The intense morning meeting with the South Korean client had paid off completely. Expanding our business footprint globally was a relentless pursuit, and dealing with Asian conglomerates always brought a unique set of challenges. 

But today was a massive breakthrough. The client, a prominent hotel magnate based in Seoul, had officially agreed to promote our product line across his network, with all production being handled entirely by his Korean company.

He had extended an invitation to a high-profile business party for tonight. Immediately, my mind had turned to Inayat. I knew South Korea was at the absolute top of her travel bucket list, and she would be ecstatic to meet someone from there. I had resolved to ask her the moment I returned to the mansion.

By the time I stepped out into the evening, the mansion's garden was buzzing with life. Inayat was sitting on the lawn, flanked by her two best friends, Neha and Aisha. 

She was wearing a baby pink outfit that made her look exactly like a delicate rose in full bloom. Adorable didn't even begin to describe how she looked.

I walked up behind her and leaned in, brushing my lips gently against the side of her head in a soft greeting.

"How are you, cupcake?" I asked, casually tucking my hands into my trouser pockets.

Neha, being the perpetual joker she is, didn't miss a single beat. "Oh, c'mon, Jiju," she teased loudly, rolling her eyes. "We're sitting right here too. At least you could have said 'hello, Saali Sahiba'."

I fixed her with a flat, steady stare. She let out a dramatic sigh, turning back to my wife. "Leave it, Inayat. I don't know what it is with him. He's only ever soft with you."

Inayat looked up at me, feigning an angry expression. "It's not like that, Veer. At least you can say hello to them."

I let out a brief sigh, completely surrendering to their playful banter. "Hello, Neha and Aisha," I finally conceded.

Neha flashed a triumphant grin, thoroughly satisfied with herself.

"We should leave, it's getting late," Aisha suggested, always the more sensible and grounded one of the pair.

Neha, ever the opportunist, couldn't resist throwing in one last jab. "Yeah, yeah, let's go and give these lovebirds some privacy," she laughed, earning a slight smirk from me.

Inayat, however, was not amused at all. She grabbed her wooden cane from the side of her chair and lifted it slightly. "Neha, you better get your ass out of here before I beat you with this cane," she threatened. Neha just laughed it off, waving her hand as she claimed she was merely pulling our leg, before the two of them finally headed toward the gates.

With Neha and Aisha gone, the lingering tension from my chaotic workday completely melted away, replaced by a comfortable, easy silence. I sat down in the chair across from Inayat. The quiet garden seemed to hold its breath around us, as if waiting for our next move.

"So, what's that thing you wanted to ask?" I inquired, curious about the cryptic parting words Aisha had dropped on her way out.

Inayat looked back at me, her dark eyes searching my face. Whatever it was she wanted to ask, I was entirely ready to listen.

But before she could even open her mouth to respond, the sharp ring of my phone cut through the quiet, interrupting our conversation. 

I offered a quick apology, stepping a few yards away to take the urgent call. By the time I hung up and walked back over, the chair was empty. Inayat had disappeared.

Walking back inside the mansion, I caught sight of Niya just coming down the grand staircase. "Niya, have you seen Inayat?" I asked.

"Yeah, I just helped her up to your room, Bhai," she told me.

I thanked her and headed straight upstairs, my heart racing slightly with a sudden burst of anticipation.

"Angel," I said, pushing the heavy bedroom door open.

Inayat was sitting up, completely engrossed in writing something down in her personal journal. The moment she saw me enter, she slammed the notebook shut with a sharp snap, hiding it away.

"What were you writing?" I asked, a small smile playing on my lips as I made my way toward her.

She countered my question instantly with one of her own, her eyes locking onto the large bag I was holding in my left hand. "Well, I'll tell you what I was writing when you tell me what's in that bag."

Her curiosity always got the absolute best of her, and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Oh, this is for you," I said, sitting down on the stool right in front of her.

I opened the bag and pulled out a highly specialized, structured leg support that I had personally purchased through a prominent client working in the advanced medical field. "Give me your leg," I instructed smoothly.

She complied without a word, watching me intently. I carefully aligned the brace, securing the heavy straps firmly but gently around her unhealed leg to give her maximum stability.

"Now stand up and walk," I said, looking up into her face.

She slowly pushed herself up from the seat. Taking a few tentative steps across the carpet, her face lit up with absolute shock. "Oh my god, Veer, thank you so much!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around my neck and hugging me tightly.

"Now you can finally walk without relying on that cane," I murmured, leaning down to press a soft kiss against her forehead.

"Do you have any plans for tonight?" I asked, stepping back to watch her.

She was already trying out a few tentative, graceful dance moves across the bedroom floor, being incredibly careful not to put too much uneven pressure on her leg. Her natural grace was completely captivating, even in these simple, restricted movements. 

I had deeply missed seeing this—her pure, unadulterated passion for dance, and the vibrant way it instantly lit up her entire face.

"Nah," she replied softly, her eyes still completely focused on tracking her footsteps.

"Would you like to accompany me to a business party tonight?" I asked, finally testing the waters. I explained that the elite client from South Korea had invited us, thinking it would be the perfect opportunity for her.

Her head snapped up instantly, her eyes widening to the size of saucers. "A business party?" she echoed, giving me her absolute, undivided attention.

"Yeah," I confirmed, a smug smirk spreading across my face at her predictable reaction.

"Yes! I'm absolutely going with you! When are we leaving?" she asked, practically vibrating with excitement.

"We'll leave at 9:00 PM sharp," I told her.

She practically bounced on her toes, the new medical support holding her frame perfectly steady. "Okay, let me find a suitable dress right now," she said, turning on her heel and heading straight toward the walk-in closet. 

I couldn't help but shake my head, chuckling at her sheer enthusiasm. She was acting exactly like a kid on Christmas morning.

After about forty-five minutes of waiting, the heavy closet door finally swung open.

Inayat stepped out into the bedroom light, and the breath was instantly knocked clean out of my lungs. She was wearing a stunning, wine-colored dress that draped beautifully against her figure. She looked absolutely gorgeous.

She did a slow, playful twirl on the carpet, looking at me expectantly. "How is this?" she asked.

I completely shut my thoughts down, setting my laptop aside on the bed without looking, and stood up. My eyes didn't leave her for a fraction of a second as I walked slowly towards her.