They just smiled with their eyes and looked at each other fondly. They understood each other so well. Without saying much they could clearly understand each other's pain and state of mind.

Raymond got up from his chair and got some wet wipes for Akira from the washroom.

"Here", he said and handed the wipes to Akira. Then he went inside the washroom and washed his face and came back.

His face and his upper body was all wet. He had folded the sleeves of his crisp white shirt and had opened a couple of his top shirt buttons. He had a chiseled chest and his strong arms were making him look all so attractive. Even though his body was clad with a shirt, it took no guessing how well maintained and toned it was. Akira saw his figure coming out of the bathroom, oozing out all this masculinity and gasped for air. Her eyes wanted to focus on anything else possible present in the room apart from him. But no matter how hard she tried she couldn't. Her entire focus shifted to him. She didn't know but unknowingly she had started admiring him. She absentmindedly started chewing on her nails out of all the nervousness and then started touching her lips while her eyes were busy admiring his stature.

"What?", Raymond asked when he saw her gawking at him. Well, to be honest, he liked the way she had channeled all her attention towards him.

"Huh... nothing?", she said all guilt trodden and stole her eyes and started fiddling with a paper clip that she had found on the desk. He laughed in his head seeing her struggling with her thoughts this way. He threw the face towel on the bed and came towards her taking large strides.

He was in such close proximity that Akira couldn't breathe. Her head was still hanging low staring at the ground. The pit in her stomach was expanding exponentially engulfing her away, bit by bit. He smiled again and then took the paper clip from her hand and placed it back on the desk. He placed his hand on her shoulder gingerly, taking care not to touch her wounds and gently pushed her back onto the chair and said.

"Sit. it's not the office that you have to wait for my permission."

Akira sank in the chair without saying a word.

He picked the bowl from the desk and started eating the Mac and cheese. It was a bit cold by now but still tasty. Akira saw him eating peacefully, sitting on the bed and somehow deep down felt good about it.

"You cook well", Raymond said after having a few spoonfuls.

"Umm", said Akira and quickly glanced at her watch.

"Don't worry I will drop you at your place and don't say no because you know that you will save on the Uber fare", Raymond said and winked at her.

Akira stared hard at him. The Raymond she knew was never this cocky. This was new but she smiled. She was relieved that the environment there had lightened up a bit.

"So how is your character design going on?", asked Raymond.

"Going really well. I did three designs for one character and one of them was approved by Simon, so I am working on that one", Akira said all enthusiastically.

"We have also worked on the color palette to suit the guild and we.."

Suddenly Akira's phone buzzed and interrupted their conversation. She picked up the phone instantly as it was Vikram's call.

"Where are you now? why haven't you been replying to my texts?", asked Vikram.

"Oh sorry, I had put it in vibrate mode so didn't realize", Akira said.

"Are you back home yet?", Vikram asked impatiently.

"I will start from here in another five - ten minutes", Akira said.

"How will you come alone so late in the night. Send me the location. I will pick you up", Vikram said with a tone filled with concern and irritation too.

Akira turned back looking at Raymond replied, " Don't worry, I won't take a cab. Raymond will drop me".

Blood boiled inside Vikram's body instantly. His brows furrowed instantly after hearing Raymond's name.

"I thought it was a party for the kids", Vikram asked.

"Yeah, it was. He came in a few minutes back. He had some urgent meeting it seems and couldn't make it to the main party", Akira explained.

"But I heard that his assistant had some urgent health issues and he had gone with him to the hospital. He is back so early?", Vikram asked all surprised.

"Who? David?", Akira asked all surprised and worried. She then immediately turned towards Raymond and asked him,

"What happened to David? Is he all right? You didn't say anything about it. Where is he admitted?", Akira asked all worried.

"Don't worry he is all fine. He gets fits occasionally. He is resting at his home now after consulting a doctor", Raymond said and continued eating.

"I see", Akira said and continued back to her phone.

"He is resting after consulting the doctor", I checked with Raymond right now.

"Yes, I heard", Vikram muttered angrily. He was not able to digest the thought of her and Raymond together under the same roof.

"Go back home Akira, it's late. Call me once you reach", Vikram said and kept the call.

He couldn't believe that he was letting her slip away this time again. He was sure that she didn't have any feelings harbored inside her for Raymond but he knew that it was not the same the other way around. He had seen the way Raymond looked at her and he knew it was not platonic.

Akira kept the call and when she turned back she saw that Raymond was done with the food. She was happy to see the empty bowl. Raymond had already picked up his jacket and car keys and when he heard her disconnect the call, he said,

"Let's go".

---

She got down from the car and started walking towards her door. Raymond suddenly got out from his car in a fit and stopped her by gripping her hand.

"Hey, thanks for today", he said sincerely.

"Good night Raymond", Akira smiled and looked at him.

He had her hand held in his own for a moment. But in the next moment, he felt the sweat from her hands so he let her go. She took a few steps towards her house but then turned back and waved at him again. He stood there till she went inside the house and closed the door behind her.

Then he started his car and went back home with a languid smile on his face. She stood behind that door trying to calm her racing heart down. She then lifted her hand which he had held a few minutes ago and looked at it for a moment before placing it on her chest. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

They both were painted in the color of happiness.

But not everything was all Rosy and Violet. A few meters away from Akira's house, sat a guy in his car with his brows furrowed and his fists clenched. He was conjuring all his strength to keep himself calm but it looked like he was running out of patience.