Lawfully Yours - Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Verma & Associates office
Arundhati stormed into her cabin, barely managing to stop herself from slamming the door shut. Her heart was still pounding, her thoughts running in endless circles, and her mind? Completely scattered.
Yesterday’s divorce trial had not gone as planned. She had walked into that courtroom expecting to prove—with solid arguments and evidence—that their marriage was nothing but a convenient arrangement. That it had been nothing more than a stepping stone for Kushal, a means to secure his future at Verma & Associates.
And yet, he had turned the entire situation around. His words had been precise, laced with that arrogant confidence he always carried like armor. He had effortlessly twisted the narrative to his advantage and turning it against her. The next hearing was scheduled a month later, which meant she would have to deal with Kushal longer than she had planned.
But that wasn’t what had kept her up all night.
No.
It was his words.
“I want both—Verma & Associates because I damn well deserve to be its head in the future… and you as my wife… because you are too good for my ego.”
Her stomach twisted in anger.
What the hell was that even supposed to mean? Did he actually believe she would fall for his words? That she would forget the months of cold indifference, the way he had ignored her very existence every single day in that office? And everything else that she had got to know about him?
She let out a sharp exhale, walking toward her desk, and dropped her case files with force.
And then—her gaze landed on something unexpected.
A bouquet of freshly bloomed red roses sat elegantly at the center of her desk, their fragrance faint yet intoxicating, wrapping around her like an unwelcome reminder.
She frowned.
Her mind replayed the words Kushal had so shamelessly uttered in court yesterday—
“Your Honor, I had no idea my wife's biggest complaint was that I don’t look at her enough. If I’d known, I would’ve stared at her more often… maybe even sent her flowers.”
The sheer audacity of the man!
Did he actually think she would find this funny? That she would entertain his infuriating little games?
Fuming, she grabbed her phone and immediately dialed his extension.
No answer.
Typical.
With a sigh, she pressed another number on the intercom. Moments later, her peon entered, standing hesitantly at the doorway.
“Where is Mr. Nair?” she demanded, arms crossed tightly over her chest.
“Ma’am, he hasn’t arrived yet,” the peon informed her.
She inhaled deeply, dismissing him with a wave of her hand.
Fine. If he wasn’t in the office yet, she would make sure he answered her anyway.
She scrolled through her contacts, found his number, and hit the video call button.
Within two rings, the screen lit up with his face.
Sunglasses on. Driving.
Casual as ever. Infuriatingly gorgeous.
The first two buttons of his black shirt were undone, giving a teasing glimpse of his smooth, tanned skin. Kushal mostly rolled up his shirt sleeves while driving, she knew, which exposed his forearms—strong, lean, with veins running down the length, flexing subtly as he maneuvered the steering wheel with ease.
His long and deft fingers gripped the wheel lazily. A thick, luxurious watch wrapped against his wrist, its expensive sheen catching the light. His designer sunglasses only added to the carefree arrogance that dripped off him.
He looked like a scene out of a movie—dangerous, confident, the kind of man women didn’t just look at, but stared at.
And he knew it.
Because the moment their eyes met through the screen, his lips curled into the faintest smirk, as if he could already sense her frustration from miles away.
As if he enjoyed it.
The sight of him, looking so effortlessly relaxed while she was on the verge of losing her mind, only fueled her anger.
Before he could even speak, she launched straight into an attack.
“How dare you send me flowers?” she snapped. “Don’t try these manipulative tricks on me, Kushal. It’s not going to work. Whatever game you’re playing, save it for someone else. If you think you can irritate me with this childishness, you’re sorely mistaken. And let me make one thing clear—these flowers are going straight to the dustbin the second I end this call!”
He didn’t react.
Didn’t blink.
Didn’t even acknowledge her rage the way she wanted him to.
Instead, he smirked.
“I didn’t send you any flowers.”
He didn’t? F*ck!
Her words stumbled, caught between her anger and confusion.
“What?” she asked, momentarily thrown off.
He glanced at the road briefly, his grip firm on the steering wheel as he took a smooth turn, before meeting her gaze through the screen, his tone infuriatingly calm.
“Didn’t know you were expecting me to send some to you, Mrs. Nair.”
Her stomach tightened, but her anger pushed back harder.
“Don’t twist my words, Kushal,” she seethed, gripping the phone tighter.
His smirk remained as he adjusted his sunglasses.
“I don’t waste my time and energy buying gifts and flowers for people who don’t value them.”
The way he said it—so carelessly, so detached—sent a fresh wave of irritation rushing through her.