Codename lotus, p.16
Codename Lotus, page 16
“Yes. It is.”
His smile faded to something earnest, raw. “I’d give my life for yours, Saanya. If—” His voice cracked. “If I could, I’d take your place. If I could, I’d take down those guys.”
I squeezed his hand. Ravi wouldn’t hurt a fly, and the prospect of him ever being in danger because of me was unthinkable.
Sid’s strange demeanor still nagged at me. He was holding back. Ravi had to know something if he had come along. But I didn’t even get to ask before he slipped.
His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “Now that we know one of their aliases, it’s been easier to track him. You know. The rapist. Sid’s onto him. But he’s evasive, and so are the people protecting him.”
Rapist. My pulse hammered against my throat.
“I overheard Sid and Naomi the other day,” Ravi went on. “Apparently, she’s made more progress. That’s why Sid insisted on coming—wanted to talk to her in person, not risk emails getting hacked or phones tapped.”
“Wha—” The chai I’d had earlier curdled in my stomach. “He involved Naomi in this?”
Ravi winced. “I-I mean…Naomi’s involved only to make sure you’re safe here. But she’s resourceful, you know. She has connections even Sid doesn’t have.”
My body went cold. Naomi was involved now, because of me.
If anything happened to her…
My throat tightened painfully. Oh, Manish. How you manage to make me hate you even after death.
NAOMI
Sidharth closed the door behind him.
“I should’ve given you notice we were coming, but I recently found out my calls are being traced. That’s why I had to come in person.”
I gestured to the armchair near my desk. Saanya had started venturing into my office lately, so I’d had an extra chair brought in. Sidharth sat, looking as if he’d been running from wolves.
“You didn’t fly here?” I asked, moving behind my desk.
“No. We drove. Changed cars a few times, took some less-traveled routes. It was a bit of an escapade.”
“Impressive. Well, aside from your obvious exhaustion, is there anything else you’d like to tell me?”
He drew a breath. “I need to ask for an extension of our arrangement…again. A few more weeks. Please forgive me, Naomi. I know I’m asking for a lot.”
I tensed. “What’s changed?”
“I haven’t told her this but they trashed her London house. This time it wasn’t just the locks; it was bad. They’re clearly desperate, and they obviously don’t know where she is—but sending her back is too risky, even more now…in her condition. India might be an option, but…” He trailed off.
“You think they’ll track her there.”
“If they did once, they might do the rounds over there again. London and Kolkata are Saanya’s main places of residence, but she’s mostly in Kolkata. It would be too obvious.”
“I’d hate to admit this,” I said, “but I am tempted to bring back that ridiculous plan of yours—pay someone even worse than these criminals and take care of it once and for all. At least now we have a name.”
Sid’s knowing eyes slid to me. “I’ve been really considering it.”
“She would hate us for it,” I said.
“Yeah, I know.”
If this were a war against me, the enemy would have already found my weakness. Admitting that to myself wasn’t easy. Admitting how much it mattered to me. I hadn’t anticipated this—caring so deeply. It was unsettling, how much I wanted to shield her from everything. I wasn’t supposed to get involved, wasn’t supposed to feel this way. “Saanya can stay as long as she needs. I’ll make sure she’s safe here.”
“Thank you, Naomi. That means a lot, more than you know.”
His shoulders visibly relaxed, but his new apprehension made me feel more on edge. I felt as though I needed to do more to protect Saanya—as if I was missing something crucial, but I didn’t know what. And worrying Sidharth further was unnecessary. He looked like he was about to crack under pressure.
In the midst of this horrible stress, somehow the conversation shifted to the baby.
“I must say I’m not surprised you didn’t mention her pregnancy to me before,” Sid said.
“Oh?”
“I know you respect people’s privacy to a fault.”
“Well, Saanya and I have grown…closer.”
Sid’s eyes widened in amusement, and for the first time since his arrival, I saw his dimples. “Saanya mentioned something about that. Bloody hell, Naomi. Real friends? With my sister? You? My Naomi making friends?”
Forget the dimples. He was now laughing so hard he was holding onto his stomach. This little—
I bristled slightly. “Yes, real friends. What other kind? I can make friends, Sidharth. I have friends.”
“Of course you can,” he said once he caught his breath again. “You do! I’m your best friend.” He tilted his head in a kind form of acknowledgment. “You’re my family, Naomi.”
He’d better say that.
“I’ve always said people were missing out, Nadee.”
I gave him a look and he coughed back a laugh. “Seriously. I’m beyond baffled but so grateful that my sister finally found a loyal friend. The best anyone could ask for.”
“Yes, well. She’s quite fantastic,” I said.
This time Sidharth’s shock seemed genuine. He hadn’t expected that. And, well, now that I was being honest, I said, “Who would have thought…that of all people, she would be the one to bypass these thick walls of mine.”
“Thick walls?” Sidharth chuckled, but there was no mockery in it, only a gentle, relieved amusement. His eyes sparkled with a knowing look. “You mean that beautiful impenetrable fortress you’ve constructed around yourself?”
He wasn’t wrong. I had kept people at arm’s length even before my parents’ death. It’s just who I was. I had always hated sentimentalities but that didn’t mean I was heartless.
I rolled my eyes. “Not impenetrable, apparently.”
Sid’s expression softened. “You know, Naomi, in all the years I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you let anyone in like this. Not even me. It’s…refreshing.”
I exhaled, un-crossing my legs. “Perhaps because she’s a woman. And we both know I have very little to no experience with female friendships.”
“I never understood that.” Sidharth’s expression twisted.
I shifted uncomfortably, unaccustomed to such personal conversations. Sidharth knew most of my closely guarded secrets, but conversations that delved into more emotional waters were rare for me.
“It’s just…she’s different, Sid. She sees things in a way I never thought of before. She challenges me, in a good way. And she’s insanely bright. That innate business gift you mentioned? Baffled.”
“I told you. And she has that effect on people. Saanya is a beautiful person—”
He broke off, glancing past me to the glass wall. “Oh, hell. She looks livid.”
I turned. Saanya was striding toward the office, eyes blazing. “I think I see actual smoke,” I said, as the glass door swung open.
“I can’t believe it.” Her gaze darted between us. “Now you two are lying to me?” Saanya didn’t so much look angry as she did hurt.
“Saan—” Sid began.
“I know I haven’t been the most forthcoming lately, Bhai, but surely you could have told me.” It was like she was reprimanding two of her students. “Why didn’t you tell me about this Hawk individual?” Then her eyes cut to me. “And why didn’t you tell me you were involved in this mess? You dragged her into this, Sid! And now she’s in danger!”
Sidharth sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Saanya, please calm down. We were going to tell you—”
“When? After someone got hurt?” Her voice cracked, and I saw the emotion trembling beneath her anger.
“He didn’t involve me, Saanya. I involved myself.”
She stared, stunned.
Before either of us could say anything else, my phone buzzed on the desk.
“It’s my IT and security manager.” I hesitated, glancing at her. That uncharacteristic, fuming glare demanded I answer, so I put the call on speaker.
“Arjun, good day.”
“Naomi,” he said briskly. “I have an update on Singh.”
The look of betrayal on Saanya’s face was hard to swallow.
“You are on speaker, and I am not alone. But please speak freely.”
“Ah, well, then. I traced some of the Bitcoin in question. It turns out Manish Singh consolidated multiple accounts and moved the funds into one wallet with a single private key.”
No one spoke.
“So,” Sid said quietly. “It’s only one.” He leaned forward toward my phone on the table. “Whose accounts?” he asked.
“Some appear to have been abandoned, but most belonged to five individuals who are now…deceased.”
We all exchanged glances.
“Dead?” Saanya whispered.
“I believe the crypto was stolen before it fell into Manish Singh’s possession,” Arjun said.
“A thief stealing from another thief.” I scoffed.
“Can’t I just pay them off?” Saanya asked. “Whatever they’re owed, I’ll pay it. I just want this to end.”
There was a pause before Arjun finally spoke. “Well, ma’am, the amount is substantial. Roughly two hundred and eighty-four million pounds.”
Saanya blinked, her lips parting slightly. “I…”
“Bloody bastard.” Sid paced to the window.
“I could sell a few properties.” She rubbed her forehead, her eyes searching ours. “My GlobalLink shares are tied. Most of my capital is diversified, except for my savings, but—”
“Saanya, that’s not the issue,” Sid cut in. “How would we even reach them to give them the money? Trust me, I’ve tried for months.”
“These people are like Teflon-coated ghosts,” Arjun added. “All contact info I’ve found is mirrored. Everything fake.”
Something tightened in my chest. Saanya was still standing in Manish’s wreckage, trying to pick up her pieces and now trying to clean it up. There was nothing fair about it—none of this was her fault.
I suddenly hated how exposed she was.
“Arjun. Thank you. Please contact me if anything else arises.”
“Yes, Naomi.”
Once Sid and I had laid everything on the table, Saanya was receptive, and if she was still angry, she hid it well.
“Now, here’s the latest I’ve got,” I said. “The guy we know as ‘The Hawk’—his real name is James Cuthbert. I literally had just finished a call with Arjun when you and Saanya came downstairs earlier. I had to…” I cleared my throat and eyed her. “Think on my feet and pretend I was talking to my CFO.”
Saanya folded her arms across her chest, her annoyed gaze drifting elsewhere.
Sidharth leaned forward, absorbing the information. “So, Cuthbert. Where’s that from?”
“Oh, he’s as British as tea and crumpets with the Queen…or well, King.”
Sidharth’s lips quirked, but the humor didn’t quite reach his tired eyes. “And?”
“As we speak, I have someone digging into every aspect of his life—friends, family, everyone he’s ever interacted with since he started breathing. For now, Saanya, I think you would be safest here.”
She looked at me for a moment, then she swallowed. “I can’t keep you from your life, Naomi. You’ve sacrificed plenty. I can go somewhere else—”
“Nonsense. Why complicate things? You are safe here and here you’ll stay. Besides, I’ve closed one of my biggest deals in years remotely. What’s another month or two?”
After a beat, she nodded. Hesitantly so, but she agreed.
Sidharth stood up. “We should go check on Ravi before he decides to start another of his impromptu cooking shows in your kitchen.”
“He truly lives off mucking around on the internet?” I asked.
“Content creation,” Sidharth said.
“What?”
“That’s what it’s called.” He opened the door for us. “And yeah, the lad just became a millionaire.”
Saanya’s gaze met mine and I gave her a small smile, gesturing for her to go first, and to my quiet surprise, she returned it—brief, tentative, but there.
“Wasn’t his father already one?” I shook my head. “Either way, he wouldn’t dare touch my kitchen and do whatever it is he does as a ‘content creator.’ He still looks at me like I’m that villain who makes coats out of puppies.”
Sidharth grinned. “You’re right, he’s terrified of you.”
“Good.”
Not even twenty-four hours later, they were leaving.
“Can’t you stay? It’s my birthday, Sid,” Saanya said, soft and breaking.
We’d all had dinner together after their arrival yesterday, but aside from that, there hadn’t been much time for anything else.
Sidharth held Saanya tightly. “I wish I could, Saanya. But the longer I’m away, the more attention we draw.”
When Sidharth approached me, he wrapped his arms around me and murmured in my ear, “Please, take care of her.”
“I will. Safe travels, Sid.”
Ravi hovered, then gave Saanya an earnest, awkward hug. He caught my raised brow mid-squeeze and sprang back, flustered, and waved instead. “Uh—take care, Saanya.”
As their car rolled down the drive, I saw tears glassing her eyes. An impulse to comfort her tightened my chest.
This friendship-between-women business.
“That’s it then?” she murmured.
I stepped closer, my hand lifting to her arm—then stopped just short of a touch. She didn’t notice.
“…Actually,” I said, scratching the back of my neck, heat prickling at my skin. “I have something for you.”
“For me?” Saanya’s eyes gleamed; they were even brighter because of her tears, but there was a flicker of genuine curiosity amid her sorrow.
“Yes—after your sonogram, we will make a small diversion.”
A smile unfurled, slow and real. “I’m intrigued.”
I didn’t respond. I only nodded and held her gaze longer than ever before.
I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t look away.
SAANYA
Geneva’s fashion scene was unsurprisingly extravagant, but I preferred the city’s breathtaking mountain backdrop.
Before leaving the house for my ultrasound, I had expressed my dire need to go shopping. Not in a frivolous way, but more out of necessity. Most of my clothes were starting to feel too tight, and almost none of my traditional outfits—which were tailor-made—fit me anymore.
We sat in the back of Naomi’s car with the usual set-up—Ulrich driving, and her two bodyguards. One with us, one trailing behind.
“I can’t believe I’ve reached a point where I need an entirely new wardrobe.” I sighed.
Naomi glanced up from her phone, lips quirking. “Helene is a genius. You’ll see. We’re almost there.”
Helene Schneider’s atelier, tucked in the heart of Geneva, was as charming as any neighboring couture house. Naomi had called in a favor, and Helene herself had stayed late to receive us.
A pleasant young woman brought a bottle of Krug. Naomi sipped the champagne while I settled for mineral water.
“Would a couture designer be offended by a request to produce maternity clothes?” I asked under my breath.
“She’s dressed plenty of expecting women,” Naomi murmured back. “Including a certain famous Heidi.”
Surely not Heidi Klum…or had she?
In a private haute couture salon perfumed with lilies, Helene drew back a curtain to reveal a hidden rack: maternity pieces that were, frankly, art.
Ooh. A secret stash.
My gaze drifted across the different pieces until it stopped—there.
That dress.
I felt Naomi observing from a short distance. “See something you like?”
“I could never pull this off,” I whispered, my fingers trailing the exquisitely soft fabric.
But no matter how discreetly I had said it, Helene heard me, and like a true visionary, saw an opportunity.
“With its creator here, you most certainly can.” She studied me over her glasses. “I can tell you are naturally slender. I bet the pregnancy has barely altered your figure aside from your bump. What are you? Two? Two and a half months?”
“Four and a half,” I said.
“Wundervoll. Fuller hips and chest will only enhance the dress beautifully. You look like an empress.” She waved a hand. “Minimal adjustments needed, dear. You already possess this…eine angeborene Eleganz—innate elegance.”
“Oh, I don’t—”
“Indulge,” Naomi said softly, moving closer. Her gaze held mine. “If it’s something you truly want, go for it.”
The intensity in her eyes and the earnestness in her voice made my skin hum.
If only I could indeed indulge in what I wanted. What I truly want.
I shook myself out of it and nodded.
“I…Yeah. All right.”
In the changing room, Helene’s skilled hands worked magic. On my body, the dress took on a new aura. I felt transformed, like someone else entirely.
The high collar and cuffs were wrapped in exquisite hand-crafted gold embroidery, all baroque leaves and florals against the black fabric.
When I stepped out, Naomi’s eyes traced the lines of the dress.
She swallowed.
Her reaction was subtle. Only a flicker. A softening around her eyes.
It was enough to make me swallow hard, too.
My cheeks warmed, but at the same time, a surge of confidence welled up inside me. In that moment, under Naomi’s gaze, I felt seen—not as Sidharth’s sister, but as me.
When I turned to look at myself in the mirror, I looked flushed. I moved a long strand of hair away from my eyes and ran my hands down my belly and the rest of the dress with a flair.
My eyes stung.
For years my husband had made me feel so utterly unimportant. “You know, I never pictured myself like this—but I like it.” I heard the wobble in my voice.
