked. "That seems pretty ostentatious."
He shrugged, "just wanted to ensure all my attention would be on you and you alone." And if that didn't sound ominous.
Mishti cleared her throat picking up the wine menu, "Have I given you the impression that I'm starved of your attention?"
Ronobir grinned at her jab. "You never know. Don't want any room for you to start feeling neglected. Besides, is it such a bad thing to want to take a beautiful woman out?"
The word compliment made her flush. "But you have to go for overkill as usual."
"What many women would consider the height of romance is what you consider overkill," He shook his head amusedly. "You are a strange woman Mishti."
"I'm not like most women. I'm more surprised at you attempting any sort of romance," She smiled as the waiter came in with a bottle of Zapata red. Her favorite. He poured it into her glass and left the bottle behind assuring them that their food would be coming soon.
"I didn't order anything," Mishti said, grabbing the stem of her wine glass. "I didn't tell you this was my favorite."
"I have eyes," He said looking at her over the rim of his glass as he took a sip of his drink. A man as meticulous as him would certainly pick up on a few things.
"And here I thought you were as blind as a bat," Mishti teased, swirling the drink in her glass to downplay her apprehension.
"I could never be blind when it comes to you," Ronobir's eyes bored right into her. There he went again, slicing into her with those painfully blue irises. It was his way of looking at everything especially her as if he could dig her secrets right from her skull with one look. It took time to learn not to squirm under his gaze. He reveled in making her uncomfortable.
She could turn the favor. Dig up a few secrets of his.
"Did you ever bring your ex-wife here?" Mishti questioned sitting straighter.
He grimaced for a moment. Then smirked, "Now why would you bring a topic like that to an otherwise lovely evening?"
She bit her bottom lip. It was oblivious, wasn't it? "No girl likes being second fiddle. I wouldn't be able to enjoy a restaurant you've brought another woman to."
He looked so amused, "Aren't you a possessive one? Sadly you're barking up a tree that's been uprooted and chopped for firewood. The only reason my ex-wife comes to mind is when I see the alimony cheques from my accountant. I haven't brought her here before." It was hard to tell if he felt bitter or indifferent. Ronobir expertly showed nothing but amusement.
This was the most he'd revealed about his ex in all their time together.
"Good. And I'm not being possessive." Mishti muttered wondering what the hell she had just asked that for. There was nothing to feel possessive over. It wasn't like they were particularly anything. Nor did she want to be. The man in front of her was potentially a war criminal. Every interaction with him was nothing but a means to an end.
The waiter arrived with two plates. They hadn't ordered. He dropped a lobster salad in front of her. She frowned at Ronobir. "How did you know?" It was one of her favorites. She had it once a week for lunch.
He smiled. The tips of his incisors peeked out. They looked far too sharp for a mere man. What other forms of flesh could they sink into, she wondered. "Relax dear, I'm not a mind reader. I asked Avantika about your various likes and dislikes to ensure this would be a more pleasant experience for the both of us."
Mishti released a sigh. Her heart was pounding against her ribcage. Games he loved the play. By all odds, could she survive it? Was she meant to? Did she want to? "Anyone ever tells you that you can be a control freak sometimes?"
"I'd rather dress up as being the master of my environment," His knife cut fluidly into his steak. The red stained the knife, reminding her of a butcher slicing up a fresh slaughter. It was so rare it might as well have been straight from the cow. Everyone in this family was a damn carnivore.
He bit a piece, chewing methodically. "Eat your salad, Mishti. I did shut down an entire kitchen for it."
After dinner, they went to the Chatterjee estate instead of her flat as she expected.
"Changing up the routine?" Mishti fiddled with the strap of her purse when the driver went the opposite route away from her flat.
"I enjoy some spontaneity now and then," His mouth twitched.
She entered his bedroom surveying the interior for the first time. It was tastefully decorated. The bedframe and drawers were made from polished oak. Heavy black curtains hung over the large windows. The walls were a deep red and the ceiling was white. His four-poster king-sized bed was immaculately made. She knew he rarely slept in it. During hard workdays in the office, he slept there. Their trysts were always at her flat. There was a large brown antique rug her heels pressed into. There were no pictures or personal mementos left lying around. It was all immaculate and prim. All in all, it reflected him; elegant but showed nothing truly personal.
Ronobir stood near the door, both hands shoved in his trousers, watching her walk around exploring his sanctum. She made a lovely picture in the blue dress which highlighted every one of her curves. The way her bronze skin shone even in the lowly lit bedroom. She was very much a thing to be admired and he planned to do so for the long term. How long, well it was up to her.