Just My P.A.

6~ Acquaintance

9:10 am
Symphony Office Building
Verosova

"Now listen.....just stand there and do nothing.....absolutely NOTHING! ..is that crystal clear! !" I heard Manik sir speak as soon we got down the car. I nodded avoiding anymore aruguments and held the basket firmly in my grip. I saw him eye it with a disgusted look and he rolled his eyes the next second before he finally tunred towards the main entrance.

The meeting was to be conducted in the cabin of the CEO that was on the fifth floor like informed and so we quickly slipped inside the lift for our destination.

Nearly another seven minutes before we reached. I saw Manik sir run his fingers through his hairs and then turn his face in my direction.

"Just stick around!" he said scratching his cheeks.

"And be silent inside..not a word....I deal things my way okay !" he continued.

"Yes sir..." I said rolling my eyes. This human was impossible. It was not as if I was continuously blabbering in the car or something; he just seemed to have a (I don't know what) problem with me!! So, anyways.

We opened the door and were greeted by the CEO's P.A. I introduced Manik sir and she led us the way to the appointed room.

"Sir is inside" she said opening the door for us and let us in.

"Thank you " I finally said, looking at her expectant face as Manik sir didn't bother to open his mouth and she left with a faint nod.

"There you are!!" we heard a voice from inside. The voice was familiar to me. Way too familiar. I was just hoping this was just another nightmare but was pulled back to the bitter reality when we stepped inside the room.

It was him.

He turned at me first like I expected, a crooked smile growing on his face. I found Manik sir's face turn in my direction and I could see he was trying to interpret my expressions. I looked away immediately and decided keeping this extremely professional.

"Manik Malhotra.. " he still facing me and his tone suggested as if he was just mocking his name.

"Harshad!!" came the reply and I noticed Manik sir place his hands around his waist and look down as he nodded in negative, letting out a faint chuckle.

" And this might be your new P.A. right?!..waise sunna hai you have started to forget things!! Humara meeting hi bhool gaya tu toh!!" he said next, his eyes not leaving me for one second. I was fixed to the floor and kept looking away.

"Ahhh....woh kya hai na Harshad....my brain...it doesn't bother to remember un-important stuff!!" I heard Manik sir speak and he took a step infront, kind of covering me up behind him.

Standing there and listening to them, I frankly had a bad feeling. Their talks seemed a bit too much neagative with the tone that they used and I guessed it already that these two were already informed about each others existence from the way they called out their names and that! Called for trouble; for me. I was stuck. Literally stuck! I could actually visualize my boss punch and beat up Harshad in the next few seconds but the tie up like Cabir had mentioned was important. I had to do something and get them to back to business. I had to do something fast.

I looked about when I realised I was carrying the basket and decided handing it over while they played their self invented " I glare - you glare" game.

"This is for you!!" I spoke up, stealing attention and took a step towards Harshad's direction.

"How sweet of you.....l love.....cookies you know" he said keeping his hand on mine on the rim of the basket as he accepted the apology. His touch disgusted me. It was not something new. I had lived with this for the past two years and everytime I knew he was there somewhere, I would be all fixed and didn't know what to do. Not that he affected me but, that I feared and felt digusted.

I somehow faked a smile and pulled back my hand and tunred to Manik sir who was already giving me death glares.

~~~~~~~~~~~
Stepping inside the room the first thing that caught my eyes was the name plate on the wooden desk. I couldn't believe my eyes. I had to deal with him now!

I changed my gaze and like expected there he was with that smile on his face. How I wish I could break his teeth that moment. Nevertheless. I heard him take my name but surprisingly his eyes were not on me but Nandini. I felt utterly disgusted with his gestures and eyeing Nandini by the corner of my eyes I knew she felt weird enough to stand their too!

I took a step infront of her but like I said this girl didn't have brains. She held out the cookie basket to him. And then it was Harshad again, with his dirty tricks .

"Can we get to business now!!" I said, rolling my eyes and rather help Nandini save herself from his touch.

"Cool....sit...coffee?!" said Harshad as he showed us the chair and as for Nandini, she stood at a corner behind me.

"The tie up!" I reminded him.

"Chill dude! ....you haven't come here for a war or something..." he said chuckling to himself and taking a sip from the glass of water on his table.

"Accha chal ek baat batah.....you suddenly have Indian preferences huh!! What happened to that I am so cool Manik...." he said eyeing back at Nandini and literally scanning her from head to toe. This guys really knew how to test my patience.

" Harshad Harshad Harshad....you know...things have changed lately....and raha sawal what happened to the cool Manik. ..so let me remind you....you still don't stand a chance against me!" I said running my fingers through my hairs.

"Oh is it!!"

"Waise frankly....even I still don't understand how you got yourself the CEO post!!....tch tch tch....." I replied stubbornly.

"Okay so tell me.....what benefit do I...or rather symphony get with this tie up!" he asked changing the topic and his position on the chair upon which he sat.

"You get Q label for a sign up!...isn't that! The biggest perk in itself....." I replied mocking his question.

"Oooo....I see.....but Manik...like you know...Symphony is leading...and Q label like always had the runners up place...." he said smirking and that rocketed my temper.

"Ahhh...not for long..."

"Come on! We have been hearing that for long haven't we!!" He said and burst out laughing.

"Your singers and albums were ..is.. and will always be behind us!" He said picking up the pen from the stand.

"What's your point!" I asked as calmly as possible.

"My point is...August business edition mein apna ya apne company ka naam front page pe laake dikha...replace us!" he said with a grinning face.

"Challenges huh!" I say letting out a faint chuckle.

"Aww....itna bura laga...."

"You know I love challenges!!" I replied and stood up.

"Oh so you do!"

"1st August ka editon courier kar dunga....meri photo kaisi aayi hai batah Dena...."

"Oooo....I'm so scared!!" he said enacting the English movies.

" Should be !" I said plastering a huge smile on my face before I turned my head towards Nandini.

And all of a sudden I forgot what I was doing; when I found her standing and staring blankly at Harshad. She hadn't noticed me motion towards which all the more justified her shock when I shook her by the hand, bringing her out from wherever she had zoned out.

She winced in pain with my touch. I didn't understand that much cause I had barely shook her.

"Meet up soon......Nandini!" I heard Harshad's voice come from behind.

I looked at her with suspicious eyes. How did he know her name?! Neither was she wearing a name tag nor had she or I mentioned her name. Then?!

She looked away with his statement and walked out of there leaving me all clueless.

A/N:
Hope you all are enjoying.
And yes one more thing, Harshad in my story is not Alya's brother☺.
Do comment and vote.
Adios ♡.