ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ [ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇᴅ]

Working with him

Nikita POV:

The encounter with him had been scary enough but I didn't understand what he meant by a rich spoilt brat. Why is he calling himself that? I couldn't reply so I just left and ran away. How am I supposed to work with him?

The next day, I showered got dressed in a pencil skirt and a tucked-in strapped sleeves shirt, with a formal blazer on top. I tied my hair to in my clip as always and made my way to the office.

"Good morning Sophia!" I said, smiling.
"Good morning Nikita. How's everything?"
"All's well, thank you. What's my work today?"
"Okay so you have until an hour till the Chaudary's arrive for the work so you can use that to complete your final thesis work for the internship. I assume you're almost done..."
I nodded.
"Excellent, so you get that worked on, once they arrive, sit with us in the room and we'll brief you like we did on the call yesterday and just observe, you don't need to make as many inputs as possible, we know this is a much advanced level to you, but wherever you feel like saying something, just let me know!"
"Okay. I'll go to my office now."

I made my way to my cabin. It was a small cabin compared to the cabins others had, of course, but it was worth it. It was very beautiful and showed the London skyline. I've worked here for late nights and sunsets just to get the good views.

An hour later, I got a message on my phone from Sophia saying that they've arrived. I made my way downstairs and entered the cabin. Before entering, I took a deep breath and prayed for everything to be fine. When I entered, I felt everyone's eyes on me, especially his. I quickly settled myself down next to Sophia and observed the meeting. It was genuinely informative. It felt good to be a part of it but I was very nervous. After a while, a bunch of discussions were going on how to best create engagement to draw in audience.

"What do you think Nikita?" Mr Gerard suddenly asked.
I felt everyone's eyes shift on me and I felt panic rushing down my body, "S...sorry?"
"What do you think we can increase engagement?"
"Oh... I..." I saw him staring right at me, "I think we can build a more interactive and powerful social media presence. Maybe write more on current issues without taking evident sides, get involved in more donations and sporting events by simply advertising. We should work on our social media for the product and use it to create interactive reels, hashtags and challenges where people can participate and get drawn into. It'll be a much cheaper method as we can manage a social media team, I'd be happy to do it, and we just need to invest a little into donations and more worldly content."

A deep silence filled the air for a second. Did I say something wrong?! Shit.
"I... I just thought of it... I don't..." I tried to cover up my tracks, "I am probably entirely wrong, I don't know what I was—"
"Excellent idea." I heard Ruyash Bhai say, "I want to go with this idea. It's excellent!"

I looked at him and saw him smiling. Mr Gerard smiled and acknowledged it as well. I felt a huge burden leave my chest with that answer. I quietly settled down while the team discussed how to take my idea into action.

After 3 hours of meetings and work, I finally headed to my cabin.
"Great job today Nikita." Sophia came and hugged me, "You've made quite an impression here."
"Thank you."
"I'm assuming you're going to work on your thesis."
I nodded.
"Okay but I don't want you in the office after 4."
"Why? Did anything happen? Did I do anything wrong?"
"Yes you did. You refuse to take care of yourself. I've been watching you for the last 10 months since you joined, it's been all work work work with no time to rest and socialize."
"Ma'am I'm fine."
"No you're not. You have an hour. Then you're going home. I'll be working with the Chaudarys in my cabin so just inform me when you leave, okay?" She said caressing my head.
I nodded.

After an hour of work, I wrapped my stuff and got to her cabin. I entered and saw them wrapping up their work and heading towards the door.
"Oh Nikita?" Sophia asked.
"It's... it's an hour, I'm leaving."
"Wow she really has her time sorted to leave." Mayukh scoffed.

Ouch. That hurt me. I wasn't like that. I didn't have any problem staying more.

"No Sir. She stays in the office for probably more than the security guard. She's here first thing in the morning and leaves really late. Recently I told her to go control her work timings and focus on her thesis, because she has no concern for her health."
"I see." Mayukh said, silently.
"I'll leave now Ma'am."
"Okay dear. See you tommorow."
"Oh."
"What happened?" I was about to reply when she continued, "oh right, tomorrow is Tuesday. Very well, I'll see you on Wednesday!"
"No I'd be happy to come tommorow if you need me."
"No dear. Don't worry. We'll be fine. See you Wednesday!"

I smiled and nodded and walked out. Behind me I could hear Mr Gerard asking Sophia about my absence on Tuesday.
"— she works from home on Tuesdays. We mentioned her benefits due to her scores."

I reached downstairs and soon enough, I saw them all come downstairs. I tried to hide myself and go in another corner but I was caught by Mr Ruyash's voice as he approached me with Mr Gerard, Mayukh and Sophia.
"You haven't left yet Nikita?" He asked. I could see the brotherly concern in his eyes. A part of me wanted to hug him, but I knew that this part had to die with me.
"No.. No sir." I felt his face get filled with disappointment, "I'm waiting for my Uber."
"Come with us, we'll drop you."

What the heck?! I can't sit in a car with them. Not after everything!
"N... No sir. Please. I'll manage."
"Come and sit. There's two cars. I'll be going with Mr Gerard and Sophia, you can come with Mayukh."
My eyes widened and I looked at him, who was casually looking down. Ugh Ruyash Bhai doesn't know our past either.
"Sir it's... it's fine."
"Think of it as a brother asking his sister as a favour." Bhai said and I looked at him. I could feel his brotherly eyes on me and at that moment I couldn't help but say yes.
Ruyash Bhai, Mr Gerard and Sophia headed into one car, leaving just me and Mayukh while we waited for his car to arrive.

I shifted a little away from him so keep my space as I stared out into the open, to avoid any contact or communication.
"You've always been smart." I suddenly hear him say. I turned to him but kept my eyes down, "since school."
I didn't reply.
"Your idea was great. Too bad you couldn't implement any engagement in your life." Why did his tone feel so bitter? I felt my eyes tearing up.
"I.. I'm sorry Sir."
He came closer and grabbed my waist, "you're not supposed to call your husband Sir."
My husband.... I hadn't referred to that in months. My eyes widened and my body stiffened.
"Sir... I... I need to go." I left his grasp.
"The car isn't here yet Nikita."
"I'll.. I'll go on my own. Thank you."

I was leaving when he grabbed my hand and made my stand. "You're going to come with me. I'm dropping you home. End of discussion."

We got into the car and he sat on the driving seat while I sat near him as he drove. I put the GPS on and I stared out the window. My hands were shaking.
When I see him, my feelings come back, the same feelings I'm trying to bury. He hates me. He doesn't want me around. I don't care if I'm rude but I won't let him get to me, not again. I can't fall again.

Mayukh POV:

I saw her sitting next to me and suddenly all my anger died. I felt so peaceful seeing her sitting with me. Knowing her, she'd be asleep very soon. It's her habit to sleep in a moving car. I know she was fighting her life not to sleep. Today when she gave that idea, my mind was blown. She really was beauty with brains. I knew she was nervous but she looked and sounded so confident.
I knew what was going on in Bhai's head when he told me to drop her. He knew about our past and Nikita doesn't know that. I could see it on her face that doesn't know that. I know Bhai wants us to reconcile. He wants us to be together. A part of me sometimes wishes that but.... Her letter throws me off.

Once I dropped her, I made a mental note of where she lives and then made my way back to the hotel.

"Bro! Thank God you're here. I have a surprise for you." Armaan screamed through the call, "come to my room instantly!"
"Coming."

I entered his room and closed the door, only to see Riya... sitting on the couch, with tears in her eyes and Armaan, sitting with a gun on her head.