[Steel]

That was right... now Kusha remembered. Sharath had talked about his old college friend Laila before. Based on his guarded speech, Kusha had easily inferred there had been deeper feelings there at some point, but she was mature enough not to feel jealous about things like that. In any case, that must be why Sharath looked sick to his stomach now. It would be hard to see any friend with Rakesh like this, let alone someone you once had feelings for.

"No, Rakesh," said Kusha, a little heat creeping into her voice. "As my husband made very clear last time he spoke with you, you are no longer a family friend. Just a business contact." Kusha could tell based on the wide smile on Rakesh's face that something was wrong. She glanced over to Sharath in confusion. Her husband now wore a sheepish expression of guilt.

"Reeeeeally?" asked Rakesh, voice dripping with amusement. "So Sharath told you that he broke off our friendship? I don't remember having any sort of discussion like that."

Kusha snorted in derision. Of course Sharath had told Rakesh their friendship was over. He had told her as much. Right?

"Babe... maybe I didn't say those words exactly. But I think the context of our conversation made it pretty clear that..." said Sharath nervously.

Kusha put her head in her hands, unable to even look at Sharath right now. She had been going toe-to-toe with Rakesh's rudeness for weeks, and Sharath hadn't even had the balls to face up to him for one fucking conversation. She stood up. Sharath reached for her hand, but she slapped it away, breathing heavily. She didn't want to be around Rakesh, but right now, she didn't want to be near her husband either. Without a word, she strode to the other side of the room and sat in an unoccupied chair, staring daggers across the room. Sharath gave her a wide-eyed, pleading, apologetic expression as Laila and Rakesh sat next to him.

Let them have their little college reunion. The prick, the slut, and the wimp. She had no desire to be part of that company.