CHAPTER 7

Two months later, I got employed in a large business company as an assistant manager. My first day in the office was hectic. Now I know what Kiara had been going through. Come on, it’s not easy.

My CEO was a nice man. Though he was kind and generous, he despises lazy workers. I love my new job and I wish to stay longer in the firm.

I came to work the following day and I bumped into Sidd. That was the first time I was seeing him after our graduation.

“Oh, my God! This is not happening!” I muttered to myself. “What are you doing here?” I queried boldly.

“I should be the one asking you that,” he said. “I am the manager of this company, so what are you doing here?”

At the mention of him being the manager, my jaw dropped. Evil is certainly coming after me.

“What does it look like I’m doing here?” I retorted.

“Don’t tell me you are the assistant manager my uncle was talking about,” he chuckled.

“Your uncle?” I uttered surprised. “Who is your uncle?”

“You want to know? Well, he is the CEO of this company.”

I almost fell to the floor. There is no way I would last in this company with Sidd as the manager and his uncle as the CEO. This is double trouble. Working with Sidd will be like walking on a lump of burning coal barefooted. What am I going to do? I don’t want to lose my job. I know he will certainly find a way to get me fired. This is not just evil, it’s a curse.

“Excuse me!” I said simply and left for my office.

Sidd smiled to himself as he shook his head and went away.

I focused on my work diligently pretending that Sidd wasn’t my manager at all. I couldn’t see him for the rest of the day in the office.

The following morning, I prepared a document and took it to his office to get his signature. To my surprise, he signed the document without the usual act of his.

Later on near closing hour, Sidd called me and told me to prepare a document for the next day. I had to rush it all up because it was getting to closing hour. I presented him with the document and he still told me to prepare another one. I requested to prepare it at home and bring it to the office the next day but he insisted that I prepare it right there in the office. I had no choice but to do it.

I was still preparing the document when the closing bell rang. All the other staff members closed for the day but I was still working. When I was done, I took the document to his office. To my greatest but expected shock, he asked me to take the document home and bring it back tomorrow. I knew he was just trying to suffer me. I couldn’t do anything but comply with his words. I don’t want to lose my job.

I and Sidd sat on opposite sides of the office, but our animosity toward each other was palpable. We were known to be bitter rivals, constantly engaged in a battle of one-upmanship. Our colleagues often wondered what had caused such deep-seated hatred between us, but we would simply exchange cold glares and carry on with our vendetta.

When did my life turn this way?

I had to go out with Sidd. Being the crazy manager, I had to comply with all his menacing requests. Oh, God! I got choked up in a tight red gown, revealing my figure and my bare shoulders coupled with the floor-sweeping lace design adorned around the edge. It took me almost forever to fit into the dress. Does a business party have to get me into such a dress? Sidd knew I was going to suffocate under the tight dress, I couldn’t breathe, it felt like someone had wrapped a baby’s belt around my belly. Sidd, I hate that name. I tried to feel comfortable, but it seems all eyes were on me. I held on tight to my glass of red wine, shuffling around the floor to hide from people’s gazes. What could be wrong, why were they staring so much? We were all in a hall in a hotel. Men in suits while ladies in all types of designer gowns. Short, average length, long, and floor-sweeping like mine. The guests were chatting about one thing or the other. Each with a glass of wine being served by a butler.

“Hi, gorgeous! Can I have a dance with you?” I heard a voice say and I turned to look at him. He wasn’t that dashing, but presentable. He was sturdy and had shoulder-length hair encircling his diamond-shaped face alongside his goatees. His smile was welcoming, but I found it annoying. Was he indirectly mocking me because I look uncomfortable? I didn’t want to cause a commotion, so I simply smiled back.

“May I?” he said stretching out his palm to me. A dance. Oh, now I remember. He wants a dance.

If I accept to dance with this British looking Indian, I will simply faint in front of everyone. How does a choking person dance? I hesitated my hand. What if he was one of our clients? Sidd wouldn’t introduce me to anyone. He made sure I meet no one. He was on the edge of ruining my career. His uncle had sent us to this party, we should meet everyone and represent our firm, but Sidd, how I wish I could report him to his uncle. He had sabotaged my salutations with a few of the guests by interrupting us with his crazy introduction of being the company’s manager. I had to pretend everything was okay even when I deeply wanted to strangle him.

Now this man. Before my hand goes on him, my palm landed on another’s.

“She will dance with him,” Sidd said kissing my knuckles.

I wasn’t angry, I was boiling, and my boiling degree has reached a thousand. I felt like pulling a gun on him. How can I dance with this character called Sidd? Having a dance with my enemy is what I have never dreamt of. Something fishy is certainly going to happen.

The British Indian man excused us.

I pulled my hand away from him. “What do you think you are doing?” I asked between gritted teeth.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the gathering. All eyes are on us. Now a piece of cool music began playing. Sidd slid his arm around my waist, and I gasped. The other hand entwined in mine. Ballroom dance? Oh, no. I couldn’t flinch. People stared at us. I had to play along. I slowly positioned my arms around him and we whirled around the open space.

“How do we look dancing together?” he asked almost in a whisper. I frowned at him. “Come on, can’t you act like everything is fine?”

“I can’t wait to strangle you, Sidd,” I mumbled. He chuckled.

He tighten his grip around my waist, and I gasped again. Ever so slowly, his hand massaged my waist making me have goosebumps.

“Stop doing that!” I ordered.

“Why? You scared?”

He moved his hand up to my back and I was forced to flinch from him. Guests began murmuring. My eyes darted around everyone’s. Sidd was smiling wickedly at me. He moved closer and spun me around. I wasn’t ready for this. Is this some kind of show or something? I thought this was a goddamn business party. He pulled me closer, the harder I tried to free myself, the tighter his hold become.

He leaned forward, his eyes scanning the crook of my neck. “Don’t create a scene, Rani. Everything will be over soon,” he whispered in my ear. “You smell nice and I wish to have a taste.”

What does that mean? I could feel his hot breath against my skin. He was going to kiss me. I mean peck the crook of my neck or something. No. He wanted me to react and I am falling for his trick. I pushed him away.

“Um, I’m not good at dancing. Sorry everyone,” I told the crowd, finding it hard to catch my breath.

As I turned to hurry away, I stumbled on my dress and I was falling. A fall amid a crowd. Disgrace or embarrassment? I hate every part of this event. As I waited to land on the floor and probably expect people to snicker at my clumsiness, a strong arm came around my waist. I sighed in relief. At least I didn’t drop on my butt in front of everyone. As I looked at my savior, I frowned. Why Sidd?

“You okay?”

I stared at him as he held me in place. After some seconds, I balanced on my feet. I inhaled then exhaled sharply, got hold of the edge of my dress, and scuttled outside.