16 Chapter 15

Zayed was on call with his brother Salim, the Ruling Sheikh of Zidra.

"Zayed. How is business running?" Salim asked

"The company is a mess Salim. We are signing a new deal with an Indian company. Hopefully that would help somewhat" Zayed said

"So, you won't be returning to Zidra anytime soon?" Salim asked

"Not sure. I will try to fly over home next weekend" Zayed said

"That would be great." Salim said, though his voice sounded dull

"Salim? Everything alright?" Zayed asked

He heard Salim taking in a deep breath

"The council members are getting on my nerves Zayed" Salim said

"What is the new issue?"

"The same old. They want me to divorce Camille and take a new wife who could give me a heir" Salim said in exasperation

"What the f*ck?" Zayed cursed

"Seven years of marriage and she couldn't give me a heir. The council members are overlooking the fact that I'm in love with my wife. They want me to choose the country and people over Camille. I know it's my duty to keep my people as my priority. But I simply can't let Camille go" Salim said

"I understand"

"Only if you or Basim we married, the pressure would have been off me" Salim said with a sigh

Zayed felt guilty.

He knows Salim wouldn't care if the next crown prince is either Zayed's or Basim's son. Unlike Sheikh Karim who wanted his blood line to continue ruling.

"Salim. You know I can't,right?" Zayed asked

"I just wish you hadn't let Ava go. She was so good for you" Salim said sadly.

Zayed fumed. His family still longs for Aveline. They still love her like their own.

But then they don't know what sin she committed.

They don't know that their beloved Ava had cheated on him.

"Its time for the meeting with the Malhotras. I will get back to you soon. Give my love to Camille" Zayed said and hung up the call

****

Ava was preparing for the meeting with Karan Malhotra which was scheduled for the day.

He will be here any time. She did a little research on Malhotra Industries and came to know that Karan Malhotra is a billionaire playboy, who flirts with every beautiful woman who he comes across.

She remembered the cheerful way he talked with her that day. She didn't think anything about that then, but now that she knows he is a playboy she started feeling paranoid.

It would be better to keep her distance from Karan Malhotra, Ava thought

"Hello Aveline" she looked up to see Karan Malhotra smiling at her as if she was his long lost friend.

"Good morning Mr Malhotra" she said

"Oh. No formalities please, Aveline. You can call me Karan. After all we are friends right?" he asked winking at her and she looked at him in utter bewilderment.

"Friends??" She asked confused

"Oh come on Aveline. We bonded over baby Ada. Didn't we??" He asked grinning ear to ear

She chuckled nervously.

When she read about him being a playboy she thought he is some sort of womanizer. But he sounds more like Basim. She doesn't feel uncomfortable with him.

"Yeah" she mumbled

"And my sister asked me to pass on her greetings to you" he said taking her by surprise

"How does your sister knows me??" Ava asked in surprise

"Oh I told her how you helped me with baby Ada. And how Ada took an instant liking to you. And me too" he said the last part with a cheeky smile.

They turned around when they heard someone clearing their throat.

Ava looked up to see a very livid Zayed looking at her spitting fire through his eyes.

What the hell is his problem, she wondered!!

"Oh hello Mr Ahmed" Karan greeted frowning confused at why Zayed was throwing lasers at him.

"We have a meeting which was supposed to begin five minutes ago" Zayed said pointing at the wall clock over there.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I just saw Aveline here and thought to say hello" Karan said shrugging

"If your chit chat is over, can we start the meeting??" Zayed asked, his tone colder than before, making Karan frown

"Aveline, you coming??" Karan asked

"Sure" Ava nodded

Zayed stared at Karan hard

"Its Ava. Call her Ava. That's what everyone calls her" Zayed ordered

Ava was shocked.

Zayed always called her Aveline. Never once had he called her Ava, like everyone in her life does. And she had assumed that to because Zayed didn't want to be someone in her close circle of people.

She had thought, by calling her Aveline, he was keeping a formal distance from her.

Not even in her wildest dreams had she imagined there to be possessive streak behind that.

It was clear as day from what just happened, that Zayed loathes anybody else calling her Aveline.

As if only he has the right to call her that.

Why?

Why is he being possessive over her name?

Why is he being possessive over her when he hates her to the core.

Once the meeting began Ava could feel the chills running through her spine at the cold look Zayed kept throwing at her.

"So we can start working on the deal from next week, right???" Karan asked

"Yes. Ms Cassandra Williams will join your UK branch from Monday as our representative" Zayed said

"Well. I would be more comfortable working with Aveline. I mean Ava" Karan said and and quickly corrected the name seeing the glare that came his way.

Everyone fell silent listening to his demand.

Ava was stunned. She didn't think he would openly ask such a thing.

"Oh, but I'm just a junior employeehere. Infact I'm a trainee. I just joined two months ago" Ava said making Karan turn around to her.

"That's fine Ava. I would like to work with you. You were your batch topper right??" He asked

"How did you know that??"

"I have my ways" he said winking at her

They both turned around when they heard a heavy slap on the conference table.

Ava saw Zayed looking at her in fury

"The deal is off" he said looking at Karan

"What?? Why??" Karan asked confused.

"You can leave Mr Malhotra" Zayed said

"But why??"

"I don't need to give you any explanations. The deal is off. Meeting over" he said and came around the desk and grabbed Ava's hand and dragged her out of the conference room along with him.

"Let me go" she said trying to wriggle her hand out from his death grip.

He kept on walking without paying any heed to her protests.

He let her go only when he reached his cabin.

Ava was rubbing her hands which was burning and she saw Zayed standing on the other side of his desk his back facing her.

"What the hell is your problem?? Why did you call off the deal!! The deal is important for the company Mr Ahmed" Ava said

"Really?? Important for the company or for you Aveline??" Zayed asked gritting his teeth.