Where there is wind, the trees sway.

Persistence

Akansha

I was busy working, just like every other day. This time, I had to sort out the budget for two continuous projects the company had launched. There was so much work piling up around me and my desk was a huge mess. A stack of files were dangerously leaning towards the edge of the desk and were starting to slip. I caught them in time and carefully placed them back on my desk.

I sat back with a huff and looked at the photo I'd framed and placed on my desk. I could see my mom beaming with joy and hugging me with tears in her eyes. She had always been emotional. My dad looked calm, as always, but he was smiling too. It was a photo from the day I had graduated from college. I was forcefully shaken out of my reverie by a loud knock on the door. I looked up. It was Dilip.

Like me, he was a VP too, in the Marketing department. I had met him some time ago during a conference and he had been creepy ever since. People usually sucked up to him because the senior VP of Marketing was his father. Not me, he was simply revolting.

I nodded towards him, motioning to come in. He smiled and winked when he came in.

On the outside I had a straight face, but inside I was kicking myself, trying so hard not to laugh at how stupid he looked with a peach suit, blue pants and a tie too bright and colorful for any formal environment.

"I have news."He said.

I raised an eyebrow waiting for him to continue.

"There is going to be an important meeting tomorrow for two VPs at the Chinese restaurant down the street at eight, in the evening."

"Mr. Shinde", I started, trying to sound professional, "I have told you this enough times that I am least interested in committing to anything else other than work."

"Are you sure?", he asked sounding cocky.

The last thing I wanted was a date, that too with him.

I rolled my eyes and wondered how such a person could ever have become a VP. Nepotism, of course.

"Mr. Shinde, I would like you to get your hands off of my desk as I'm really trying to work here.", I replied starting to get annoyed.

"Just one dinner?" he asked.

"Not interested." I replied.

As he was leaving he turned back and said, "You know, playing hard to get works only if you give in at some point. You're going to get tired of rejecting me."

"No, not at all. I enjoy it very much."I replied.

Wow. That guy was persistent. I thought.

He flashed me a smile before he left, wide enough for me to see his half missing front tooth. Rumor was that he was so wasted in a party that he had fallen face first in his bathroom; an accident which had cost him his front tooth. Looked like filling in a new one didn't work.

Stifling a laugh, I continued with my work.

Author's note:

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