The Mysterious CEO's Domineering Devotion

CHAPTER 15 - Fighting her Demons

Pranavi stood aside while the blazing sun was scorching her soft skin. Glancing at her watch, it showed 02:15 Pm.

"Still 45 minutes left!" With a sigh, she started strolling the busy streets while her mind wandered as she glanced at the message again, "Tuscany?"

Her mouth agape, she almost screamed, "Holy sh*t! It's Tuscany?"

"Freaking Tuscany!!" She muttered under her breath while her brown eyes went wide in realization.

"God! I'm screwed!" She patted her hand on her chest in panic.

Biting her plump lips, Pranavi mumbled in annoyance, "We couldn't afford the bill there."

Reminiscing her previous experience in Tuscany, she facepalmed herself, "It's a freaking luxurious hotel for heaven's sake."

Pranavi scratched her neck in irritation, her face scrunched, "What the fu'k was wrong with you, Shreya?"

"Why did you choose Tuscany instead of any of the places we could afford?" Pranavi shook her head in anger while her fists clenched.

With a huff, she walked in the restaurant's direction while her thoughts were clouded by Jwalin.

Her tiny hand involuntarily searched for her nuptial chain when it hit her that she had removed it earlier.

Squinting her eyes, she pondered, "Would he mind that I took off the nuptial chain?"

"Why would he when he loathes you, you fool!" Her subconscious mocked her.

"Ugh. You never cease to annoy me, do you? But you're correct, though." Pranavi sighed as sorrow consumed her.

The question kept bothering her over the years, "Why did I always end up like this?"

Staring at the bright sky, she couldn't help but ask, "what did I do to deserve this kind of life?"

Suddenly, she heard the voices that she had been trying so hard to shut off over the years in full force, "don't you know what you did?"

Hearing that, her face paled as her dark past came haunting her, "You're a sinner, and Sinners never deserve happiness."

Tears welled in her eyes, and she was becoming hysteric while shaking her head in denial with the flashes of blood dripping and deaths of people appearing in front of her, "no, no. I'm not!"

The lifeless bodies, the pools of blood, those scary images weren't going off her mind, and the accusing voices roared, "Yes, you were a sinner, you are a sinner, and you will be a sinner all your life!"

"I didn't do anything." Pranavi shut her eyes as piercing pain throbbed in her head.

"You did it. You were the reason for their misery."

"I could never do that!" She almost screamed at herself, but her voice was barely audible to even her.

Her throat dried as if her supply of oxygen was cut off as the voices became louder and were disturbing her sanity.

"It's because of you they ended up like that."

Pranavi became numb, her nails were digging into her flesh as if that would divert her attention from these haunting voices, but she was so wrong!

"You were the destroyer!"

A mocking laugh combined with an accusing tone roared, "Do you want to be happy? After all the things you did?"

A shrill voice yelled at her, "That's impossible, Pranavi. Come out of pretense and accept your reality."

"Why?" Pranavi could only think of that as her reasoning totally vanished with all the clouded trauma eating her alive.

"Because you should carry the punishment for the sins you did."

Unable to brace herself with the throbbing pain, she closed her lifeless eyes painfully. Instantly, the voices were becoming more torturous to her.

"You're a freaking monster." Followed by a disgusting laugh, she heard, "Your presence itself is a disaster!"

She shut her ears forcefully with her tiny hands, and she ran like there was no tomorrow.

Her legs were shaking, her body wasn't in her control, yet she dragged herself because she needed to get out of those haunting voices, or else she would be doomed.

Sweat dripped on her forehead while muffles escaped her lips.

She bit her lips cruelly to stop the screams from her mouth that they were bleeding, yet she didn't care. She never cared for herself!

"No!! I'm innocent." Stop fooling yourself.

"I didn't do anything!" You did that.

She shook her head violently, "no, noo," while tears were flowing freely from the corner of her closed eyes.

Her face scrunched up with the extreme agony she was having. Her chest became heavy, and her lungs restricted the air intake.

Holding a nearby wall for support, she glanced at the tall building with the name 'Tuscany' boldly written on it.

Trying to get a grip on herself, Pranavi strode into their reserved room while her eyes were puffy with traces of tears hanging on her cheeks.

Without even giving any glance at her surroundings, and with her wobbly legs, Pranavi dropped into the chair with a thud, keeping her eyes closed.

Sitting on the chair while wrapping her hands tightly around herself to brace herself from drifting into a panic attack, she began taking small breaths.

Though her throbbing headache hadn't subsided yet, she felt the voices in her head calm down as she gulped the water in a hurry and splashed some on her face.

...

Soon, Shreya entered in a beige jumpsuit with a matching blazer and let her straight hair loose.

Immediately, Shlok appeared in a white suit exuding extreme haughtiness and handsomeness with his slick hair neatly tousled.

His sharp gaze focused on Pranavi, who was sitting in a daze as if she was lost in her world.

Though they stood in front of Pranavi, she didn't notice them!

With one glance at Pranavi, they knew something was wrong with her.

Shlok had an immense urge to ask Pranavi about that, but he controlled himself since it'd be inappropriate and he might scare the poor girl!

Shreya gave a concerned look at her but pretended like nothing happened to make the atmosphere lively and brushed Pranavi's shoulder, dragging her out of her thoughts.

With a jolt, Pranavi stood up in alarm, her eyes wide. Eyeing who was in front of her, she gave a relaxed sigh.

Licking her lips while gulping, Pranavi said with a stiff smile, "Hello, Mr. Ahuza."

Shlok gazed at her but didn't say anything and nodded. The ambiance was becoming tense with every passing second.

Glancing at Shlok and Pranavi, Shreya decided to cut it and asked, "Let's start?"

With that, Shreya sat beside Pranavi and opened her laptop, and began typing something.

Pranavi was in no mood, but she needed to get a grip on herself. She knew she was strong.

In fact, she was much stronger than crying, pathetically struggling to fight with her inner demons while their work was in danger and when her friend needed her.

With that thought in mind, she cheered herself and gave a nod to Shreya.

Shlok gazed at them and raised his hand while Pranavi and Shreya gave confusing glances at him, not understanding what was wrong?

"Let's have some food first. I'm hungry. Shall we?" Shlok asked as he strode to the opposite sofa from Pranavi and sat with his legs crossed, oozing an elegant aura.

Peeping at him, Shreya and Pranavi were dumbfounded since their meeting was already delayed.

Moreover, they didn't know when it would end, considering the drastic changes they mentioned in the email.

But since Shlok proposed it, could they decline it? No!

Reluctantly, they nodded when Slok's lips curled upwards in satisfaction, and he called the waiter.

Gazing at the menu cards and the prices, Shreya and Pranavi's mouths dropped!

"What the fu'k. Everything was priced so high!" Pranavi muttered under her breath while Shreya mumbled, "holy crap! How could we eat anything if they were this pricey?"

They squinted at each other with worry evident in their eyes. Biting their lips while fiddling with their fingers, they both said in unison, "umm, I need water. Thanks!"

The waiter gave a baffled look at them, while Shlok raised his brow, gazing questioningly at them, and they squirmed uncomfortably with the attention.

Actually, they could afford them, but they weren't willing to spend so much on just the food they eat regularly at a much cheaper price!

Pranavi coughed awkwardly and stood up, "I need to use the restroom. You guys carry on in the meanwhile."

With that, she almost ran while Shlok mused in amusement at her act.

Knowing why they reacted that way, he glanced at Shreya and announced, "it's on me. You can order whatever you want."

Hearing such a tempting offer, Shreya gulped, hesitating whether to accept it or not, but after one sharp look from Shlok, she agreed!

Since she doesn't want to piss him off! At least not now when they need to discuss a lot of things about their work.

With that, Shreya ordered for both Pranavi and herself since Pranavi wasn't present and she knew Pranavi's choice of food.

Soon, Pranavi came back after calming herself and was shocked to see the ordered food and gave a questioning look at Shreya.

Immediately, Shreya mouthed what Shlok said and began devouring the food, which tasted heavenly!

They would enjoy it more if there wasn't any presence of Shlok's overbearing existence, but since they couldn't do anything about it, they complied.

All the while, Shlok's gaze never left Pranavi and was observing her every move with adoration, but he masked it cleverly.

Reminiscing how reserved Pranavi was and the times he came to lunch with her, which would be less than a handful over the couple of years, a disappointed sigh left his lips.

"What should I do to make her come to me?" That was the only thought running through his mind, but he was too arrogant to court her!

And Pranavi was so damn stubborn that she wouldn't succumb to him. He knew that better in these years, since he was working with her closely.

In fact, the email was just a setup to have lunch with her. Knowing she would reject it if he directly proposed it, he arranged it in such a way, giving no chance for her to escape.

He's a cunning bastard. He knew it!

But Shlok couldn't help it because he had an immense urge to see Pranavi and watch her closely.

He wanted to make her stay for a few hours until he was satisfied and planned everything with that in mind.

Poor Pranavi!

Most of the time, he wanted to openly ask her to be his girlfriend, but he was stuck with one thought in his mind, "What if she rejected me?"

That would hurt his big fat ego, and he wouldn't want things to turn in that way. Hence, he was waiting patiently for a chance to show his feelings to her.

But Pranavi never gave him a chance, which upset him!

...

By the time their meeting ended, and they winded up their work, it was already 9 Pm.

Pranavi and Shreya walked out of the hotel with Shlok when the chilly air hit them, making them tremble with the coldness.

The beautiful night sky with heavy traffic, honking sounds, and cool breeze calmed Pranavi.

"Drop me," Pranavi said to Shreya, tiredness dripping from her tone.

Shreya gave an apologetic look, "I came with Mr. Ahuza."

Hearing that, Pranavi wanted to slap herself, "what the heck, Duffer?"

"My bike gave trouble in the afternoon, and he politely offered me a ride." Pranavi narrowed her eyes at Shreya, imagining how well Shlok would have asked, and a mocking laugh escaped her lips.

"I don't get any cabs to Oberoi Mansion," Pranavi added, her eyes downcast in disappointment.

"How are you going then?" Shreya gave a baffled look, panic settled in. "It's already 09:00 Pm. It wouldn't be good for you if you didn't reach Oberoi Mansion soon."

"That is what worries me," Pranavi said, her lips thinned into a line while stroking her hands to generate some warmth.

"Let's go to our house first. We'll think of a way there." Shreya said when she saw Shlok's car coming in their direction.

Pranavi nodded since she had no choice.

She thought of informing Jwalin that she'd be late but she didn't have his number, nor any of the Oberoi family members.

With a sigh, she stepped into the car and froze in her tracks. Shreya sat in the front seat, and She was beside Shlok in the back seat!

"Holy crap! What is this?" She murmured under her breath when Shlok heard her clearly and raised his brow questioningly.

With a gulp, Pranavi shook her head, mouthing a 'nothing' to him.

The atmosphere in the car was becoming awkward with Shlok's heated gaze, and she fiddled nervously, holding her handbag tightly.

Sitting so close to his love, Shlok felt contented. Moreover, it was the first time Pranavi stepped into his car!

Though he knew she was uncomfortable with their proximity, he believed that one day she'd see his love for her.

A small smile erupted on his lips as he glanced sideways.

Leaning on the window, Pranavi kept her eyes closed, inhaling the fresh air. She felt serene in her troubled heart and mind, unknown to the running thoughts in Shlok's mind.

...