Faking It With a Billionaire || MaAn

Chapter 7 | Anuj

Two days have passed since my encounter with Anupama, and for two excruciating days, I've been glued to my phone like a pathetic loser, expecting her call. 

She's supposed to commence this shit on Monday, and here we are on Friday morning, with no sign of her showing any interest in knowing what the fuck she's supposed to do in the next few days.

It's crystal clear to me that Anupama is too damn incompetent to keep track of a simple business card. I go out of my way to ensure that contacting me is a goddamn challenge, so my phone doesn't get bombarded with annoying calls and messages. This pathetic girl is probably tearing her hair out, desperately trying to reach me and failing miserably.

I let out an exasperated groan as yet another virtual meeting comes to an end. These past few days have been an endless parade of mind-numbing calls as I try to merge Anupama's pathetic little company into my own empire. I didn't anticipate this much extra bullshit when I acquired it, but hey, at least we've managed to find some minuscule scraps of usefulness in the pile of garbage. 

Lounging arrogantly in my comfortable chair, I soak up the view from this fancy-ass penthouse suite where I'm stuck until Sunday morning. Just as I start to enjoy a moment of tranquility, that irritating buzz of my phone ruins it all, mocking me as it rattles against the desk. Annoyed yet slightly hopeful, I snatch it up, anticipating an unfamiliar number—maybe Anupama finally reaching out. But, oh no, it's my assistant's name glaring at me like a damn nuisance. With a scowl etched on my face, I grudgingly answer the call. "yes?" I snap, couldn't care less about pleasantries.

"Good morning," Grace chirps, her voice dripping with that cheerfulness she always puts on. The woman is ancient, probably older than my mother, yet she manages to maintain an unrealistically optimistic demeanor. Meanwhile, I can practically feel my sanity crumbling away with every pointless meeting I have to endure.

I have no clue how the hell Grace has managed to tolerate me for all these years, but I guess I should be grateful for her unwavering dedication. She's a efficient assistant, always fulfilling her duties no matter how ridiculous my requests may be. I'm just in a foul mood this morning because Anupama still hasn't bothered to reach out to me.

"Hi," I reply curtly, attempting to slightly mask the roughness in my voice.

For the next fifteen agonizing minutes, Grace and I painstakingly tackle the details that have been hanging over our heads. Despite the important matters at hand, my mind remains fixated on Anupama, unable to shake off the thoughts that consume me. Eventually, we reach a satisfactory stopping point. I acknowledge Grace's efficiency, begrudgingly giving her credit for her ability to maintain control even from a distance.

Before she abruptly ends the call, a devious idea strikes me. Springing to my feet, I snatch the phone off the desk and press it against my ear. The resounding echo of my shoes reverberates through the opulent penthouse suite as I hasten towards my room. "Grace," I bark, my voice laced with urgency.

"Yes, Mr. Kapadiia?" 

Grace's voice trembles with anticipation on the other end of the line. Hastily, I snatch the impeccably pressed jacket from the hanger, courtesy of the hotel staff. Balancing the phone precariously between my cheek and shoulder, I slide my arms into the sleeves. "Cancel all my appointments for the rest of the day. An unforeseen matter demands my immediate attention."

"What?" Grace's voice betrays her astonishment, unable to conceal her shock. 

Striding towards the nightstand, I casually place the phone on its surface, opting to activate the speaker once more. "Today, Grace, unforeseen circumstances have arisen," I state, deftly fastening my silver cufflinks. "I trust you to reschedule all my calls accordingly. Assign any urgent matters to Rhys, and convert any feasible meetings into emails. Contacting me may prove challenging for the majority of the day."