Chapter 5

He was curious. There was no denying it. He glanced at the silent girl who walked beside him towards the coffee shop. The second he had seen her sitting at that table he had resembled her to a mouse. It wasn't just her height or petite structure. There was just something about her that made him feel that way. It could be her easy acceptance of his explanations. Or the fact that she came across as overly nervous not to mention overly worried. Those little traits hadn't missed his notice. Half the time when she had been talking she hadn't been looking at him and the remaining half had been animated. It was amusing. One because he normally didn't warrant that kind of response from women, two because he hadn't even tried to unnerve her and yet she was, three because Preet was a complete opposite of how her cousin...what was her name, ah yes, Simi Sardana came across and four he couldn't believe Preet had actually sent someone to save Robbie's hide. After all it was his aunt's gift and after how Robbie had treated her she should have washed her hands off him. This wasn't her problem. And yet she had sent her cousin to salvage the situation. Best, she and Robbie had thought of a similar solution. He could have laughed but Miss Sardana might not have understood the cause for his humor and so he had refrained. Though he did admire Preet's sense of responsibility.

Coming to Miss Sardana, well, she wasn't a pretty girl. But cute. In a very mousey way. She had thick black hair but devoid of any style. Just long and that was it, tied in a haphazard ponytail behind her neck. An oval face with big brown eyes, small nose and thin lips. There was hardly any makeup he could detect on her face. Maybe just kohl and a lip gloss. Even her clothes. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans, with a grey cardigan that was way too loose on her, he could see the neckline of a black round tee shirt beneath the cardigan, a red scarf that hung around her shoulders more than her neck and a pair of running shoes completed her overall look. She looked more like a teenager than a grown girl. She lacked both style and confidence. She probably just lacked a pair of glasses. Had she had those she would have fit the clichéd look of a librarian. If he had to really find one good quality, then it had to be her voice. She had a distinctly sweet voice. Soothingly sweet.

As they sat at the coffee shop he pulled out the chair for her. She gave him a quizzical look before accepting the gesture with a polite thank you. It seemed to Neil as if she wasn't used to such gestures. They were going out of fashion he agreed but there were still a few around who believed in them. Maybe she hadn't met those few. He sat opposite to her and handed the menu over to her.

"I will take a cappuccino," Simi said without even glancing at the menu Neil had handed her.

"Did you have lunch?" Neil asked quietly. It wasn't his concern. But she was Preet's cousin and she had travelled all the way here to help her. Besides it was a bit of a long journey for her. She did look out of sorts.

"No," Simi replied and looked away.

"Okay, maybe you shouldn't have the coffee alone," Neil suggested and she looked back at him, "how about a light sandwich to go with it," he said pushing the menu back at her, "you will have acid reflex by the time you have dinner," he told her matter of factly.

She looked as if she was debating out his suggestion or logic. Why was that? She hadn't had lunch, she should have stopped on her way and had some. To go without food for longer periods of time wasn't good, he recalled the faint words from what his mother had said once. Neil watched as she hesitated and then picked up the menu to go through it. Why the hesitation? Was she indecisive too? He didn't know. Did he want to know? Not really, came the answer. He was just being polite because she was his friend's cousin. That was all. And she decided on a turkey avocado sandwich. Satisfied she had listened to reason, he placed the order for two cappuccinos and one sandwich. As they waited for their order, an awkward silence descended on the table. All her blabbering from before came to the fore. She was right. She couldn't stay with him considering they didn't have any relationship. Not even that of friendship. They were practically strangers. She was right again when she had pointed out the peak season and the availability of another room within the resort or any place nearby. Neil had heard the receptionist decline a customer over the phone for last minute booking. They were packed, she had said. And the truth was there were some strong storms lined up in the coming days. One was to hit them just this evening. He really couldn't see her driving anywhere in that. So what could be the possible solution? The suite he was living in was big enough to accommodate at least ten people. The problem was there was only one room. And one bathroom. Besides, the receptionist had addressed Simi as his wife. It would now become difficult to convince the woman that there had been a mistake. Damn. As their order arrived he watched Simi dig into her sandwich. Poor thing. She was hungry. And he sipped his coffee trying to come up with a way that could prove to be advantageous for both of them.

"They think you are my wife," he said and Simi almost choked on the sandwich.

"Sorry," she said as she took a sip from her water bottle and cleared her throat, "you spoke so suddenly..." she said.

"Are you okay?" Neil asked with concern.

"Yes," she said and gave him a faint smile.

"It is my bad, I shouldn't have suddenly spoken of it," Neil apologized.

"That's alright," Simi said and smiled more broadly, "and you are right, they do think we are...married," she said and looked away.

"Not your fault, I did tell the receptionist when I checked in that my wife would be arriving in a short while as her flight was delayed," he said casually, "so when you must have arrived and enquired about the room they assumed you to be her," he told her and shrugged.

"Your wife is arriving?" Simi said as her eyes went big in her face. She was worried now. And she quickly cast a glance towards his hands to look for a band to confirm her suspicion.

Neil chuckled. She was funny.

"I am not married," Neil told her, "very much the bachelor still," he said, "however, that was for the nosy receptionist who kept asking for her, since it is a honeymoon suite," he said and shrugged.

"Oh," Simi said feeling a little foolish at not understanding his meaning in the first go. "Yes, well, if you are talking about the same girl I met then yes, she is a bit nosy," she said and gave him a small smile.

"The problem remains Miss Sardana," Neil said in all seriousness now, "you are here, and I had no idea about it. You cannot drive back, not in this weather and definitely not today considering the approaching storm and the fact that you look tired by the drive you made in order to reach here," he explained and looked at her. She was paying attention to what he was saying. "They don't have another room available, I know because I heard them decline several customers over the phone for a last minute booking," he said quietly and saw her face fall, "what we need to do is find a solution," Neil said and Simi nodded her assent, "and the only one I see is for you to share the suite with me," he said and almost grinned at the shocked expression on her face.

"Share the suite?" she repeated dumbly. Then shook herself mentally, "But that is not even possible. I mean...I couldn't...you are unmarried yes, but...I don't even know you and it is not...ethical," she said agitatedly then took a deep breath to calm herself down, "it is not a solution," she said resolutely.

Neil looked at her. It seemed she was a bit on the conservative side. He agreed it might not be ethical, and only because they didn't know each other, but, hell, he wasn't overly sentimental about it. He wasn't looking for a relationship or a quick holiday romance. He was here for work and keep his friend's relationship with at least his aunt intact. That was it. Besides she didn't appeal to him at all. There was nothing about her that was even remotely attractive, except that beautiful voice of hers. Besides he had had roommates before when he had just started out in the industry. He hadn't had a lot of money to afford his own place in LA. He did now, that was a different matter, but he hadn't minded who his roommate had been till they paid half the rent. Later he had had a couple of live in relationships so he was okay, if a girl shared the same space with him even if he wasn't related to her in any way. The problem seemed to be she wasn't open to that idea. And he didn't see another solution.

"I am completely harmless, I assure you," he said politely.

"You are Robbie's friend," Simi countered. And immediately felt stupid. Damn. That wasn't supposed to come out. Not like that anyway. She had just decided to not judge him over his friend's actions. Ohhhhh.

Ouch. That hurt. But she had the right to feel that way. After all, she had just witnessed Robbie's act not too long ago. He was presuming she was present when it had happened. And he had a solid base for it too. The way she had taken Robbie's name, with so much disdain in her voice and then she had likened the two of them quickly too. He won't take an offense to that. She didn't know him. And he was reasonable enough to accept that.

"So I am," Neil said on a sigh, "and you have every reason to believe the worst of me after what he did to Preet," he said, "but believe me I am just as mad at him as you are, and I know Preet. She knows me well too, you could ask her," he suggested, "look, I am not here to get into a whirlwind affair of any kind. I am here to work, trust me, I have no intention of fooling around," he told her honestly and saw her regard him with wary eyes, "I assure you, you would be perfectly safe, we are stuck and you know it. I hope, Rob had called Preet to make sure she knew he was taking care of this problem or vice versa so there wasn't any confusion but...that didn't happen," he said politely, "this is my offer. You can share that suite with me and I promise to stay out of your way and I hope you would return the favor, five days will fly by and we both go home happy," he said putting his thoughts in front of her, "if not, then you tell me, what is the other solution," he asked and decided to let her come up with an answer now.

Simi bit her lip. He was right. At least partly. They were stuck. And there was no way out at least not without telling the hotel staff that they were faking the whole thing which might bring the authorities to their doors for false identity charges. What would her father say? He would never understand. And this time he just might cut off all relations with her. She felt like groaning but decided against it. She looked at Neil. He sat there sipping his coffee with a calmness she was far from feeling and she hated him for it. She paused at the thought. She had never hated anyone. How could she hate a perfect stranger? Because he embodied most of the traits Simi would have liked to imbibe herself. Only she lacked the confidence or the will or both. Could she trust him? She didn't know. He did say Preet knew him and from the fondness in his voice she knew he wasn't lying. If he was Robbie's friend then for sure Preet must know him. She could ask. But she won't because she had heard honesty in the man's voice. He seemed serious when he said he wasn't looking for any amorous affairs here. And that he would let her be. Would he really? Get a grip girl, you are not the type who attracts men the likes of Neil Roy, came the answer. And she almost sighed. Why? Why was she feeling this way? Because for once she did want to be able to attract someone's attention towards herself. She was twenty eight years old for God's sake and never had a boyfriend or an affair. But that wasn't why she was here. 'Stop being so careful about everything Simi', she recalled Preet's words, 'There will be times when you get hurt, you cannot protect yourself all the while', she had said, 'And if that is the case then why be scared of it, embrace life, be a little more spontaneous, live your life, don't shy away from it', '...it only make you wiser'. Maybe, this was the chance that might help her find that confidence that has been lacking in her all these years. She will have to invest her trust in Neil Roy and hope it wouldn't hurt her. That this leap of faith won't land her in any trouble. Because frankly, she couldn't come up with another solution. And she was so tired she couldn't think. She took in a deep breath.

"How many rooms does the suite have?" she asked Neil.

"It is supposed to be a honeymoon suite," Neil said with a mocking smile, "how many rooms do you think there are?" he asked.

"And you occupy that currently," she said and crossed her arms over her chest.

Neil decided not to answer that one. She had taken a lot of time to ponder over what he had said. Evaluating each word, weighing each option and then finally accepting defeat. And all the while he had watched her. Carefully. The dullness on her face had changed. Animatedly. Several emotions had chased each other as she had sat there thinking. Even the plain brown eyes had changed color with the change of every thought or emotion she was going through. Strange but they hadn't seemed plain or dull anymore. And he had been intrigued. The fact that he had to stop himself from getting interested in what she was thinking had quickly made him refocus. They were wasting time in debating over this trivial matter. But what was trivial for him not necessarily was trivial for her, and that was the only thought which had stopped him from interrupting her. For now he just shrugged in response to her answer.

"Is there a lock on that door?" she asked again.

"I didn't feel the need to check," Neil said almost irritated with her now. Did he come across as a maniacal psychopath to her?

"I guess I have no option but to take you on your offer," she said finally and Neil breathed a relieved sigh, "I am trusting you over this and all because I don't want to land up in jail for impersonating another person," she said firmly and Neil was a little surprised at where her thought process had taken her, "now here is the deal, we will share the suite just as you suggested, but I will take up the bedroom," she told him in no uncertain words and Neil narrowed his gaze at her, "and I will stay out of your way just as you will stay out of mine," she said placing her cards before him, "agreed?" she asked.

Neil hadn't seen this coming. For all the mouse she was, he hadn't been expecting the firmness in her voice. Maybe there was more to her than met the eye. She had him fooled with the mouse act. Not bad. He almost smiled at that thought. So she wanted the master. That was okay with him. He didn't sleep much either. She could have it for herself. But he wasn't living out of his suitcases. She will have to share the wardrobe with him.

"Agreed," Neil told her with a devilish gleam to his eyes, "but I will not remove my clothes from the wardrobe, you will have to share that with me," he told her rattling her nerves a little.

"Okay," Simi said. It should have come out stronger. In a more casual way. As if it didn't matter to her. But it didn't. She cleared her throat.

"Good," Neil said all business like suddenly, "then let's go and check you in," he told her and rose from his seat.

"But the bill," Simi said incredulously at the speed at which he had risen from his chair.

"It is all taken care of," Neil said with a smile and at the confusion he saw in her eyes, "all expenses are paid for, remember," he said reminding her.

"Oh yeah," Simi said in a low voice as she rose from her seat and picked up her bag.

She turned to follow him. She was again surprised to see he had waited for her and that he wasn't already halfway across the area towards the reception. What had she signed up for? To share a room with this stranger for five days. That would put her in close proximity to the enigmatic man. This had to be the stupidest decision ever. This is what one gets for being carefree and not careful. She just hoped that the door to the room had a lock on it. She trusted him and she wanted to be a bit carefree too but she couldn't really change who she was. Now could she?

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