Enticed by you (Miraculous Love Book 1)

by Meghana Sarathy

  Table of Contents

  Author’s note

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Epilogue

  What’s Next

  Acknowledgments

  Enticed By You

  Meghana Sarathy

  Table of Contents:

  Author’s note

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Epilogue

  What’s Next

  About The Author

  Acknowledgments

  This book is dedicated to my inspiration, my role model and my first true love– Vegeta. You have always been the reason and the driving force behind my success. Love you to moon and back.

  Author’s note

  Enticed by you is the first book in the Miraculous Love duet. It is a taboo romance and not everyone’s cup of tea. Like in the case of my other books-(Love Connection Series) I want to give a heads-up to readers on what to expect before they dive in. I write books which are mainly character driven and have protagonists who are good but flawed (they make mistakes, their actions might be questionable and not something which can be accepted by social decorum – cheating for example). I’m not in favor of the idea and neither do I condone it, but it’s these taboo elements and conflicting feelings that form the crux of the story. It’s not like they’ll get away with it without facing any consequences. They will have to make hard choices (sometimes wrong and sometimes right) in the course of the book and their journey won’t be easy either, angst filled at times too. That’s the aspect of my book that’s truly enjoyable – expected the unexpected. The stories will be unconventional and not something easy to predict or guess.

  I won’t say anything more that can be a potential spoiler. Just that it’s complex love triangle of sorts, and there is a big age difference between Sara and Nate, Nate is married and also Sara’s boss. This is evident from the blurb, but stressing it again so that readers won’t have false expectations and won’t be shocked when they start. But their love is very much real and something that readers will be able to resonate with. So please dive in with an open mind, try to connect with the characters and enjoy the read.

  Note : There are occasional references to my Love Connection ( book series ) characters in this book. They are not relevant to this story. They have more like a cameo presence.

  Prologue

  Sara

  People come into our lives for a reason. Each of them has a purpose to serve.

  Some are temporary. They just come and go. Some stay behind, becoming a permanent resident of our lives.

  Then there are those people who are visitors for a very short time, but they influence our lives so much that they become the permanent fissures in our hearts. These cracks can never heal. They are present. Always. Reminding us of them, time and tide, over and over again. There is also a catch. Happy memories bestowed by these people also leave behind a trail of overwhelming, outrageous emotions- mainly tears. They are no longer a part of our life’s journey, right? So, that’s bound to happen.

  People come, people go but it’s the impact they have on our lives that always stays behind- shaping our lives, grooming and influencing it. Ultimately making us a stronger person.

  Certain feelings, certain emotions, certain relations are better off without any labels. Many relations breathe their last under the scrutinizing eyes of the society. But sometimes it’s such taboo feelings that end up truly defining us. Such stories can never have a happy ending. But does the ending really matter? Is life just about being with the one you love?

  No. Not for me.

  Few moments are enough to last a lifetime. The real worth of our lives can be captured in those few precious moments. These moments are the ones that are locked and tucked away in our hearts for future reminiscence.

  This is my story- a story of miraculous love. I was lucky to have gotten a chance to live it. Luck. Destiny. Fate. Kismet – They are what led us to each other and they tore us apart too. But the love lived and will always continue to live. It can never breathe its last.

  Chapter One

  Sara

  “Coffee can’t taste this bad. I can’t even feel the caffeine hitting my system. This is just not done,” I complain.

  “I told you, coffee sucks here. These machines need to be changed, but regarding caffeine hitting your system, do you really experience that? I, for one, don’t feel anything and neither does drinking coffee make me active and energized.” Misty tells, enjoying her coffee. “Either way, I’m too used to this to complain.”

  I let out an exasperated sigh. Cupping the coffee mug, I head to the sink and without even batting an eyelid, I drain the contents into the sink. “There’s no way I would be able to drink that.” Thankfully no one else is around in the breakout area. Even otherwise, I wouldn’t have thought twice before pulling that stunt.

  “Do you always have to be so dramatic, Sara? I’m still drinking it, you see? Something is better than nothing.”

  “There is a limit to my tolerance and today Bryce has really pushed me to the edge. I’m shit annoyed, more at myself than at him,” I exclaim loudly. I turn around to be met with wide eyes from one of the janitors. Shrugging, I mouth an apology, and turn back to Misty, moving away from the coffee machines.

  “Can you tell me something new?” She asks, nudging my shoulders. “That’s your everyday story. The usual fights between you and your boyfriend.”

  “I’m seriously considering breaking up for good this time. I mean, how long will we be able to cope with this? This has to stop. I have had enough of it,” I tell irately, checking my watch. There is still three minutes for stand-up meeting. I have three minutes to finish this conversation, and rush to my desk to join the call. I can’t be late for it again.

  “You should do it, rather than just musing and talking about it. Both of you are well aware that you guys are not in a position to handle a relationship now.”

  “Not me. It’s him. I’m giving my damn best, you know? Come on, you have to see that!” I argue.

  “Your expectations are too high. I have always told you that. Knowing how Bryce is, it will take him years to become the man you want him to be or be the wa
y he used to be. Until then, rather than trying to cope and accepting him for how he is, give it a small break. Try settling and making advances in your career. You’re still twenty-three, Sara. Now is the right time to focus on your career. Love life can take a back seat now.”

  “Maybe you’re right, but Equinox Enterprise is not the place I want to be. You know that. Getting into IT was probably the biggest mistake of my life. I was delusional to think I would be working on the stuff I studied about. It’s high time I get my wakeup call and flee from here.”

  “Are you even trying to settle here?” She asks with narrowed eyes. “The company is pretty good. There are a lot of perks. Your job might not be that interesting but you have a really cool and fun team. Just see the positives and stay here for few more months before shifting. This is your first company. You need more technical expertise and experience.”

  “Don’t I know it?” I lean against the wall and shake my head. “Two more months. That’s it. Then I’m leaving. I don’t care which job I’ll end up grabbing but there is no way, I’ll be sticking around here rebooting servers.”

  “You’re forgetting the most important perk of working here. With not much work load, you get plenty of time to write your books. You can’t sideline that.”

  She has a good point. Actually she has made a very solid point. Writing is my passion. That One thing I love to do wherever and whenever possible. It’s my only reprieve and in a way, it’s even therapeutic. I don’t plan on making it a career. As delusional as I tend to be at times, even I understand that I cannot make a living out of writing. I’m a proud Indie author and though I don’t get high royalties, I haven’t let that bother me or bring me down. I write for myself. For my happiness. Rest all is secondary.

  “Well, yeah, I get that. But still, that alone can’t keep me here. This place is just not right for me. You have to understand that,” I crib.

  “I get it, so for now, just chill and go attend your stand-up. You can’t be late again.”

  I frown at her, stomp in my heels and storm away to my cubicle.

  I can totally describe my life as crazily boring. That doesn’t even make sense, but that’s just how it is. I’m in a place where I totally don’t want to be. It was on my dad’s insistence that I even took up engineering. Not that I wasn’t interested, but this was not the work I had in mind when I landed the job. I always wanted to be a writer, but I knew I could never make a living out of it, so I just pursued writing as a hobby. My books are my biggest achievements. They are no best sellers, but the fact that I wrote them just the way I would love to read them as a reader makes me even happier. My books are influenced by my life and my relationships or attractions to be more precise. They are not usually perceived right in terms of morale by many readers, so they tend to give such complicated, complex love stories a pass. Not that it bothers me. I don’t write to impress them or get a fan following for that matter. I write because I love to. It’s as simple as that.

  I make it to my seat, fuming and settle on my chair. My cubicle makes me happy and at least temporarily relieves me from the stress around and on me. It’s decorated just the way I love it. Three flowerpots. Posters of my book and some of my favorite actors- Brad Pitt taking the center stage and not to forget, my customized calendar. My cubicle stands out and is definitely not ‘professional’ but it suits me just fine and it will remain this way for as long as I stay here.

  I unlock my laptop and check the time again. It’s 6:02 PM. Our daily stand-up starts at sharp 6 PM. Our company strictly follows the agile framework (so they kept saying during the training days) and as per that, daily-standup is a must. During our daily stand-up, we are supposed to be giving our daily work updates to our scrum master. It’s a funny name, I know, but scrum masters are a part of the management team and are more or less the project heads who tell us the work we are supposed to be doing. The scrum master for our team is Nathan Bankers. He is one intimidating guy. I have been working under him for nearly three months now and I don’t seem to be in his good looks. Okay, I’m not very sure about that. How will I know? I haven’t interacted much with him and those few interactions haven’t gone very well. He is not my reporting manager and my only interaction with him has been limited to these stand-up calls. The kind of work I have been given as a fresher doesn’t involve me interacting much with him, for which I’m actually thankful. I just want to focus on my writing during my time here. Getting dragged into bigger projects with him is a big NO for me. I don’t think I’ll be able to match his competency and skills or his expectations.

  A reminder pops up on the screen notifying me of the stand-up. I’m now three minutes late. That’s a given. I know it’s anything but professional, but all this really seem pointless to me since I don’t have updates on a daily basis.

  I press Edifire on my desk phone and throw on my headphones. When I get the prompt for the meeting Id, I enter it without wasting a second. It’s always at the tip of my fingers these days. After two more seconds I get the prompt to tell my name. I take a deep breath and with mike closer to my mouth, I tell my name. Automatically my hand goes to the mute button. I usually stay in mute until it’s my update time. Unlike my teammates, I barely have anything to say.

  I switch to outlook tab as I hear the automatic voice say, “Now joining.” After a small pause I hear my voice. “Sara.” It always feels odd to me to hear my own voice over the phone. After a beat I hear Nathan’s voice.

  “That’s not a problem, Scott. I’ll reschedule this meeting to a time when they’ll be available as well. Have a good day.”

  I hear the click of the receiver. Scott probably dropped. For starters, I don’t even know who he is. Where are my other team mates? I stand up and look around to see vacant seats. It’s not possible for the stand-up to end this early?! Jesus Christ. I’m going to be royally screwed.

  “Sara, did you just join?”

  His voice rings through the headphones and my palms go sweaty. The baritone in his voice doesn’t go unnoticed by me. His voice is deep and strong with a powerful edge to it. It’s not like I hadn’t felt the impact of his words on me before, but it is all the more profound when it is directed solely at me.

  I unmute. “Yes,” I say without stumbling. Before I stop myself, I ask, “Wasn’t I supposed to?”

  Shit. Me and my big mouth. Okay, I’m not wrong. This is stand-up call after all.

  A low rumbles escapes his throat. It’s so damn silky and smooth, almost like chocolate. After knowing him for these many months, it’s the first time I have heard him chuckle so light heartedly. “Actually, no.”

  No?! What? Why?

  “What do you mean?” I ask with as much courage that I can muster.

  “I suppose, you were so much in a hurry to join the meeting three minutes late that you didn’t even check your mail.”

  Here he goes again. Why does he always have to be punctual? And he sure likes picking on me. It’s not like I’m the only one who joins late. It’s his problem that he is always sharp on time. Not everyone can be a perfectionist like him.

  “When are you ever wrong?” I let out a small chuckle. I’m dead serious, but I want him to take it lightly. Last thing I want is to be on his hit list. I already have too much on my plate. “So was the meeting postponed or cancelled?”

  “Are you not in front of your laptop?” He asks curiously.

  I’m so stupid. Why should I have asked him the obvious? I could have just checked.

  Unlocking my screen again, I click on inbox. His is the first mail. My eyes first land on his profile picture on the right hand corner. He dons a pink shirt with a blue coat. His sandy brown hair is neatly jelled and combed. His olive skin tone offers a perfect contrast to his pink shirt. He has a strong jawline and sharp features, but it’s his smile that steals the show. Powerful and yet charming. That’s what best describes Nathan Bankers. (Going by his picture, at least) The profile picture shows only his face though. And I really won’t shy away from ad
mitting that I have always been curious to check him out. He looks pretty handsome in the picture, and that makes me even more curious about his build. Is he fit, packed or slim? But that’s the catch. I have never met him in person. He is in Seattle for two years now and I’m here in Boston. So far I’ve never been a granted a chance to actually meet him.

  My eyes snap to the mail and I read it out loud. “Stand-up for today is cancelled. I have another meeting to attend. Please mail me your daily updates without fail.”

  “Well, thanks for reading it out to me. I hadn’t actually proofread it before sending.”

  Shit. I didn’t even realize that I was not on mute.

  “I’m so sorry. I really didn’t intend on interrupting your meeting. I’ll just drop…” I start.

  “No, wait.” His tone takes such a commanding edge that I stop my blabbering and swallow hard.

  “Sara, I actually wanted to talk to you. Steve had to pull off from the meeting and you happened to join. I’d say it’s a good time to talk.”

  Did I screw anything up? I don’t think so. I haven’t even been given such critical work yet. Then what is this all about?

  “Yeah sure, say whatever you want to.”

  He lets out that chuckle again and my cheeks warm at that sound. “You make it sound like you’re doing me a favor by letting me speak.”

  Where is this coming from? He has always been so strict and professional and today he is actually bantering? This is new.

  “Well, how I sound is totally up to your interpretation. But I can assure you that I wasn’t going for that.”

  “I’ll buy your words on that,” he tells softly and pauses. I can sense the excitement in his silence. I have no idea where this conversation is headed but it’s giving me jittery feelings.

  “So, what is this about?” I ask, trying to sound casual, but I think my shaky voice gave me away.

  “That’s a very good question. It’s about your book that I have started to read and I must add that I’m enjoying it. A lot actually.”

  No, way. He can’t possibly be serious. I had never even mentioned a word about my book to him. How could he have gotten his hands on it?