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After having the moment with Shivaay, Annika came to Malika muttering to herself, rather say scolding herself. Malika looked at her confused.

"Anu? Are you okay?", she asked shaking her shoulder lightly making Annika come out of her trance and looked at her.

"Huh? You're saying something to me?", Annika asked looking at her.

"Not yet but what were you muttering to yourself?", she asked her.

"Umm..ah nothing! You say, what you're about to say", Annika asked trying to ignore the certain blue eyes in her mind.

"Oh yeah! So I was waiting for you, Shivaay and others but then Mr. has some work in his cabin so we need to go there. Everyone are coming, come", Malika said to which Annika nodded and both left for his floor.

Reaching his floor, Sia informed them about him being in conference room with other team members. As they went there, Arnav, Om, Rudra, Gauri and Bhavya. Even Tia was there who Annika ignored royally and walked to Gauri and Bhavya.

"Why have you called us Mali?", Arnav asked to which she nodded.

"So guys! I want an outdoor shoot for collection this time. Something close to nature", Malika said to which everyone looked at each other smiling.

"That would be nice but where?", Om asked.

"Maybe outskirts of Mumbai. Infact Shivaay, you people have a farmhouse there right? We can stay there till then", Malika said and looked at Shivaay who hummed.

"I am okay with it. We can go, infact outdoor photoshoot will make the collection look more beautiful", Shivaay said to which other rejoiced in happiness.

"It would be a 5 days shoot as I want different places of forest as per the outfit", Malika said to which all nodded. She turned to Annika.

"Annika you're okay with the outdoor photoshoot right?", she asked to her.

"Of course I don't have issues with any photoshoot. I will just inform my assistant to cancel my other plans", she said to which Malika smiled widely and hugged her.

Shivaay was looking at them with a smile when Tia noticed it and fumed in anger. Scooting closer to Shivaay, she called out Malika.

"Btw Malika, won't such a big actress look bad being a side model with me. After all, I am the main model of this company", Tia said and was going to keep hand on Shivaay's arm who dodged it.

"Tia your contract is completed with Allure. We've appointed Annika as new model for one year, your and our deal is done", Shivaay said taking a step back on which Malika controlled her laugh.

"But..but Shivaay, she's actress, today or tomorrow she'll show her tantrums and you know, their useless schedule problem and being unprofessional at times", Tia said smirking at Annika which widened everyone's eyes.

Shivaay snapped at Annika with widen eyes. She was clutching her palms and closing her eyes she walked out from there banging the door.

"You better keep your mouth shut sometimes", Shivaay said glaring at Tia and rushed out behind Annika. Others looked at him shocked.

He rushed out to see her taking elevator. Before he could rush behind her, elevator closed. Cursing inaudibly, he took another elevator.

"Annika...Annika please listen!", he said following her. She was rushing towards the shoot area. He walked fast towards her and held her wrist.

"Leave me Shivaay, I would say something which would lead to a fight", she hissed wriggling her hand to come out of his hold only to feel his grip increase.

"You wanna pick up a fight? Go ahead, I will fight back but listen to me", he said in stern voice making her turn at him angrily.

"Why do you care? Who am I to you? I am just an actress who can be unprofessional if she want, who can show tantrums and etc, what I mean?", she shouted looking at him.

"Annika, you're important to me, every person who works with me or associated with me is important to me! Listen quietly", Shivaay said to which Annika jerked his hand.

"Shivaay just go...I don't want to say something which I regret later. I'm very angry right now and my anger is not good", Annika said again and started back backward.

He looked at her and opened his mouth to say when his eyes went to her eyes, they're showing hurt more than anger. He started to approach her again when he saw the pool behind her.

"Annika, look behind", he shouted and as she turned her leg slipped making her fall in the pool. She held his hand in reflex action making him fall along with her.

She immerged from the water exhaling breath pushing her drenched hair behind. Her clothes were sticking to her body and water was dripping. She coughed out water and was about to move when he immerged directly from front of her making her gasp lightly.

Pushing his hair behind, he ran fingers in his wet locks making her look at him. He was look damn tempting with water dripping from his hair. His shirt was sticking to his body like second skin.

"Can't you listen to me at once woman!", he shouted making her come out of her trance and looked at his face which looked angry.

"I don't want to hear anything. Sorry because of me you fell in pool", she said and was about to leave which broke his patience.

Holding her wrist, he turned her in a swift. She turned and bumped to his chest while he twisted her both arms behind her back. She gasped lightly with laboured breath. He looked at her who had her lips parted and face covered with water droplets. He pulled her closer looking in her eyes.

"Now listen to me because my anger is no less. Why you walked out from there?", he asked looking in her eyes. Their face were close while both were looking in each other's eyes.

"What should have I done there? How much ever I try, people think about me in that way. For everyone, acting is a profession which is easy. It's not, I give my patience, hardwork and sweat to reach here. I respect my work and what I expect least is to others also respect it", she shouted looking at him. He could see hurt in her eyes.

"I know...I am still sorry for what I said because after seeing you, I can say that how much passionate you're for your profession, you respect it, you live it. I can see this is hurt more than anger but will you give me answer to one of my question?", he asked to which she hummed looking at him.

"You rebuked on me, you shouted on me, you didn't let me disrespect about your profession, you made me realise how important every profession is. Why didn't you shouted on Tia?", he asked to which she averted her gaze from him and looked down.

"Many people were there apart from your close team. I have my own image, people will think I am an arrogant actress if I would have shouted on Tia", she mumbled. He held her chin and made her look at him.

"Annika, no one would have thought it. You took stand for me when Tia was being all clingy, why didn't you took for yourself. It will not be your arrogance but your stand for yourself. You fought for yourself and I don't find anything wrong in it", he said while she looked at him.

"Really?"

"Of course, you're a strong woman Annika and strong woman shouldn't bend so easily", he said to which she looked at him and smiled lightly.

"You're right. I can't do like this but my profession is touchy topic", she said sighing. He hummed and left her hand. Taking her hands, he saw them fisted tightly.

"You've anger issues?", he asked to which she hummed.

"Yeah.. I have short temper issue. I get angry soon", she said to which he chuckled making her frown.

"At least something we have common. Even I am a short tempered. How you release your anger?", he asked holding her wrists and opened her palms to see nail marks in her inner palm.

"Either I back-count from 100 or fist my palms", she said looking at him who was looking at her palms.

"Hmm.. And hurt yourself I see. You know you're precious to some people Annika? Specially Gauri and Bhavya", he said to which she hummed confused.

"I know. What you want to say?", she asked confused. He looked at her and tucked her hair strand behind her ear, which was sticking to her cheek making her shiver.

"What I want to say is, don't hurt yourself, the people who love you will get hurt. You can use other ways to control it. Like you said back counting, hold a sponge ball tightly, maybe hug someone or you can use my way", he said shrugging.

"What's your way?"

"I break things, specifically phones. Non hurting and best to release anger. You should try once", he said winking to which she chuckles.

"Mobile companies must be blessing you", she said to which he chuckled.

"Okay I will try not to hurt myself when I am in anger", she said to which he smiled widely.

"That's great. Btw we're working together now, we share some common things. So...friends?", he asked forwarding his palm. She looked at him and then his hand.

"I'm not an easy person to handle Shivaay, think twice before making me your friend", she said to which he smiled.

"I don't like easy things Annika, I am hundred percent sure about it", he said and eyed his hand.

"Okay then, welcome this toofan in your life", she said shaking her hand with his hand. He smiled chuckling to which she looked away smiling.

"Now shall we get out from this pool before either of us catch cold?", he asked to which she nodded chuckling. Coming out of the pool, he held her come out, carefully holding her hands.

"Sorry, you got drenched because of me", she said squeezing her hair together.

"Its fine. It was long time since I have gone in pool", he said to which she looked at him and giggled making him chuckle. Taking the lift, they left for his floor.

•~•~•

On his floor, Malika was walking to and fro in the corridor while Gauri was trying to calm her.

"God knows what's happening, where these two went! What if Annika back out from the contract, if contract will end, Annika and Shivaay won't meet, our plan will flop", Malika said biting her nails getting nervous.

Gauri was going to say when they saw Annika and Shivaay coming that way talking to each other, drenched. All six looked towards them with open mouth.

"I thought they'll come fighting with the way Annika went", Om said to other who nodded still looking at Shivaay and Annika.

Both reached to them and looked at them confused who were looking at them as if they've grown horns.

"An..Anu why are you like this?", Gauri asked pointing at her from top to toe.

"Umm—I... I fell in the pool", Annika said tucking her hair.

"Along with bhaiya?", Rudy asked looking at Shivaay who looked at him in disbelief.

"She held me to prevent from falling but we both fell. Malika, give her some clothes else she'll catch cold", Shivaay said to which Malika nodded and took Annika from there along with Gauri and Bhavya.

Shivaay walked towards his cabin and went in the attached room to change.

"Shivaay.. What happened, I mean what you did that she is coming so calm and smiling?", Arnav asked standing leaning to the room's door.

"I didn't do anything. Just talked to her, asked her the reason why she went like that from there. In fact you know, she has same temper issues like me", Shivaay said wearing the dry shirt buttoning it.

"Wah! Short tempered for another short tempered. How exciting you people's fight would be", Rudra said making other two look at him in disbelief. Shivaay shook his head wearing his blazer.

"Where's Tia?", he asked making Rudra frown.

"You're asking for her because of whom didi went like that?", he asked frowning at Shivaay.

"I need to talk to her Rudy", he said, emphasising need, walking out to his cabin making Arnav and Om share looks.

Calling his secretary, he asked her to send Tia. After a while, Tia came there with her sickening smile. She looked around and smirked seeing Annika not seeing there.

"Shivaay baby I told you na, see, she would have shown tantrums and went from there spoiling yours and mine, both of ours time", Tia said smirking but it wiped off immediately seeing his angry face.

"I have warned you always. You're just a model and family friend to me. You've no rights to talk anything regarding my employees or with the people I am working. Your contract is done with us Ms. Kapoor for which your father requested to my father and now you may leave now", Shivaay said signing a paper and put it inside the envelope and passed across the table towards her.

"But Shivaay baby—", she stopped as he snapped at her.

"I would prefer only Shivaay or way better, Mr. Oberoi when we're in my office. You may leave now", he said in calm voice which was no less than dangerous. She took the envelope and went from there.

"That's a great thing you did Shivaay. She was really irritating", Arnav said to which Shivaay nodded.

"Everyone assemble in conference area. We'll resume the meeting which was needed to be done. Inform the girls too, I am coming in a while", he said to which other nodded and left from there.

•~•~•

Everyone assembled back in conference room to discuss regarding upcoming collection.

"Continue Malika, sorry for the disturbance before", he said asking Malika to continue.

"Umm..yeah so I was saying that I wanted to do a part of bridal collection shoot keeping nature in mind so I wanted us to shoot it in outskirts of Mumbai", she said to which he hummed and nodded.

"Arnav what you think about it?", he asked.

"I am okay with it. We will take 5 days as schedule and shoot can be done", Arnav said to which others nodded.

"Fine then. We'll be shooting in outskirts of Mumbai and accomodations will be in our farmhouse", Shivaay said with which all agreed.

"It will be like a small outing too. And secondly, it's my first shoot with you didi", Rudy said excited and looked at Annika who smiled at him.

"So tomorrow is Saturday, prepare everything you require. Annika you can clear your schedule if needed. We'll be leaving on Sunday", he said looking at Annika and then at everyone who nodded.

"Great! I think the meeting is over. I have an important meeting to attend, I will see you guys tomorrow", Shivaay said to which all nodded getting up and Shivaay left from there.

•~•~•

Thanks for your votes and comments on previous chapter. Keep reading, voting and commenting your views. They means a lot to me♥️

Hope you liked the update. Do tell me how it was😁

Precap: Shivaay, Annika and car

Love,
K♥️