Chapter Eight

We went into the eat-in kitchen, the island filled with food. We sat at the four-seat table and Margaretta served us Shrimp Scampi with Linguini. Taking one forkful, I felt like I was in heaven.

"This is really good," I said.

Arnav nodded. "Etta's cooking is amazing."

I scrunched my eyebrows. "Etta?"

"Short for Margaretta."

"Oh," and I felt stupid.

"So what are you majoring in," Arnav asked.

"Accounting. Gonna do my CPA soon."

"Thats cool. Any ideas where you wanna work?"

"I'm not sure. But if I get into a big company, then that would be great. Better pay, you know, so... yeah."

Arnav's lip curved. "You seem like a person who's capable of a big company."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Really?"

He mimicked my expression back, and he looked super duper cute. "Really."

Eeep!

"In fact," he continued, "you'd be perfect for AR."

Is he offering me a job? "Um, I'll keep it in mind?"

"Are you asking or stating," he asked, his lips somewhat curved.

Oof! "Stating."

He smiled and continued to eat, and so did I. Soon we finished and Margaretta took the plates away.

"Would you like some wine," he asked, wiping his mouth with the clothed napkin.

"Um, I've never had wine before," I said, feeling pathetic.

Arnav stood up and held his hand out. I took it and stood up and he guided me towards him.

"Then maybe tonight can be your first," he questioned, as if asking for permission.

I simply nodded.

He smiled. "Good. Come with me."

He led me to the stairs and we went downstairs. Wait, but isn't that the guest apartment?

Going into the guest apartment, it was just like the rest of the penthouse, following the same theme. We walked into a room, seeing nothing but wine bottles.

"The wine cellar," he said.

Oh right!

I looked around and it seemed really cool to see all these bottles. "Do you collect?"

"No, but I do fancy it."

I looked at him with a slight smirk. "Fancy?"

His lips curved. "Fancy."

And I had to giggle.

Arnav went to a shelf and picked up a bottle. "Chardonnay. Guess it'll do for now. Come," and he held his hand out.

I placed mine in his and we walked out. Wow, how many times have we held hands so far? With my ex, we barely held hands. Hmph, that jerk! Whatever!

We went into the kitchen and he told me to wait as he got two flute glasses. He filled them up and handed me a glass.

"Try it," he said.

And I did, and I must admit, it was pretty good.

"I like it," I said lightly.

He smiled and held my hand again. "Come with me."

And I followed him back upstairs to his room. We went out to the terrace and looked out to the city. It was stunning! The lights were shining brightly and the view was spectacular! I've only seen images on google on how it looks, but to experience it first hand is just breath taking.

"You like it," He asked.

"I absolutely love it. You know, I've only seen images online, but this is amazing!"

I looked out to the city below, all the lights glinting in the dark clear night. What more could a person ask for? This is the perfect view and I'm witnessing it with my own two eyes, drinking champagne with Arnav Singh Raizada.

Once we finished them, he placed them down on a table inside and we continued to look out at the view.

"Khushi?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"And you'll be honest?"

I nodded. What's there to hide?

He looked up at me. "Why did you say yes?"

I froze. "W-w-what?"

"How come you said yes?"

I gulped and looked left to right. Crap! And I said I would say the truth! Damn! Once I tell him, he'll think I'm a creeper or something.

That's it. It's over tonight. End. Done. Over.

"I... I," but I could t get it out.

"You...?"

"I... was curious."

"You were curious?" He seemed confused.

"I mean..." and I began to blurt, "you're rich and successful, yet you do pot and it made no sense, so I thought of finding out more about you, so I went online and researched about you, reading your bio on your company website, articles, and a whole bunch of other sites, but didn't learn anything so when you asked me out, I got curious and said yes cause I wanted to know more," and I took a deep breath and then looked at him.

He just blinked once, looking at me. He had no expression on his face and I knew it then that he would be sending me home that second. But then something else happened. Arnav's lips curved and his eyes filled with humor.

"You what," Arnav said, unable to hold back his chuckle.

I felt myself go crimson red and he couldn't hold back anymore and burst out laughing. He turned the other way, trying to control his laughter, and I clutched onto the railing and hoped miraculously, that I would be taken away from the world this instant.

Arnav faced me again. "I'm... I'm sorry," he tried to control his laughter. "Just that..." he stopped laughing and cleared his throat. "Sorry, I really am. I didn't mean to be so rude."

"It's okay," I mumbled.

Arnav held my hand and gently squeezed it. "Hey, it's okay. I guess the only reason why I had the outburst is cause that's a first."

A first? I looked at him confused.

"No one has ever bothered to find out anything about me. No one has ever wanted to get any info on me. They just said yes to get in the limelight."

"Well... that's lousy."

Arnav nodded. "Yeah.... And I think... I like what you did."

"Meaning?"

"Other women I've dated only dated me for my occupation and money, but you..." he looked at me. "You're different."

"Different?"

He nodded. "You actually cared to find out who I am instead of looking for money bags."

That actually made me lightly chuckled. "I guess for once I've done something good."

He cupped my face. "Don't say things like that. There's a reason why I asked you out. You're not like those women, who only agreed for their own benefit. But you did it because you actually had some interest."

It is true. "Yeah," I said, looking down.

Arnav just looked at me a few seconds, letting go of me. "There's something about you."

I scrunched my eyebrows and looked up at him.

"There's a strange feeling I have about you."

Oh great! Now I'm strange?

"It's not bad, but... but a good strange."

A good strange?

"I don't know, but there is something about you. Something special."

Eeep! Me? Special? Well then!

"I want you."

Rich boy say what now?

"E-excuse me," I stuttered.

"I want you."

And my jaw hit the floor.