Chapter 10

The next morning, I stood in front of my mirror, my fingers steady as I drew a precise line of kohl along my upper lash line. The deep brown of my irises flickered with irritation as I studied my reflection. Dark circles, a reminder of my restless night, slightly marred my complexion. I sighed, placing the eyeliner back on the dresser with an audible clink.

"I just hate to see him again." My voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried the weight of my frustration. My jaw tightened at the mere thought of him.

Rolling my eyes, I grabbed my white handbag and descended the stairs, the faint jingling of my bangles accompanying my steps. The scent of freshly made sweets greeted me, wrapping around me like a warm embrace. The rich aroma of ghee, sugar, and cardamom wafted through the air, making my stomach grumble despite my foul mood.

As I turned the corner, I spotted my father and brother lounging on the couch, comfortably settled with their morning treats. Laddus, kesari, and an assortment of snacks lay spread across the coffee table as they watched television, their laughter filling the hall. The carefree ease of their morning contrasted starkly with the storm brewing inside me.

I pressed my lips into a thin line, crossing my arms.

"Hey, when will your project deal with Kathir end, Sanjay?" My tone came out sharper than intended, and Sanjay, who had just stuffed another piece of laddu into his mouth, lazily turned his head toward me. My father, too, glanced up from his plate, his expression neutral.

"I guess it will end when he finishes the project with his other client," Sanjay replied nonchalantly, chewing as if my question was of no consequence.

I exhaled through my nose, rubbing my temples. "Does it take a long time to finish?"

Sanjay merely shrugged, licking the remnants of sweetness from his fingers. "I don't know. It's up to him. Once the project is successfully done, I'll receive the payment. Are you going there now?"

"Yes," I muttered under my breath.

With an exasperated sigh, I slung my handbag over my shoulder and strode toward the door. Since Sanjay had taken the only family car today, I had no choice but to book a taxi.

The ride to Kathir's office was filled with the faint hum of the car's engine and the rhythmic tapping of my fingers against my lap. My stomach churned uneasily the closer we got. By the time the taxi pulled up in front of the tall glass building, I felt a familiar wave of reluctance wash over me.

Stepping out, I inhaled deeply, steeling myself. Just get through the day, Vidya.

The cool blast of air-conditioning hit me the moment I stepped inside. The faint scent of coffee and crisp paper filled the air, mingling with the low murmur of employees engaged in conversations.

And then I saw him.

Kathir stood near a desk, signing papers with his usual air of authority. His sharp brows furrowed slightly in concentration, his fingers moving fluidly as he flipped through documents. Dressed in a navy-blue suit that fit him perfectly, he exuded the kind of confidence that made people pay attention.

Beside him, his assistant—a young woman clad in a neat office dress—stood attentively, holding out a file.

I clenched my jaw, quickly averting my gaze. Just ignore him.

With purposeful strides, I made my way toward the receptionist's desk.

"Hi, good morning. I'm Vidya, the new employee," I said with a polite smile, slipping the required files from my handbag.

The receptionist, the same one from yesterday, took the documents and began typing into the computer. As I waited, my gaze involuntarily flickered back to Kathir.

"Where is Dave?" His deep voice cut through the soft office buzz, commanding attention.

"He is not present today, sir. He is not feeling well," his assistant replied hesitantly.

Kathir barely spared a glance at her before saying, "Oh, send the P2 files to him and ask him to complete them before tomorrow."

I blinked. No rest for sick employees? Seriously?

I stared at him, utterly taken aback by his lack of empathy. As he finished signing the papers, his gaze lifted—and landed right on me.

For a brief moment, our eyes met.

His lips curved into a slow, knowing smirk, one that sent a fresh wave of irritation coursing through me. His gaze leisurely traveled from my face to my attire, his smirk deepening as if he found amusement in my presence.

Without uttering a word, he walked past me, his shoulder nearly grazing mine.

I stiffened.

Arrogant! I swear, I want to punch his handsome face! If only I could see bruises on it every day, it would bring me so much joy!

I muttered under my breath, clenching my fists.

"Careful," the receptionist whispered, barely audible.

I turned back to her, noticing the nervous flicker in her eyes. She quickly glanced around before lowering her voice.

"There are a lot of rules and regulations here. The most important one? When Sir Kathir calls you or assigns you a task, you must do it immediately. Don't make him upset."

My curiosity piqued. I leaned in slightly.

"Hmm… What happens if I do?"

She sighed, her expression wary. "I don't know, but it would be a nightmare for you."

I blinked. Three times.

A nightmare? What was he, some villain in a horror movie? Oh yes, he is. I saw it once when he gave Catlyn a nightmare.

Smirking, I shook my head. "Alright, I'll try my best to be a good employee for him."

Winking playfully, I chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood. The receptionist finally broke into a small smile before giving me directions to my department.

Following her instructions, I made my way to the designated room. Through the glass door, I could see over ten employees hunched over their desks, eyes glued to their screens. The atmosphere was tense—focused.

I hesitated for a moment. The quiet efficiency inside made me feel like an outsider.

Stay confident, Vidya.

Adjusting my dress, I cleared my throat and knocked gently on the door. Instantly, all heads turned toward me.

A sudden wave of nervousness threatened to rise, but I masked it with an awkward smile.

"Hello, I'm Vidya, the new employee."

A tall guy in his late twenties stood up from his seat and approached me. He had a confident smirk, his gaze scrutinizing as he took the files from my hand.

"I've seen you before," he remarked.

I tilted my head. "Umm... really? I've been here two or three times, so maybe that's why."

He nodded, then gestured toward an empty desk near the window. "That's your seat."

As I moved past him, I caught the way his eyes lingered on me. My stomach twisted in discomfort, but I pretended not to notice.

Sliding into my chair, I let out a quiet sigh. To my right, a girl with short brown hair, round spectacles, and soft bangs turned to me with a warm smile.

"Hey, I'm Emma."

Instantly, I felt a bit more at ease.

"Hi, I'm Vidya."

Emma leaned closer, her voice cheerful. "First day, huh? Don't worry, I'll help you with anything you need."

Relieved, I returned her smile.

The day had just begun. And though it hadn't started on the best note, at least I had found one person who didn't irritate me.

Or so I hoped.