Chapter 46: Chapter 46

*Prathap Pov*

“Are you both sure they are ready to handle the new restaurant?” I asked them again as I will be informing the new chef and the manager officially regarding their new responsibility.

“Of course! You will be there too. So, I don’t think there will be any problem.” Bharghav assured me while Deepak continued to stare at his feet.

“Deepak?” I called him frowning and he sighed before glancing up to stare at me.

“I am not worried about her but I am worried about myself. How will I handle everything without your presence here?” he asked frowning.

“You were doing wonderfully until now and I am not shifting to another city.” I pointed out but he shook his head.

I already bought the building and the renovations are going on now to make it a proper one to start the restaurant. Within a month, we can even open it but I am worried about being busy again with this work and get less time to spend with Anitha.

She is also busy with her work and if we both are busy then the time we can meet may reduce more and that could affect our relationship but I will try to work hard and I am sure she will do the same.

“Don’t worry about him at all. He is just whining and will be fine.” Bharghav shook his head while Deepak glared at him.

“Okay! Call everyone to gather and I will announce it.” They both nodded before leaving the cabin while I took my phone to check any messages from Anitha as she has no work today and we can have a date after a long time.

I guess she is still at the agency otherwise she would have messaged me like she said she will after finishing her work with Vikranth.

After walking out of the cabin, I stared at them before announcing, “We will be starting our new restaurant soon within a month. The new chef will be Anand and the manager will be Jhansi.”

They both stared at me in surprise while others started clapping for them and after that, I calmly continued, “A few of the staff will be shifted to that restaurant and anyone interested can let Deepak know, and then we will choose by matching our choice along with it.”

“Any objections?” I asked and no one said anything while Deepak took the responsibility of giving them details regarding the area where the new restaurant will be.

I walked back to the cabin when my phone started ringing and it’s Anitha. I smiled picking it up saying, “Are you done? Shall I come to pick you up or meet at our home?”

“Prathap!” she called my name clearing her throat.

“What is it? It will take longer?” I asked while pausing my moments of packing my stuff as I am completely shifting my things to her place today.

I already shifted the major ones like my study on the recipes and everything but just a few files were left in the cabin which I will shift to her place today.

“Anny!” I heard Vikranth’s voice and she sighed before calling my name again.

“You know that I love you, right?” she suddenly asked making me frown.

“Of course! Is something wrong, Anitha?” I asked feeling her voice to be down.

“I have some work and will finish by afternoon. Then we will talk properly at home. Just go home and wait for me. And get some sleep or cook something for us.” She rushed the words and my confusion just raised.

“What is going on? You can tell me what it is and I will be there with you. You can trust me, Anitha.” I mumbled holding my phone tightly.

“I know! I know you will be there for me but for a few hours trust me too. We will have our talk in the afternoon.” Saying that she cut the call while I frowned trying to understand her words.

However, she said we will talk in the afternoon and it’s just nine right now and I need to wait a few hours. Should I go home and wait or have a word with Deepak?

Before I can choose, Deepak walked inside with a frown covering his face saying, “Do you really need to open the restaurant this soon?”

“I know I said it will take a few months but I was lucky to get a proper place. Why are you so worried?” I asked frowning.

“I don’t know! I saw the work you did all this time to handle every single matter. I don’t know whether I can do a proper job.” He replied sighing.

“You are already doing a proper job. Why do you think I left you to make decisions all this time? You didn’t just handle the things but you even trained Jhansi so well. Don’t doubt yourself like this, Deepak. I doubted myself in the beginning but that’s understandable as I didn’t have any experience in handling a restaurant but you do.” I assured him while patting his shoulder.

“Let Jhansi stay here and I will come with you.” He said smiling while I shook my head.

“If she stays here then Anand will stay here along with me while Bharghav and you will handle the new place.” I shrugged and he glared at me.

“You know that if it was someone else dragging the issue like this, I would have asked them to just leave, right?” I asked and he slowly nodded.

“So, go back and handle the work. It’s a good thing we didn’t have many people for breakfast time but I saw the reservations increased for lunchtime.” I gestured him to leave and he sighed before walking out.

Maybe it’s better to ask Bharghav to assure Deepak today continuously instead of fighting with him like usual.

“Don’t worry about him at all. I will handle him.” He assured me and I sighed nodding.

“Okay! I will be going now. I have a date today.” I said checking the time and it’s nearly ten.

“Don’t you think you are bragging too much recently?” He asked shaking his head before taking out his phone.

“Did you check the recent stills that were out of the shooting? Lucky seems to be close to Anny and everyone’s wish for them to be together is increasing.” He said smirking while I laughed.

“It’s will just stay as their wish as the reality is that she is mine.” He glared at me before scrolling on his phone to ignore me.

I turned to leave but his voice stopped me and I turned back to see him frowning at me before glancing at the phone.

“What is it?” I asked looking at him.

“You are breaking up with Anny?” he asked back while lifting his head and everyone around us shifted their attention to those words.

“What are you saying?” I asked walking closer.

“It must be some stupid article.” I added but he shook his head.

“It’s a conference from GH agency and she is there talking about the breakup.” He mumbled and I immediately took out my phone before searching for her name.

And like he said the news-related article is about the conference and it’s a live one right now.

“We decided to take a break…” I closed my phone hearing those words.

We? When did we? I rushed out of the kitchen and ignored everyone to reach my car and drove towards GH agency while trying to calm myself.

*Anitha Pov*

“It’s done! You can go and talk to Prathap.” Vikranth whispered beside me while I continued to glare at Pramod Uncle.

“How can he just suddenly decide in the morning within an hour that we will announce about this matter? Isn’t this your agency? Why don’t you have the power to stop him?” I asked fisting my hands.

“Yes! I do the work but I don’t have the whole control. They are still the major shareholders and I need to follow their instructions.” He replied sighing.

“He looks disappointed that Prathap didn’t come to ruin the conference like he wished to.” He added.

“Why is he so obsessed with getting Prathap to get the third strike and make him give up his dreams just to join the company?” I asked turning to stare at Vikranth.

“All the elders just want three of us to be under the company and take it forward. And his father is more into it than Shrishti’s Dad.” He replied while I frowned at those words.

Vikranth called me in the morning saying Pramod Uncle wishes to talk to but after I reached here, it was a surprise for both Vikranth and me as he called the press conference without telling us.

He asked me to just announce whatever is written on a single sheet of paper and didn’t give me time to understand what is going on.

If it is not for Vikranth who immediately came out of his shock gave his views, I realized all this is for Prathap.

I guess his Dad realized we are together for real and thought Prathap will come and stop it. Didn’t he realize that I will not inform Prathap and stop him from coming here?

I didn’t even remember that today is the last day of our contract. I sighed rubbing my head while trying to think how to explain everything to Prathap without making him misunderstand all this.

“Don’t worry! At least we ended up making a few changes by taking advantage of your career. Go and talk to Prathap before he finds it out from someone else. Don’t forget that other people can also inform him even if he is not the one to follow entertainment news.” I nodded at Vikranth before turning around to leave but stopped looking at Prathap who just reached the entrance of the press conference and there are still a few reporters left as Uncle is giving a brief about the changes that are going to take place in GH.

I rushed to stop him but already he is found by a few reporters and they reached him asking, “Do you want to add anything to the statement that is released, Mr. Prathap?”

“We both gave that statement together. There is nothing else to add.” Saying that I reached his side and held his hand before walking away from them to reach the elevator and stepped inside.

“What is going on, Anitha? Break up?” he asked frowning but I held his hand tightly.

“Wait until we reach the office room.” I whispered while he let my hand go to rub his face and I can feel his anger but right now it is best to not say anything where anyone can hear it.

“So?” he asked the moment I made him enter Vikranth’s room and I took a deep breath before explaining everything.

“Even I don’t know about it but Uncle suddenly came and ordered me to do this conference regarding our relationship. I didn’t have time and when I thought of informing you, Vikranth reminded me that if you make any scene regarding this then it will be considered as a third strike and as per the contract you will be giving up the restaurant.” I explained while he frowned.

“And you actually thought I will give up my restaurant just because I get a strike? I will definitely not, Anitha. You should have talked to me before taking this step. I am already used to my Dad’s antics and he will not force me back no matter what except to taunt me every time. That’s all he could do and nothing else.” He said frowning while hitting the chair.

“I…” I don’t know what to say after hearing those words.

“You were worried about these strikes earlier.” I finally mumbled.

“Of course! I just didn’t want to hear his taunts but comparing to losing you, I am fine to hear them for as long as I can.” He explained and I bit my lip not knowing what to say to that.

“I will just go and tell those reporters that all this is not true and you were forced.” He added walking towards the door but I stopped him.

“Don’t do that! It is not a simple thing.” I mumbled holding his hand.

“What do you mean?” he asked while I tried to remember the reason I am stopping him for.

“I know it’s selfish but if you do that then it will be a problem for my career. I am not putting it before you but we are still together and there is no need to cancel the statement we gave today.” I replied and I took his hand away.

“Stop saying as if it is our decision together.” I frowned hearing his tone but let it go as I know all this is a shock for him too.

“The conference is just about us canceling the engagement and not about us actually breaking up.” I cleared it so that he will calm down a bit.

“Wait!” he mumbled hearing those words before taking a step back.

“Yeah! We are still a couple but just not engaged.” I whispered and he sighed while I sighed in relief along with him.

“He thought if we completely break up then there will be questions raising about our whole relationship and they may find out about all this being a fake scheme and it will have a bad impact on both GH and my career but mainly on GH. So, he decided it will be just about the engagement ending and not the actual relationship and said slowly we can break up later.” I explained.

“Break up later?” he asked frowning.

“That’s what he said but we need not do that as the contract will be done today and he will not have any power over both of us. So, we will not be breaking up just because he thought we will.” I replied hurriedly.

“You should have told me before doing this, Anitha.” He mumbled looking up and I nodded realizing I should have.

But I was worried that he will not understand and try to stop all this. I didn’t want to trouble him but like he said I should have told him.

“Are you upset?” I asked taking a step closer to him.

“Let’s go on our date.” I added smiling while he frowned at me.

“I will go back to the restaurant.” Saying that he walked away and stepped out of the room without looking back while I rubbed my forehead due to this mess.

After a few minutes, Vikranth entered the room saying, “He looks angry while leaving and completely ignored his father calling him.”

“Yeah! I told him what happened.” I mumbled sighing.

“Don’t mind him! He hates it when something goes according to his father’s plan and that’s why he was against this contract in the beginning. He will calm down soon.” Vikranth assured me and calmly sat on his chair before opening a file.

“You don’t mind that you had to do everything according to their plans?” I asked staring at him while remembering how just last week I saw him announcing his divorce with Kanika.

I know Kanika said to not blame him but even today he didn’t like to follow this conference but he still did without saying a word.

“I don’t have a choice and if I did, I wouldn’t be hiding the divorce matter like this.” He said shrugging while I frowned before leaving his cabin to find a way and make Prathap cool down.

He was really sad from his expression earlier and he looks hurt too. I hope I can make up for doing all this without telling him. I sighed sitting inside the car while asking the driver to take me to the restaurant.