Leonardo's POV
"Sir, would you consider becoming a member?" The librarian repeated. obviously not wanting to let go of a good business prospect
"Yes I want to be a member." There, my reputation is safe. After all it's just a membership.
"Wonderful!" The lady, Janet I think is her name, sounded she had just cracked a great business deal. "Saira, please help him dear with the formalities."
"Sure." Came the response, though her expression told me she did not really trust my motives to be there.
Saira- my tongue itched to try the name. Her name is as beautiful as her. Too bad I will be humiliating her and then leave. Now is the perfect opportunity.
I saw her scribble something on a card. Squashing away the guilty feeling which was trying to make it's place in my chest I opened my mouth "I am Leo-"
"Please sign here Sir." She pushes a card towards me. Why does she have to keep interrupting me?
I glance at the card. My eyes widened as I read the details. She had filled in my name already. She knows me!
"You know who I am?" Once again the words were out without me intending to voice thwm.
My vocal cord and brain really need to coordinate and function! I should not have said these words aloud.
"Mr. Norcross you are a well know man." I can make out she is trying to be polite as a job profile requirement.
My heart is racing and I fail to understand why. She is right. I am a well know man. I had just assumed no one, knowing who I am would dare to speak to me the way she had.
I had been wrong. So wrong. Heck, to hell with revenge. It is anyways childish to think of revenge. Time to end this silly thing. I will just take the card she had filled in and walk out of here. I will never be coming back here anyways.
"Leonardo" I put forward my hand for her to shake. Might as well walk off on a good note.
She eyed my hand for a few seconds as though wondering why I am introducing myself when she already knew who I am. Right. Why was I doing it?
I almost pulled my hand away wanting to bury it in my pocket when she put her hand forward and placed it on my outstretched hand. "Saira Zaveri"
My fingers firmly closed over her soft hand and I gave it a firm shake before releasing it.
I completed the formalities and paid the modest membership fees and was handed over the membership card.
I pushed it down the pocket of my jeans not really intending to ever use it. Once I step out of here the incidents of the past hours would be firmly behind me.
Saira 's POV.
"I think he came here for you." I heard Janet say, sounding bemused as soon Leonardo Norcross had walked out of the door.
"What makes you say that?" I asked her.
"When he had entered his eyes seemed to search around. It seemed he was looking for someone or something." Janet said slowly. "When I asked he said he wanted to look at the books, but as soon as he sees you he becomes a member and leaves immediately. It seemed as though his search was over"
"Why would a man like him come looking for me?" I scoffed, though I had a somewhat uneasy feeling she might be right.
"I don't know. But he seemed to know you when he saw you." Janet said her eyes by now twinkling with amusement and curiosity.
"That could be because of what happened at at beach today." I told her the happenings at the beach.
She listened with an expression that was a mixture of shock and disbelief. "Are you crazy? Talking like that to a man of his stature!"
"Oh come on Janet. The poor baby could have been hurt. That was careless of him. It made me so angry. How can anyone be so careless?" I fumed at the memory.
Not to mention the way he had been staring at my lips.
Pervert!
I did not mention this to Janet, not wanting her to insist that the infuriating rich spoilt brat had come here looking for me.
Janet shook her head at me. "Saira, one of these days your temper will get you into serious trouble. If you are not already into one that is."
"Janet, you are reading too much into the situation. There is no way he could have known I work here."
She seemed to consider what I had said "That is right. It was probably just a co incidence that he was where you work and not intentionally." Janet agreed.
Unless he followed me here, an uneasy voice in my head said. I pushed the thought away. It is ridiculous even to think on that line. A man as successful and well known as him would never do anything like that.
For someone as common as me, he would not, I am quite sure about that.
I doubt I am going to be face to face with him ever again, I tell myself and get back to my work. I need to focus on my work and not some famous billionaire.
"Whatever the reason, him being a member is great for our library. We can use this fact to lure so many new members and donors." Janet said happily.
I could not help but laugh at Janet's enthusiasm. She really works very hard to try and get best books and there are many who benefit from it.
Yes, that is what he was. A valuable member to my place of work.
I work very hard in my attempt to make my life run smooth and on track. Unnecessary thoughts of arrogant billionaires have no place in my life or even in my mind.
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A displeased Saira and a very determined to stay away Leonardo have convinced themselves they have no reasons to cross each others path again What do you think about the two of them? I would love to know your views. Please vote and leave a review. Love, from me to you.
Leonardo's POV."Where were you last evening, after you abruptly left us at the beach?" Druv asked and I almost cringed inwardly.Trust him not to let go of this!"I – had some work- I told you- something urgent that had to be taken care of immediately." I said shrugging my shoulders casually.Luckily for me I am a workaholic and no one would doubt me I say I have been working. As expected it worked on Dhruv as well and I sighed in relief."So what did you find out about her?" Dhruv asked grinning at me cheekily and I almost groaned out loud.He always manages to see through me. I decided not to answr him and
Saira's POVI eye the beaming delivery guy in front of me. "Are you sure they are for me?""If you are Saira they are for you."Well I am the only Saira here. I reach out for the card sticking out. Leonardo Norcross!The nerve of the man! How dare he? Does he think I am one of those silly women who feel blessed to have him around them? I am not accepting these!"Such lovely flowers! Are they for you?" Suzy asks as she comes in."N-No no." I say in a rush. A Customer walks up and asks her something. Saved for the moment, I sigh in relief.I quickly grab the
Saira's POV.I continued to avoid looking in the direction where the offending man is sitting. Why is he sitting here for so long? Does he not have any sexy woman waiting to be taken out?Stop thinking about the women he takes out, I berated myself silently.I checked the time and saw only about 30 minutes of my shift was remaining. I don't think I have ever wanted a shift to end so desperately.Saira take a hold of yourself girl, he should not even be effecting you. Right, I should not even be noticing him.I darted a quick glance towards the one I was aiming to ignore and regretted it immediately when I came into eye contact with him.
Saira's POV."Right Mr. Norcross! How totally believable that is! I am the first woman you are asking out!" sarcasm drips from each word of mine.I heard him sigh loudly. "Saira I have never been interested in a woman enough to try and get to know her! I have taken women out before, of course I have! But I just choose from the ones who so evidently show interest in me!""Oh how delightful for your pride, having a long list to choose from! Please carry on and chose from there! Spare me for God's sake!" I burst out on him close to yelling. "And we are going in the opposite direction from where I want to go!""I will drop you wherever you want me to Saira." He says quietly. He pulls the car to a stop and turns to look at me. "Sa
Saira's POV"Saira there is someone here for you." Ned the helper at gym told him.Must be Norcross's driver delivering the car. I told that man to instruct his driver to leave the keys at the reception. Obviously rich boy did not do 'instructions' well!I nodded my thank you to Ned, as I was still panting having just got down from the treadmill. I preferred jogging any day but unfortunately often time was a luxury I did not afford."Please tell him to leave it at the reception." I said referring to the car keys in my mind."You mean you want him to be 'delivered' at the reception?" Ned raised an eyebrow, pointing his chin towards the door as he air
Leonardo's POVShe tugged at my arm and pulled me along, to my surprise, I did not resit. Did not even think of it.I see her cheeks flush, as though she was appalled at her gesture. For some reasons I had an urge to reach out and touch her cheek. It was an effort fighting my urge.Quite evidently she was not keen to have me as company, so any such action is sure to creep her out enough to shun my company completely.I am surprised at my own actions. Making this list had seemed a good idea last night. I had spent a good few hours while working on it!Doubt crept in my mind only when I saw her almost freaking out on seeing the list. Yes, now it does seem to be a weird
Leonardo's POV.My phone buzzed as I drove out of the gym's parking lot. I glanced at the screenAnna? Why is she calling me so early in the day? My siblings rarely call me during the daytime, unless there is an emergency. I keep a very busy schedule.Normally I do.Since the past couple of days I have had only one business, trying to decode a way to make a hole in the walls of resolution that this one woman has built around her.So far I have not even been able to make a small dent, I think grimly to myself.Zavi has been giving me a look that is blazing enough to have men
Saira's POVI stared out of the window, my palms fisted tightly on my lap. To an onlooker I may come across as angry, which I am.However the feeling predominant in my heart is fear, panic. I feel on verge of palpitation. We have been travelling for over two hours, stopping only once after getting coffee when Leonardo bought some burgers- on the go of course.The incident of eight year ago kept flashing in my mind. That one fateful night when I lost everything-No! Saira don't go there. You cannot afford to go weak now. You have a mad rich brat to fight against.Few minutes later we approachd a huge gate. Even as this creep of a man on the driving seat slowe
Saira's POV. "Zavi it is just you and me here for at least some time. I am sure Dhruv must be looking for us but I am not sure how far the currents have carried us in that storm. We were not too long ijn the sea so I am sure help will not be too far." I nodded before remembering he could not see since he was not looking towards me as he had promised he will not. And somehow I do trust him. I sat quietly as I heard sound that told me he was adding some dry branches and twings that he had collected and soon I could feel the fire be larger than before. It crackled and some bits of sparks kept flying around as the occasional not so dry wood may be coming in contact
Saira's POV. "-You do understand what I am saying don't you Zavi? I am just saying that we should – er shed our clothes-" "Shed our clothes?" I squealed, I was not scared, not at all. On the contrary I was having a tough time trying not to laugh out loud. Leonardo can be so adoring and cute at times that it just does not suit with his Casanova image! Even in the not so bright light by the fire I could make out the man had gone red in the face due to embarrassment! A Casanova asks a girl to strip with the good intention of her not falling ill and then blushes because of the way it sounded. I coughed a
Saira's POV. This man has been trying his best to meet my expectations and win my heart. To have someone like him in my life I would have to be terribly lucky. However luck has not been particularly fond of me in the recent years. Coming close to me will complicate things for him. Mira holds a very special place in my heart and my life. I understand her internal trauma and mental stress but I cannot risk a repeat of what happened to me that fateful night years ago. And today- I do not remember how I fell into the ocean today but I cannot rule out Mira's involvement - I shivered at the very possibility and could not even bear to think about it.
Saira's POV.I awoke to paws prodding on my chest. I could hear a voice in the distant muttering some chants. Is this how everyone feels after death.I am dead, right? Do wild animals handle us in afterlife? Perhaps they are creatures for specific purpose?This must be a transit booth or something. I need to see. Why do my eyelids feel so heavy? Where are the rest of my body parts.I felt a jerk and salty water hit my tongue as it rose from inside me and I coughed it out of my mouth.I choked as some of it came out of my nose.Was I at the bottom of a deep pit? How did I fall inside a pi
Leonardo's POV. The boat rocked making me stumble but my determination was stronger than any rational thought my brain could conjure. I felt eyes on me but I did not stop to check. Lifting my body up I dived into the only water. Taking a deep breath I started swimming in the direction where I had seen the dolphins in the distant. The streak of light blue between them may have been visible only for a split second before disappearing but I knew that colour was of Zavi's gown. I could hear faintly Dhruv's voice calling out to me in the background over the din of the motor boat and sounds of my swimmi
Saira's POV. An hour before the old couple spotted the Dolphins frolicking in the ocean in the previous chapter. My surrounding was like a bottomless pit that was sucking me in as I hurled into it. Desperately I trashed around in my attempt to clutch at something – anything that would put a stop to my fall. No matter how much I tried I was barely able to move my limbs. They felt so stiff and heavy. With effort I pushed open my eyelids only to feel a sudden piercing pain in my eyes. Water! Sea Water! Fear spread into my heart like the shadows cast by the setting Sun as I realised I was floatin
Leonardo's POV. My first instinct was that of a relief that Zavi was not with him. I shot him a glare leaving Dhruv to tell him how I was also looking for her and we had no clue. "When did you see her last?" The man has the audacity to quiz me like this! "It;s been over two hours I think." Dhruv supplied making me want to tape his mouth shut. My eyes focused on Sam as I started to make a rude comment but the words never left my mouth, The expression on his face for some reasons made fear clutch at m
Leonardo's POV. "Stop shoving me!" I practically shouted glaring around trying to figure out who had pushed me. When my eyes contacted no one close enough to be able to even touch me it just worsened my temper. Attack and take cover. A common strategy of trouble makers "Coward!" I shouted looking around indenting my voice to reach the miscreant. "Leo?" Dhruv's voice made me turn around to face him, "What is it?" I snapped. "Easy old man. What is wrong?" he asked as he walked towards me. "Mind your own busi
Dressed in a formal trouser suit she looked every bit professional that she wanted to be. The navy blue seemed like a stark contrast to her reddish brown hair. Though I could not see her eyes from here I am sure the moss green colour must be looking even more lively and blazing today. The figure hugging suit clung to her, giving a hint of her curvy body without actually giving away any detail. As I moved closer to her my smile got bigger. I groaned silently when she moved away from the table she had been standing near to another further away. She was probably not even aware of my presence unlike the other occupants of the room.