ch 18. Cookies, Chaos, and a CEO's Chair

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An jolt of surprise jolted Annika awake. Disoriented, she found herself nestled in bed, still clad in her work clothes. A vague recollection of exhaustion clouded her memory, explaining the puzzling scene. Hurriedly, she freshened up, replacing her work attire with comfy home clothes.

The kitchen greeted her with a surprising transformation. The flour-dusted chaos of last night was replaced with sparkling clean surfaces. Her baking equipment was neatly arranged, and her creations from the previous night were displayed on a plate. Shivay, however, was nowhere to be found.

Just then, Mrs. Ahuja entered with a bright smile. "Good morning, Mrs. Oberoi," she chirped.

Confused, Annika stammered, "Good morning, Aunty. But why are you early today? And where's Shivay?"

Mrs. Ahuja chuckled. "Beta, look at the time! It's almost 9:30! I come in at my usual time, but you were fast asleep.  Shivay had to leave early for work, and he called me to let you know.  He told me to let you sleep in and make breakfast for you."

The pieces clicked into place. Exhaustion from her baking adventure had taken its toll.  Annika nodded, a tinge of disappointment settling in her gut.  She'd been so excited to share the news about the competition with Shivay.

Sensing Annika's dejection, Mrs. Ahuja offered a solution. "Beta, if you wouldn't mind, you could go to his office and take breakfast with him."

Annika's eyes widened.  "The office?"

Mrs. Ahuja laughed. "The Oberoi Industries head office, of course! You'd be surprised how much a homemade meal can brighten someone's day, especially during a busy one."

Annika's heart skipped a beat.  Visiting him at work? The thought was both thrilling and nerve-wracking.  With a grateful kiss on Mrs. Ahuja's cheek, she exclaimed "Aunty, you're a genius! But let's make it even better. Let's cook breakfast together, and I'll also bake some cookies for his staff. I'd love to hear what colleagues at a big company think of my baking."

The kitchen buzzed with activity as Annika and Mrs. Ahuja bustled around, preparing breakfast and a surprise batch of cookies for Shivay's colleagues.  Annika couldn't help but confide in her confidante about the baking competition.  Mrs. Ahuja, unsurprisingly, was Annika's biggest cheerleader, offering not only encouragement but also the promise of her own baking expertise gleaned from years working in a renowned Dehradun bakery before moving to Mumbai.

Two hours later, after cooking, baking, and getting herself ready, Annika stood outside the imposing Oberoi Industries building. Its grandeur dwarfed Shivay's previous office. With a determined breath, she approached the receptionist, requesting to see Shivay Singh Oberoi.

The receptionist politely inquired about an appointment, a detail Annika had completely overlooked. Marriage or not, she couldn't very well announce herself as Shivay's wife.

Annika cursed her forgetfulness. She hadn't even considered needing an appointment to see him! Just as she was about to propose calling Shivay directly, a familiar voice rang out.

"Annika beta! You here?"

It was Tej Oberoi, Shivay's uncle.  A wave of relief washed over her as she greeted him and explained her desire to see Shivay.  Tej's eyes twinkled with amusement.

"Reminds me of my wife in our early days," he chuckled, leaning in with a conspiratorial whisper.  "She used to come to the office with lunch, wanting to share a meal together.  Such beautiful memories."

Turning to the receptionist, Tej's tone was firm.  "She's VIP.  No appointment needed.  Let her go straight to Shivay's office whenever she visits."

The receptionist, speechless at the unexpected turn of events, could only nod.  With a smile, Tej escorted Annika to the floor where Shivay's office resided, offering directions before taking his leave.

Annika inhaled deeply, steeling her nerves. Reaching Shivay's door, she knocked softly. Receiving no answer, she hesitated. Just then, an employee emerged, informed her that Shivay was in a meeting, and ushered her inside. Having witnessed her arrival with Tej, he assumed she was a person of importance and led her directly to Shivay's cabin.

Inside, Annika settled onto the plush couch, placing the lunch bag and purse on the table beside her. Glancing around, she couldn't help but be impressed. This office was far grander than Shivay's previous setup. Would he be surprised to see her? Would he welcome the unexpected breakfast invasion? A flutter of nerves danced in her stomach as she waited for Shivay to return.

An impatient energy crackled around Annika. To fill the waiting time, she decided to explore Shivay's office. The vast space unfolded before her, a stark contrast to the cozy familiarity of his previous work environment. Curiosity tugged at her as she found herself standing in front of his impressive desk. A mischievous glint sparked in her eyes, and with a playful grin, she settled into Shivay's chair.

Unaware of her takeover, Shivay stepped out of the private elevator that led directly to his office.  He entered the room to find Annika perched in his chair, a picture of playful defiance. Surprise flickered across his face, quickly morphing into amusement. This unexpected sight piqued his curiosity.

Instead of announcing his arrival, he decided to observe her in silent amusement.  He subtly signaled Mishra, his ever-present assistant, to stay quiet and watch the scene unfold. Mishra, equally surprised to find a stranger occupying his boss's chair, couldn't help but gape.  But what truly bewildered him was Shivay's calm demeanor.  There was no usual outburst of anger, just a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

Oblivious to the audience she had unknowingly gathered, Annika launched into a playful impersonation. In a booming voice that mimicked Shivay's theatrical pronouncements, Annika declared, "Mishra! Get me a report on the Khanna Industries merger, pronto!"  Pleased with her impression, she continued, "And while you're at it, a double espresso, strong enough to fuel corporate takeovers." She leaned back in the spacious chair, attempting to mirror Shivay's confident posture, though the vastness of the seat compared to her frame made it slightly comical.

A stifled snicker erupted from Mishra, quickly muffled by a hand clamped over his mouth. Shivay, now sporting a full-blown grin, leaned against the doorway, thoroughly entertained by the performance.

Unfazed, Annika continued her act. Picking up a random file, she furrowed her brow and flipped through the pages. "Hmm, these Oberoi quarterly numbers are worrisome.  We need to strategize a plan to boost sales in Mumbai."  Tapping the file thoughtfully with a pen, she channeled Shivay's seriousness about the company's performance.

Inspiration struck her. Grabbing a notepad, she scribbled furiously, mimicking Shivay's habit of jotting down ideas during meetings. "Marketing campaign focused on local tastes and traditions... targeted social media blitz... limited-edition product line..." she muttered, her brow furrowed in concentration.

Just then, a soft chuckle escaped Shivay's lips. Annika, startled, whirled around, the notepad flying from her grasp.  Her cheeks flushed crimson as she met the amusement dancing in Shivay's eyes and the surprised gaze of the man beside him.

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Thank you for reading.

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