Tangled Beliefs

Chapter-7: The Call

Every step forward felt like walking into a storm, but storms have a way of revealing strength you didn’t know you had.

Manik's POV,

I reached the office right on time, as always, and stepped out of the elevator onto the fifteenth floor, expecting everything to be in place and everyone to be where they should be. For a brief second, I scanned the floor out of habit and immediately noticed something off—she wasn’t here. Nandini, my new secretary, was supposed to be here early, going over my schedule and prepping the files I needed for today. But there was no sign of her.

I approached the receptionist, keeping my voice calm even though irritation was building. “Has Miss Murthy come in yet?”

The receptionist hesitated, glancing down at her records. “Uh, no, Mr. Malhotra. She hasn’t arrived yet.”

I felt a spark of annoyance. It was only her second day, and she was already late? I’ve made it clear that this isn’t the kind of place where people get away with slacking. Mistakes, especially simple ones, are something I can’t stand. I don’t waste time on excuses.

I went to my cabin, already planning what I’d say to her when she finally decided to show up. I barely sat down when I noticed movement outside my cabin door. Through the one-way mirror, I could see Nandini standing outside, her eyes closed, hands pressed together in what I could only assume was a prayer. A small, involuntary chuckle escaped me as I watched her lips move, most likely whispering some frantic plea to avoid getting fired.

She looked so nervous, almost adorable in her panic, and for a moment, the irritation eased slightly. I knew exactly what was going through her mind. She was preparing herself to face me, expecting the worst. And, well, I couldn’t really blame her. I’ve built my reputation on being straightforward, efficient, and unwilling to tolerate nonsense.

After a deep breath, she finally knocked on the door. I composed myself, erasing any trace of amusement from my face, and responded, “Come in.”

She opened the door slowly, hesitating on the threshold before stepping fully into the room. I looked up, raising an eyebrow as she stood there, looking like she was ready to stammer out an apology before I even said a word.

“Miss Murthy, this is not how we work here,” I began, keeping my tone steady but firm. “This is not a park where you can come according to your own preference; this is an office. You’re already late on your second day, and if you repeat this, I will not hesitate to fire you.”

Her face went pale, and I could see her struggling to find the words. She finally managed a small, shaky, “I—I’m so sorry, Mr. Malhotra. I overslept and I—”

I held up a hand, cutting her off. “Just make sure it doesn’t happen again. Now, my schedule?”

“Yes, of course,” she said quickly, visibly relieved to move on to something she could actually control. She scanned her notes, I nodded approvingly, watching her as she went through the details.

“Good. Make sure you’re fully prepared for each of these, and don’t forget to bring the files I’ll need for each meeting,” I instructed. “And I need you to draft an update email for the board after the lunch meeting.”

She gave a small nod. “Understood, Mr. Malhotra.”

“Then that’s all for now. Make sure to be on time from now on, Miss Murthy.” I dismissed her, watching as she nodded once more, clearly eager to escape my scrutiny.

She backed out of the office, closing the door softly behind her. Through the glass, I could see her exhale a sigh of relief, her shoulders visibly relaxing. A small smirk tugged at my lips. She’d survived her first real run-in with me, but she didn’t know yet that this was only the beginning. I had high expectations, and she’d have to work hard to meet them.