Author's pov

Hannah finally published her article, and she got a good response.

Henry saw it too and asked Beck for Hannah's cell number and made a call to her.

Unknown caller 📞

Hannah: Hello.....

Henry: Am I talking to Ms. Michaelson?

Hannah: yes!!! May I know who's calling?

Henry: I'm reading your article, and you missed one thing.
"That I'm gay or not."

Hannah: shit........
I apologize for that stupid question, Mr. Brown. Please forgive me.

Henry: No, it's fantastic. I'm just messing around with you, Ms. Michaelson.

Hannah: Please, it's Hannah, Mr. Brown."

Henry: Well, you owe me a coffee, if you don't forget.

Hannah: I would love to.

They decided to meet for a coffee in the afternoon.

"Hi Hannah," Henry greeted her.

"Hello, Mr. Brown."

"Call me Henry, and by the way, thanks for the other day."

"OK, shall we come to the point?" Hannah replied with a mischievous grin.

"Fair enough."

"So tell me honestly, are you really into her?" Hannah asked.

"I can't tell now if I'm into her or not, but there's one thing I know right now: I want to know her; I want to know more about her. Every time I meet her, every time she makes me curious to know about her." Henry answered her.

"Well, fair enough. You must know about a person you are interested in, so I'll help you with this, but mark my words. If you ever hurt her, make her sad, break her heart, or do anything bad to her, I swear I'll make your life a living hell." Hannah replied with a bright, threatening smile.

"Is that a threat? "Henry asked.

"Consider it whatever you like," she replied with a mischievous grin. "Sammii means a lot to me, so I help you get to know her only because I want the best for her too. You seem like a nice guy."

"I'm flattered." Henry chuckled. "I count on you to know her."

"Yes, partner, count me in," Hannah replied, shaking hands with Henry.

"You want help. Well, I can tell what I know because she is a very reserved kind of person, and I didn't know much about her, but at the same time, not very little, "Hannah said.

"Thanks, but she's an open book, and it's not hard to read her. Don't mind it, but I want to do it by myself."

"Awwwwwwww, how romantic! So good luck then, because without my help, I bet you if she ever lets you be near her within 2 meters of her diameter ". Hannah mocked.

"No, it's not like I don't need your help; yes, I do, but knowing about her, I want to do it by myself." Henry tried to defend himself.

Hannah laughed and said, "I know. I'm just kidding ".

"You are so cute," Henry said while pulling her cheeks.

"I know. Tell me something that I don't know."

"OK, now come to the point. I want to meet her again, so help me out," Henry said.

"Let me think about something that she doesn't suspect, "Hannah replied.

"Well, there is a party on the weekend at my place, and you are invited."

After listening to this, Hannah jumped and said, "I got it. You will meet her then. Sorted."

Hannah reached home, and Samriddhi seemed to be in a sour mood, so Hannah didn't say anything.

But now the weekend is approaching, and she has to think about something.

Saturday morning, she finally asked, "Hey, what's up?"

"You need anything?" Samriddhi questioned her, still looking at her laptop screen.

"Yes...umm....Actually, there is a party tonight at my friend's place, and I'm invited. I want you to be my date," she said with an innocent smile.

"Not interested," Samriddhi denied without even considering it.

"Why not????? You always said there were too many restrictions on you, and you missed so many things in your life. Now is the time to have some fun," Hannah tried to convince her.

"There is so much work to do. So I can't. I'm sorry," Samriddhi denied again.

But Hannah is not going to give up easily. "Okay, fine. If by chance I get drunk and someone tries to take advantage of me, there will be no one to help me as always."

Samriddhi rolled her eyes. Now she is well aware of her tactics. "Then don't drink. Even better idea, don't go."

"Don't behave like a boring old lady and come with me, please." Hannah is not giving up.

"No"

"Please, the address is a little far from the city. How can I come back late at night?" That's it. It's always worked, and now she can't refuse her.

"Fine," Samriddhi said annoyingly. "But I'm not going to wear anything stupid."

"But......"

"Want me to come or not?" Samriddhi cut her off in a warning tone.

"Okay," Hannah said. She knew there was no point in arguing, so she agreed.

Hannah wears a knee-length olive-colored dress, and Samriddhi keeps it casual.
She wears a black turtleneck with off-white pants. But Hannah insisted on her loose hairstyle, so she left her long hair are cascading down her hips.

They almost reached their destination when Samriddhi noticed a huge gate. "Who's this, your friend?" Driving a little further, she saw a huge mansion. She only saw such types of mansions on TV. "Your friend seems wealthy".

"Don't embarrass me," Hannah mocked.

When they both got inside, Samriddhi noticed that this seemed very sophisticated, and there was no one around Hannah's age.

Before she could react, Henry came and greeted them.

Damn her! Samriddhi cursed Hannah internally, and now she is shooting daggers with her eyes at Hannah. Only if she cares.

"Hello ladies, thanks for coming ". Henry welcomed them with a big smile on his face.

"You're welcome. For having us," Hannah replied.

"Hi, Ms. Samriddhi."

"Good evening, Mr. Brown," Samriddhi replied.

Suddenly someone called Henry from behind, and they all turned together to see the source of the voice.

"Hey, there, brother ".

It's none other than Richard Brown.

He came and gave a hug to his brother.
Both of them seem to be happy to see each other.

"I miss you so much," Richard said while breaking their hug.

"But I didn't," Henry replied sarcastically.

Then Richard noticed Hannah and Samriddhi and questioned, "Who are these lovely ladies?"

Hannah is the one who introduced herself. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Jr.Brown . I'm Hannah Michaelson.".

"I prefer Richard Well Jr.; Brown sounds good," he replied flirtingly, placing a soft kiss on Hannah's knuckles.

After listening to his name, Samriddhi cringed internally because she didn't have a good impression of Richard. All she heard from Hannah was that he was a playboy.

So she doesn't want to talk to him in any way.

But Richard turned to her and asked "And you, malady ".

Out of courtesy, she replied, "My name is Samriddhi, Mr. Brown."

"Samriddhi. That's an interesting name.
What does it mean?" he asked while offering his hand to Samriddhi.

But she didn't even let him complete.
She joined both of her hands and said,
"Namaste 🙏 "

Richard's hand remains in the air, and his expressions are enough to show that he doesn't like it.

Henry's pov

She is looking gorgeous—the most beautiful person at the entire party. She doesn't make any extra effort; she is simple yet beautiful, and her loose hairstyle is the cherry on top of her beauty. For the very first time, I saw her long hair untied.

The moment she denied Richard's handshake and greeted him with NAMASTE, I knew she was well aware of his Casanova nature; that's why she behaves like that.

I don't know, but I like her attitude.

"Please excuse us ladies and enjoy the party," I said, taking Richard with me as I left.

"Who is she? It will be a great challenge."

"Don't even think about that, or I will kill you ". I replied in a bit of a threatening tone.

"Oh, my sweet Jesus," Richard said excitedly.

"Shut the fuck up. Come; the guests are waiting."

Well, this party is in honor of our collaboration, for which I went to Madrid.

Every girl in this party is ready to throw herself on me, but except for one, she is sitting in a corner.

I went to her and said, "Why are you sitting here alone and not even having anything?"

"Waiter!" I called, but what she said amazed me.

"I don't drink, Mr. Brown, and congratulations."

"Thank you." Before I could say anything, someone interpreted us, and I'm trying to avoid this conversation because I'm interested in my earlier conversation.

Somehow I managed to excuse myself, then I saw Richard with Hannah.
"No, not her; she's just a kid," I warned.

"Easy, brother, I know we are just having a normal conversation." Richard assured me.

"Don't worry. I know your brother is a jerk, and I'm not going to fall for him," Hannah replied.

"Good." I said.

"Excuse me." Richard is not liking this.

I laughed, and my eyes were searching for her, but she was nowhere to be found. I asked Hannah, and she doesn't know either.

I started looking for her. Well, my mansion is big, and not to mention there are some perverts present at this party.

I feel kind of worried for her, and I got relieved when I saw her on my backyard stairs beside the swimming pool.
She was standing alone, and then suddenly I saw Kal near her. She panicked and tripped because of that; quickly, I ran to her.

Out of quick reflex, her one hand clutched my shirt into her fist and her other one on my cuff.

With my free hand, I hold her by her waist. I stare into her eyes; she is a little scared. She tries to free herself from my hold, but I'm so drowned in those brown eyes that I didn't notice her struggling state in my arms.

When the realization hit me, I helped her stand straight and asked, "Are you alright?"

" yeah. Ummmmm..." She hesitated a little, then muttered, "Thank you. Ummmm, for saving me. Or otherwise, I'll be drowned."

"No, you won't; it's not that deep. If you don't know how to swim,"

"No," she said while shaking her head.

Then Kal again jumped on her.
She screamed and hid behind me. She clutched my right arm so tightly that her life and death depended on it.

I won't lie, but I liked the feeling when she was with me, but I have to stop Kal.
"Stop, Kal, don't. Be a good boy; here come to me."

Kal stopped jumping in her direction and came to sit in front of me. "It's ok, he won't hurt you." I said while turning my back a little to her.

Hesitantly, she saw Kal above my shoulder, then left my arm and apologized to me. "Sorry, I was just..."

"It's ok," I told her. "Come, I will introduce you to my buddy. Kal "

And she replied in one go, "El."

"Yes. Kal-El," I replied, amazed.

"Wow, you look like Superman, but you named your dog after him."

"I take it as a compliment," I replied casually. Then she realized what she just said.

"Ummmmmm... no... actually."

"You didn't like the party?" I changed the subject.

"Huh? No."

"No? Is my party really that bad?"

"No. Oh god. Please let me complete it.
The party is really great, but I don't feel like...... I mean, I'm only here to accompany Hannah, and she is busy and doesn't know anyone. So just I came outside."

"To escape the strangers," I said.

"Yeah, actually." . She smiled guiltily.

"You don't like to socialize."

"No, I don't fit in there."

"What?????? Who said that?"

"No one but..."

"So you just assumed " I cut her in the middle of the sentence.

"Well, no, but I know..." Then, with a gust of wind, her loose strands fell on her face.

I pushed my hand forward to remove it from her face, but she took a step back and put the loose strands behind her ears.

"I think I should leave; it's late". She was turning when I suddenly blurted it out. "Can we see each other again?"

"No," she replied without even thinking once. "Goodbye, Mr. Brown ".

"Sure, Ms. Samriddhi. UNTIL NEXT TIME ".
In the last part, I said it loudly and teasingly, but she didn't even look behind and left.

I came behind her, and she took Hannah and left.

"Smith "

"Yes, boss."

"Find out MS. Samriddhi's workplace ".

"Consider it done, boss."

He replied and left. Richard came to me and asked, "Who was she?"

"That's non of your concern."

"Oh, really, brother?" He gave me a mocking smile and left.
The party is almost over, and everyone has left. On the other hand, I can't wait for Monday.

Samriddhi's pov

Oh god, I don't like here at all; seriously, I'm going to kill Hannah. How could she bring me here?

All these people are drinking and just talking about money and more over that Casanova Brown, a.k.a. Richard Brown.

Agh!!!!!!!!!!! I just want to go home. In this room full of strangers, I feel suffocated, so I head out.
I'm near the swimming pool; on the other side, there were stairs, and beyond that is a beautiful garden, which seems so mesmerizing even at night.

Well, I agreed that Mr. Brown has a beautiful house, or should I say mansion?

I'm in my own world when something fury touches my hand, and the next moment I see a dog so close to me.

I'm scared, and I tripped and tried to grab anything.
When I came to my senses, I saw Mr. Brown holding me by my waist, and I'm clutching his shirt like my life and death depended on it.

I tried to break out of his hold, but his hold is so firm that I can't do it, but he helped me stand straight.

But that dog again jumped on me, so I hid behind Mr. Brown.

He calmed that dog. "It's ok, he won't hurt  you," h said.

I saw above his shoulder and saw he was calm now. Then I realized I was clinging to his arm, so I apologized.

But he said, "It's ok. Come, I introduce you to my buddy Karl."

And I blurted out "El".

"Yes, Karl-El," he replied.

And I blurted out shamelessly again. "Wow, you look like Superman, but you named your dog after him ".

"I take it as a compliment," he replied grinning.

Shit !!!! What the hell did I just say? But then he started asking me.
Why am I not at a party?
Why didn't I like the party?
Oh god, why does he keep asking questions?
Please someone save me, or I'll be embarrassing myself again and again because of my anxiety.

Then a loose strand of hair falls on my face.
I noticed his hand was approaching my face. I took a step back and was about to leave when he said "Can we see each other again?"

"No," I replied without even wasting a second. Of course, I don't want all these; it's just a waste of time, and I'm not free.

I'm leaving when he says, "Sure, Ms. Samriddhi, UNTIL NEXT TIME ".
I didn't even look behind and left with Hannah A.S.A.P.

"You don't even let me enjoy the party," she complained.

"Shut up!!!! and don't you dare to bring me again to such a place. I swear I'll kill you with my bare hands ". I'm so furious right now. How could she?

We were home, but Mr. Brown's
"UNTIL NEXT TIME" keeps ringing in my head. I don't want any drama in my life, and somehow my sixth sense is telling me where it's going, but I don't want to.

Only if I know what this UNTIL NEXT TIME means.

Monday morning, when I reached the bank, I saw the person sitting in front of my desk. Only one word came out of the mouth.

         "Oh boy!"

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