[Steel]

"Agreed," said Rakesh with a smirk. "I want to discuss the panty presentation case that you'll be designing for me."

He said it with such straightforward confidence that Kusha was momentarily confused. "Excuse me?" she said, not even outraged, just genuinely thinking there must be a misunderstanding. "Mr. Kumar, we already discussed this. I said that..."

"Call me Rakesh," said the repellent man, cutting Kusha off sharply. His face was still relaxed and smiling, but his eyes slowly lingered down on her body that took Kusha aback.

"What?" she asked, off balance once again in an instant.

"I call you by your first name," said Rakesh smoothly, looking back at her face, his voice calm and unthreatening. "It seems like it would be polite to reciprocate."

Kusha bit the inside of her cheek to keep a sour look off her face. Refusing to use his first name had been a deliberate attempt to snub him. But now that he had brought it up directly, she couldn't continue without looking petty. "Fine," she said flatly, feeling a little outmaneuvered, even if it was for something insignificant, "Rakesh, I already told you that I would have no part in designing the ridiculous little showcase you have planned."

Rakesh held up a finger. "No, Kusha. We said we would table the discussion. Now I want to discuss it again. I'm afraid that I must insist. You will make me a trophy case to display those return favors from women I have slept with. I won't take 'no' for an answer."

Kusha just stared at him, stunned. Rakesh had heard a straightforward refusal, but he didn't seem shaken or deterred in the least. He had simply pushed through her refusal with his usual infuriating confidence, completely unbothered. It was one of the most stunningly arrogant reactions she had ever seen, and she worked with the rich and famous. His ugly face, with a scruffy beard, had an expression of certainty that made her want to slap him.... But she also couldn't help but wonder: was this the same sort of attitude that had gotten him into the pants of women out of his league? Women a thousand times more attractive than him? Smart, confident, independent women? Married women??

This pushy, arrogant attitude had to be effective to some extent if he was that successful, right? More images flashed through Kusha's head... Laila calling Rakesh "Daddy" in a whimpering voice, The sight of Rakesh's nickname tattooed just above a married woman's ass, Laila faltering on her refusal to let Rakesh breed her just before he came. Kusha fought hard to keep the filthy memories out of her head before the blush she felt forming became obvious.

"Well, I'm sorry, Rakesh. But whether you like the answer or not, no is no," she said, wincing internally at how defensive she sounded. Focus, idiot! Don't let him throw you!