"Trick you? What are you talking about Vikram? I definitely think there is a misunderstanding between us."

"Misunderstanding?"

"Seriously Akira? How can this be a misunderstanding?"

Vikram almost grunted.

Akira knew that it was time to bring out her best weapon aginst Vikram.

"Why are you yelling at me Vikram? I am already feeling so sick. I haven't eaten anything since morning. I am too stressed out and ton top of that you are yelling at me. I told you the investment was for our new project and that's all. If you do not want to invest then fine, I will look out for some other investors for our new project."

Her words had the exact effect that she was expecting.

Vikram calmed down a bit and took a deep breath.

"I didn't mean like that Akira. Why are you taking it in the worst possible way?"

"Becasue, you are making it sound like that."

"I am also stressed out Akira. Huge money is invested in this project and I am answerable for that. Hope you understand that. I just got a bit worried becasue I thought that the investment was for this current project. Maybe I misunderstood you."

"I don't know Vikram. I was all excited about tonight dinner and you just... "

"You just spoiled my mood."

"Come on Akira !!! Can you please let this pass?"

Akira stayed silent for a while and then looked at her watch. It was almost afternoon.

"I don't know Vikram. For a moment after everything, I thought we were in a good place. You know !!! I mean, after all that we have been through, I thought for a moment that things are going towards a better direction. Byt why you had to ruin everything Vikram? Why?"

Akira broke down into small sobs and Vikram couldn't bear to hear her all broken like that. The moment she said about moving towards a good place, his hopes were set all high. He always wanted to be close to her and this was all that he wanted to hear.

So forgetting about the whole situation that he was in, Vikram said,

"Akira, just forget it for my sake. Will you? I really didn't mean any of the things that I said. I was agitated, on my nerves becasue of all the questions. I had to ask you. Come on Akira, you know me. You know how much I trust you. You know we are in this together. For a moment I felt like you stranded me and went ahead, all on your own Akira."

Peter was listening to the sudden change in the tone of Vikram and wandered inside the room all curiously as he was not able to understand, what spell that woman was conjuring over his boss.

His phone was ringing non-stop as the PR department was unable to reach Vikram and he was in no position to answer them. So all that he could do was to dodge the calls and wait patiently for Vikram's call to end. But one thing was clear to him now. Something was going terribly wrong and his boss was being all naive about it.

Hearing his softened tone and all worried demeanor, Akira was pretty sure that she had played all safe now. And that it was time to wrap it all up.

So looking at the dress hanging behind the door, she said,

"Let's just forget about this whole thing Vikram. We have a dinner party to look up to."

"Oh yes !!! I will make it memorable for you."

"Me too !!!"

Saying that she disconnected the call and then looked at the dress again, before taking a deep breath.

David looked at her gaze which was fixated on the dress and asked,

"Pre-dinner jitters?"

"Jitter? What's that?

Akira said and gave out a devious smile.