C9 Chapter 8

Manju's Pov

I got up and dressed in my best dress, a pink salwar suit which had floral embroidery of red flowers in the neck and chest area complemented with a blue chudidaar and a matching dupatta. It is my first day at work and I need to impress my boss. I did my minimal make-up and started off with my journey.

Within fifteen minutes I entered the premises of the grandeur building. A young girl was seated in the corner of the opulent hall. I gave her my details and I was asked to take the lift to reach the CEO's floor directly.

The receptionist from yesterday greeted me with a warm smile which relaxed me a little of my pensive state. "Calm down, the boss is strict but holds a good heart." She tells me patting my shoulder. "He is in the conference call and I will send you inside once he finishes the meeting."

The wait was escalating my worries to face the master but unfortunately I had no choice. After one hour of biting my nails I finally got the permission to see him. "Who is Ms Manju Bhatnagar?" I jump on my feet to hear him ask the receptionist in a slightly irritable voice. Great Manju, he doesn't even know your name. "Sir she is the candidate who qualified the written test yesterday." Rita tells him in a shaking voice.

"Send her in." His voice was commanding like he is the king of this universe. Manju stay calm, he isn't going to eat you. "Good Morning Sir." I greeted the Alma mater in an almost mute voice trying my best to overcome the anxiousness. But fortunately he seems to have heard me as he tips his head up to look at me for a second and gives me a slight nod. His vision was then directed back to the laptop on his desk typing something on it. "So Ms Manju Bhatnagar, is that your name? I give him a firm reply like military personnel. "Yes sir."

He looked amused by the intonation and gives a slight smile and I look at him without a blink, my lips parting slightly in exclamation. The macho knows to smile. I come out of my trance hearing him speak. "You know you have swiped two important records of this company's history?" Now I am puzzled. What does this sexy specimen intend to say? "Pardon me sir, but I did not understand what you spoke." I speak to him in the same cadence of a chieftain.

"Well Ms Manju Bhatnagar, you are the youngest in my company's staff and the first undergraduate to be working in my enterprise." Did he insult me or praise me? If this suspense movie pulls on for long with this hunk, I will faint in no time.

Getting from his seat he brought a book from the book case and started reading its contents while he speaks to me. Can this man not do one work at a time? That is why he is one of the richest men in India you stupid. My conscience tries to knock some sense. "You will be under probation for this month because you have zero experience and if you fare well your name will be recorded in the company's payroll." Fuck that! I thought I am already the employee of this firm. My lips twist in annoyance. Thank Heaven, he hasn't seen it.

Returning back to his seat he opens the top drawer of his desk and forwards me a file. "This is the file of Messrs Shaw and Co. They are the distributors of our company's herbal products but since last six months they haven't paid us a penny for the products we delivered. Prepare a financial report of the company, assessing the total amount of debt they owe us. We are going to sue them as defaulters in the court." My jaw hangs open listening to his declaration. Is suing someone so easy for him? You may leave now." His voice holds out a command bringing me out of the stupor and I release the breath I was holding since far too long.

'Sexy brute' my inner voice shouts and I scurry out of his room - finally I am out of the lion's den.

****

Home, sweet home I sing reaching my house getting out of the clutches of the iron man from the office. I was preparing dinner for me and my brother. He is going to return home shortly. I was chopping the vegetables for Italian pasta and dancing to the stereo playing at the background when I hear the calling bell. "Hey Manju," Anshi greets me with a hug. "How was your office and the boss? She asks me casually picking an apple from the basket on the dining table. "Hot" was my simple answer.

She turns back to peeks at me in a shock. "What do you mean? Explain me young lady." I sit down beside her on the sofa getting myself another apple. "Office is good but my boss is very dominant and controlling."

"He is also handsome.” Anshi adds and I roll my eyes. “I have seen his pictures in a lot of news papers and magazines with spicy anecdotes." She tells me as a matter of fact chewing on her apple. "Give me more details, my sweetheart." I narrow my eyes gritting my teeth while she laughs having her fun time at the cost of my irritation. "The handsome is a man of few words and speaks only when necessary." I tell her dramatically fanning my face with my hand. She taps the side of her head thinking deep and adds. "Never let your feelings come out of the cranium in his presence."

I hit her with a cushion that was sitting beside me and enunciate in thoughtfulness. "Not even in my dreams am I going to let out my confessions to him." With a sigh I continue. "Any how with the course of time everything will change to a history." Bringing us a pack of chips I put on the TV to watch a movie on Netflix.

"Stumped" Anshi mutters. I look at her in irritation as she reflects the hidden truth of my heart which I didn't want to let out to anyone.