Chapter 4 - THE STRANGER WHO ASKED PERMISSION
Akira Gordon called Kalantha three days after the gala.
She was surprised.
He sounded nervous.
“Hello.”
She smiled.
“Hello.”
He hesitated.
“I hope this isn't inappropriate.”
She laughed softly.
“That's a promising beginning.”
Akira chuckled.
“I wanted to ask whether you'd like to have coffee.”
Kalantha looked toward her apartment window.
For two years, she'd rarely been allowed to go anywhere without security.
Now someone was asking her out.
Simply.
Politely.
Without a complicated explanation.
She smiled.
“Yes.”
They met at a small café in Manhattan.
Akira was charming.
Intelligent.
Funny.
He worked with a nonprofit hospital foundation and had recently returned from a medical outreach project.
They talked for an hour.
Then two.
Kalantha found herself laughing.
Really laughing.
At the end, Akira walked her to the sidewalk.
“Would you like to do this again?”
She smiled.
“Maybe.”
He nodded.
“No pressure.”
That evening, Declan called.
Kalantha answered.
“Hello.”
“Hi.”
She smiled faintly.
“You sound tired.”
He laughed softly.
“Long day.”
A pause.
Then Declan asked:
“How was your afternoon?”
Kalantha froze.
“Did you have someone watching me?”
Silence.
Then Declan said:
“No.”
She exhaled.
“I had coffee with Akira.”
A pause.
Then:
“Did you enjoy it?”
“Yes.”
Declan swallowed.
“Good.”
Kalantha looked toward the window.
“Declan?”
“Yes?”
“Are you jealous?”
He laughed without humor.
“Very.”
She smiled despite herself.
“And?”
“And that's mine to manage.”
For the first time, Kalantha felt something unexpected.
Respect.
Because Declan wasn't pretending he didn't care.
May you like
But he also wasn't trying to control her.
And somehow, that made him more dangerous to her heart than he'd ever been before.
