The Clingy Fiancee

Chapter Nineteen

It was almost six o'clock in the morning when we finally landed In Chandigarh. My heart was beating furiously in my chest and I was standing near the exit gate of the flight, tapping my foot impatiently.

What if Neil remembered everything the moment we stepped on Chandigarh soil? Our time together would be cut short, and instead of feeling relieved, I actually wished that didn't happen.

My mind was in such a fix.

I was waiting for Neil to step out of the Master Bedroom. Inside he was changing his clothes so that he looked more like an invisible bodyguard than the man who was accompanying me. Ankit and Ravi had said that they would handle it effortlessly and no one would recognise him anymore...but I was still doubtful.

It was early in the morning and I wasn't actually expecting people to be around to spot him, but you never knew with the news channels and media personnel scrounging for information everywhere. And right now, I was one of the hot topics in the country because there were theories that I had conspired for Neil to die because I wanted his money and wanted revenge because he jilted me.

How ridiculous. It was a pity that people were loosing their faith in love.

"Ta-da! Here he is!"

I turned around and my mouth went dry. He was looking like a bodyguard, and his looks were slightly changed to make him unrecognizable, but he still looked like my Neil. Why didn't he ever tell me that he made one hot bodyguard? Oh, of course, I knew, after all the role plays...

Neil grinned at me, "How do I look?"

Hot. I'd love to do you right now.

"Um...you look alright." My voice cracked at the end. It was pathetic - what a hormonal mess I suddenly was. Neil might not remember but 'Neil in black' or 'Neil in a suit' was my weakness. And here, he was standing with both my weaknesses combined so it was some kind of a sensory overload for me.

I bit my lip, "You'd do just fine." My voice was weirdly breathy, "Let's go." I cleared my throat, "And remember to ignore what the paparazzi blabbers about."

I was going to stick earphones in his ears just because I didn't want to take a risk. The news channel reporters had a habit of asking the most intrusive and offensive questions, and they were not going to care if there was a man around with retrograde amnesia.

A jeep was waiting for us near the jet to take us back to the airport. The jeep driver would be the first person I would test this whole farce on. I just hoped he didn't pay attention to my new bodyguard. I was seriously running out of ideas.

While I rode in the backseat, Neil was sitting right in the passenger seat, next to the driver. No one had paid attention yet. It was so fortunate that people were not really interested in perusing the bodyguards, unless there was some scandal informed.

When I got out of the car, I was not really aware that my knees were weak and trembling. It was when they had buckled up under me and Neil caught me before I could hit the ground, that I understood how nervous I was.

"Why are you so nervous?" Neil asked me with concern, "Is something wrong?"

"I'm just being weird," I breathed and leaned against the jeep till I felt my legs could handle my weight, "It's just that it's been a long time since I've faced a lot of people. Last time I did was before my engagement was called off."

Neil rubbed my shoulder comfortingly, while I took in a few deep breaths. My engagement was something that made Neil uncomfortable - I noted.

After a few silent moments, I mentally pepped up myself.

I can totally do this! I am bold - isn't that why Neil fell in love with me in the first place? He had always said that I was bolder than every woman he had met and he loved my spirit - I cannot become so weak like this when Neil was depending on me with blind faith.

"Let's go!" I muttered, "I want to get out of here."

I marched up ahead of head, while he followed right behind me like an obedient bodyguard. Soon, the other three joined us, and each one of them carried a bag or two and surrounded me protectively.

"Why would you need protection, Myra?" Neil asked curiously, "I mean, you had said you are famous and all, but two bodyguards should be enough. I see there is another team waiting ahead of us for you."

And surely, he was right. There was another little troupe of bodyguards waiting for us to reach them. Neil was right, again, I was a little, insignificant woman who was handed too much power without her knowing. I didn't know what was the need for so much overbearing protection but Prakash Uncle insisted on it.

"She does not understand," Uncle said, "But her life is not exactly safe at the moment. She is in danger but she is not understanding the gravity of the situation and the need for her protection."

"What?" Neil straightened up, "Why is her life in danger?"

I butted in before Uncle could respond, "I recently, unknowingly inherited a great amount of wealth after the death of my ex-fiance. It has enraged a good amount of people who thought that it was rightfully theirs. But I don't know anyone who wouldn't be in his right mind and would try to endanger my safety. Uncle is obviously over reacting." I grumbled.

"No, he is not." Neil argued, "Stop trying to get into an argument whenever anyone is trying to care for you or protect you. Uncle is doing it because he knows better than to take the risk. If you have inherited a lot of wealth, then you are responsible for a lot of things, too -"

"- Alright, alright, I get it!" I stopped his rant, "I won't complain anymore, alright?"

Neil gave a nod. The others just let out a chuckle.

"She is difficult that way," Sharma chuckled and I glared at him, "Too independent for her own good. She always thought we wanted to invade her privacy. Don't worry, you will get used to her tantrums."

Neil shook his head in exasperation and I huffed.

How dare they say that I threw tantrums?

For a city with a population as small as Chandigarh's, there were too many people loitering around in the airport today. And then I remembered that the holiday season was around, so it was obvious that people were travelling to places instead of staying at home. I wanted to smack my forehead - why didn't I think about this earlier?

As predicted, at the entrance, a good amount of news reporters were standing with their microphones, cameras and notepads in hand. Was a celebrity arriving in Chandigarh today that they were gathered with so much enthusiasm?

Oh yeah, it was me.

"Quick, form a protective circle." Uncle ordered curtly, and I was surrounded by all of them with Neil right behind me. That guy was standing too close to me, and I nudged him with my elbow to maintain some distance.

It was chaos when I took a step out of the airport. I was lucky that everyone was screaming at the same time because I couldn't make out a single word they were saying. All I could hear was my name and Neil's name, taken together or separately at times, and I was vaguely aware of the flashes of the cameras.

When in the hell did my life become so complicated?

I was safely deposited in an SUV and it was too late before I realised that Neil was sitting right next to me with a worried look on his face. He took out his earplugs and said, "They were vicious out there." He murmured, leaning back in his seat.

"I told you, I have become something of a celebrity myself, now." I giggled, brushing off his statement.

"Uncle was right in increasing your protection. It felt like a stampede out there."

I nodded, knowing that he was right in saying so.

"That i***t really did love you." Neil murmured, his jaw clenched quite uncomfortably. Neil surely wasn't feeling jealous of my ex-fiance?

"What?"

"That ass, who left you? I am saying that he loved you so much that he entitled you with all of his wealth."

I scrunched up my nose, "He loved his parents a lot, too, but he didn't leave much with them. It's not about love, Neil, it's about trust. That man trusted me a lot with his money. He does not have to worry because he knows his money is in safe hands and he knows I wouldn't do anything with his money that he wouldn't want to do." I told him.

"You are weird, Myra," Neil sighed, "But somehow you always manage to sound right."

I chuckled and rolled my eyes, "It's a mastered skill."