"Dev!" Shanaya yelled the second he entered with Sonakshi. "Where have you been? You are four hours late when you've never been four minutes or even four seconds late. Then she looked at Sonakshi and the fact that his arm was around her waist, in jealousy. "And this is?"

"Sonakshi Dixit." Dev said with a grin.

"Your sister?" She asked with a smile, yet rudely.

"She doesn't look like me." Dev said confused at her tone.

"Then maybe she's your step-sister." She said shifting her balance, glancing at her.

"My Dad never cared to marry twice, he loves mom too much." He laughed at her look now.

Sonakshi felt her temper rise and settle all at once at her rude tone. Dev had always explained Shanaya to be a nice, calm girl. At the moment she was anything but nice. She treated Dev like her employee when he was actually her boss.

"No, I'm his wife Sonakshi Dixit." She tossed back politely, yet surprising Dev that she clarified, not him.

"What?" Shanaya looked at Dev in shock. "When did you get married?"

"We'll complete seven months in a week."

"You remember that?" Sonakshi quickly said, impressed he knew.

"Whatever," Shanaya looked at Dev again. "The report is ready, are you?"

"No." He said as Sonakshi got out of his arm and walked towards the paintings that hung in the corridor that lead to his fathers old office. He allowed her to go, it was her office as much as it was his. "I'm not here to work Shanaya. I'm spending the day with Sonakshi."

She leaned over and kissed his cheek, "You never told me you were married."

"No one knows. We got married very secretly." His eyes wandered back towards Sonakshi, which annoyed Shanaya more. "Give me the reports, I'm sure I can go over them with Sonakshi afterwards. She watched the launch live."

"It can wait, so can I."

"No." He looked at her sternly. "We will go over them. Sonakshi." He called moving away. He stood beside her as she continued to look at the paintings. "Like them?"

"They are amazing Dev. They have been painted in such fine details yet the colors are painted so bluntly." She ran her finger over the frame and then looked at him smiling.

"You know paintings, don't you?"

She shrugged, "I paint Dev. I'm bound to know about it. Where did you get them from?"

"Catalogues, when we were going to interiors."

"Not to be rude Dev, but whoever did your interior did a very dull deal. I mean it's all so pale gray. You should have done abstract colors, bright and colorful." When she looked back at him she saw the faint lipstick mark on his cheek. "I never kissed you." She mumbled rubbing her thumb over it.

"Oh Shanaya-" he stopped when he saw the disappointment in her eyes for the first time in his life. "Shanaya just..."

"I didn't ask for an explanation either." She said turning away, moving to the next painting. Although her eyes concentrated on the painting her mind was on Shanaya and Dev. Did they like each other? she wondered.

That was awful, she told herself. She didn't have the right to just assume things. But then what was he doing walking around the office with a lipstick mark on his cheek?

"Here's the file Dev." Shanaya said holding the file out. "Anything else?"

"Hmm, yes. Just a sec." He looked at Sonakshi, and called her. She turned and walked to them. "Where do you want to eat tonight?"

"Anywhere you want Dev." She looked at Shanaya again. "Shanaya can suggest something, I'm sure."

"If Dev is going out to Chinese Panda Express would be fine." She shrugged. Sonakshi wasn't special and definitely not the right choice for Dev. She was dressed so simply. Had absolutely no make-up on. She was completely natural, something Dev never wanted. Shanaya had known Dev for to long to believe that he married Sonakshi happily.

"We were thinking Italian." Sonakshi said reading her expression. She might have turned quiet and very conservative but at one point she was loud and extrovert. She had taken Psychology and was also a law major. She had the capability to read people expressions. And the way Shanaya looked at her she could tell that she didn't like her very much.

"Alright I know." Dev said when no one said another word. "Olive Garden that would be perfect! Shanaya book us a table outside for dinner."

Her mouth opened, rather dropped slightly. She wasn't his peon, she wanted to remind him. "Go Shanaya!" Dev said when she continued standing there. She snapped out of her thought and walked away with a poise that showed nothing but annoyance.

"She hates me," Sonakshi mumbled walking away from Dev. How many other people would hate her when they came to know she was married to Dev Dixit?

"She doesn't." He said as he opened the door of his cabin. "And, this is my cabin." Before she could walk towards his table he took his hand and pulled her closer. "I like you for who you are, Sonakshi. I don't care if anyone else likes you or not." He buried his hand in her hair, discovering how tick and silky they were. They would be soft, he always knew. But as soft as silk...he'd never imagined.

"You're a public figure. Nothing less than a famous model whose advertising the most popular perfume today. You stand right beside someone as famous as Tom Cruise and David Beckman. Being your wife, when I appear in public with you I need to be able to carry that same attitude you do. That poise, the grace, the style, the class." She nodded her head, feeling his hands explore.

"I don't care." He lowered his mouth and brushed it over hers when the door flew open. Sonakshi turned around and Shanaya stood there fuming in anger. "Shanaya," Dev started annoyed. "Do you not know how to knock?" He looked at her, one hand still holding Sonakshi's. "What do you need?"

"What time did you want your table for?" She looked at him trying to keep herself calm. He was her boss after all.

"Eight, will do fine. You can go now." When she was gone and the door closed again, Dev turned to Sonakshi and framed her face. "Poise, grace, style, and class. You own them all in a unique manner Sonakshi. You don't have class only if you're born with a golden spoon in your mouth, you earn style and class. I don't care what you were before you were married, now you are Mrs. Dev Dixit, the name bring class without you having to try. You'll never be an embarrassment for me. So take that thought out of your mind. And, since I can see you worried about Shanaya I'll tell you not to worry about us."

"You're fantasizing Dev." She turned around and walked to his desk. "French furniture," she mumbled running her fingers over the smooth wood of the cherry table. "You've spent money without a care, Dev." She rounded the corner of the desk to looked at the room from where he sat.

"Dad always says don't think about money when you have it." He shrugged as he pulled the chair out and made her sit down, then stood behind her as she moved her fingers on the mouse of the laptop. "Do you like the office?"

"I already told you my opinion about the colors, to dull to be a part of a fashion house. The furniture is excellent, exquisite for each section of the office. It's nice, everything but the colors."

"Hmmm." He leaned over her shoulder and clicked on his new mail icon. "Maybe we can repaint the office and keep you in charge."

"The work here is very interesting here Dev. I can't deny that."

He closed the window before the mail could open and turned her chair around. "So if do, you think you'll join with me?" He bend down to one keen and placed his hands on her knees.

"It wouldn't kill me." She said with a shrug. "I'm sure I can do something around here."

"I have the job for you, Sonakshi."

"Do you?" She grinned at him. Something was changed about him since he'd come back. He'd been out of state so many times before, for three weeks at a time sometimes. Yet, he'd never come back to embrace her so tightly and tell her that he missed her.

"Our previous lawyer is retired now, so you can take that job. It would be lovely to have a family member handling something so important." He looked at her as she evaluated the offer.

"What do I get in return?"

"You get to spend time with me!" She wrinkled her nose at this comment. "And you get to tour different places in the world often."

"Why does a lawyer have to tour with the boss?"

"A lawyer doesn't, Dev Dixit's wife does. I want you to be me everywhere I go, from now on." He took her left hand to notice her ring wasn't there. But he didn't say anything.

"May I dare to ask why?" She held his hands back.

"Well since you already have, I'll tell you." He took a deep breath and then made a silly face. "I don't know." She laughed at his look. "I really don't, Sonakshi. I went to Boston and realized that I was missing you, when I came back I wanted to keep you with me where ever I went."

"Hmm," she nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe you are getting to used to me. Or maybe you need me around to baby sit you. Make sure not any random girl is walking up to you and kissing you." She sighed as she laughed. "Tell me honestly, how many times do you get kissed daily?"

"Oh only a few million times." He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "But it's not my fault I get kissed by everyone but my wife."

She couldn't reply to his comment. She couldn't figure out what he was trying to do. He behaved like she meant the world to him. He'd never paid this much attention to her in the past six months than he was in one day.

"Dev I think you need to see a doctor." She wanted to stand up and walk away, but he was holding both her hands in her lap. "Your behavior is starting to worry me."

"We'll see the best physiatrist in California tomorrow. Maybe he can tell me why I'm having a hard time without you around." He left her hands and stood up. "Since we have some time do you want to go over the reports with me?"

"I thought that was Shanaya's job, Dev." She watched him move across the room and open the windows. "I don't want to take her job away from her."

There was a knock on the door then. "Come in." Dev said when Sonakshi stayed quiet. The door opened and Shanaya walked in with a check book and a few files.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Dev. Since you're here can you sing these cheques and these paper? It's very important." She waited for a reply patiently.

"Shanaya I told you I'm-"

"Dev just sign them." Sonakshi requested walking to his side. "It won't take more than two minutes, it's just a signature." He frowned taking the files from Shanaya.

"Well, it was just a signature even when we got married, Sonakshi." He mumbled scribbling on the cheques.

Shanaya glanced at him after the comment. There was something wrong with their marriage, she could conclude.

Sonakshi wanted to tell him that she loved him...right now...at this very moment very much. But couldn't. He cared for her but he didn't love her as yet. But she wished one day he would tell her himself that he loves her.

"What's the file about?"

Sonakshi glanced at the file getting closer to him and listened to Shanaya speak. "That is the list of designers and companies who want to keep parts of our launch from last week. Just need your signature to finalize." He placed a pen against the paper when Sonakshi took his hand.

"Don't sign this Dev." Shanaya and Dev looked at her. "Should I assume that you always sign these papers after every launch?"

"Yeah, anything wrong?" He took the pen away as she stood in front of him looking at the file.

"Do you still need me?" Shanaya said looking away.

"Yes." Sonakshi looked at her. "What you need to do is get in contact with each of these companies and confirm delivery before you guys just sign and dispatch."

"You know I never thought about that." He placed his hands on her shoulders as he continued to look at the file in front of him. "See I knew you would be great help if you joined office. God knows how many mistakes I make in a day."

She laughed, "Maybe I should. Or I'll wake up one day and find out my sweet husband's company closed down." She turned and caught his chin and squeezed his jaw with a grin on her face. "Shanaya you can go."

***************************

"Thank you." She tossed coolly, turned and left.

It was a beautiful place to sit at, so serene. When she looked around she most found mostly couples sitting and enjoying their meals, enjoying a cuddly talk. Something she'd never shared with anyone in a very long time now. Jatin had always tried to get close to her but he never pushed his luck because he knew she didn't love him.

She could smell the flowers in the garden of Olive Garden and the spicy smells of garlic and other spices from the foods the people were eat around her. She looked around, wondering where Dev was at the moment.

It was a cold night and she called herself foolish that she'd dressed in a light skirt this morning. But then she didn't know that they would be eating out today. She covered her mouth as she let out a small yawn, then pulled the cozy shawl, that matched her skirt perfectly, closer. She was looking through Dev's collection of clothes at their shops when her eyes fell on the beautiful patter, she nearly fell in love with it when she ran her hands over the soft material. It didn't seem like the type of material that would be so delicate yet keep one warm. But it did. She wasn't going to take it, but Dev forced her to. He'd warned her it would be cold since they'd booked their table outside.

He was correct.

Now although the shawl was keeping her warm she could feel Goosebumps on her arms. She looked at the empty chair beside her and then looked at Dev's jacket. He was a clown, she thought. So precise about his dressing. But then he had a right to be, he owned a fashion house. She reached over and picked up the jacket and wrapped it around her, keeping the shawl on her legs.

She looked around again, and spotted Dev walking towards their table. A smile tugged her lips before she could stop it from coming. He was definitely a man who knew how to treat his lady.

"Cold?" He asked as he sat down, pulling is chair closer to her.

"A little. Do you want your jacket back?"

"If you can survive without it." He wrinkled his nose. "Do you want me to get a table inside?"

"Oh no!" She closed her hand over his when he started to stand. "It's perfect. I'm sure I can live with the shawl."

She gave him his jacket back and watched him put it on again, then wrapped herself in the shawl again.

"I was wondering," she started looking back at him. "Did you ever date Shanaya?"

"Date Shanaya?" He laughed at her question. "Why do you ask Sonakshi?"

"I don't know. Although I might be wrong she treats you more like a boyfriend or lover than a boss."

He bobbed his head in a manner that made Sonakshi smile. "She's like that." He shrugged looking around if someone was going to come take their order. "I've never dated her." He leaned forward and changed his position. "If you're worried don't be."

"Why would I be worried?" She reached to play with her ring then looked down to find it missing. "Where's my ring?" She asked in horror. "I know I was wearing it earlier."

Dev laughed at the look that have overtaken her face, the panic in her eyes. "You weren't wearing it when we got to the office. Maybe you left it at home."

"No." She nodded her head. "I know I was wearing it when we had breakfast this morning." She asked herself not to panic over the matter. "You're right, I probably left it in the bathroom or my room."

"Maybe," he took her hand again and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Even if you did lose it, it's ok."

It wasn't ok! That was her wedding ring. She couldn't have just lost it, it meant so much to her.

She smiled again. "I've never been here before, I don't even know what I'll order."

"Don't worry, Sonakshi. Just trust me." He looked at her and felt something in his heart pulling him towards her. He wanted to spend time with her, know her, care for her, and perhaps one day love her. Love her so much that she is able to forget everything but him, but not for his selfish reasons. But for herself. He wanted her to be able to look into his eyes and see that there was someone who cared for her, not as husband who loves his wife, not yet at least. But as a friend who she could share every feeling with.

"Here are the menus sir." A young girl dressed in black cloths stood beside their table and gave them the long menu cards. "I'll be back in a few minutes." She smiled at Sonakshi and then at Dev in a dreamy manner.

"You should have tried modeling Dev." Sonakshi said with a sigh when the waitress was gone far away to where she couldn't hear them.

"Why?" He looked through the menu not really paying attention to the insecurity that was haunting Sonakshi with the way girls looked at her husband.

"Just like that." She opened her own menu. Her eyes widened at the prices. They weren't necessarily out of her reach before her marriage, but at the same time she wouldn't have been able to enjoy an entire meal without worrying about the budget with her family. She wouldn't mention it because that would, she knew for a fact, anger him very much. Moreover she had to adapt to his lifestyle if she wanted to live with him for the rest of her life. She was his wife and she did love him.

By the time she finished looking through the entire menu she was more than confused. The dishes sounded so...Italian. Cheesy she thought, she was after all sitting in an Italian restaurant.

She closed her menu shut and looked away. She would let Dev talk to her about the dinner and she would let him order.

"So?" He looked at her and the confusion on her face. He would handle this without making her feel uncomfortable, he told himself. "See, I want Chicken Alfredo which is grilled chicken with fresh Alfredo sauce and tossed with fettuccine. Or I don't mind pasta-" He stopped when she leaned over and kissed his cheek. When she moved away slightly, he turned to look at her. She was smiling the biggest, brightest smile. One he'd never seen before. "Do I look like a clown?"

"No, you're quite the opposite, charming." She paused looking at him toning down the bright smile. "I'll eat anything you order, Dev. I don't want you sitting here explaining the entire menu."

She'd embarrassed him, she realized when his eyes slightly lowered. So she moved over and kissed his other cheek. "I didn't mean to embarrass you."

"I wanted to do the same." He brushed her hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear, moved back as the waitress approached their table.

"Are you ready to order sir?"

When Sonakshi looked over her pencil was in position and she was ready to start scribbling the second Dev started talking.

"Let's start with the drink," he said opening his menu again. "We'll start with Sour Apple Martini's."

"Alright, would you like to order your dinner as well now?"

Sonakshi smiled as a memory came back of Jatin. If the lady would have asked him this question he would have snapped back rudely, 'I will when I'm ready.'

"No, in a while." Dev replied back politely.

When the waitress left Dev looked at the smile on Sonakshi's face. "Why are you smiling now?" He asked.

She nodded rubbing her hands on her arms. "Nothing much. I was just remembering Jatin."