Fated Colleagues [FATED SERIES BOOK #1]

Kareena(1)

"So, Reeva, you're telling me, you've had a one night stand with that man?" Shaika shrieked, gaining everyone's attention.

"Slow down Shaika. It's confidential." Reeva said, motioning her to soft down and flipped her hair, "but it might just go more than that, because he's so smitten." She said, crossing her legs and folding her arms together.

"Oh my God, that's so....well, you're gorgeous. You could make any man melt." Shaika said, freaking out.

"What's the commotion about?" A deep and dark voice resonated in the office. I knew the voice, the hairs on my neck rose with caution.

So intimidating.

Reeva quickly got back to work, followed by Shaika.

"I'd like professionalism when at work." He said and walked away, glancing at me for a split second.

I rolled my eyes and got back to work.

The day seemed long today but finally got over. I wrapped up my things and started to rush out.

"Hey, Kareena!"

I turned around to find Gaurav standing at the door frame. He walked across to me, handing me a cup of coffee.

"Thanks, I needed it." I smiled.

"Haha, let that pass. So, what are your plans this weekend?" Gaurav asked.

I can't actually let him know that I'd be out with Rishav, it would just act as a hot rumor, if gone out, and I would do anything to brush off being associated with that man again.

"I'll be a bit busy. Do you need me anyhow?" I asked.

"Oh-t-that's sad. I was hoping to-you know....d-discuss work." He said avoiding eye contact. I could see his white cheeks turning red.

Gaurav Gupta, aka, GG, is the sunshine of our team. We work together under Mr. Sinha and believe me when I say, he's the worst!

But, somehow GG makes it feasible for us, survival is made easy by him.

Though he looks nothing like the sunshine he is, tall, built, professional, with slicked back brown hair, and ivory eyes, he's made life at this cage, called office, easy. We all are grateful to him.

I frowned. "GG, avoid discussing work over the weekends, believe me, you'll feel good." I said, patting his shoulder.

"Uh-sure!! Also, Kareena..." He paused.
I looked at him, waiting for him to say what he wanted to say.

"C-call me Gaurav, please?" He said, his cheeks a crimson red under the orange hue of the sun rays hitting from the window.

My eyes widened. "Sure, G-Gaurav." I said.

He laughed, looking down at his shoes and scratching his head.

"Don't tell anyone I said that, yet. They'll assume things." He said.

"Let them assume, who cares?" I said, jokingly.

He looked at me, his laughter had faded.

"Would you really be okay if people say things about you and I, about.....us?" He said, his eyes searching for seriousness.

What does Gaurav mean by it? Why is he so serious about this trivial thing?

"Y-yeah." I said, gulping down the clotted saliva.

The serious look faded. He started laughing again. I sighed.

What's happening here?

"What's happening here?" as if peeking into my thoughts, the voice echoed through the empty office, the voice was recognisable. It was evidently his.

Both of us looked at him together.

"Uh-Mr. Sinha. We were just-" Gaurav tried to say something.

"Leave-" Gaurav looked at me and I looked at him, while I tried to say anything that came to my mind. "G-Gaurav and I were about to leave." I said and grabbed Gaurav's forearms trying to pull him out of the office.

Gaurav got into the shoes and followed me out of the room.

Both of us did not dare look back, we kept walking until we reached the lift and I sighed once we stopped walking.

I snapped my hand away from his forearms which I could hardly hold with my tiny ones.

A blush crept up my neck and I looked away.

"Woah, that was an intense move, Kareena."

Gaurav said, he looked even more flustered than I was.

"I-I know right?" I said. The running had made me go out of breath.

The lift was just in time to save me from speaking any more. He motioned me towards it, stopping the door and waiting for me.

I got into the lift, looking down at my feet.
The situation somehow felt intense.

"Kareena." Gaurav said, his voice a hushed whisper.

I looked up. "Y-yes?" My voice couldn't be any softer.

"Let me know if you're free for the weekend..ever." he said, avoiding looking at me.

What exactly happened to make the moment so intense, I didn't know, but his words did hint that he'd like to take me out. I flustered even hard, this was unexpected.

"Yeah. I would." I said, my voice, almost inaudible.

He smiled.

"Do you need a ride?" He said, back to the easy composure.

Is asking me out, that tough? And why am I so flustered by it? And following a ride with Gaurav would bring in more intense moments like this. I've had enough of those moments already and It'd suffice for now.

"I'd be fine, GG-Gaurav." I smiled.

"Let me get you a cab then, at least."
I nodded.

Gaurav got me a cab and asked me to ping him up once I'm back home. I smiled.

"See you on Monday, Kareena." He said and shut the door.

I sighed a long sigh as I felt the tension leave my body once the cab was a little ahead.

Was it Gaurav making it that intense, or was it my mind? Who knows?

I'd like some coffee, I had left the one Gaurav had offered, back at the office room.

Poor coffee.

Author's note: How do y'all like the opening chapters? Do let me know if you spot loopholes, every criticism is worth a lot of development ♥️.