27. Keep It Confidential
The essence of having his presence near me made my heart pick up rhythm.

* * *

For two whole weeks I had only stepped outside the house to meet Jhanvi. My friends called and texted, but my responses were always I didn't want to see them. To be honest, I spent all of my time at home with grandma and Ashar and his sisters. It was better time spent than with those jerks who hired a horrible director and let him mistreat me.

I decided to write my own script for my own movie. My mom had enough money to produce it. That got me busy. In the meantime, Ashar was busy developing his own programming skills. Rosie sketched all day while Aara didn't stop talking about her upcoming ball.

"The ball's on Christmas Eve."

Those were the words she drilled into everyone's heads every evening during dinner. At one point, I thought my grandmother was going to start talking only to tell Aara to shut up. I couldn't blame her for the excitement either as I was the one who had ordered a limited edition ball gown for her.

It was made by an exquisite brand only the wealthy had access to. The floor length beige gown had embroidered lace, and tiny beads finished the look with sheer long sleeves. The neckline had enough beads to not need a necklace. I helped Aara pair classy pearl studs to go along with the dress before doing her hair hair and makeup myself. We ran out of time to go visit a salon.

"You're stunning," I told her once she was ready.

"Credit goes to you," she squealed.

Aara looked teary eyed as she stared back at her reflection. She turned to me and started blinking her eyes rapidly.

"If you cry and ruin that makeup, I'm not fixing it," I warned. "We spent an hour on this. Don't you dare, Aara."

She scoffed. "I'm not going to cry. I don't know how to thank you. You're the best!"

She tried to hug me but I gave her a air hug instead to not ruin anything. She looked like a complete doll. The beige complimented her skin tone and made her appear radiant.

I ushered her to take photos in the garden, then the front porch, then the back porch, and essentially, all parts of the house.

"We have to take selfies!" she insisted.

"What? No way."

"C'mon! I won't wear this dress again for a while," she insisted. The girl gave me no choice but to take a few photos with her.

"Don't you just love dances?" Aara said flushed.

"No, the last one I attended in high school was horrible," I mentioned. "People brought alcohol and drugs and got away with it. Just be careful, okay?"

"I will, don't worry," she assured.

We were taking a few shots in front of the fireplace in my study when Ashar entered. We were waiting for him to return from work, so he could see her before the ball.

"How do I look?" Aara asked before twirling in her dress.

"Not bad," Ashar said impressed. "I almost didn't recognize you."

"Annie helped me," she grinned. "She did my hair and makeup like a professional! She gave me the matching heels. And this gown fits perfectly—"

"Okay, okay," I stopped her. "Aren't you getting late for your dance? Your friends are picking you up or do you want to get dropped off?"

"My friends are picking me up," she said with a sly smirk. She gave me a look with her eyes that told me she was lying. Her date must be picking her up. "My friends will also be dropping me off."

Ashar's eyes narrowed at her face as she lied. Before he could ask anything, she bid a goodbye and clicked away in her heels.

"Is there something I should know?" he asked, still staring at her retreating figure.

I pretended I didn't know anything.

Unfortunately, he went to the window and spied on his sister leaving in a two seater red Ferrari. I shot Aara a text that she better be prepared to answer some questions when she returned. She texted back immediately, begging me to save her.

The things I did for her.

"Who was that guy?" Ashar asked me with a grim expression. "Don't tell me it's a reference for Harvard."

I smiled. "You need to get out of the twentieth century, grandpa. You act like you've never taken a girl out."

He made a face as I sat down on the armchair next to the fireplace. I grabbed my writing pad and my pen to brainstorm ideas for my film.

He shuffled around for a little bit, scouting the books on the bookshelf. He kept looking over his shoulder at me as if he wanted to say something but the words wouldn't roll off his tongue. Right before I could ask him what he wanted, he said he had to go put Rosie to bed.

He left the study quickly.

A part of me wanted him to stay a little bit longer. Just a tiny bit. Just talk to me. Or not talk to me. The essence of having his presence near me made my heart pick up rhythm.

I rubbed my hands over my face.

I just felt alone. I needed someone to be my friend and be by my side. It was the lack of a social life that was making me crave attention from anyone around me.

Why Ashar, though?

He looked handsome in the black jeans and the black crew-neck sweater. The issue was his simplicity. Something about it made it hard for me to focus on whatever I was doing.

My eyes fell on the mantle piece and I remembered the file I had hidden behind the painting. I didn't get a chance to find a better hiding spot. Every area in the house seemed shady. I decided to look through the file once more to make sure the facts were true.

I looked through the contents over and over again. My eyes felt tired and droopy. The facts didn't change once.

I had almost fallen asleep when the sound of the door creaking jerked me awake.

Ashar came in with two mugs with steam coming out. I quickly shut the file in my hands and held it to my chest.

Shit!

"Sorry, were you busy?" Ashar asked, staring at the file. "I brought some green tea for you. Coffee for me."

"Just reading some documents from work," I said casually. "Nothing special."

"You're missing work already?" he asked as he handed me one of the mugs.

"As if I'd miss that director," I said after thanking him for the tea. I set the file on the side table. "He can go to hell and eat all the KitKats he wants for all I care. Anyway, why are you drinking coffee so late? No plan to sleep tonight? Also, the tea?"

"The kitchen help said you drink it a lot," he said as he leaned against the fireplace mantelpiece. "Aara still hasn't come home. It's almost ten. I can't sleep."

"She has till ten thirty." I took a sip. "Besides, it's Christmas Eve. Be a little more generous."

He eyed me. "You're feeling the Christmas spirit. You're helping Aara, not being mean to me or my sisters. What's going on, wifey?"

I rolled my eyes. "Is that how you thank someone for their kindness?"

"As a matter of fact . . . "

He rested his mug on the mantle piece before digging into his jeans' pocket. He pulled out a baby pink colored square box with a gold bow on the side that had Kate Spade engraved on it.

I looked between him and the box in bemusement.

"Are you proposing? We're already married," I joked.

"No," he said a little flustered. "Actually, I went Christmas shopping today."

"You got me something?" I smiled, pleased by the fact that Ashar spent time to buy me a gift.

"It's nothing fancy," he warned. "But as soon as I saw it, I thought of you. I had to buy it. Now, don't laugh. I was going to wait till tomorrow, but I gave Rosie her gift already. You might as well have it too."

I quickly put my mug on the table near me. He handed me the box seeming a bit nervous.

"Would it be rude if I open this in front of you?" I asked him.

"I don't care." He shrugged.

He went back to lean against the mantle piece and started drinking his coffee. He watched me carefully as if anticipating a negative response.

He had already won by buying me a gift.

I didn't have the patience to wait to see what he had bought. I opened the box and looked at the beautiful necklace in front of me. I could see why it reminded him of me. It was a gold clapper board pendant with a lobster claw clasp.

I laughed for some unknown reason. My cheeks wouldn't stop smiling as I studied the pendant.

"It's not extravagant," he said nervously. "I didn't know what to buy for you, honestly. The clapperboard reminded me of your movie-making—"

"Ashar, I love it." I took it out of the box and held the heavyweight pendant in my hands. "This is the most thoughtful gift someone has gotten me. Thank you."

"No problem," he said.

"There's one problem," I said and sat up straight. "II don't have a mirror. You have to help me wear this."

I held the cool necklace against my skin and twisted in my chair. I moved my hair to one shoulder to give him a clear view. Ashar carefully took the ends of the necklace from my fingers. I tried to breathe normally as I felt his presence close behind me. I could smell his cologne. His warm fingers brushed against my skin.

Was this actually happening?

My heart almost did a somersault at how filmy this. I hadn't even anticipated this.

Was I imagining it or it took him a long time to clasp it together? I lost track of my time as I felt my cheeks warm.

It puzzled me how active my nerves were just because of their proximity with Ashar. Finally, Ashar clasped it and I turned back almost coming face to face with his slightly crouched figure.

His eyes widened slightly in surprise at how close we were. I didn't move. I didn't want to break this beautiful moment.

Someone knocked on the door before the culprit proceeded in without permission.

I wanted to throw my mug at Cecily's face as Ashar backed a few steps near the fireplace.

"Sorry, I'm a little late," she apologized, holding a tray of eclairs.

"Who asked for those?" I inquired, disturbed by her interference.

"I asked her to make some," Ashar said quickly. "I thought you liked them."

He put me at a loss for words by his behavior. First, he brought the green tea, then the gift, and now, the eclairs. Was he trying to compensate for the help I had given his sister? I couldn't imagine any other reason. The funny thing was that these little things made me want to jump in joy and smile for no stupid reason.

"Should I take them back?" Cecily asked still waiting.

"Put it on the table," I said. One of the other maids could've brought these. "Tell the rest of the staff to make a special Christmas breakfast tomorrow. Help them with that."

She nodded and set down the tray on the table. She pushed the file I had put there to make room. Before I could've caught it and hid it under my arm, the file fell on the floor. Though I was a ninja picking it up, the first page had peeked out and Cecily's hawk-like gaze noticed the photo at the top.

"Is that Ash? He looks young," she remarked before I tucked the page in. She laughed. "Looks like a mug shot."

That got Ashar's attention in a fraction of a second.

"Nonsense," I said dismissively. "It's my script."

"I could've sworn that was Ash—"

"The actor looks a little like him," I lied irritated. "I don't understand how many times I have to tell you to open your mouths only when asked. You can leave now. Go home, actually. Merry Christmas."

Ashar and his friend blinked at me. She had scared me too much. I ushered her away as I clutched the file. Ashar's skeptical gaze worried me especially when he walked over and leaned against my arm rest.

"The actor looks like me?" he asked curiously. "I want to see. Maybe I have scope as an actor."

I shook my head. "She's stupid. The actor looks nothing close to you. He's . . . handsome."

"Damn, Ano," he said dramatically offended. "Are you saying I'm not? I thought you liked my eyes?"

He leaned in giving me a close up of his amused eyes which he had widened to show me. I could smell his musky, leather cologne which had hints of floral tones reeling me in. He was right about me liking his brown eyes.

Before I could've put the folder out of his reach, he snatched it out of my hands at the speed of a con artist. He sped away from me as I chased behind.

"Ashar, give it back," I said as I realized what was coming. He stopped on the other side of my study desk, making it hard for me to reach him. "Ashar! Give it to me right now! It's a confidential script. Movie hasn't been realized. Only I'm allowed to look at it."

"Oh, come on," he said. "I'll keep it confidential. You're no longer on that project, anyway. I want to know who is this actor who looks like me."

"Ashar, please—"

It was too late.

Ashar flipped open the yellow file.

* * *

A/N

It is not edited so I apologize for grammatical and punctuation errors.

You guys have to hand it to me. I am updating better. I really want to finish this story.

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—K-K-Kiran