"Oh please Akira !!! You are embarrassing me."

"Am I? I am just speaking the truth Vikram."

Before Vikram could respond, there was a knock on Akira's door.

"Just a second Vikram, someone is at the door."

"Yeah come in."

It was from Simon.

"We are planning for lunch. would you like to join? I mean I know you don't like to hang out and all. It's ok if you say no", Simon said as he knew that for the last one and a half year, not even once she went out to dine along with her teammates. She would sit and eat her lunch alone in her room, all by herself. Only once they had seen her in the cafeteria and that too because she had to have food with some client who had visited the office.

That was like the high point of her social calendar. Apart from that, they had not seen her socializing even in public gatherings as well. So he was not expecting a yes from her.

"Umm... yeah sure why not?", Akira said and smiled looking towards Simon, who was completely flabbergasted with her reply.

"And I guess you know what you have to order for me right?"

"Yeah, mushroom risotto", saying that Simon smiled and left the room. Probably more than the promotion, he was happy for the fact that she was ready to join them for lunch. He had trained her under him when she was just an intern and he knew what pain and what burden that little girl carried on her shoulders.

After Simon left the room, Akira resumed the call with Vikram and then informed him about the lunch plan and left along with other teammates.

It was a happy surprise for everyone on the team.

.

.

Standing in one corner as he saw her smiling and interacting with the teammates, a smile etched on his face. It had been ages that he had seen that smile.

He returned to his call and said,

"She is indeed happy. Happy. For the first time, she is having lunch outside after.... you know."

"Not just today, I will teach her how to be happy every single day of her life David."

"By the way, your decision for promoting Simon was a good one Raymond."

"I know. Gotta go David. Will call you later."

As the call was disconnected, David turned and went back to his office room.

---

The time was 4:30 pm. 

She had been continuously checking her watch post-lunch.

The moment she saw the clock hands at 4:30 pm, she left for her house. After all, she had to get ready for her first dance class.

After reaching home, she flipped through her clothes to find a deep necked, black blouse which she teamed up with her super short peach-colored skirt. Then she wore her semi-transparent black colored tights underneath.

Now that she had mastered the art of walking in heels, she picked up a pair of black kitten heels for dancing the TANGO.

She stood in front of the mirror and accessed herself for a while and then dabbed a generous amount of lavender oil on the sides of her neck, her exposed collar bones and on her wrist. 

If he was the fire, then she was ready to play with the fire.

Taking her powder brush she dusted the compact on her face and then tinted her lips all berry pink. She brushed her hair thoroughly and then tied up her hair in a mildly messy bun, with loose strands of her hair falling here and there casually on her neck, on her back and a few on her face.

Then she checked her watch and it was still 6 pm.

Seeing her watch she sighed. It was like as if time had decided to move slower and slower.

Taking a deep breath she went to the kitchen and had a cup of flavored yogurt before deciding to text him.

"Are you at the center?" - AKIRA

"The class doesn't start for another one hour Akira. Why will I be there?" - Raymond

"Just asking? Was curious if you would come earlier to meet me" - AKIRA.

"Are you that desperate?" - RAYMOND

"If I say Yes, then will you come sooner?" - Akira

Raymond saw her message and smiled because, to be honest, he was more desperate than her to see her, to touch her, to feel her. Just that he never showed it that way.

Suppressing his laugh he asked,

"Are you done getting ready for the class?" - Raymond

"What do you think?" - Akira

"I guess you have?" - Raymond

She read his text and smiled. This man was so sure about everything in his life. His confidence always amused her.

But before she could text him anything back, there was another message from him.

"What are you wearing tonight?"- Raymond