7. Business trip

September 2021, India 

Zayed was standing leaning onto the first car in which Ameya is already seated. He was waiting for Aveline to come out of the airport. 

They had landed in India an hour ago, but they couldn't land in the airport they had initially planned to ,because of some weather conditions. 

So, now they will have to travel by road to reach Delhi ,where they are to meet the Malhotras.

As he turned around to talk to the driver, he saw a flash of yellow dashing to what she assumed to be the relative safety of the second car.

He allowed himself a smile as he finished what he wanted to say to the driver, before closing the door and striding towards it himself.

Shock turned her hazel brown eyes wide as he 

slid into the seat alongside her. A moment later she turned both her face and body away, shrinking against the door as if she might will herself right through it,and his feeling of satisfaction deepened.

She was terrified of him.

Strange how that knowledge had altered his long-held vow. 

Six years ago, he'd never wanted to see her again. 

And ever since then he'd always believed that what she'd killed that day was better left buried, his memories of his time with her buried along with it. 

Being forced to share the same space with her for two days or more should have been the very last thing on his agenda. 

And yet seeing her squirm and cower in his 

presence. Oh, yes, this way was infinitely more satisfying than he could have ever imagined.

He took advantage of the space she left, angling himself to stretch out his legs in the space between them, and even though she didn't look, didn't turn, he knew she was aware of every move he made, knew it in the way she shrank herself into an even smaller space.

Oh, yes, infinitely more satisfying.

Why did he have to travel in this car if he needed so much legroom? Ava battled to control her breathing, willing away the tears that pricked at her eyes even as she wedged herself harder against the very edge of the wide seat, squeezed tight against the door, too hot and much too bothered by this man who seemed to think he owned the entire world, if not the entire vehicle. 

Maybe he did-he is an Ahmed. A royalty. But that didn't change the fact he was going out of his way to make her feel uncomfortable.

But why?

He hated her. She can see it in his behavior. He might as well have announced it to the world.

And he knew she knew that.

Didn't he think it was enough, just knowing it? Did he think he had to prove it by insisting she come with him, just so he could keep showing her how little he thought of her?

She leaned her head against the window and squeezed her eyes closed, trying to concentrate on the warmth of the glass against her cheek and shut out the image of the long, lean body beside her, trying to think of anything but-and still she could see him clearly in her mind's eye. 

But then, when would she ever not be able to picture him clearly?

Pain sliced through her, deep and savage, old 

wounds ripping open so jaggedly that she had to bury her face in her hands and cover her mouth to stop herself from crying out. 

What was the point of bringing it all back? 

It was so long ago, and times had changed.

Except Zayed hadn't. 

He was magnificent. A man in his prime.

A man who hated her.

"Is something wrong?"

His voice tangled with her thoughts, and she opened her eyes to see that they had left the city behind. Only the occasional houses or business lined the highway out of the city.

Two days she must spend in his company, and he had to ask if something was wrong? What did he think? 

"I'm fine" she answered softly. 

There was no point saying what she really thought or what she really felt. She'd learned that lesson the hard way.

"You don't look fine."

"I'm sorry to offend you" she retorted tartly.

She jumped in her seat when her phone pinged indicating an incoming call and she looked at it and saw the caller ID saying Mom

Ava smiled. Around an year ago ,Zahir had asked who Victor and Lizzy is to her. And Ava had told him that they were her parents.

Then he demanded to know why Ava calls them by name if they are her parents. 

The kids are too young to know her complicated life.

So, to placate Zahir, Ava had said Victor and Lizzy didn't want anyone to know they they are older and that she calls them Mom and Dad secretly and had thus changed the contact name in her phone to let him know that.

Why is she calling now? Ava wondered. 

Are the kids okay?? Did something happen to them??

"Aren't you going to pick up the call" Zayed asked

She picked up the call and all the tension and pain she felt ever since she saw Zayed that morning, flew out of her mind when she heard the voice of her elder son, Zahir.

"Momma" came the kid's voice from the other side of the phone

"You are still awake??" She asked, as it must be 10 at night in London.

"I miss you Mummaa" he said. Though he won't admit it aloud, he is secretly a momma's boy. 

Cute isn't he??

"Aww. I miss you too baby" she said with a contented smile

"Want to sleep with you Mummaa" he said and Ava sighed.

"Two days baby. Then we can cuddle to sleep okay" Ava said sweetly and he hummed.

"Good night mumma. Love you" he said

"Love you too baby" she said and hung up the phone..

Arghh! She miss her babies like crazy

"Who the hell was that???"