𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓴𝓮𝓷.

Chapter - 4

Shivanya ~

I answered the call, trying to steady my voice. "Hello."

"Miss Chopra, I need you in the office right now. The hearing that was initially listed for next week has been rescheduled to tomorrow afternoon. While we may seek an adjournment on the grounds of lack of preparation time, I specifically requested you because I am aware of your commitment. Get here immediately." Of course it was my boss, Vihaan Raichand.

"Absolutely, sir. I'll be there as soon as I can," I replied, summoning all the professionalism I could muster.

"And Shivanya, make sure you answer the phone when I call." His last words before hanging up left my mouth wide open.

"The audacity of this man... first, he commands me to get to the office so late, and then he gives me attitude about it. And the worst part is, he was so calm about it!" I muttered to myself, sighing.

"Let me save his number first, or he might just end up firing me." I rolled my eyes and was just about to type his contact name when an insult popped into my head.

"Okay, Vihaan Raichand, you will now officially be Mr. Birdbrain for me." I punched in the insult as his contact name and giggled before straightening myself up and walking back inside.

"Taran, can you please drop Radhika back home? I have to get to the office right now. Something important has come up." I told him, and he immediately nodded.

"I will first drop you at your office and then take Radhika home. Once you are done with your work, call me and I will pick you up," he said as he always does, but this time, I had to draw a line. He was going to be Radhika's husband, after all, and the less time I spent with him, the better it would be for all of us.

"Not a chance. I have already booked a cab for myself, Taran, and I'll take a company car to get back home. Today has been stressful for all of us. Let's just take it easy, alright?" I told him, and he looked like he wanted to argue, but my look shut him up.

All he did was nod. Maybe he understood that I needed some space.

"Just call me if there is any problem, Shivanya. You know I'll be there," he said as I picked up my bag and then went on to say goodbye to aunty and uncle.

"I know." I gave him a small smile and then turned to Radhika.

"Text me once you are home and lock the door properly. I have the keys, and I am going to be late, alright?" I asked my sister, and she nodded obediently as I walked out.

I then booked a cab, which arrived in the next five minutes and took another half an hour to get to work. Paying the driver, I rushed inside after making an entry of my visit since I hadn't carried my ID with me. Vihaan's assistant met me by the elevator and asked me to walk straight into the conference room on the fifteenth floor.

I thanked her and made my way upstairs to where I was asked to go. There he was, Mr. Birdbrain, sitting with a few briefs placed next to him and the laptop screen in front of him. But where was the rest of the team? Or was it just me who deserved no work-life balance?

"Do you plan on standing there for the rest of the night, Miss Chopra?" Vihaan's voice grabbed all my attention as he asked without turning to look at me, his back still facing me.

"No, sir." I almost panicked and then walked to the seat opposite him, keeping my bag on the running conference table.

He extended a few files towards me before getting back to what he was doing on the laptop. I nodded before opening the case file and started to go through it. But I found myself looking towards him for some answers more often than I'd like to admit.