“Obviously you’ve put effort into your body and how you look after what I said to you. You wanted my attention by doing this and now, you have it. But you can do more. Work on your attitude, too.”
“Or, you can go fuck yourself,” she spat, her fists clenching into tight balls, uncaring that his demeanour changed instantly at her defiance.
He straightened, leaning forward in a threatening manner meant to intimidate her. “Don't be foolish, Aditi. I'm not askingyou for something unimaginable. We had good times before. We can have them again.”
An angry Harish would have previously cowed her into submission, playing hot and cold until she’d feel like their problems were because she’d overreacted. Today however, she would throw hands if that meant saving herself from repeating her mistakes. So, despite knowing that his temper was fraying, Aditi held back no punches.
“What makes you think, after witnessing your disgraceful behaviour, that I would ever want to be with you? That I would ever consider giving you another chance?”
“If you hadn’t been such a ball-buster, I wouldn’t have gone off on you. I was a little drunk but you should take accountability for what you did to make me react that way. You could have been more mature.”
“Too bad your maturity does not compensate for your insufferable personality,” Aditi declared, slipping her phone and Kindle into her handbag. “You should consider a lobotomy. It would be a vast improvement over what you are.”
“You’ll be sorry if you don’t shut up,” Harish warned.
“I must have been blind,” she continued, pretending as if he’d never spoken. “How did I never see what a spineless, toxic, piece of shit you are?” Aditi stood up, having had enough. She’d only just taken a step away when her wrist was grabbed.
“You're disrespecting me in public.” Harish spun her around, looming over her. His grip on her tightened, causing her to wince. Physically, he was stronger, and it was obvious that he wouldn’t stop at using this to get his way. “Sit down,” he ordered, shaking her a little like she was a silly child who was throwing a tantrum.
“Let. Me. Go,” Aditi hissed, struggling to get herself released.
She was seconds away from smacking her purse across his face when she saw a shadow fall across them both.
The scent of cinnamon and soap surrounded her, her gut recognizing him even before his furious growl reverberated in her ear.
“Take your fucking hands off her!”
11
No Time to Weep
Aditi
Aditi didn’t have toturn to know that Rian was behind her. The bubble of fear in her chest popped, relief slowly seeping in.
“Listen to her,” she heard him say as he came to stand beside her. “Unless you don't like having fingers.”
Harish’s grip loosened, but stubborn rat that he was, he didn’t let go.
“I can handle this,” Aditi declared boldly, glancing sideways at Rian. He looked relaxed, but the tight line of his mouth, the patently false smile, and the icy chill in his gaze told her that he was furious.
“I'm certain you can, Doc. I still don't enjoy seeing him put his hand on you.“
Unable to keep up the appearance of being self-sufficient against a man much stronger than her, she confessed, “I’m not enjoyingit either.”
“You heard the lady.” Rian pointedly glared at the hand that was still wrapped around her wrist. “Drop it before there is bloodshed.”
“Are you threatening me?” Harish huffed, puffing his chest. His ego would never let him back away from a challenge.
“It’s not a threat,” Rian corrected, his tone deceivingly polite. “I’m promising you that when Aditi jabs your hand with this fork,” he explained, picking one from their table and handing it to her for emphasis, “I will hold your wrist just like you’ve held hers, and push it in harder until all you feel is gut-wrenching pain. No one will help you, unless I allow it. Which, I won't. This is my restaurant, my turf.”
Aditi wasn’t sure if it was the possibility of a fork injury or the revelation of who Rian was that finally made Harish let her go.
“You’re the owner?”
“Not quick on the uptake, are you?” Rian drawled, very much wanting to rip this man limb from limb. Aditi had not wanted him to interfere, and it was only this knowledge which had quelled the blood lust he’d experienced, seeing her get pushed around by this asshole.
Harish reddened at the insult. “How do you know this guy?” he demanded, too intimidated by Rian to continue a direct conversation with him.