"We can do that in another hour or two but not right now. The room is packed and the guests are still dining."

"Then they will have to wait. What do you think Jack?"

"Do you think they will be happy with that Sara? We called them, but, no one from the press was permitted inside."

"That's not true. Mini is one among them and she is inside," the media, press and paparazzi were making a chaos outside the venue as they were not being permitted inside. They wanted a one on one with Ryan and also some spicy gossip about THE Robin Jr.

"That is because she was invited personally not as a part of media," Sara said "anyway I will go talk to them. They can't be creating any disturbance now."

What? That doesn't make sense.

"Riya can you go and inform Ryan about the situation? Kira and I can see how many people are yet to dine." I nodded and Jack and Kira went on their way to see and predict when the dinner might approximately end.

"These people are always a pain. Tell them the dinner will not be over before 2. People drink Riya; can't they even drink to their heart's content peacefully for ?" was Ryan's outburst when I confronted him. I folded my hands and rolled my eyes at him,

"Ryan? How many drinks did you have so far?"

"Enough" that was very informative, "to realize the truth."

"What truth?" I asked confused.

He didn't reply. He squinted his eyes a little, scrutinizing something very seriously and said, "you look very beautiful today."

"Now I can really guess the number of drinks you had"

He chuckled "you are smart, do you know that? And you are beautiful too. I know that you like me. I initially thought you hated me, but you don't. Then why the hell am I still hiding this from you?"

"So many compliments? I really like the drunk Ryan more. Now, what the hell are you hiding from me?" I asked him with mock seriousness.

Had it been a sober Ryan he would have never said what he just babbled. Ryan smiled and was saying something when an old man came and dragged him by his elbow for some introductions.

I turned away and decided that I have had enough of everyone here and made the best decision I have made in the entire day. I decided to eat. I texted Mini to come join me and texted Sasha one last time to tell me where on earth was she hiding.

My phone vibrated to show a message from Nick:

Sasha is near the staircase, one beside the service elevator. Go talk to her but don't get all worked up.

Ha like I needed a reminder. I walked in the direction of the stairs preparing all the things I needed to tell her and clear the misunderstanding. She was leaning on the wall with her eyes closed and breathing to calm herself down.

"Sasha" I called, to test the intensity of her madness right now. She jerked out of her reverie with a start and looked at me. Before she could say anything, I interrupted.

"Listen before you go all Charlie's Angels on me, pull out a secret knife from under your dress and stab me, you should know I did not do or say anything you think I said. Mini doesn't know. I will never do something like that and you of all the people should know that. I don't know what the hell happened between the two of you but I have nothing to do with it." I was walking towards her, slowly with both my hands held in front of me like I was approaching a wild animal letting it know I was harmless.

"I know. I was a stupid when I assumed for a second that you told her everything. I mean I wouldn't blame you, if you told her." she mumbled.

"You do?"

She just nodded her head looking down and biting her bottom lip.

"I also know why you didn't want me to come." She did? What did she know?

"Yaa about that, I had an inkling that the two of you might fight. So, I asked you not to come. You are not mad at me right. Sasha, Mini is in the media she had to come but for you it was an option. It is not like I didn't want you to come, it would have been..."

"You can stop with your stories Riya. I met him" she was not very loud but I heard her clearly. This was what I was afraid of. I didn't what them to meet. I didn't want her to see him, I know for a fact that she is getting along with Nick just fine and I didn't want Sasha to meet him and go back to what she was a few months ago.

"Why didn't you tell me he was coming?"

"I didn't want you to be upset..." I reached out to hold her hand. She held mine and I saw fresh tears build up in her eyes.

"I am sorry but I don't think I can stay here any longer, I have to go. Bye Riya, sorry for ruining your night. Go back home safely and call me if there is anything wrong."

I nodded my head and she let go of my hand.

"Does Vivi know about what happened?" I knew what she was referring to.

"Like I said, I did not tell anyone," at this she burst into tears and walked away from me.

Broken Sasha resurfacing. My heart broke seeing her like this but there was nothing I could do. She said she wanted to be alone. I had to wait this night; I can go see how she is doing in the morning.

**************

Ryan called and asked me to inform the media that they can have their questions answered in half an hour and I said the same to Sara and we arranged for the press meet. It was already 1 am and most of the guests were gone. To everyone's surprise Robin was still there and didn't utter a single word against Ryan the entire time he had been here. Sara was convinced that it was calm before the storm and I couldn't agree more.

"Hey, did you eat?" Mini asked with chocolate dessert in her hand.

"I didn't, because I was busy settling issues between two idiots, I consider friends. Seriously Mini, what was that back there? Now I really want to know, what is wrong with the two of you? It was very mean of you. Why did you say it in the first place?"

"Riya, I am sorry that you are being dragged into this. I really am but I just can't stand her. And before I start with my story can you take this dessert as a peace offering? I will tell you from the start." I happily accepted.

"I was fine with her when we first met. Actually, I liked her a lot. You would say so many nice things about her and Vivi when we just started college and I knew I would be friends with her. But then I didn't see more of her in those last three years of university, she stopped visiting and you stopped talking. I didn't understand what was happening between the two of you but it was obvious that you didn't want to talk about her. And I was fine with it until recently I met her again. You see before I tell you about Sasha I need to confess something..."

Mini looked extremely nervous by now and as if god answered her prayers her camera guy came to her, saying her boss had something to talk to her. She excused herself and went to talk on the phone. Fifteen minutes and she was still discussing with her boss and Sara called me to talk to a reporter who was getting restless. After dealing with the reporter, I met few heads of other companies and thirty minutes later the press-meet began. I caught a sight of Mini in the second row.

People fired questions at Ryan and he answered them with ease. I guess he was sober by now. Sara never intervened and all of it went by smoothly. An hour later the reporters were still not planning on leaving, so Ryan had to say a short good bye note and everybody packed.

"So, can we go? I can't wait to go home and sleep," I asked Mini.

"Ry I am so sorry I can't. I have some work I should finish. Take my car, I will find a way to go home later?"

"No, it's fine. You go, I will ask someone. Be safe and tomorrow the first thing you do is meet me and do your explaining. Alright?"

"You have my word. Good night."

Now how do I get home? It was stupid of me to not get my car.

"Heading home?" came Nick's voice.

"You are still here? What were you doing? Entertaining yourself at the open bar?"

"No, I was talking to that old man; he is the head of Ari Constructions. He is seventy-five now and wants to venture into real estate investment," it looked like Nick totally liked this man because the entire time he was talking about the man, he was smiling.

"And I didn't drink. I was the designed driver."

"Oh my god that reminds me, you didn't drive Sasha home? Then how did she go?"

"She called her driver and he picked her up. She told me she needed some alone time," he shrugged as if to say, 'couldn't help it'.

"So, are you going home? You can come with me."

"I am going home but its fine, I will hail a cab. You can go home, it is already late and I don't want to stand between you and your sleep." If I hadn't known any better he looked like he was angry. But that expression went away in a flash. I might be imagining.

"You will not go home in a cab at this time in the night. Come I am driving you home." With that he walked towards the exit. I raised an eyebrow at his retreating back. Who died and made him the ruler of my life? I don't take orders and I definitely don't take it from him.

I am hell bent on taking cab now. Idiot, Nick.

I crossed the gates and stood outside trying to find a cab that will take me home.

"Riya, just come with me. I don't have a problem driving you home. If I don't drive you home and I go home I will still not be able to sleep without knowing that you are home, safe. So, do me a favor and just come with me." Nick said grabbing my hand, turning me in his direction. I just looked at him and didn't move. Well that was nice to hear but that isn't exactly what I wanted to hear. It looked like he got the message so he exhaled loudly and said, "fine I am sorry, can we go now?"

I smirked. Good boy. We started walking towards his car when I warned him

"Next time you want to go bossing me around, remember I don't take orders and I mostly do what I am asked to do."

"Point taken and next time I ask you to do something for your safety you will listen to me," I rolled my eyes, "fine, at least consider it."

"Fine, I can try."

It wasn't until we reached the car I realized that all through the walk we have been holding hands. I was looking at our intertwined hands,

Aww, that's so cute.

Brain no. you don't get to aww, definitely not in my case and sure as hell not when it is Nick.

But it is so nice when he is holding your hand.

Stop swooning and please don't pollute my heart. It is stupid enough to drum uncontrollably every time he is around, which is wrong. He is Sasha's boyfriend and I can't feel anything for him and I don't.

Really, Riya darling? Are you sure? Then why the hell are you still holding his hand. Let go of it hypocrite.

I suddenly let go of Nick's hand like I was burnt and looked up to see him looking around nervously.

He opened the passenger door for me and got into his side of the car and started to drive.

"Were you stubborn as a kid too?" he asked not looking at me.

"Only when I needed to be." I said smiling.

"You are something," he said shaking his head and told me things about his childhood and about his father. How his father encouraged him to do anything and everything he wanted to do and his mother was the one who pampered him the most. He started his business when he was still in his university. He did that to support a friend who developed a wonderful app but couldn't get it into the market.

I came to know that he was a diehard fan of rock music and that was one thing we had in common. His hobbies mostly consisted of racing or adventure sports. I said a few things about myself but I liked to listen to him talk. When he spoke about things he was really passionate about his eyes lit up and spoke with a smile.

There was something about this guy that just drew people to him. So, it was only natural that I couldn't stop myself from adoring (only adoring not liking or crushing) him. He was a good guy with some cockiness.

And you love it.

Argh, there you are.

~*~*~*~*~

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