Now and Forever

5. The man

Nandini jumped out of bed after checking the wall clock. It was 8:40 am and she had to report in the office by 9:00 am. She quickly freshened up before changing into anything she got in her closet.

She couldn't take the risk of skipping her breakfast as it would only contribute in triggering her desire for blood, specifically his blood. So she hurriedly heated the leftovers from last night.

After she was done eating, she placed the dishes on the sink and hastily tossed a capsule into her mouth. Sighing, she glanced at the clock only to slump on the ground. She was already five minutes late.

"Using my powers just one more time wouldn't hurt. Right?" She mumbled to herself before standing upright. She made sure no one was around before closing her eyes and chanting a spell under her breath.

The next moment she was inside Manik's cabin's attached restroom with her feet dipped in the water filled bucket. Her shoes and her stockings were completely wet. "What a great start to my day!" she let out an exasperated sigh.

She took off her shoes and then her stockings before peeking out of the restroom door. Luckily his cabin was empty. She hurriedly got out of the restroom and just when she was about to get out of his cabin, the strong scent of his blood trickled her nostrils. Ignoring the scent, she opened the door, only for her head to bang on a hard frame.

A pair of arms held either side of her elbows and her wet stocking and shoes dropped. She raised her gaze only for her gaze to lock with Manik's chocolate brown orbs. 'Too close.' her mind registered but she didn't budge, at least not until the scent of his blood became unbearable and her sane mind started wavering.

Tearing her gaze away from him, she stepped a step back as she covered her mouth and nose with her right hand. "I am sorry sir." she apologized before picking up her stocking and shoes with her other free hand.

"Why are you-" he couldn't even complete his words as she ran out of the cabin. "She really doesn't know how to acknowledge her boss, does she?" he looked at her running figure. "What's with her anyway? She's weird but-" a small smile formed on his lips. "cute."

He walked inside his cabin, looking around, smiling to himself. The rest few hours passed by in a blur with him testing the new updates of the game and Nandini working on compiling the files of the previous updates.

"Manik it's time for lunch." Sia peeked her head in through the door as she said that. He raised his head from the laptop screen to the door. "Is it time already?" he checked the time on his wrist watch. "Oh, it's 1:00 pm already! Wait for me downstairs, this will take a few more minutes."

"I can wait here."

"No it's okay. Just wait downstairs."

"Hmm okay." she said before closing the door and leaving. A few minutes after she left, Manik heard a faint knock on the door. He mumbled a hasty 'come in' as his hands worked on the keyboard. "Sir the files you asked for." Nandini entered with a file in her hand.

"Keep them here." he said as he saved the draft. She turned to leave but he stopped her.

"Aren't you joining me for lunch?" he closed the laptop screen and looked at her. Confused, she turned to face him. "Today you have lunch plans with Mr. Reyes sir." she reminded just in in case if he had forgotten.

"I know. You are my secretary. So you should be accompanying me, shouldn't you?"

"But Sia told me she will be accompanying you today." she informed.