Chapter 16

Athira Patel

I was so nervous to face him and at the same time determined to forget about that moment, we had together. I am here to fulfil my dream and as I said I don't need any distractions. It was better that he already has a girlfriend here. And the more reason to forget about that moment. Then why my heart is saying it otherwise when I think of them together? Maybe because it was just a sudden surprise that he has a girlfriend. Ya, that's it. I thought to myself and stood in front of his door.

Taking a deep breath I tapped two times on the door asking to enter to which he said to come. I got inside closing the door behind me and taking a seat in front of him. When he lifted his head all my bravery turned into nervousness. God, I have to be strong and not to get intimidated by him.

"Good evening Athira" he wished me with his manly and deep voice looking at his laptop in concentration.

"Good evening Abhilash" I replied looking at my hands which are placed on my lap holding them together.

"So how are you liking here so far?" He asked glancing at me and averting back to laptop immediately.

"Ya, it's good. I like it here" I said smiling genuinely.

"Good to hear," he said nodding his head."So you already got the information about this meeting from your colleagues I think" he said looking at me from his laptop by folding his hands. The moment his eyes met mine I froze on the spot. But I composed myself very quickly and nodded.

Stupid heart and those stupid chocolate brown orbs.

"Yes. They informed me in the morning" I said agreeing and rubbing my palms on my dress. Great again I'm becoming nervous.

"Good. I will be giving you our previous project in which you need to identify what was lacking in it that it got rejected by our client. I pretty much know that clause already. But wanted to see how much you are capable of. I said to everyone that I gave a different project to each of you, but in fact, I have given the same one. I want to know who will be the first one to find out that clause in the project" he said looking at me seriously as if studying me.

So he is trying to check our ability to find the clauses in the projects. Good. This is going to be one interesting task then. I thought to do little dance in my brain. What? I like working and it's my dream to do this job. So yes I'm pretty excited about this task. Who wants to miss the chance to point out what mistake they have done. Not me definitely.

"Sure. I will give my best effort in finding it" I said looking at him confidently and giving my broad smile.

"Confident are we Athira?" He asked raising his eyebrows "I don't want efforts. I need smart thinking. Think out of the box." He said leaning leisurely on his chair and looking at me.

That arrogant jerk. Wants to prove me wrong? And challenging me to accept it.

Woah... Mr.Abhilash I love challenges and especially if they are related to work. Don't underestimate me.

"I am confident because I know my capability. Overconfidence is dangerous but not confidence. One needs to be confident if he wants to achieve his goal." I said looking equally serious at him to which he raised his eyebrows asking as if asking 'is that so?'. God those eyes will be the death of me.

"Hope you are confident enough then. Let's see if you can complete it within two days" he said brushing it off as if he doesn't believe me.

What the hell! How dare he to brush me off. Wait and see Mr.Abhilash. I will show you what I am capable of. That jerk.

"Ok. Wait and see Mr.Abhilash" I said holding my head high as if accepting his challenge.

He just gave a smirk indicating 'will see then'. He took the file from the desk and placed it in front of me. Looking at the file I wanted to faint then and there itself.

The file is so huge that I think it will take at least one whole week to read it. God.... What have I gotten myself into? Stupid Athira. Always ready to show off your big ego. Now see what you have gotten yourself into. Look at that big file idiot...How are you going to complete this task in two days of time if reading itself takes one full week that too if you spend at least 5 to 6 hours a day for it?

I want to facepalm myself but restrained myself from doing it in front of him. I gulped looking at the file. You don't have a filter to your mouth Athira. Was ready to show your confidence and forgot to know the basic details about this project. Where have you kept your brain when you came into this room ah?

I want to bang my head against the wall right now due to this embarrassment. No! He cannot know that I'm feeling doubtful about it. Otherwise, he will think that he is correct. And I can't feed that already big ego anymore.

Common Athira. You have to show him that you are confident enough to do this task and prove him wrong.

Haha. Look who's talking... Mocked my subconscious. Shut Up you idiotic brain!

"Here, take it," he said handing me the file with a huge smirk on his face. Oh, how I want to wipe that smirk off his face.

"Thank you," I said taking the file with a forced smile on my face and got up to leave when he called me.

"And Athira... By the way, you look cute when you are trying to act all confident even though we both know that it's completely opposite of what you are feeling right now." He said winking at me. I froze on the spot listening to his comment. That jerk... I opened my mouth to say something but nothing came. I blinked repeatedly opening and closing my mouth in an attempt to get the words out of my mouth. I think I am looking like a zombie right now.

"What? Cat got your tongue already? Didn't expect this lame response from you Cutiepie. Thought you are a hotheaded girl and fierce who can fire back immediately" He chuckled saying it and got up from his seat while shaking his head.

He stood in front of me smirking "Close your mouth Athira. Don't want flies to get inside your mouth now" He said leaning against the table in front of me by folding his hands.

Ohh... What a biceps ...! Shut Up!

I immediately closed my mouth and blinked a few times to compose myself. Dammit... That egoist fellow. He is flirting with me again.

"You wish Abhilash. Wait and see what I am capable of" I said standing straight and folding my hands while holding the file. "And I am the same Athira whom you met in the pub. So don't try to mess with me" I said smirking at him. He smiled as if he is expecting this answer from me and somewhat proud of this reaction. I still don't know how I am able to read his eyes. It's like he is so transparent at the same time so mysterious.

"I like your comebacks Cutiepie. Though you took your precious time in it" He said winking at me.

"What can I say. We are girls after all. And we are good at taking our own time" I said smiling at him to which he laughed. God how I missed his laugh...

What? What are you talking madam? Since when did you start missing his laugh? Asked my subconscious to me. Ready to mock me always. Will you stop mocking me always...

"I pretty much have an idea that you are a girl madam. No need to remind me" He said smiling at me mischievously while looking deep into my eyes and taking a step forward. Suddenly the atmosphere in the room became hot even though there is AC in the room.

"I don't need to remind you," I said gulping and averting my eyes from his intense gaze. My heart started beating wildly against my chest and my breathing became short. God, please don't tell me this is happening again.

"I forgot how you love to retort back immediately," he said cornering me to the wall and placing both of his hands on either side of the wall. How have we come to this position?

I don't know what to say. I am afraid I will speak nonsense once I opened my mouth due to nervousness. "What... What are you d-doing Abhilash?" Still, I asked stammering and looking down. There is only 10 inches gap in between us now.

"What am I doing?" He asked looking innocently at me as if he doesn't know what I am talking about. Such an actor.

"Don't play dumb. You know it very well what I am asking about" I said looking at him. Bad idea. Because he is very close to me now that I can feel his breath fanning on my face. Goosebumps arose on my neck due to our close proximity. My heart is beating so fast that I am afraid it will come out of my chest at any moment.

"Really? What you are asking about then?" He asked still acting innocent. I glared at him to which he smirked challenging me to say out loud about this situation. He inched closer making it only 2 inches gap between our faces. My breath caught in my throat and the same unknown feeling started erupting in my stomach.

"Aa... Abhi.... Wha..." I am unable to complete my sentence due to this closeness. He smirked looking down at me with satisfaction in his eyes as if he knows how much he affects me. True though. He affects me so much. But I am not going to accept it in front of this arrogant jerk.

He again inched closer looking at my lips and suddenly all the questions and all the doubts went out of the window making me concentrate only on him and his lips. I don't know but even I wanted him to kiss me again. I know that it's wrong to expect it. But for this once I want to feel his beautiful pink lips against me. I want that feeling back when he kissed me with that passion back in the pub. For one last time, I wanted to be selfish forgetting about Omisha and my goal. I want to kiss him back... Suddenly his mobile started ringing getting us back from our euphoria. I glanced at him and was shocked to realise that we were about to kiss each other again. What happened to me? God, what I was going to do if not for the phone call interruption? Shit...

I pushed him back immediately and got out running to my cabin. Once I entered the cabin I placed the file on the desk and took the seat while catching my breath. What is wrong with me? What happens to my judgement when he is near to me? Why I always find myself getting attracted to him? What is so special about him?

Arghhh..... I was going to kiss him again. You arrogant, Hotheaded, dickhead, muttass Abhilash. Why don't you leave me alone dammit.... I was deep in thought when my phone started ringing. I looked at the caller ID to see it was Dev. Shit. I forgot that he was waiting for me on the lawn. I quickly packed my stuff and carried the file to work at home and left the office.

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