Desde sempre e para sempre Chapter 21

Desde sempre e para sempre

Chapter 21

John had returned to the room having dealt with Mr. Kushal Ahuja. Nice guy…after both the cars had taken off they could hardly discuss anything about them anymore and he sure didn't make a big deal about it. 

Leo: “He is back?”

John: “No.”

Davi: “Why are you back if he isn’t?”

Aaji: “Let him explain!”

Leo: “YOU were supposed to take care of him!”

Aaji: “Leo! Does your brother EVER let anyone take care of him?! John?”

John: “He hit a car and took off.”

Aaji: “ WHAT?! AND YOU LET HIM GO?”

Leo: “Aaji, does he EVER let anyone stop him.”

Aaji looked at Leo with daggers: “Leo!”

Davi: “Stop it, you two! Where did he go? What was he planning? More important, is anybody hurt?”

John: “No one is hurt and there is barely a scratch on the car. However, the car he hit took off after him.”

Davi: “Excuse me?”

John: “As I got out of the car to address the issue, somebody from the front passenger seat of the other car got out too. But before we could even address each other, Sir took off followed by the other car.”

Leo: “Was he in a hurry to get somewhere?”

John: “Yes. He had asked me to get him the directions to go to the Governor’s residence. He has them in the car…”

Aaji: “At this hour?! This boy is crazy!”

John: “I have tried calling him using my other phone but he doesn’t answer.”

Leo: “Your other phone?”

John: “He has my other phone. The one with directions on them.”

Davi: “Did you call that number?”

John: “No luck. That one is going straight to voicemail. Because I was with him, I don’t receive calls.”

Leo:  “What? Don’t you have a life?”

John: “Not really. Never when I am with him!”

Davi: “Guys! The question is do we go out to look for him or sit tight and wait for him to show up.”

Leo grabbed an apple and bit into it: “He is a big boy. He can find his way home.”

Aaji: “Call him!”

Davi: “I did! He doesn’t pick up!”

Aaji: “Use mine! He always answers my call!”

Naina: “Phone, please! Let me just call…”

Gael: “Shhhhhh!”

Naina: “Not until you let me borrow your phone!”

She lunged for the phone in his hand which was giving out some directions.

Gael quickly flicked through the directions, swiftly memorized them and switching the phone off, threw it somewhere in the back of the car.

Naina: “Whaaaa…”

But she didn’t waste time contemplating on what was lost; they both looked to the front where another phone beeped.

That was his phone. No way! Before she could grab it, he lunged for it and turned it off. He then threw it in the back with the other.

Gael: “Sorry, I would have let you borrow my phone but I don’t know where it is.” 

Naina: “WHAT is your problem!?”

Davi: “He cut the call.”

Aaji: “You used my phone?”

Davi: “Yes. And now it is switched off!”

Aaji: “He didn’t answer my call?”

Naina: “YOUR phone was ringing!”

Gael: “It doesn’t matter. Whoever it is, can wait. Now shut up or else I will make you.”

Naina looked at him and was just about to scoff when she saw the expression in his steel grey eyes. There was no denying that if she pushed it, he would definitely shut her up.

She made the wise decision.

She wanted to ask him where he was going…then she wanted to ask him what was this said errand that was oh so important and THEN she wanted to ask him why they were about to enter the Governor’s residence colony at this hour but she kept quiet. She would rather live to see another day.  

When he finally stopped the car in front of the residence, she gave him a look which was sure to get him to talk.

Gael: “Out with it!”

Naina: “Had you told me AN HOUR ago you wanted to come to the Governor’s residence, I would have got us here in 10 minutes!”

Gael: “Save it.”

Gael had thought he had memorized the directions right but he had learned that Mahatma Gandhi was not the only Mahatma AND going from one end of the bay to the other in Mumbai was not as simple as he had presumed. BUT he had made it.

He opened the door just as Naina opened hers.

Naina: “So, who did you kill?”

Gael: “Huh?”

Naina: “It’s not the Governor’s visiting hours now…what’s the problem…oh come on! You can tell me!”

Gael: “YOU are sitting in the car.”

Naina: “Hey! That’s not fair! After…”

But before she could even complete the sentence or try to comprehend what was happening, she was back on the seat handcuffed to the steering wheel!

Naina: “What..where..how…why do you have handcuffs!?”

Gael: “Shhhhh!”

Naina: “We are at the Governor’s residence! You cant have me handcuffed…”

Gael: “He knows I am Brazilian.”

Naina: “What is THAT supposed to mean!?”

Gael: “We are known for our weird fetishes.”

And even before she could think of a retort, he walked away.

Naina was steaming furious. How dare he!? AND she was worried what her Dadi would say! On top of that she had left Kuku’s car stranded. She was sure it would be the very same car he would have planned to use to come see Jaya tomorrow…NOT tomorrow, TODAY!

Naina: “How do you always find yourself in such situations!? Its all your fault! Kuku could have handled it all! Did you HAVE to go after the car?”

Naina: “Who am I kidding?!”

Naina really loved whatever extra time she got to spend with this mysterious man. There was something about him. Even though she had been held at gun point or handcuffed BY HIM, she felt extremely safe, protected, valued and cherished when she was with him, not that she didn’t feel like that when she was with her family and friends but there was something different when she was with him, something especially special!

She just wanted to put her head on his shoulder and go to sleep. She felt comfortable enough that when she would open her eyes, she would be home and everything would be alright.

Gael walked back to the car, his work complete. He had tried to deny the drink the governor had offered but sometimes you just have to participate in the social niceties. He had disrupted the Governor’s night for which he had graciously gifted him, but to do what he had asked as soon as the office hours open tomorrow was no simple feat. Hence, he accepted the offer of a drink and chugged it down as fast as he could. The Governor had wanted to entertain him for longer but fortunately he was able to wiggle himself out.

All the while, only one person was in his thoughts, Naina. Even though he had only been gone for a maximum of 30 minutes, he rushed back to the car only to find her resting her head on the dashboard with her hands stretched to her right, handcuffed to the steering wheel. Her fair wrists had turned pink already because of the bruises caused by the handcuffs. He was to be blamed.

Her fringe was sideswept and had fallen across her face tenderly kissing her cheeks as she snored lightly.

Gael couldn’t hold himself back. He reached forward and tenderly tucked her loose hair behind her ear. Naina slightly stirred in her sleep and Gael swiftly pulled back, scared that his rough touch had broken her sleep too.

But she pushed her hair back in her sleep with her elbow and went back to snoring lightly.

Gael chuckled because it seemed that she slept like a rock. He unlocked the cuffs but before he let go, he kissed her bruises tenderly trying to apologize for the discomfort he had already caused her. He then slowly laid her on the seat and put on her seat belt. He was right. Naina didn’t even stir.

Since he didn’t know where she stayed, he took her home with him.

Leo: “Oh My God! You brought her home!”

Gael: “What else was I supposed to do?”

Aaji: “Naina?”

Gael: “Wait a minute, how do you know her?”

Leo: “How do YOU know her? Why…how…I will be damned.”

Davi: “What’s happening? Is she okay?”

Gael: “She is asleep.”

Aaji: “Then you three boys quit shouting!”

Gael: “She can sleep through an earthquake…”

Leo: “And snore through it too…”

Gael: “It’s cute.”

Davi: “I will be damned.”

Aaji: “So Breno won the bet.”

Leo: “I will be damned!”

Gael: “Your soul belongs to me for the next two weeks, boy.”

Leo: “It doesn’t matter, as long as her heart belongs to me by the end of these two weeks.”

Gael: “Excuse me?”

Davi: “Maybe we should tuck her in?”

Aaji: “Which room do you think…”

Gael and Leo: “My room!”

Gael glared at Leo but then Leo always loved playing with fire!

Aaji: “My room would do…”

Naina shifted in her sleep and wrapped her arms around Gael’s neck comfortably resting her head on his heart. She sighed in her sleep and smiled.

Gael: “My room and I will take the couch.”

There was that tone again. Nobody dared object that!

Gael walked to his room carrying Naina along with him. As soon as he was inside the room, Leo turned and hugged Aaji.

Leo: “My first love will always remain incomplete Aaji, my first love will always remain incomplete.”

Davi burst out laughing and smacked Leo’s back: “I am telling you, you will capture Bollywood overnight!”

Aaji: “Are you okay?”

Leo: “I will be. But this is between us. As far as irmão is concerned, given time he will probably get down to confessing his emotions when hell freezes over. I am going to play him till he gets his act right.”

Aaji: “Oh! I am sooo proud of you! I love you!”

Leo smiled and winked at her: “Who needs anybody else?”

Aaji: “You are such a rogue!”

Davi: “But you are right. This is probably the best way to get him thinking with his heart and not his brain…”

Leo: “You think he really…”

Aaji: “Oh yes he does! Unbeknownst to him, Naina has already made a huge space in his heart. I just need to spend some more time with Naina to see what’s going on in her heart.”

Davi: “I think we should also fill him in on what happened with your house.”

Leo: “Wait, what did I miss already?!”

Gael gently placed her on the bed but he couldn’t leave her side yet. He knelt before her, her hands held in his and drank in her exotic beauty.

There was something about Indian women; there was something about Miss Naina Malhotra.

Aaji: “She is beautiful, isn’t she?”

Gael instantly snapped out of the trance and stepped back.

Gael: “I…Uh...I was just…yes, she is beautiful.”

Aaji: “Now stop being a pervert and let her sleep in peace!”

Gael: “What?!”

Aaji: “Out of the room, now!”

Gael rolled his eyes and grabbed a pillow on his way out of the room.

Aaji smiled and sat down next to Naina. She gently stroked her cheek and kissed her on her forehead.

Aaji: “You are perfect, perfect for him! I don’t know how but I am absolutely delighted by how you find yourself in his arms all the time! It’s about time you both realize that this is beyond coincidence. THIS is destiny!”

She switched off the lights and left the room closing the door behind her.

Gael, Leo and Davi were sitting in the living room and stood up when Aaji entered the living room.

Aaji: “Now does her Dadi know where she is? How did you two end up like this?”

Gael: “You will be happy to know that you will have your house tomorrow. Not just your flat  but the entire god damned area…”

Leo: “WHAT?”

Now that Leo knew just what that meant, he couldn’t hold it back.

Davi was shocked too! How the hell had his brother managed THAT in a matter of few hours! His brother really was one hell of a magician!

Gael: “What do you mean ‘WHAT?’?”

Aaji looked at Leo and shook her head.

Aaji: “That’s not important. You didn’t answer my question.”

Gael: “Oh now that’s not important? Just a few hours ago you were freaking out that I didn’t give importance to the one thing you asked…”

Aaji: “Breno, that girl has a family! This is not Rio and girls dont roam about at this ungodly hour with strangers! Her grandmother must be worried!”

Gael: “Relax! Contrary to popular opinion, I do understand propriety! John has gone to inform and bring her friend up here, with whom she was out and about in the night let me tell you that too. Her friend can decide what he wants to do with her. What he tells her Dadi is his calling; he was the one who took her out of the house late in the night in the first place.”

Gael’s cell phone buzzed. He had to answer it. Too bad he wouldn’t get the chance to meet the Cuckoo bird. It was probably for the better because he didn’t understand why all of a sudden he had the urge to turn that bird into a hot pile of bird turd!

Gael: “This is Naina’s cell phone and her car keys. The hotel staff already brought the car back. Give these to her friend when he comes over.”

Aaji: “Why don’t you…”

Gael: “I have a life.”

Aaji raised her eyebrow but stopped herself from smiling. She knew all of her boys so well. That was pure and simple jealousy.

Aaji: “Fine. What is his name?”

Gael: “Bird turd.”

Gael answered his phone and walked away.

Leo: “Wow…wow…wow! Did you see that?”

There was a knock on the door.

Aaji: “Leo and Davi, why don’t you go inside. There is no need for anybody else to know that you two are in this country.”

Desde sempre e para sempre Chapter 20

Desde sempre e para sempre

Chapter 20

As soon as he lowered his gun, Naina charged into him, tumbling onto the sand on top of him. He might have melted her bones but held at gun point, her desire to survive kicked in.

Gael was caught off guard not by her move, he had already guessed that by her stance, but by seeing her in front of him! He could have moved away easily but then she would have fallen on her face and hurt herself. He actually cushioned her by grabbing her before she ran smack into him and took the hit. However, in order to do so he had to drop the gun.

Was it worth it?

Naina straddled him and grabbed the gun instantly holding him at gunpoint.

Damn right, it was worth it!

Naina: “Hands where I can see them!”

God dammit, she knew how to use a gun! He had not seen that one coming. Well, that was a good thing considering he was at gun point and she wouldn't accidentally shoot him he hoped...

Naina: “HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!”

Gael: “You mean off your waist?”

She placed the muzzle on his chest and unlocked it: “I know how to use it…”

She then traced it down towards his navel: “Of course, I will start with something more painful than your heart…”

Gael let go and stretched his hands above his head: “It’s not a toy, Naina.”

Naina locked the gun skillfully keeping it aimed at him: “Quite a heavy gun to carry around…”

Gael: “Heavier than the chunk of bangles you have on?”

It was quite a sight. Those bangle adorned wrists and the gun in her hands…

Naina: “Heckler & Koch USP Elite, 9 mm Parabellum, .45 ACP with a sound suppressor…this is a pretty toy for a pretty boy…”

Dammit! She shouldn’t have locked the gun!

Half a second later, she was flat on the ground and he was straddling her, putting his gun back in its holder!

Gael winked at her: “I don’t need a gun to be on top of you.”

Naina: “Get off me!”

Gael leaned in closer and brushed his lips against hers: “Only because you didn't say you would scream.”

He got off her and held his hand out to help her up. She pushed his hand away embarrassed that she was already blushing because of that kiss and got up on her own.

Naina: “I am not on the plane; you don’t have to kiss me now!”

Gael: “Okay, great. I will charter a plane…”

Naina glared at him: “I meant…you know what…I should have just let you run into the water!”

Gael: “What?”

Naina: “You were going to shoot yourself when you were knee deep in the water, right? Why? Why would you want to kill yourself?? What about your grandmother? What about your brothers? How can you throw away…”

Gael burst out laughing.

Naina pushed him away and started walking away. She had just realized that she had been a fool. He had purposely tried to draw her out to the deserted place…

Gael: “Wait! Stop! Naina!”

Naina: “Stop following me! You molested me!”

Gael: “Wait, WHAT?”

Naina turned around and glared at him: “You purposely drew me out of the car…Back in the shed! The way you touched…”

Gael: “Hang on a second, before you go ahead calling me a rapist! I did not know it was YOU in the car and I wasn't trying to get a feel, I was checking for weapons!”

Naina stared at him, her mouth dropped. Okay, the part about him not knowing she was in the car, she agreed. She had just remembered that both their cars were tinted but…

Naina: “THAT’S HOW YOU CHECK FOR WEAPONS?”

Gael: “Well…by the time I realized what a sexy body you had…”

Naina: “What? What do you mean!? What if I really had a weapon on me…”

Naina stopped. He found her body sexy?

Gael: “Remind me how you got here again.” Because he really didn’t need to be reminded how her body had felt like pressed against him…

Naina: “I don’t want to talk to you…I am warning you! Stay away or else I will shoot you with the gun that is on me, the very one you missed, and dump your body in the ocean! And here I was thinking that you were going to kill yourself!”

Gael: “You tried to save me? Nobody has done that for me…”

Naina: “Not you! I tried to save a man! It could have been anybody!”

Gael grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him in a fierce hug: “Thank you.”

Naina: “For what?!”

Gael let her go: “For trying to save somebody.”

Naina: “Why do you have a gun?”

Damn, this woman! Her thoughts were all over the place! Couldn't she concentrate on one thing at a time? Like how much he wanted to kiss her again and again and again…

Gael: “To protect myself from crazy women.”

Naina: “Do you have a license? I can report you, you know? This is India. We have rules.”

Gael snorted: “Rules that nobody follows?”

Naina: “Excuse me! YOU were the one on the wrong lane, Mr. Foreigner! Didn't you go to driving school?”

Gael: “You don’t say! They have those in India? People actually enroll in driving schools?”

Naina: “Listen, Mister. You are the last person who can make any comment on Indian driving, okay? You were wrong!”

Gael: “Okay. I accept it was my mistake. I am sorry.”

Naina: “Good because gone are those days when the British could come over and change our system.”

Gael: “I am Brazilian not British.”

Naina: “Both start with a ‘B.’ That’s close enough for me.”

Naina started walking away; although not as gracefully as she would have liked considering the sand.

Gael ran past her and stood before her.

Gael: “Where are you going?”

Naina: “I am leaving. I got your apology and that’s all I wanted.”

Gael: “Okay…”

He moved to her side to let her pass.

Gael: “Will you be okay going back?”

Naina: “That is a question I should ask you! This is my city and I actually know how to drive.”

Gael: “If this is your city why are you in a hotel at this hour? Why are you not at home?”

Naina: “And this matters to you because?”

It mattered to him! Everything she did, does and will do mattered to him! Doesn't she understand?!

Gael: “You are right. None of my business.”

She started walking toward the car. He had to stop her….

Why? More important…How?

He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. Just like that she came into his arms and fit perfectly into his embrace as he lightly brushed his lips against her to distract her. With his free hand, he snitched her car keys and hid them in his pocket.

When he broke the kiss, he spoke before she lashed out.

Gael: “We fought; it was only natural that a kissed followed.”

Naina wanted to kiss him back...NO! She wanted to...needed to walk away but her knees felt weak…This man and his kisses…

What was she going to do?!

Naina: “I…give up!” Its not like she could have said anything that would have made sense anyway! 

She turned around and started walking away, as fast as she could. She was scared the he could hear her heart going hmmmmmm....

As soon as she reached the car, she stuck her hand in her pocket to pull the keys out. Oh-oh! She looked everywhere, no keys…panic mode!

What if she they fell out of pocket while she was running…

Gael walked over to his car trying his best not to whistle.

Anytime now…

Naina ran back to look for it. It was dark and she didn’t work best when she was in her panic mode. Oh my God, Kuku was going to kill her…it was HIS fault.

She ran back to his car.

Naina: “I LOST MY KEYS BECAUSE I WAS CHASING YOU! BECAUSE OF YOU!”

Gael: “I can hear you just as well when you are not shouting.”

Naina: “My keys…I can’t find them! I looked…everywhere! As much as I could….what am I going to do…”

Gael: “I can take you home.”

Naina: “An auto can take me home! It’s not about me, Kuku…”

Gael: “It’s about a Cuckoo?”

Naina: “Not a Cuckoo! My friend! Kuku, he rented the car!”

Gael: “He?”

Naina: “Yes, he did! I don’t have the money to buy these flashy cars!”

Gael: “You and Cuckoo…”

Naina: “I should call Kuku…”

Naina started patting her pockets for her mobile: “It’s in the car!!! What am I going to do…”

She grabbed his tie just like she had on the plane: “You fix this!”

Gael pulled his tie out of her hold: “I am not fixing anything. Ask the Cuckoo to fly here and fix this.”

Naina: “You are so ungrateful! All of this happened because I tried to save your life!”

Gael: “No! All this happened because Ms. India wanted an apology and let me remind you, you were not saving MY life, you were saving ‘anybody’s’ life!”

Naina: “Okay! But please, may I borrow your phone. I need to call him.”

Gael: “You have his number memorized?!”

Naina nodded: “Let me just tell him and he will understand. He always does and then he can come and pick me up and fix this for me! He always saves the day…”

Gael: “No!”

Naina: “No?”

Gael: “I will take you back. You are right. All of this happened because of me and let me be the one to fix it for you.”

And not the Cuckoo, not on his watch.

Gael walked over to the passenger door of his car and opened it for her: “Get in my car.”

Naina: “Maybe I should drive.”

Gael: “Maybe you should look for your keys in the water.”

Naina needed his help now and she decided to shut up. She got in the car and buckled up. However, she waited for him to get in the car to do the sign of the Cross.

Gael rolled his eyes and started the car just as John’s phone beeped with the next set of directions to the Governor's residence…Damn! He had forgotten all about it! That never happened! Nothing slipped his mind…this woman…

Gael: “I have to run an errand first.”

Naina: “What? Now? Breno, not now please…”

It took him great effort to not do what she willed. It shook him as he realized that he would do cartwheels on the sand for her right away if she so desired. He was Gael Bourgeois and no one controlled him, he controlled everyone!

Gael: “That was not a question. You are a big girl. Its not like you have a curfew to abide by.”

Oh no! Her Dadi didn’t know she had snuck out! She was in India! She most certainly had a curfew!

Gael pulled out and drove straight to the Governor’s residence. 

Desde sempre e para sempre Chapter 19

Desde sempre e para sempre

Chapter 19

Aaji: “I want you to go to that place and get it all under control.”

Gael: “Fine. If it’s THAT important to you, I will do it. But let  me tell you, YOU have not won the bet. This is the last thing I am doing, without any further argument over it, unless you win that bet. Leo, you pray to God you win the bet because if you don’t, I am going to…”

Aaji: “You are going to what? Its not like you have the courage to go up to Naina and tell her that…”

That did it. Leo, John and Davi practically gasped…

Gael never raised his voice. But if his voice was devoid of any emotion…

Gael: “Never challenge my courage. That girl means nothing to me and never will…”

Aaji: “You may frighten the rest but you don’t terrify me. I just want you to stop lying to yourself.”

Gael: “What do you want me to do? Find her and tell her that I cannot stop thinking about her ever since we parted ways! Do you want me to tell her that she is making me go crazy! I have only known her for a couple of hours and she already has me longing for her…do you know what will happen if they find out? Do you know they will threaten her life? Do you know they could do things to her just to get back at…you don’t know anything! Neither of you! I cannot reveal yet another Achilles Heel when I am already so vulnerable…”

Aaji smiled as unknowingly he had revealed so many things that were locked up in his heart…but who were these people he was talking about. 

The rest looked at each other. Gael was already in love?!

Davi: “Who are these people!? Then why don’t you tell us!?”

Gael: “You know what; you want that place and want me to get it for you, right? Consider it done.”

He turned around and started walking to the door.

Aaji: “Where are you going?! Who is going to be there now!? No government official is going to entertain you at this hour…”

He stopped and turned around.

Gael: “Don’t forget I have been and will always be Gael Bourgeois first. And if Gael Bourgeois wants something, he gets it. No matter what the time and no matter where we are.”

He turned around slamming the door shut behind him.

Davi started to follow him: “I think I should go with him.”

John interceded: “No. I know how uhhh difficult he can get…let me…”

Leo: “You know everything, don’t you? You know all the things Irmão hides from us…”

John: “I am sorry. It is not my place to tell.”

Aaji: “Go. Go after him.”

Gael reached the executive parking deck at the Taj where a wide range of cars were kept ready at his disposal. He walked straight to a black Aston Martin, representative of his mood.

John reached just in time before Gael pulled out. He swiftly opened the door and got inside.

John: “Maybe I should drive. Its been a while since you have driven and these people drive on the other side…”

Gael simply stepped on the gas and pulled out of the parking in response.

John: “Okay. Where are we going? Its midnight.”

No response.

After a couple of seconds…

Gael: “Pull up the address to the Governor’s residence.”

John: “Governor’s residence!? At this hour!?

Gael: “We better not be late then, he is expecting us.”

John: “He is expecting us?!”

Gael: “It amuses me to see you surprised.”

John: “I am sorry. I mean I know you can…”

Gael: “Directions!”

John pulled his phone out but: “ON THE OTHER SIDE!!! THAT’S THE INBOUND TRAFFIC LANE!”

But it was too late.

The Aston Martin pulled out on the inbound lane just as an Audi pulled in.

It was only imminent!

John: “Please, Sir, stay inside!”

Kushal: “Stay inside!”

Naina: “I didn’t do anything! He is on the wrong lane!! This is the entrance not the exit!!!”

Kushal: “I know! Let me deal with it!”

Naina: “Let you deal with it! No way! I was right! Just let me…”

Kushal: “NAINA!  Look at the car! It’s tinted and it’s a freaking Aston Martin! We don’t know who is inside and we don’t know how this is going to play!”

Gael: “Please, it’s just an Audi.”

John: “Tinted none the less and entering the executive parking.”

Gael opened the door: “Whatever…I…”

John leaned over and shut the door.

John: “NO WAY! This is why you have hired me! Please, stay inside!”

Gael: “I don’t have the time for your PR skills right now. I have to get this stupid house matter settled.”

John nodded and got out of the car just as Kushal got out of his.

Naina noticed that the passenger had gotten out and not the driver which meant that the driver was somebody important. She tried to see through the windshield but it was too dark for her to see the driver.

John’s phone beeped in the car indicating that the route to the Governor’s residence was established.

Gael looked outside as the two men approached each other. He had had his share of accidents and he knew that the car could not have been that damaged and was absolutely sure no one was hurt. John could take care of the rest…

He keyed the ignition. Naina noticed it. He was NOT getting away with it no matter who he was!

As soon as he reversed the car, Naina was onto him. Just as he pulled out, Naina stepped on the gas and followed him out. He was going to apologize to her no matter who he was!

As soon as he got out of the hotel, this time using the proper lane, he realized that the Audi was following him. Not just that, the Audi was tailgating him!

What the hell?

He stepped on it; he didn't have the time for this.

She stepped on it too; she had all the time in the world to make him or her apologize to her.

It was late in the night and the Marine Drive was deserted, the two cars raced through the road. He was heading toward Malabar Hills...

Gael checked his rear-view mirror and noticed that the Audi was catching up even though he had lost his tail for a while earlier. This was not his city and he was at a disadvantage. Fortunately, he carried a gun with him.  He had begun to think that it was probably one of his rivals...he couldn't call John because his phone was with him in the car, he was not going to call his brothers…he was going to take care of this on his own. He was absolutely not going to enter the Governor’s residence with a possible Mafia encounter.

He realized that he was approaching a beach. He had vague memories of being there in the daylight when he was a kid but at this time, he hardly believed it would be filled with people. There would definitely be some on the beach but only those who shouldn't be there and who would mind their own business. He hadn't thought much about the plan; he was making it as he got out of the car and ran toward the beach; toward an especially shady section of the beach.

Naina saw a man get out of the car and race toward the beach. His erratic behavior instantly put one thought in her mind.

Was he going to commit suicide?!

She had to save him! She had to talk him out of it! She couldn't leave now that she had seen him take this step!

She got out of the car and ran after him.  She ran in the direction she had thought he had gone. Unable to find him, she stopped gasping for breath.

As soon as she had let her guard down, she was seized from the back by a strong set of hands and pulled under a deserted shed. Before she could even scream, one of the hands covered her mouth and she felt the cold metal pressed to her nape. There was no mistaking that it was a gun. She knew she would have to obey.

Gael couldn't see her face which was covered by her hair and he knew she couldn't see his.

Gael: “Who put the contract on me?”

That voice!

Naina knew who he was instantly and despite the condition she was in, she melted. Just like that.

Gael: “Moretti? Lombardi?”

When she didn't respond, he started patting her down with his other hand to check her for weapons she was hiding. It didn't matter that she was a female; a hired gun could be a male or a female and just as effective.

Great, as if she wasn't already so affected…what had happened to her vocal cords…he did have her mouth covered by his hand…

She was sexy! That’s all he was thinking! Was he even looking for a…wait, what was he looking for again?

Right, weapons! Finding none, he pressed the muzzle of the gun to the back of her neck to remind her that he was armed and pushed her away.

Gael: “Turn around with your hands in the air.”

Naina raised her hands and slowly turned around.

As soon as he saw her eyes, he felt weak in the knees.

Gael: “YOU?!”