He had taken her trust and twisted it into a noose with which he’d choked their love to death.
He had deliberately broken her pride.
How had Vera not run a knife through his gut when she’d seen him again? After what he’d done, after the absolute venom he’d spewed, how had she allowed him to even touch her?
He’d told her he would forgive her. He almost laughed at the irony. What an absolute fucking moron he’d turned out to be. He’d blamed his father for making him feel like an idiot when he had managed to achieve that all by himself.
“Son? Are you okay?”
Vihaan stood up, shaking his head in sorrow. “No, Pa. I have a lot of mistakes to make up for.”
“Then, do it.”
“What if. . .”
“If you don’t try, the what-ifs will be worse. If you are going to have regrets, let it be after you’ve done your best.”
Vihaan let his father’s words sink in, looking at him for the first time in ages with the hope for guidance. His father had forgiven him so easily. Perhaps he could mend his relationship with Vera as well. “My best might not be enough for her.”
“That sounds nothing like the tenacious man who’s been running my business into the ground,” Suraj teased, the small smile on his face, the clear pride in his jesting tone giving Vihaan a much-needed reprieve from the tension bogging his mind. “I’ve only ever seen you succeed when you are determined to prove yourself.”
Vihaan shot his father a wobbly grin. “I’m not going to go easy on you just because we’ve finally had one decent conversation, Pa.”
“Rascal!” Suraj barked, a booming sort of laughter tumbling from him.
Vihaan returned his father’s embrace with warmth, smiling when Suraj added, “Just allow your PA to set up a lunch for us. It’s time we learned to communicate better, don’t you think?”
36
Kneel
Vihaan
If ever there wasa time he could have been persuaded to throw money and purchase his own plane, it would have been that morning. In fact, he was seriously considering investing in a private airport precisely so that he would never have to face the frustration he’d undergone while waiting for a flight back to Mumbai. Worse still, there had been weather delays which meant that his plan to intercept Vera before she left for work went down the drain.
Which brought Vihaan to this point, rushing out of his car before it had even rolled to a stop outside Ethos. He glanced at his watch as his steps quickened, his generally perfect hair fluttering as the wind swept through the silky strands. He’d be cutting it close. His interview was barely an hour away. The crowds filing down the foyer towards the filming studio told him that the live audience had arrived.
He should be with his team, preparing for the all-important kick off to the SSI premiere, but he didn’t have it in him to wait. He needed to see Vera. After how she’d barged out of his apartment, now knowing that he’d put his massive foot into his mouth by suggesting that he’d forgive her, he needed to speak with her, if only to apologise.
He could only hope that she’d give him a chance.
Vihaan jogged down the hallway, skipping past the busy backstage crew, toward the make-up room. He stepped in, his eyes landing on the person he was terrified of facing, but had no hope of staying away from. He stood there, silently watching as she marked something within a folder and handed it off to one of the crew, shooting off final instructions to her team. With an authority that had him swooning, she answered their questions, thanking them for their hard work even as someone from the makeup crew continued to dust her cheeks with a fluffy brush.
His heart swelled with pride.
How had he lost sight of this person? This hardworking, stunning woman who commanded the attention of those around her. Who cared less about luxuries because her energies were focused on her passion and proving her worth.
How had he been stupid enough to think that a woman with her pride and tenacity would ever be swayed by money?
Maybe he made a noise, or maybe she simply sensed him, because her sharp eyes lifted, settling upon him with the weight of a freight train.
His feet remained pinned in place while the remaining team members slowly trickled out, until it was just the two of them.
“Where the hell have you been?” Vera snarked, spitting fire at him before the door was fully closed. Despite her impeccable makeup, Vihaan saw signs of fatigue. Her lips were pulled tight, shadows darkening the soft skin under her eyes, attesting to sleepless nights. Had she cried because of him?
“Do you have any idea how worr—” She cut herself off, blowing out a quick breath. “The team was expecting you here three hours ago. We had to go through the mock run without you which is ridic—”
“I’m sorry.”