Rags To Royals (Royal #1: Book 1) | ✔

22

-• lies to cover lies •-

"He knows!"

"No, he doesn't. Calm down. He just called you to talk about what happened in the room." Yuvaan says gently, pretending to be calm. It is all an act. He's just as terrified as me.

"Are we really losing it over this? Agastya Bhai already knows everything." Ayush points out.

"Yeah, but he can't speak. His secret was revealed. He won't go complaining to the one person he was hiding it from." Yuvaan cancels the thought.

"Right, point." Ayush nods and sits back down on the desk chair.

I blow air through my mouth and sit at the edge of the bed, my knee unstoppably shaking in a feat of panic. I can feel my heart racing in my chest. Several possibilities run wild in my head, each ending in tears. Yuvraaj is going to grill me alive. That arrogant man feeds on people's fear. Especially mine.

That smirk.

He knows he's going to enjoy this.

He likes to watch people fumble in front of him, tell more lies to cover the old ones, while he sits back and enjoys the show, aware of everything, even the air that passes in and out in his presence.

"I can't handle him. God, I can't." I clasp my hands together and bring them to my mouth, breathing through my lips. I'm losing my calm, and I'm losing it fast. The thought of facing him is enough to make me nauseous. Even the reminder of that man exhausts me. And now I've to talk to him.

"Just go and see what it is." Ayush wheels the chair closer, his hand coming to rest on my trembling knee, ceasing the action.

"Yes, Tara, calm down." Yuvaan sits himself beside me. "Maybe he's just suspicious? Whatever he says, deny it. He can't have proof. You went there in maid's clothes and there's no way CCTV caught you. Okay? Trust me on this. Just play along, act like you don't know anything. And honestly, this has nothing to do with you."

"Right, maybe this is just about the alcohol thing." Ayush reminds me of another fuck up I managed to do in my short time here. Seriously, my luck seems to be running out since the time Mom died. Because one after another, I just land myself in problems. I'm progressing in the wrong direction.

I clutch the end of the bedpost, rocking myself back and forth to find a composure.

"Look Tara, he doesn't care who revealed Agastya's secret, okay? But yes, sneaking into his room, without his permission, that's like the stupidest thing a person can do. So whatever happens, deny it. Don't give into the pressure like you did the last time." Yuvaan advises me.

I bite my lower lip and look at him, seeing the anxiety as clear as day in his dark eyes.

"If it was the stupidest thing to do, why did you make me do it?" I bite angrily.

He looks away in guilt.

A knock on the door startles us three. The maid bows politely and informs me about Yuvraaj waiting for me in his study.

I nod. "Go, I'll be there in a minute."

She bows again and leaves.

"Look here, both of you," I get up and look down at them. The two stare at me attentively. "Don't ever involve me in your stupid plans." I grit out a warning. "Especially you." I narrow my eyes at Yuvaan, my finger stabbed in his direction.

He curls his hand around it, softening his gaze at me. "I'm sorry. I know blurting it all out to Agastya was the most foolish thing to do. I'm really sorry, both of you, yar I'm sorry." He says earnestly.