If You Could Stay

1. Kartik

"Mr. Goenka, please. You can't do this."

I lean back against my leather chair, like a king on his throne, and gaze coldly at the crying woman in front of me.

"I can and I will. You have 15 minutes to pack your belongings and get the hell out of my building."

I lean forward, resting my folded hands on top of my massive mahogany wood desk, and drop my voice dangerously low. "And then maybe you'll think twice before you embezzle funds from this company again."

Monica, Malika, or whatever her name is cowers in fear as I rise from my chair and close the button on my suit jacket. I give one last cold glare to her as I exit my office, the sound of my footsteps echoing against the marble floor.

"Inaya, make sure she's not in my sight by the time I get back", I tell my assistant as I pass by her desk.

She nods and heads towards my office. "Yes sir."

I step out of the office building and onto the street, finally breathing in a fresh breath of air. I don't have any ounce of regret or empathy toward tears. Especially those coming out of a backstabber's eyes. But it still felt like the walls were caving in and I couldn't breathe, even though my office is the largest in the building. I reach into the pocket of my slacks and find the familiar L-shaped device that has become my unwanted companion. I take the rescue inhaler out of my pocket and take a puff. I finally feel my closed airways opening up again.

I glance at the Rolex on my wrist. It's been nine minutes. I gave her 15 minutes to vacate the building. I decide she's not getting the remaining six minutes. Time is not a luxury I have. As I turn on my heel to go back into the building lobby, my phone rings. I tense at the caller ID. It's Dadi. Looks like Malika or Maya or whatever just got rewarded a few more minutes.

"Yes, Dadi?"

"What's wrong Kittu? You sound stressed."

"Nothing Dadi. Just had a small work problem. But it's handled now."

Dadi sighs through the phone. "How much will you work beta? Come home now, please."

I pinch the bridge of my nose between my eyebrows. "I can't Dadi. You know I have an important merger coming up."

The line is quiet for a while and I wonder if Dadi hung up. But then her words come out as a whisper. "We miss you, Kittu. Come home soon."

I sigh. "I'm sorry Dadi, I have a meeting to attend. Take care." I hang up before her words break down my cold exterior.

I can't go home now. Especially now that the most important merger of my life is about to happen. While my family lives in Udaipur with my father and my brother, Shubam, running the main aspect of Goenka Jewelers, I'm alone here in Mumbai.

I've taken over as Chief Director for our company's media branch. Over the past year, I've grown our division with threefold more profit. Now, this upcoming merger with Singhania Diamonds would bring our company to new heights. Our companies have stayed in touch through our coordination managers. Just one final step remained before we signed the official contract: a final face-to-face meeting with the acting CEO, N. Singhania. I've researched their company and it seems that Naitik Singhania's son, Naksh Singhania has been working on this merger. And I'm scheduled to meet with him in three hours.

My day was going perfectly, if not for the little hiccup from the backstabber in my office. I decide to get some black tea before the meeting. I look to my left, and then to my right. My assistant usually gets me my tea. I've never actually gone myself and so, I stand there clueless in the middle of the road. After a quick deliberation, I decided to walk left until I come across some sort of tea-selling entity.

After almost ten minutes of walking, I was beginning to get frustrated. How hard is it to find a damn coffee shop in the heart of Mumbai? Finally, my eyes lock on a tiny, almost hidden cafe. I walk inside, immediately relieved by the cold AC in this scorching Mumbai heat. I make my way up to the counter where a teenager is both taking orders and making the drinks himself.

"One black tea. No sugar. Quickly please."

"Ye—yes sir. I'll be r—right with you." The employee stutters nervously and gets to work. I wait near the pick-up counter, impatiently checking my watch every few minutes. The employee finally brings out my drink and I make my way through the small crowd and receive it. I take a sip and immediately feel fury building in my chest.

"What the hell is this?"

The employee stops working and looks at me. A few of the other customers glance in my direction but I don't care.

"Anything wrong sir?"

"It's sweet. And it's coffee. I ordered a black tea. No sugar. So then, why is there a sweet coffee in my hand?"

Tiny beads of sweat form on the employee's forehead. He glances around nervously.

"I'm s—so sorry sir. It's only my second d—day working and I'm on the shift alone. I'll fix it right away for you."

I hold up my hand. "This is also the last day you'll be working. You shouldn't even be working with this level of incompetence."

The employee winces at my words.

"Oye Lucifer in a suit!"

I turn towards the voice. The small crowd of patrons parts and a woman steps out from behind them. She walks with grace and confidence toward me, her heels clicking on the floor. I want to look away, but I can't.

She stops two feet in front of me. She's almost a foot shorter than me, even in her heels, but she looks straight into my eyes.

"The boy is doing his best. It's a busy day and he's the only one working. We're all waiting patiently. Which kingdom are you the king of that you can't wait like the rest of us?"

She's beautiful in a breathtaking way. Her hazel eyes burn with rage and the confidence in her voice contradicts the sweet, soft tone of it.

"For goodness sake. It's just coffee, not poison. You'll live." She rolls her eyes as she speaks.

My hand balls into a fist at my side. If only she knew. I clench my jaw and let out an agitated breath. Before I have a chance to respond, she takes off the lid of her pink iced drink and throws it onto my chest, staining my crisp white shirt with a pink puddle.

"Now you look like the trashy human that you really are."

With one last glare at me, she turns and gives the employee a soft smile. And with that, she pivots and walks out of the cafe, leaving me staring at the way her waist-length brown hair swings back and forth as she walks.