23. A Sensual Dream

Samara's gaze moved to the notebook in my hand. Her frown deepened. I said, "Hey."

She moved up her head and looked at me. Instead of replying she grabbed my hand and began dragging me in her room's direction. Vexation contorted my face, but I didn't protest and let her took me to the room. Once we were there, she locked the door and faced me. I pulled my hand from her grip and snapped, "What was that, Samara?"

She crossed her arms on her chest, "You tell me. Are you trying to seduce my man?"

I shook my head in disbelief, "You should hear yourself."

"Don't try to be smart with me. What were you doing in his study at this time of the night?" She scowled, maybe trying to scare me. I couldn't be scared easily like before because with each passing day, I was getting habitual of living this way and the fear that made me weak once was dying down.

"I was just doing my college work. He was helping me."

She let out a chuckle in scornful manner, "I can't believe this. He was so angry at you before. When did you guys get so close that he started calling you in his study?"

I wanted to laugh at her doubts right now. She was considering me a threat when Ashar couldn't even endure my presence. She really had no idea how much he hated me. But what could I say, since the beginning I had found that woman impulsive and imprudent.

"Samara, you're exaggerating." I seethed, raising my hands in air, "I'm getting out of here. I'm not in the mood for senseless argument."

She surely knew how to get on someone's nerve. I turned to the door and about to open it when her words stopped me. "I'm warning you, Sanaya. Stay away from him. Don't forget you're going to leave this house soon."

I became antagonized with her impertinent remarks so I faced her again and said aloud, "You're unbelievable. If you can't make Ashar yours, do not blame me because I haven't done anything yet. It's your actions that pushed him away from you, not me."

Her jaws clenched. Her selfishness was now inducing me to despise her. I couldn't keep my heart clean for her anymore. Out of all the people, she shouldn't be thinking about me this way because she knew everything. She knew I was trapped here because of her fatuousness.

"I'm important to him. He would soon forgive me and get ready to marry me again." She raised her index finger at me, "I know it's my mistake that I brought you in his life, but now I couldn't trust you after knowing that you lived in an orphanage and have no family. You would be thinking that you've found a treasure or something."

Her enraged words seared my heart to the extent that tears gathered in my eyes, "Don't provoke me to stand against you." My voice was low and rumbling, "Remember, I've a upper hand here. I'm his legal wife."

The shock crossed her face. My threat was aimless and thoughtless. I simpered at her. Before she could respond, I opened the door and stormed out of her room. Today it's official and confirmed, I had a deep resentment for that woman.

💙

"One by one report your assignment to the class and summarized what you had learned from the business owners." The teacher ordered. The final submission of that problematic assignment was today.

Thankfully I managed to complete the work on time so now I was hopeful that I would get a good grade. After all, I went through a tough process, tolerated the same, humiliating allegations for this. Samara's doubts about me remained like a lump in my throat.

My heart ached every time I thought that there were so many people who were misunderstanding me. Despite being angry with those false blames, I felt melancholy as well every time I heard them. I was bearing the fruit of my own action. It was wrong to trick Ashar and his family. I should have been strong enough to condemn Samara's scam that day instead of acting like a chicken and trusting her.

I couldn't blame her entirely when I was at fault too. Hobsons's fury for me was legitimate. Their accusations were obvious. I was a stranger to them.

All I wanted was to clear my name, get out of that cage and maybe get someone on my side.

"Sanaya?" A yell broke my chain of thoughts. It was the teacher.

I felt lost, "Er...Yeah?"

"I've called your name few times. Did you pass out or what?" He retorted.

"I'm sorry."

He grumbled, "Go in front and brief me what you've done. It's your turn."

"Yes." I nodded quickly and stood up from my seat. I was ashamed a little when I heard few giggles at my unmindful state. I walked forward and faced the whole class.

"Well. " I began my speech, "A close friend of mine have connections with Hobsons Electronics. He arranged an interview with Ashar Hobsons for me. So, I-"

"Sorry to interrupt you, but did you mean Ashar Hobsons, youngest son of Hobsons enterprise?" The teacher looked surprised.

"Yes."

"That's great. I've met him few times. He's definitely an exemplary businessman. Very good, kid. You can continue." It seemed like Ashar Hobsons name was enough to pass this course.

I continued, "He gave many tips on the topic. According to him, before designing your marketing strategy, you must have a thorough knowledge about your potential target markets, like what they do, what they like, their sex, age, education, profession and much more. If you've a thorough knowledge about them, then there is a zero percent chance that your plan could fail. Furthermore..."

I spoke for about fifteen minutes, summarized everything that I had learnt from Ashar, including my opinion about Hobsons's strategy. At the end of my presentation, the class cheered for me. The positive response was an indication that I had already passed this course.

Ashar was a difficult person, but I couldn't deny that his little cooperation was quite beneficial for me. The fury in me for him lessened. Recalling his favor brought a smile on my face.

"Very impressive, Sanaya." The instructor of the course commented, "I can see your hard work in it. It's not easy to approach a businessman like Ashar easily, but you did it. That shows your determination. I hope the entire class would've learned something through his tips."

My smile widened, followed by the little blush. A blonde stood up from the backseat and yelled, "Please arrange a meeting for me as well, Sanaya. I want to meet that handsome billionaire."

"Yeah. She is going to ask him why he got married at such a young age." The other girl responded. The class burst into laughter at her words except me because anger twisted my face. They shouldn't be saying these things when they knew he was a married man now.

"Silence, class. Who's coming next?" The teacher asked aloud.

I went back to my seat. The same blonde came to me and whispered in my ear, "Did you have his number? Share it with me please."

My face contorted in disbelief, "What? He's not even from your age group. Why are you so interested in him?"

"He's so good looking, so attractive." She sighed aloud, "I have a thing for business tycoons."

I was brassed off. She was getting on my nerves. My good mood was now spoiled. Those girls could be so pathetic at times. For some reason her adoration for Ashar infuriated me.

"Give me his phone number." She asked again.

"I don't have it." I gritted.

💙

Later at night, I was going back to my room after finishing off all the kitchen work when Aaron called my name. I stopped walking and faced him, "What? Did my phone ring again?"

"No." He shook his head in negative, "Matt. Hobsons would like to see you in the morning."

"Oh. Why?"

"I don't know. I'm only here to deliver his message to you. Before leaving for college, you must meet him at his office." He explained.

"Alright." I nodded and sauntered towards my room.

I stepped inside the room and saw that Melanie was already asleep. She fully covered herself with the quilt. I yawned and slipped under my quilt and drifted to sleep in just few minutes.

Ashar jumped out of the swimming pool, half naked. Water was dripping down from his hair. I observed the movement of water droplets as they slipped down to his abdomen and got absorbed by his white shorts.

The muscles of his abs quivered when he began drying his hair from the towel. My mouth filled with water at the sight. He placed the towel around his neck and began taking steps to me. A soft smile slowly made its way across his face as our eyes met. It's been a while seeing him happy and smiling around me. My heart leaped.

He smoothed my locks through his fingers, not breaking the eye contact. His fingers trailed to my cheek, going to my lips. He brushed his thumb against them. "So, tell me, what's your college assignment?" His breath kissed the corner of my mouth as he spoke.

"It's... it's." My voice stuck in my throat because I felt his arm around me. My front softly pressed with his. The desire to close the remaining distance between us rippled through me. I felt the electric tingles all over my body. I placed my palms on his wet chest, moving my eyes to his inviting mouth.

He began rubbing his nose on my cheek gently, "Come on, Babe. Tell me."

"The assignment-t is about the marketin-g strategy." I slurred. My breaths were unsteady.

"Alright then, let's start." He murmured in my ear, "Marketing is actually-"

"What you two are doing at this time of the night?" A shrill, female voice startled me.

Ashar and I both pulled apart quickly and turned our heads. "Samara, I was just helping her in her assignment." Ashar reasoned.

"Like this?" She looked baffled. Ashar got embarrassed, lowering his head down. Samara turned to me.

"Sanaya, stop seducing my husband." She yelled, "How can you go so low? Are you a whore?"

"Shut up." I screamed at the top of my voice.

My eyes fluttered opened. I blinked twice to come out of the trance. The room was dark and silent, besides the humming sound of a fan. I sat up and moved my eyes around. It took me few seconds to understand that whatever I saw a while ago was just a dream and I was in my room with Melanie instead of at the swimming pool lounge.

My mouth agape as I recalled how I was entangled with Ashar's body. The color similar to  raspberries tinted my face's skin, making it hot. I touched my chest and felt that my heartbeats were rapid. I think all of my memories got mixed up in that wild, crazy dream; meeting with Ashar at the swimming pool lounge, taking his help for my assignment and Samara's insecurities.

Maybe it's because the attraction I felt for Ashar was growing in me. It was not a good sign. I shouldn't be seeing these kinds of dreams about him. If anyone would find out about it, I would be in deep trouble. My stomach churned at the thought.

Instead of looking for a solution to get out of this house, my mind was going in totally different direction. It was wrong of me to think of Ashar this way. God, this was embarrassing!