He has to mark her

She was about to leave, when she heard ; ' Excuse me, if you don't mind, then can you please bring me a cup of black coffee?

I am a bit busy or else I would have done that myself.'.

She turned around only to see him holding his head, while the work was piling up. Left with no choice she left and returned with a cup of coffee. She placed it in front of him, rather than placing it on the table. Since, she knows he won't even touch it, if she placed it on the table.

'Than..' Ashutosh was about to thank the person, when he saw who it was.

'Thank you.' He showed his gratitude with a smile on his face. Earning a small smile from her, too.

'So, have you thought?'He asked in a very tired, deep voice. Making her wonder, for how long he had been working.

'Boss, actually.. that..' Yuvika tried to speak.

'It's okay, I understand. Take your time. I still have some pending work to do, you can think about it, till then.' He suggested, noticing her nervous expression.

' But Boss, why are you giving me so little time to decide?' She couldn't help but ask, in confusion.

'Because you know, I am not a dreamer type, but an action-taker type. If there's something on my mind, then I would implement or execute it in my life.

Besides, this isn't even the beginning. If you will take so much time just to decide whether you want to be my lover and whether you want me to be your lover or not. Then, how much time will you take to confess your true feelings to me in the future.

Not to mention, we both know how hesitant, how shy of a personality you have. You will take forever just to give me an answer. Why do I feel like you want someone else to express what's going on in your mind? To help you know, what you truly want, what you truly feel.

But for that, Miss Chauhan, you have to give this 'someone' that opportunity to know you well, to understand you well, to know how your mind and heart works, to know what you want. I might not be able to do the mind-reading, but I can telepathically know you, if you want me to. But, Miss Chauhan, you have to take the first step.' Ashutosh explained in a gentle, soft, deep, tired voice.

After which he once again focuses on the paper, letting her know, she is being given the privacy to think, to give an answer.

She thought for a moment and two and before her mind came up with a new thought, she replied ; 'Boss…' She said, making Ashutosh give his undivided attention to her. Both were staring at each other, but Yuvika knows, Ashutosh was waiting for her to continue, to say whatever she wanted to, to give her answer.

'I-I think…. I mean.. This… I mean… I want to try it. I wi-will try to fall in love with you.' She finally uttered the words that were stuck in her throat for a long time now. Her head bowed a little low, her eyes breaking the eye-contact with Ashutosh, out of flusteredness. Her cheeks and neck flushing red from the gush of blood and heat, that for sure was running towards her face.

She felt like she had never done such a big, risky thing in her life before. That's simply too outrageous according to her. She raises her head, wondering how he would respond, only to get startled after finding him standing close to her. Dangerously close. Before she knows it he pulls her closer in a tight hug with his one arm, while patting her head gently with his other hand.

' Thank you so much, Miss Chauhan. I am so happy.'He said, while kissing gently on her forehead freezing, the already shocked-to-the-wit person out. After which he hugged her tightly once again.

It took her a long time to realize that the person to whom she had respected as her Boss, can have this cheery, childish side too. She tapped on his back twice hoping to gain his attention and then hoping to get free from the bear hug.

Luckily, he stared at her, with a smile on his face. But after seeing her face, he frowned in confusion. 'Umm.. Boss, can you please let me go?'She asked suggestively.

'No. Why?'He asked in confusion.

'I mean.. I mean, I think you should. It's your office. It's not an ideal thing to do, I guess.' She said suggestively. Damnit. It's not appropriate.

'Then, do you want to go back to our room?'He asked, trying to make sense with the wrong place theory of her, confused.

Wh-What? No. Nope. That's not what I mean. I mean, you see, this.. that… the thing is.. you … I… I mean…'She tried to explain, but her stuttering, her nervousness, her hesitation couldn't let her do so.

'Shhh!' Ashutosh placed his index finger on her lips and whispered lightly near her earlobes.

'You are confused, I can understand. But you are confusing me too, this way. So, take a deep breath, calm down and then tell me what it is?' Ashutosh said in a deep, husky whisper near her earlobe sending a sharp chill running down her spine, from the magnetism his voice carries.

His voice, his touch, his eyes, the combination was so deadly that she even forgot to breathe, to say nothing about thinking what he was saying.

'Is everything okay, Miss Chauhan?' Ashutosh asked again with the magnetic voice, making her stare at him and nod , not even knowing what his question for her was.

He stares at her for a moment, then steps backward and shakes her body as if shaking the rinsed clothes to remove the water drops from it. Only when he saw the focus on her eyes, he asked again; ' Is everything okay, Miss Chauhan?'

'Y-Yes Boss. I mean, Mr. Pratihast.' She finally replied, after gaining the control back.

'You don't seem satisfied by my reaction, Miss Chauhan. Were you expecting something else?' He asked in a teasing voice, turning her all red, when she understood what he was referring to.

'I-It's not like that, B-Boss. Actually, I-I wasn't expecting that, either.' She replied, feeling nervous, embarrassed and flustered all at once.

'Oh. Is it too much for you already, Miss Chauhan?'He asked, making her cheeks flushed once again. She shakes her head like a cute teddy bear.

'So, it's okay with you.' He asked, earning a small smile and a hesitant nod from her.

'Well, I was a bit excited. You can let me know when you are comfortable around me and when you aren't.' Ashutosh couldn't help but remind her, making her nod with a warm smile.

'Then, do you want to do something or should I complete the pending documents before our trip to the sites?' Ashutosh asked her, making her more and more red, but she nodded and then left the room.

Earning a hearty chuckle from him.

Once there was no one, his expressions resumed to normal. It was easier than he expected it to be. Now he was sure the plan that he had created would be a success too. Before the clock turns 12, before they reach his world, she would be his, his mate.

He started dealing with the paperwork, while throwing the coffee in the dustbin.

~~

Vivek was observing his boss and Yuvika. One was busy instructing the higher-ups on what they are supposed to do in the trio's absence. While another couldn't even raise her face from the documents which carry the same information and instruction, Ashutosh was delivering. Leading his curiosity to pique up.

Could it be the duo finally let go of their boss and employee thing? Ashutosh was all serious, stern and professional, making Vivek doubt his own train of thoughts. But Yuvika had never ever avoided eye-contact, this definitely was the first.

Did his boss just pass a small smile to Miss Chauhan or was he hallucinating in the broad daylight? Did the work make him drunk? He watched at the girl, who narrowly escaped from hitting the table since she kept pulling her head down and down.

It would have been a loud smack of her forehead with a table. Luckily, Vivek pushes his file creating a barrier between the girl and the table. He wanted to say 'what the fuck? Where was her mind?' but the girl didn't even seem to notice what calamity she was about to land herself into.

Just what the heck? What on the earth did he miss? His curiosity was soaring high and he made a mental note of asking Yuvika about it in detail to satisfy his curiosity.

But as if that was supposed to happen.

~~~

Within blink evening came;

Yet they were still busy making the final checks on the things. After which they went to their rooms, packed their luggage,brought their luggages to the main road and boarded the van, which would take them to each and every site that had been selected by them.

Unknown to the cards, the future has, in hiding for them.