‘Yes, thank you,’ she replied, giving me a grateful nod.
Reassurance spread through me, lifting my spirits.
Outside, as we walked past a few glass doors, I realised that one of them would lead to Suraina ma’am’s studio. If I ran into her, would I get a chance to stop and greet her? Maybe I shouldn’t. If Jai decided to take a jab at me in front of her … I shuddered at the thought. I’d want the ground to crack open and swallow me whole.
I snuck a peek at him.
We were nearing the end of the day, but he didn’t have a strand of hair out of place, a trace of exhaustion on his face or a crease in his suit. It was unfair that he looked like he had stepped out of aVoguecover while the rest of us resembled overworked interns at a fashion show.
His eyes found mine.
I looked away, my face warming, but not before I caught a faint, grim smile.
He’d caught me staring. Of course, he had.
On my first day, I’d already learned four things: Jai was demanding, detail-oriented, valued time and was dismissive of input from people he didn’t yet respect.
If he was as reckless as Rekha said, why did everyone here seem to trust him?
I glanced at Jai’s back as he walked ahead, phone pressed to his ear.
Eight months. I had eight months to figure out who he really was. And to make sure he never figured out why I was really here.
The rest of the day passed without hiccups. By the time I got home, all I wanted was to crawl into my bed and stay there until I was made Suraina ma’am’s assistant.
Rhea took one look at me and handed me the takeout menu from our favourite Chinese restaurant. We curled up on the couch, and I told her about my eventful day and my dictator-of-a-boss while we waited for the food to be delivered.
‘But look at the bright side,’ she said, opening the door when the bell rang. She grabbed a familiar white plastic bag and handed the delivery guy some cash. ‘You’re not fired.’
‘Yet,’ I mumbled, helping her unpack the food on the dining table. I inhaled the smell of the most delicious Schezwan rice, Manchurian gravy and spring rolls in the world.Just what I needed.
‘Stop being so negative,’ she scolded. ‘At least you’ll have money. And freedom. Isn’t that what you wanted at the end of the day?’
‘I also wanted to be Suraina Mukherjee’s assistant.’
‘And you will be. You’re just …’ She waved the forks and spoons in her hand before setting them down. ‘Taking a little detour first.’
Maybe she was right. Three days ago, I was ready to do any job I could, and now I was complaining about the one I had. I should be grateful for what I had.
‘You’re also protecting House of Advani from potential sabotage,’ she said. ‘You’re basically a hero.’
A small laugh escaped my lips. Just like that, I felt the tension slip away. ‘Have I mentioned how much I love you?’
‘You can start by doing these dishes.’ She smiled sweetly. ‘Now let’s eat. I’m starving.’
‘Go ahead,’ I said. ‘I’ve got one last thing to do.’
I pulled my phone out of my pocket.
‘What is it?’
‘Updating Rekha,’ I replied as I opened her chat. My fingers hovered over the keypad.
I thought about Kavita’s words.Kind. Generous. Strong values. I thought about how Meera looked at him – with respect, not fear. How the studio employees seemed comfortable around him.
‘You okay?’
‘What if Rekha’s wrong?’
