Page 16 of Pillow Talk (Rally Romance #1)

S he saw Sen three times that week. It was always the same. They’d fall into bed. He’d leave. No texts. No phone calls.

The one time she asked how his day was, he gave her a one-word answer: good.

Shona had to go in to Durban on Friday. She was meeting Maddie Harper at Felicity’s office.

Once word spread about her creating Maddie’s dress, there was an influx of enquiries.

But Shona didn’t want to take on any more without a proper business plan in place.

She may have run the family shop for years but she still needed advice.

As Kylie opened the door, Felicity exclaimed, ‘Shona, you’re here,’ and jumped up to hug her.

Felicity was sophisticated, well organised and efficient. Shona bet that she didn’t have estranged parents, a no-strings-attached arrangement, or a heap of clothes on the floor of her closet.

They sat down and Felicity pushed a document towards Shona.

‘This is the contract. I normally use contracts generated by Perfect Weddings but the Harpers’ lawyer forwarded this today. They want their own contract. Before you sign it, I’d get a lawyer to look at it,’ she said.

Shona nodded.

‘I know this is all new to you and it can seem daunting. But I’m here to help whenever you need it,’ Felicity added.

They chatted for about 20minutes before Maddie and her entourage arrived.

Maddie was sweet and shy. Her family was another story.

The mom was threatened by the stepmother’s youth and the stepmother wanted to play a role in the planning, although it was clear she had no real relationship with Maddie.

Maddie’s maid of honour, a friend, spent the entire consultation glued to her cellphone.

Maddie’s older brother seemed to be the only one who really cared about her.

It was unusual for a man to accompany a bride-to-be to a wedding dress consultation, but Shona was glad he was there.

He handled his mother and stepmother better than Maddie did and he genuinely listened to his sister when she voiced her choices.

He also loved the dress. He, too, agreed that Maddie was born to wear it.

Shona was flattered but still didn’t see the appeal of the dress.

While she couldn’t get away from viewing it as a rookie student design, Felicity, Maddie and her brother regarded it as a piece designed by an exclusive design house and hot off the fashion runways.

Shona agreed that the square-neck design was as timeless as they come. Maddie had fallen in love with the dress because of its extra detailing in the boned bodice and the chapel-length train for a more elevated silhouette.

Her mother turned up her nose at it. She wanted something big and garish to show off their wealth. Maddie’s stepmother said it was drab, so it suited Maddie. That obvious dig earned her a harsh look from Maddie’s brother.

After the appointment, Shona said her goodbyes and headed towards the train station. She didn’t want to splurge on a taxi. But then she remembered the contract in her bag. Would she be overstepping boundaries and breaking their agreement if she asked Sen to look at it?

She spotted a small, gated park. She went in and found a bench, where she sat down and dialled his number.

‘Shona? Is everything alright? Are you okay?’

He obviously wasn’t expecting her ever to phone him unless it was an emergency.

‘I’m fine, Sen. I just finished a meeting with Felicity. I’ve been given a contract to sign and I was hoping you could have a look at it for me…I’ll pay you, of course.’

‘In kind?’ he teased.

Shona’s cheeks burned. She didn’t answer.

Sen laughed. It was good to hear him laugh again.

‘Relax, Sho. Of course I’ll do it. I’ll text you my office address. Get a taxi and meet me here,’ he said.

‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course. I always have time for you. Now hurry,’ he said.

‘I always have time for you,’ Shona repeated quietly after she hung up.

She hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address Sen had sent her.

As the lift sped smoothly up to the 27th floor, Shona’s stomach began to ache. She was nervous. She was so out of place here.

She knew Sen was from a wealthy family – they were the richest people in Rally – but this had just blown her mind.

They owned this high-rise building where everything gleamed and was in perfect order.

People worked efficiently. Women in smart business suits, men with fashionably styled hair and perfect skin worked in this building.

When the lift doors opened, she found herself on the executive floor. The foyer was massive, and the statement chandelier was as bold as the custom-made leather armchairs.

Shona didn’t know where she was going but just kept walking. She rounded the corner and found a woman typing furiously on her computer.

She looked up when Shona approached.

‘May I help you?’

Shona stopped in front of her desk.

‘I am here to see Senthil Aiyer. I’m Shona Shah.’

The woman’s eyes lit up.

‘Follow me,’ she said and walked towards a broad, oak door. She opened it and all but pushed Shona in.

‘Shona Shah is here,’ the woman said mischievously and shut the door, with Shona on the other side – in Sen’s office.

‘Don’t mind Joanie. She’s…insane,’ Sen laughed, walking towards her.

He wasn’t wearing his suit jacket and his shirt sleeves were rolled up. Shona tried not to focus on his forearms. Sexy as hell. Do not look!

‘How are you doing?’

She nodded.

Sen laughed.

‘Come, let’s see what you have and let’s talk.’ He gestured for her to sit opposite him at his desk.

Shona looked around, noting the enormous size of the office, tastefully decorated in tones of dark brown and black. Sen even had a coffeemaker!

‘May I have a look at the contract? Is it hard copy or digital?’

Shona blinked. She’d forgotten Sen was there.

She rifled through her bag, pulled out the contract and handed it to Sen.

She didn’t make eye contact. Why was she so shy? This man regularly saw her naked, yet here she was blushing like a schoolgirl.

She continued to look around while Sen read the document.

‘Are you happy with this amount?’

Shona’s attention was back on him. ‘What amount?’

‘This one. The payment for your work,’ he replied, pointing to it on the document.

Shona leaned in and her eyes widened.

That was more than 20times what she’d earned at the shop and, even in a good month, with her veils.

‘It must be an error,’ she said.

‘It’s not. It’s numerical here and then written out here.’ Sen pointed to the words on the page.

She bit her lip.

Sen sensed her reservations.

‘Sho, you’re designing a dress for the Harpers. They can afford it. But that’s not the issue here. The issue is you have to see that your work is worth that and more. Stop selling yourself short. Your veils are too cheap as it is,’ he said.

Shona’s heart melted. Sen saw her work. He really saw her work. And then she remembered their agreement. Just sex. No talk.

‘I agree to that amount,’ she said.

Sen continued reading. ‘The rest is a standard non-disclosure agreement. It just outlines that you’re not allowed to reveal any details of the dress or any information from your interactions with the family. It’s pretty standard. It’s safe to sign,’ he said, handing the document back to her.

Shona was just about to thank Sen when his door opened and his father came in, reading a file as he walked.

‘Senthil, can you be my second pair of eyes on this Carey plea agreement?’

He looked up and stopped.

‘Oh, I didn’t know you were in a meeting. My apologies,’ MrAiyer said, looking at Shona.

‘It’s okay, Dad. You can leave the file here.’

Sen stood up and came around the desk.

‘Dad, this is Shona Shah,’ he said.

His father clicked his tongue.

‘Of course, I know Shona Shah,’ he replied.

Shona smiled. ‘Hello, MrAiyer.’

His father eyed Sen and then patted his son’s back. ‘I’ll leave you to it, then.’

He turned to Shona. ‘It was lovely to see you again. I must rush off. I have very important phone calls to make to my father and wife.’

He winked at Sen and rushed out of the office, closing the door behind him.

Suddenly the silence was awkward.

Sen pushed his hands into his pockets.

Finally, Shona spoke.

‘Thank you, Sen. I really should get going. It’s getting late.’ She stood up and picked up her bag.

Sen stepped forward. ‘Shona, about that payment…’

Her ears grew hot. ‘Oh gosh, Sen! I completely forgot. How much do I owe you?’

He was suddenly in front of her.

‘A kiss. I want a kiss. Not a kiss that’s leading to anything more. Just a simple kiss,’ he said.

He was now looking down at her lips.

Shona nodded yet made no attempt to move.

This felt different. They’d kissed numerous times, so why did this feel like it was going to be a first kiss?

Sen brought his thumb to her bottom lip and gently stroked it. Shona leaned into his hand.

In one motion he bent his head and his lips were on hers. There was no urgency to rip their clothes off. There was no demand. It was a kiss of a promise. A promise of what? Shona didn’t know.

Sen slowed the kiss and pulled back just enough to look at her eyes, his gaze gentle.

‘I should go,’ she whispered.

‘We should go. I’ll give you a ride.’

Shona was too affected by the kiss to respond. Instead, she watched him pack his things, make copies of the file his father had brought and put on his jacket.

‘Ready?’

Shona nodded.

On the way out he handed Joanie the original file and instructed her to give it back to his father.

They took the lift down to the parking garage.

It was only when they were on the road towards Rally that Shona realised there was no turning back.