My One And Only - Chapter 23 Blackmail

As they walked into the shop, the manager hurridely came forward. ” Miss Khemka, Mr. Raizada, please this way. I am sorry to say that Mr. Edwards is out of the country on urgent matters. He has specifically instructed to show you the best designs and I will be your accomplice for today. ”

She completed, bowing to them and then looking at Arnav longer than was necessary.

” It’s okay. ” Sofya answered sweetly, smiling. She had seen her ogling at Arnav. Sighing, she thought she better get used to it while Arnav ignored her completely.

” This way please. ” The manager led them through a couple of staircases up into a wide open room with light pink walls. There were at least forty to fifty mannequins standing, each wearing an exquisite bridal gown.

Stopping at the top of the staircase, Sofya looked in awe. She was amazed that Mr. Raizada had actually made such preparations for her to choose the wedding gown. She was a little too touched by the care that he showed for her.

” Mam, please? ” The manager brought Sofya back to earth, as she stood still in one place, gazing at the scene in front of him with one foot in the air.

Arnav smiled at her reaction. Lightly putting her hand around her waist, he dragged her forward, into the middle of the room.

Sofya looked up at him, her eyes a little moist at this sweet gesture of his.

Dragging her to the middle of the room, he moved sideways to let her have a look at the gowns. Scanning the room, with so many designs, Sofya was utterly dumbfounded. Each one was so beautiful on it’s own, she didn’t know which one to try.

Looking back, Sofya saw that Arnav had seated himself on the sofa in the corner of the room and was skimming through his mobile. Disappointed, she turned around. It was too much to think that he would help her selecting the gown. Uncle must have forced him to go with her, otherwise he wouldn’t be here.

Thinking this, she felt an unspeakable sadness filling her heart. What she couldn’t understand was how come she had become so much affected by his actions recently? Shaking her head to get rid of these thoughts, she finally selected a gown.

” The trial room’s at the end of the corridor. ” The manager showed her the room.

Sofya nodded. The dressing room was a mini version of the room she had just left now. At least five full length mirrors were placed in a circle, reflecting each other. Unzipping her dress, she put on the gown. It was breathtakingly beautiful. But the main problem was the back zip. The zip at the back of the gown was too long, starting from waist it had to be pulled upwards till the neckline. However hard Sofya might try, her hand couldn’t reach the zip, exposing her back fair skin.

Just as she was struggling, she noticed a shadow coming out from behind one of the mirrors. Turning quickly, Sofya was about to attack the intruder when she saw who it was : Nina Saltzman.

Nina came forward, looking Sofya up and down in a wedding dress, a smirk evident on her face.

Sofya returned her stare coldly.

” Why are you here? ” she snapped, not wanting to deal with the likes of her today when she was in an exceptionally good mood.

The smirk went higher up on Nina’s face. Fishing an envelope out of her bag, she threw it to Sofya who caught it one handed.

” Here, have a look. ”

With an ominous feeling that it could be nothing good, Sofya opened the envelope. There were several photos from the night when Susan was raped. Sofya’s face hardened looking at the photos, so it was her. She had planned this all along.

But there was something different about the photos. The facial expressions of Susan had been changed to look as if she were enjoying this. It was photoshopped!

Sofya looked up to find Nina still smiling. Regaining her composure, she put the photos back in the envelope and gave it her.

” What do you want? ” she asked her, quietly.

” For you ” Nina replied, pointing at Sofya, ” to leave Arnav ” then she pointed at the door, behind where Arnav was sitting.

Sofya raised her eyebrows and looked at her increduously. So, this was blackmail.

” That’s impossible. “