Page 96 of Carnal Games

It renews my earlier intention and I stalk to my desk, asking, “Who’s going to water them? I don’t have time for maintenance.”

“I can do it.”

“You’re here for a few months. After that?” Unbuttoning my jacket, I take a seat and impassively remind her, “You’re dumping a responsibility on me when I never asked you to decorate my office. I like it as it is. Stop taking liberties like we’re friends, Miss Mannan. How many times do I need to reiterate that?”

I glance up and watch the little smile wither away from her lips. Much like the plants would once she’s gone.

Vivid pain constricts my chest at her dejected expression. I push through it because it’s necessary for both our sakes.

“This will be the last time,” she says after composing herself. “I won’t cross any more limits, Mr. Singhania. Is there anything else?”

She tries to be impersonal but doesn’t succeed. Iris could never be cold, even if her life depended on it. She’s the embodiment of hope and compassion in a wretched world.

“Make a summary of the reports shared by the operations department. I need it before the meeting at twelve.” She’s almost to the door when I order, “Send someone from the cleaning staff to take the plants away.”

“As you wish.”

Her broken voice haunts me for the rest of the day.

Despite all my efforts, when the cleaning lady comes at the end of the day, I send her back empty-handed.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Iris

15thJuly 1990

Don’t chase after a man unless you’re sure he’s worth all the trouble.

How to know whether he’s worthy?

You never know, you can only guess. Most often, it never pays off. Because if there’s one thing men are perfect at, it is lying through their teeth. They’ll promise you the world and then shit all over it.

Rakesh Singhania did just that.

He chewed me up and spit me out so fast that I didn’t realize it until I was in the trash.

Until I had given him every piece of me.

You, Rakesh, must think you’ve gotten rid of me.

But I’m going to come back to haunt you. One day, the precious leverage you have over me, it won’t always be under your control. I’ll come back and make you pay for your sins.

Karma is me.

And I will. Get. You.

I close the diary I found and accidentally stole three years ago in Kian’s bedroom. My suspicions were correct. It didn’tbelong to Kian. I still don’t know the name of the rightful owner. Except that it belongs to the woman that used to be the assistant of Nathan and Kian’s father, with whom he had an illicit marital affair.

Her identity is still very much a mystery.

I don’t think anyone in the Singhania family knows to this day and before it could get out, he kicked her out of his life permanently by blackmailing her. Again, no clue what secret he used. However, it was powerful enough to scare a fearsome woman like her into skipping.

After reading her diary, I feel like I know her. At least, a part of her. The passionate part that fell in love with a formidable man who eventually broke her over the course of the three years of their secret affair.

Some might say she deserved it for sleeping with a married man.

I don’t agree with the choices she made, but what enrages me is that only she paid the heavy price while Rakesh is living his perfect life.