As they paced towards the elevator, David asked,

"But why do we want to go when they are there? Won't they suspect us? I mean it may seem like we came here deliberately following them?"

Raymond looked coldly at David and said,

"Then quickly figure out something !!!"

David sighed and started browsing something on his phone until the elevator doors opened.

"You are in luck here. The owner of the restaurant is an avid gamer and they have a banner space where they advertise about games and stuff. So that would be one reason for us to stop by", David said and looked at Raymond in anticipation.

Raymond suddenly halted before entering the restaurant and turned back. He could sense how weirdly demanding he had become and his eyes were suddenly filled with desperation,

"He is seriously after my girl David. I just thought of him as a friend of hers, but you were right about his motives. But I don't know how will I tear away his mask. He is strangely close to her. I don't know how to explain the whole conundrum to you !!!", Raymond said and sighed.

"Don't worry we will figure out something on the go", David said and entered the restaurant and Raymond followed.

David's eyes scanned the entire restaurant quickly and then he asked the waitress for a seat near the live music area where Vikram and Akira were sitting.

As the waitress asked them to follow her and they walked behind.

"Oh, Mr. Shah !!! What a pleasant surprise !!!", David exclaimed and extended his hand to greet Vikram.

Vikram turned towards him and saw Raymond behind and suddenly flinched.

Raymond also extended his hand to greet him and then he looked to his side and saw her girl sitting, wearing someone else's jacket.

That sight was sheer pain for him.

The pain clearly reflected in his eyes as he sighed and that made Vikram extremely happy.

"What brought you guys here?", Vikram asked all surprised.

"Actually the owner of this restaurant Mr. Malcomm is an avid gamer and we have come here with a business proposition for him, as we want to take his advertisement board for promoting our new game", David spoke with an air of ease and confidence and convinced them.

"I see. Now that you guys are here, why don't you join us?", Vikram said and signaled the waiter for table arrangements.

"That's ok. We do not want to disturb anyone", Raymond said with a tight-lipped mouth and looked away.

"Oh c' mon it's not like Akira and I are out together for the first time that you guys will disturb us and yada yada yada. Please join. My girl won't mind", Vikram said and then slightly grazed his hand on Akira's cheek and looked fondly at her.

"Oh Boy, it's not going to turn well !!!", screamed David from within. He was now cursing himself for joining this charade for he clearly knew that Raymond would be boiling with rage within. As Vikram was in a kiss and tell mode, he knew that things were going to heat up.

Akira sat silently like a mock spectator.

She didn't want to look at him in the eye for she was scared that if she did, she wouldn't be able to avert his gaze. As Raymond had already asked her not to involve anyone, she didn't want Vikram to have a clue that she was back with him.

"So you are not even going to say a Hi to me?", Raymond asked looking at Akira.

She was surprised with his question all of a sudden and barely managed to say,

"Hiii".

"When are you starting your work at Abacus?", Raymond asked with a nonchalant expression on his face.

"She is going to start from tomorrow", Vikram said and stretched his arm deliberately and wrapped Akira with it. He wanted the whole thing to be beyond painful for Raymond. He wanted to make him feel that pang of separation and desperation that he felt when he had snatched away Akira from him and I must say, his plan was working.

The dinner continued and stretched painfully for all except Vikram. He was just eternally pleased that he was able to show his territory to Raymond. They continued with business talks, but he made the conversation personal every now and then and no matter how hard Akira tried, she couldn't steer the conversation to any side.

So finally when it was over they all sighed in relief.

It took just a dinner for Raymond to understand how madly Vikram was after his girl. Something had to be done quickly, for he didn't want his obsession to take an uglier turn than what it was now. He didn't want his obsession to become the source of traction in his life.

As they were about to leave, David said,

"You go ahead Mr. Vikram, we will come later after meeting with the owner".

"Sure no problem!!! Goodnight guys", Vikram said and then placed his hand behind Akira as he escorted her out.

He drank a pail of poison at the sight of it.

The poison cut through his throat and burnt him into ashes.

He took a deep breath and looked at David and asked,

"How early can we get our guy inside his house?"

"Starting from tomorrow !!!", David said and gave him a gentle assuring smile.

As he walked out of the restaurant, he muttered,

"I am going to get you Vikram and trust me when I say, I show no mercy"

A few minutes later he sped his car into the darkness of the night.

---

"Thanks for everything Vikram !!!", Akira said as she got down from the car.

"Don't think about him Akira. Give yourself time and you will slowly see that your feeling for him will just fade away".

He slammed his brakes when he heard him say those words and took a sharp U-turn.

"I know. Thanks for being there for me Vikram", Akira said and went inside the house.

With a nervous heart, she immediately opened her laptop to check if had left any text on her blog. But there was nothing.

She logged out and logged in again in a desperate search for some indication from him.

But there was nothing. NADA. ZILCH

"Can you just talk with me somehow Raymond. Just once before I sleep", she whispered into the pendant and tugged onto it like her life depended on it.

Then she went into the kitchen and had some water to calm her jittery nerves, but suddenly she heard the pop sound of the notification and ran towards her laptop.

There was a new message.

"Open the door" @RodeoMaverick