"So, what would you like to have? I must say, their Focaccia Bread and their Ribollita are quite soothing to the taste buds and the mind," suggested Vikram, pulling the chair for her and prompting a grateful and hesitant smile from her, as she sat down into the chair, muttering her barely audible 'thanks' to him.

"Or would you like to indulge in some dessert and have their mouth-watering Tiramisu?" he prompted, taking his own seat across her. Throughout their journey to reach the cozy cafe, she had expressed her words of admiration and appreciation in his regard, and he was quite sure that the little plan of his had worked better than he had expected, and had managed to erase any doubts and apprehensions she had about him.

Shikha looked through the menu and tried to hide her shock at the prices. She had been to fazed and dazed to realize that the man who held reins of an entire city would not dine at any lowly cafe whose prices would be in her reach.

"I don't feel really hungry, Sir. I will stick with the sandwich," she replied, noting that it was the only affordable item on the entire menu, which was still about half of her day's salary.

"Come on, it is my treat, Shikha. Think of it as a compensation for what happened today, which happened because of my misguided decision to assign Sukriti to help you out," he retorted, shutting away her dissent as he called the waiter and ordered the items which he had previously suggested for her.

"It was really not required, Sir. You have already done so much for me," Shikha protested, grimacing internally at the memory of being the reason for Sukriti's termination.

"Like I said, it is a compensation. You mean a great deal to me, and I would not want you to be disappointed in any manner," he stated, and adding his next sentence as he saw surprise and suspicion dance on her features, "Like all my employees. Satisfaction is the key to productivity."

"Sir, with all due respect, I will accept your compensation if you promise me something," she asserted, much to his surprise. The overwhelming urge to fulfill every single wish of hers took over him, and he wondered what her demand could be.

"Of course. Anything. Just say it," he said, leaning over the table and intertwining his fingers with one another.

"Please reconsider Sukriti Ma'am's termination. I know how it feels to be unemployed or not have any stable source of money and I would not wish it upon anyone after having seen that since my childhood. The way you rebuked her is enough for flame of revenge to be doused in my heart. I don't want to carry it upon my conscience that I snatched someone's job on my very first day at work," she pleaded, hesitantly.

She did not want to cross the line with the man seated across her, and yet she could not stop herself from voicing out her earnest desire. She could not help but get entangled in his sugarcoated words and flattering language.

"Okay," he affirmed, nodding his head in approval. Sukriti would definitely jump at the prospect at getting her job back, and she had given him another chance to impress her. He was definitely going to reward her handsomely.

"Thank you so much, Sir! I had so many questions about you when I joined. Your reputation precedes you, but I think some of it does no justice to you. I never had anyone place their unconditional trust in my skills or berate my offender without nitpicking my faults in the fiasco. I am really grateful to you for showing that I had the right to expect such support in my life, and providing that support. Thank you," she whispered, multiple emotions swirling in her eyes as her voice slightly broke with the onslaught of emotions.

Vikram felt conscience couple with guilt and slap him in the face. His smirk was replaced by thoughtful frown as he realized that he played his cards so well that she was on the brink of worshiping him. He did not understand why regret surrounded his thoughts when he should rejoice at the opportunity which presented itself to him.

The waiter placed their orders on their table, pulling him out of his thoughts. He smiled at her slightly hoping that she would understand his speechlessness after her confession. He dug into his food wordlessly and let the scrumptious taste win over his senses, numbing him to the other things momentarily.

"How is it? Did you like it?" he asked, looking at her earnestly, in the hope to analyze her reaction to the food that he had chosen.

"It's delicious, and that gives me one more reason to place my trust in you," she replied, sincere smile dancing on her lips as gratitude pooled in her eyes.

She immediately knew that no one in her life would agree with her that it was a good idea. To the masses and to the lowly nobodies of the city, he was the untouchable mafia lord and to place her unconditional trust in him did sound like the worst idea she had in years, and yet she could not stop her heart from embracing it.

"I'll try my best to not break your trust," he muttered halfheartedly, knowing well that her trust would be shattered if she ever realizes that the entire situation with Sukriti was a well-planned ruse, and yet there is little that he would not do to claim her for himself.

All is fair in love and war, they said, and he was not sure why he was ready to go to such extremes when it was none, but he was sure that he wanted to see himself in her beautiful and dreamy hazel orbs. It would be left to the fate if the haze of passion separated him from his reflection in her eyes, or tears of betrayal.

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