They finally go on a date! Yay!!

Chapter 29.

Are you trying to get me drunk so I'll sleep with you?

~~~

Rishit parked the car at the parking lot to the side and ordered Lima to not leave her seat. Lima huffed but stayed put while Rishit came to open her door.

"My lady."

"Oh shut up."

Rishit shut the door with a shake of his head, going to open the trunk of the car. "I am being a perfect gentleman, you should at least try to be a lady."

Lima hugged the jacket over her shoulder, glancing through her eyelashes at Rishit's exasperated face. "First admit that I drive better."

Rishit rolled his eyes, getting out the blanket and basket of food and drinks for the evening. He locked the car and wrapped his left arm around her slender waist, guiding her towards the entrance. "You drive like a mad woman, like you don't care what you could crash into."

Lima scoffed, hitting her elbow to his ribcage but not attempting to get out of his hold, she quite liked it there. "I do not! I drive immaculately."

"Let's agree to disagree."

Before Lima could protest further, Rishit was at the front desk. "Which movie is there today?"

"Casablanca." The male receptionist said with a bored tone, staring down at his phone.

Rishit looked at Lima with a question gaze. "So, let's see Casablanca?"

Lima shrugged a shoulder. "Sure, I have never seen it."

That got the receptionist's attention. His head sprang up to stare at the person who yet hadn't seen one of the most voiced romantic classic movies. His gaze turned to Rishit as if wondering if this woman was real.

Lima fidgeted under the two inquiring male gazes. Rishit cleared his throat, trying to hide his own shock. "Casablanca, the old movie, you have never seen?

Lima shrugged indifference. "I have heard of it but not seen. What's the big deal?"

"Because it's Casablanca!" The receptionist almost yelled, his voice hoarse. "Everyone has seen it."

Lima's eyes narrowed at the unwelcome temper and volume of this annoying piece of meat. "Look here, you. What I see and what I don't is none of your business. I am very sure you haven't seen the documentary of side effects of social life but do you see me screaming at you?" Rishit tried to pull her back, but Lima was on a roll. "And so what if I haven't a stupid old movie, I can snap your head in two and feed it to you if I want. I'll make you remember your ancestors, twist your small tiny di-"

Rishit closed her mouth with his palm. The man bristled and cowered in his seat looking at Rishit for help. Rishit grunted and heaved Lima out, breathing heavily as he did. He had to physically restrain her from crawling her nails up that man's face. "We need to do something about your anger issues."

Lima glared at him, her mouth twisting. "My what issue?"

Rishit ignored her. "Look, just wait here while I get the tickets."

Lima folded her arms and jut her jaw in annoyance. "I don't want to see that stupid movie now."

"Okay then we'll lie there and make out like horny teenagers."

Lima's lips turned up despite the protest. "Make out?"

Rishit winked. "Yes, I got strawberries. It will be fun, going base by base."

Lima chuckled and finally nodded. "Fine, let's make out like horny teenagers then."

Rishit dropped a chaste kiss on her lips and hurried back inside, knowing he'll have to apologize for her behavior to the frightened cashier. After a few seconds he came out with two tickets. "Let's go see the stupid movie."

"I thought we were making out."

Rishit sighed. "We can't possibly make out for two hours."

"Why the hell not?" Lima demanded, strutting alongside him. "Do you not have enough stamina?"

Rishit didn't bother with a reply, whatever he said would always result in a sassy remark. He guided her to the end corner under a tree and arranged the blanket.

Lima looked around, the fairy lights were just starting turn on, there were colorful flowers everywhere and there was enough space between couples for privacy. The huge screen occupied the front view but there was a nice view of the moon and stars above. Lima nodded, impressed and happy.

"It's nice." She agreed.

Rishit mentally thanked Viaan, pleasing Lima Fox was an achievement worth mentioning in any resume. "Come on, have a seat."

Lima sat down next to him. "What have you got?"

Rishit patted the basket lovingly. "Food and drinks."

"How elaborate."

"I try." He dropped down on his back and pulled Lima next to him so she was curled up to his side. Lima's breathing quickened as she gaped at the close proximity. "I thought we could start with making out already."

Lima adjusted herself so her dress wouldn't go up flying due to the wind. "Now?"

"Why not?" Rishit shrugged, rubbing his nose against hers. And then his lips closed on hers and every disputing thought dropped out of her mind. At this point if he told her to jump into fire, she would. Probably.

His lips molded perfectly on hers and the kiss was lazy, slow, lips dancing to their own music. Lima's hand rested on his bicep and his palm was on her cheek, angling her face to get better access. Every single thought disintegrated from her mind and the only thing she felt was the slow strokes of his tongue in her mouth, his teeth gazing her lower lip and the steady beating for her heart in its cage. She didn't want to let go, ever.

But after a while he did, his face leaned back and he smiled, that stupid lazy smile wherever he wanted something.

"What?" Lima asked tentatively.

"I have a question and I'd like the truth as answer."

Lima already hated where this was going. She didn't respond, she waited for him to ask.

After a few seconds, Rishit asked. "Who's Bella?"

Lima recoiled from his arms but Rishit had expected this, his arms were already around her, forcing her to stay in place. She licked her lips and avoided his intrusive gaze. "I don't know, who's she?"

"You wanted to save her." He added, remembering her nightmare. She kept screaming to save Bella but apparently she couldn't.

When Lima still didn't reply he sighed, tipping her chin upwards with his thumb and forefinger, forcing her to look into his eyes. Lima hated those understanding and very persuasive hazel eyes. "Tell me, Lima. Please."

Her resolve falling apart, she finally answered. "She was my doll."

Rishit tried very hard to hide the astonishment in his voice. That wasn't what he had expected at all. "Doll?"

"Yes." Lima held onto the courage Rishit's embrace gave her. "It was the day after my father had disappeared with Helen. I was looking for him, I wanted him to play with Bella but my mother-" Lima took a deep breath before she continued. "-my mother had other thoughts. Instead of sitting down and explaining that how and why my father left – like normal people would do – she chose to explain it in a way I'd never forget."

Rishit's hand rubbed over her arm, consolingly.

"She took us down to the lake – me and Bella – and then she threw Bella into the water, making me watch as Bella drowned. And then she said dead people don't come back." Lima finished. "And so for most of my life I thought my father was dead."

"But he wasn't." Rishit muttered, suddenly hating Lima's mother, the one woman who should have taken care of Lima was the one who broke her.

"No, he wasn't." Lima grunted.

"How did you know? When?"

Lima was getting uncomfortable now, how long had it been since she had talked about her parents? Her haunting past? Her life? Way too long. She had kept it all locked away in a box at the far end of her brain and thrown the key into the lake, now this guy was making her swim around the depths, looking for the key. She was just scared she would drown.

With much hesitancy she answered. "I saw him at my graduation."

"Oh." Rishit didn't know how to react to that. He was pleasantly surprised at that piece of information.

"He was wearing a hat to hide his face and baggy clothes but those eyes, I'd never forget those eyes. The second I saw them I knew who he was." Her eyes glazed as she remembered that moment perfectly. She had stumbled ungracefully on the stage when she had seen those scorching eyes, she felt her heart had jumped straight out of her mouth.

"Did you talk to him?"

Lima scoffed as if that was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. "Are you crazy? That man left me, took my sister with him, left me behind, all alone. What could I possibly talk with him?"

"You could have at least asked him why he left."

Lima's eyes narrowed. "I know why he left, he didn't want to be near my mother but he couldn't just leave her alone so he chose his favorite daughter and ran away, leaving me with that psycho bitch. That bastard! He doesn't care for me, not even one bit."

Rishit instantly hugged her close, trying to calm her fuming nerves. He kissed her forehead and hummed into her ear. He was glad when she relaxed under his hold and took a deep breath. He couldn't imagine how she felt, his parents had loved him and his brother so deeply before they passed away. He found it hard to comprehend how parents could hurt their children so brutally.

"You smell like sweat." Lima muttered but didn't make any move to get away.

Rishit chuckled softly. "I think that's you."

The lights went out and the white screen lit up. Rishit helped Lima sit up and then he pulled her between his legs, resting her head on his neck and his chin on her shoulder.

"I thought we were going to make out." Lima complained as she watched the black and white screen.

His teeth grazed on her shoulder and instinctively Lima arched her neck to give more access. "And we will." Rishit assured her. Then after a pause he added. "There was a time you didn't even want to talk about a kiss."

Lima bit her lower lip, the guilt jumping up in her bones. She remembered the day in the hotel when she refused to acknowledge her feelings and talk about the kiss that shattered her soul for anyone else. She didn't want to delve on that memory, especially not on their first official date. "Let's not think about it."

As the movie rolled, they had finished the sandwiches, tasted strawberries from each other's mouths and drank a bottle of wine. Although Lima was sure she had drank more than him.

"Are you trying to get me drunk so I'll sleep with you?"

Rishit chuckled, pressing his lips to hers. "I don't want you drunk for that. I need you to remember every kiss, every touch, every time I hold you and bury myself deep inside you. It should be engraved in your mind."

Lima sucked in a quick breath, squirming in her place, clenching her lower body as desire pooled between her legs. She drowned the last remnants of the wine, her cheeks reddening in response.

Soon the credits rolled, the lights turned on a little, illuminating up the surrounding. "How was the movie?" Rishit asked, stuffing the empty boxes back in the basket.

Lima shrugged. She didn't understand the fuss about it. "So in the end she leaves the hero?"

Rishit nodded. "She would regret if she stayed."

"Well, that's a stupid end then. It's not a happy ending, I don't see how it's such an iconic movie." Lima grumbled, standing and dusting her dress.

Rishit chuckled. "Because it's reality."

Lima's eyes narrowed. "Reality? Are you saying you'll marry someone else, come back to haunt me and then leave me and run off with your wife?"

Rishit paused and swept his eyes to Lima's. He could see the anger on her face but in her eyes she could see a dash of fear and insecurity. He couldn't blame her, every person close to her had left her. She had major trust issues. Rishit stood and looked straight into her eyes, so she'd know he wasn't lying. "I am not going to marry someone else. It's either you or no one."

The relief that flooded Lima was unconditional. It made Rishit realize just how insecure she could be, even if she pretended to not be. Lima swallowed and nodded, trying to not let her happiness show at those words.

She shrugged indifferently. "'Kay. Sounds good to me."

He pulled her close and then sealed their mouth together, proving her just how much he meant with those words. And like ice, so close to the fire, she melted into him.

Lima wanted to help in carrying the blanket but Rishit insisted he carry the basket and blanket, both, despite Lima's protests, he won. And she was secretly glad about it. As they walked back to the car, Lima glanced at the time, it was past 7.30. "So are we done now?"

Rishit scoffed. "Not by a long shot."

Lima was thrilled. She didn't want it to end either. "So where now?"

"Now we go stuff ourselves with sundaes."

Lima liked that idea. Just as they reached the car, a sweet velvety voice made them stop and turn around. The woman was tall, blonde, had a figure that models would be jealous of, wore shorts that showcased her long lean legs and a top that seemed to barely hold her breasts from spilling out. Her smile was surprisingly genuine as she glided smoothly towards them in her blue converse shoes. She was the one who had called Rishit.

She stopped a few inches from them, her eyes only at Rishit, not even sparing at a glance at the curious Lima. "Hey, fancy meeting you here."

Lima could sense Rishit stiffen and then start fidgeting nervously on his feet, he clearly didn't expect this sudden intervention and she most definitely didn't like it. Who the hell was this woman?

Rishit answered her internal question. "Hey Jenny." He pointed with his free hand towards Lima. "This is Lima, my date."

Date, not girlfriend. That slip didn't go unnoticed by Lima.

Rishit continued. "And Lima, this is Jenny, a friend."

Jenny blushed, winking suggestively at Rishit. "Come on we are more than friends."

Lima hadn't felt jealousy this strong since Helen had stolen both - her favorite game and their father's attention when she was 5 years old. Right now, she was seething mad.

Lima smiled, her classic tilt-one-side snide smile that she reserved for people who didn't matter. "More than friends?"

Jenny didn't sense the sizzling tension around the new couple or she chose to ignore it. "Yes, well. We go out and have sex occasionally."

Lima's eyes turned colder than the ice on Artic. "Really now?"

Rishit wanted to escape this situation at the earliest. This was a complete nightmare. He tugged on Lima's hand and he could feel her trembling with confined fury. She was ready to burst anytime now and he'd prefer if they weren't in public where she could kick him or slap him or cut his dick off. "Lima, let's go. I'll explain."

Lima turned to him, the hatred and animosity in her eyes made Rishit drop his hand. "I'd prefer to hear it from her." Lima said, her tone polite, formal. She turned to Jenny's inquisitive eyes. "So just out of curiosity, when was the last date?"

Jenny licked her legs, shifting her hip and Lima's eyes went to the black tattoo there. "Um, 10 days back maybe? I don't remember the exact day."

"Lima what are you doing?" Lima ignored Rishit's voice and pressed her lips together, she knew she was only hurting herself in this process but she couldn't stop. She needed to know. "And did you fuck?"

"Lima! Enough!"

"Yes."

And that was enough for Lima. Turning to face Rishit, she couldn't keep the abhorrence hidden. "So while I was at home, worrying about you, wondering why you left, if you ever safe and alive. While I was missing you like a mad woman. You were busy sticking you dick in someone else."

Rishit physically winced at the clipped tone. "Look, I am sorry. We weren't together then, I didn't even know if I would see you again. It wasn't intentional to hurt you."

"And you were here, in the city 10 days back."

Rishit groaned, closing his eyes. "Yes, I had just come."

Jenny looked between the two, innocently, far too innocently. "Should I not have said anything?"

Rishit snapped. "No, you shouldn't have."

While Lima gave her a tight restrained smile. "I am glad I met you."

Rishit scowled at Lima. "Jenny, its best you leave."

Neither women protested as Jenny shrugged and walked away, her firm butt sashaying as she went, it seemed to be taunting Lima. Rishit let out a heavy breath, running his fingers through his hair in exasperation. "I am sorry. I can't justify this."

"Sorry doesn't do shit."

Rishit clenched his jaw. "We weren't together then Lima. I didn't cheat on you. Stop making it a bigger deal."

Lima stared at him impassively. "No, you just wanted to destroy me and kill me and get paid for it. I think that's a pretty big deal."

Rishit flinched backwards. "You – you can't throw that in my face. I was forced. I didn't have a choice."

Lima didn't deter. She had once again closed herself to feel emotions. It was a huge mistake, opening up in the first place. "Bullshit, Rishit. Everyone has choice, in every scenario. You had a choice then and you had a choice now." Lima didn't let him speak. "You fucked a woman before coming to save me, you came back with the intention of meeting me but instead you slept with someone else. I was miserable in your absence and my absence resulted in your pleasure." She took a deep breath.

"I was stressed okay!" Rishit retorted.

"Yes, attempting to kill someone does take a toll on people."

Rishit's nose flared. "Don't throw that on my face. It was a fucking mistake and I regret it! I had to think of my brother."

Lima clenched her jaw. "Yes play that guilt card every time. Why did I do it? To save someone! Bullshit, no one is that selfless, Rishit. Humans just aren't built that way!"

"Are you crazy right now? Do you even hear yourself?" Rishit groaned. "I am sorry, I was blackmailed, Lima, Blackmailed."

Lima snorted indignantly. "Stop making excuses for yourself. You wanted to destroy me, well, congratulations, you succeeded."

Rishit's breath was caught in his throat. "Lima-"

Lima moved away, opening the door to her car and getting in the driver's seat. Rishit was quick to jump in and protest. "It didn't mean anything."

Lima didn't cower as she saw the guilt and grief etched on his face and in his eyes. "This doesn't mean anything. We were stupid to think it'd ever work out. How would it ever when your intentions were never real from the first time we met." Lima pulled at the door but Rishit refused to let go. She was struggling to hold her anger, she was struggling to not get mad, she was struggling to not cry and beg Rishit to love her.

"Lima, please."

"Let go, Rishit. I want to go home and not with you."

Rishit didn't budge. "This is our date, this is supposed to be a happy memory. Don't let her spoil this for us."

Lima gritted her teeth. How dare he blame her? "You are the one who fucked this up, Rishit. Not her. Not me."

"We weren't together then!"

"Yes, maybe I should have slept with Benny then!"

Rishit let go instantly, backing away as if burned. His eyes wide and his lip parted. "I – I can't believe you said that."

But Lima didn't care. She wanted to hurt him, wanted him to feel exactly what she felt – broken and wounded. "Maybe I shouldn't have, and then maybe I should let Benny fuck me so we'd be equal."

Rishit glared at her. "That's sick! We are together now."

"Yes, until you realize your brother matters more and you kill me under peer pressure. Isn't that what you call – blackmail or having no choice?"

Rishit was burning in the flames of Lima's hatred and he didn't know how to save himself. His anger and regret were both mixing now. "We both know that I could never kill you."

Lima smiled, a cruel twisted. "No, you could just destroy me. And you did."

"I haven't even begun." Rishit screamed. "You know how Noah wanted to destroy you? He wanted to rip you piece by piece, destroy your family, your life, everything you ever loved. He wanted all the money you have, which is millions and millions. He wanted to strip you to poverty and then make you regret ever being born. And if none of that happened, his plan B was - find out the will, get everything for himself and kill you."

Lima's eyes blanked. "And you know why he would have never succeeded? Because I wouldn't have let him do that to me. Because I am strong enough to not give a fucking shit about him and protect myself from him. Do you think no one has tried to hurt me before?" Lima continued without waiting for a reply.

"Being a single woman who owns tons of money isn't easy, people want to harm me, take advantage of me. Why do you think I am always so impassive and resilient? So people couldn't walk over me again. I had to live in that castle not because I liked it but because I was safer there. No one could hurt me because I didn't give them the power to. But you, you became my weakness, a fucking mistake on my part. And you just ripped out my heart."

Lima shut the door and started the car. "You go tell your boss, you have completed the mission. He wants money, he can have it all. He wants me dead, he can do it himself."

And then she drove away, leaving behind a shaken and extremely guilty Rishit behind.

How had their first date become their last one?

~~~

Well, that ended well, didn't it? :P