Mr. Heartless CEO

02. Spoiled Surprises

It takes me 30 minutes, including the morning traffic, to reach my office, and to look for the parking spots, it takes me another 10 minutes. This building is going to be the death of me one day. It is a big multi-storey building but there is no decent parking.  I go to the second underground parking lot and park my bike there. 

Like me, some people enter the elevator at the parking level. I wait for my turn and step in at last.  All of us get off at the ground level and move towards the security gate, where we scan our cards and proceed to the private elevators for employees for all the offices located in this glass building. My tech office is located on the 18th floor, and a few of the higher-up cabins and production information unit are located on the 19th floor. Ours is the only company which has two whole floors to themselves. 

“Hey, Tejas,”  Arushi calls out from where she is walking towards me. My mood immediately lifts and I hug her. 

“Heyyy.”  I give her a wink and pat my handbag.

“You finally are going to give it to him?”  She yells evoking a few glances her way.  I shush her and nod excitedly. 

She is the only person in our office who knows my massive crush on Raghav and how I am pining after him.  Also, she was the one who gave me this idea for a gift and I didn’t waste a minute buying it. 

We get onto the elevator and speak in muted tones about when is the right time to give the gift when there is a commotion in front of us, and a few people backtrack and exit the elevator as a haphazard man thrusts his hand out to keep the elevator from closing. I hear his fancy shoes on the marble floor first before he enters the elevator. 

None other than, Mr. Siddharth Chakrabarti himself.  I shrink back against the elevator wall and Arushi stands in front of me protectively. There are only two other people who were brave enough to stay inside or were not fast enough to get off.  

His secretary steps in and clicks on the 19th floor while releasing all the other buttons so that the first stop would be his Boss’s.  I pity the guy, looks like he already had a long day this early in the morning. 

“Privileged A-Hole,”  I mutter against Arushi’s back and she turns her head and glares at me. 

I smirk a little, disregarding my preservation, I stand on my toes and look at the Monster CEO.  His hair is perfectly gelled, not one hair out of place.  To be honest, I do envy his physic.  His back looks amazing, moulded to his blazer to the point, not a free space to be seen. His toned arms look like a sculptor's dream as he types something fast on his phone. He heaves a sigh and pockets his phone with practised ease. 

“Show off,”  I mutter, incapable of stopping myself from indulging in little quips. 
     
Arushi pushes me back with her elbow, but before I fall back against the wall, I see the monster’s ear twitch.  The elevator dings at the right time, and both he and his secretary get off, the latter running to catch up.

I huff out a grumble and push Arushi aside to go to the front and press the 18th-floor button. 

I look back to the guys and ask.  “Your floor?”  

“Fifteenth.”  One of them mutters; I glance at Arushi, and her eyes widen. I frown at her but turn back and press the 15th-floor button.  But then I failed to notice the veiny hands blocking the elevator from closing.  I look up and see the Devil himself, his eyes focused on me.  

He opens his mouth and snaps it shut. “Come to my office.”  He finally says and walks back towards where he came from.  “Now.”  He calls out. 

I look back at Arushi and she gives an expression as to say, ‘You deserve it today’.  I grumble and get off while watching the elevator door close longingly.  

I can count on my fingers as to how many times I have come to this floor and for the same reason.  To meet the Monster.  He takes a sick pleasure in seeing me twist and turn under his gaze. 

I went under the radar for two whole years before I met this guy, and I didn’t know that he was the CEO when I first met him or, more correctly, when I bad-mouthed him. Because he would rather be inside his gilded cage rather than give his presence to the mere mortals.  So, it was not my fault when I did something bad when I didn't even know who he was. 

And he still holds it against me.  Such a petty monster. 

I stall near the water dispenser and look around the lavish area, it is so different from the floor down below.  But I like mine better.   This looks like a mansion rather than a workplace. 

I hear hurried footsteps before the Monster’s Secretary comes running; when he sees me, he stops.  “Sir is calling for you immediately, Mam.  Please come with me.”

I had half a mind to just abandon his command and go back but seeing his secretary nearly to his wits ends, I didn’t want to make his life a further living hell.  So, I follow him. 

He timidly knocks on the large wooden door enclosed within glass walls. 

“Send her.”  The monster calls out from inside. 

The secretary steps aside while opening the door.  I thank him and step inside the lion’s den. 

I step inside and wait for him to look at me.  It usually takes around 5 to 10 minutes.  The first time he called on me, I was impatient and asked him why I was here a couple of times before he snapped and asked me to shut up not so nicely.  So lesson learned.  I stay silent and look around his spacious room, which is double the size of my bedroom, and my bedroom isn't small at all. 

He keeps looking down at the stack of papers, completely ignoring my existence, and rightly so; he has every authority to do so.  But today, I couldn't wait.  I have to go to Raghav.  It’s his birthday for God’s sake.  I may not be the first one to wish, but I want him to receive my gift right after he steps into the office. 

I clear my throat as softly as I can and tap my shoe against the clear floor.  It makes a tup-tup sound.  It is no surprise that I am standing and not sitting without His Lordship’s permission.  I sigh through my mouth.  He finally looks up, narrowing his eyes at me. 

“If you permit me, sir, can I start my work?  I am already late as it is, sir.”  I placed two sirs in the conversation just to appease him so that he would let me leave. 

“Sit.”  He commands.

I don’t let my displeasure show as I walk the few steps to the chair and push it back, with a slight huff, I sit down.  He is grating on my nerves a little extra today. 

A few minutes go by, and he keeps looking/glaring at me while I completely ignore his gaze and look around.  I look at his tall lamp and his gorgeous view outside of his room, I look at the clean polished floor, I look at his table which is meticulously arranged and not even a paper is out of place, I look at his navy blue coat which hangs in his chair’s back rest, I look at his blue and white striped necktie, his crisp white collar, his navy blue vest which hugs his muscles, his cufflinks which rest perfectly at his wrist, he reeks of meticulous and carefulnesss, but his opening and closing of his fingers and the vein popping in them indicates that he is agitated. 

I bite my lip and look down at my lap.  

The longer it takes for him to speak, the harder my heart beats, I could feel my pulse spiking. 

“Tejaswini Ahuja.”  He says my name in a luxurious tone, stopping to emphasise on ‘jas’.  My entire body seizes up a,nd I look him in the eye, finally.  

“Mr. Siddharth Chakrabarti.”  I pause.  “I’d like to leave now, please.” I pause again add after a beat. "Sir."