The elevator opened on the third floor.
‘None of your business,’ I scoffed.
He stepped out and turned around, the ghost of a smirk on his chiselled face. ‘We’ll see about that,’ he said just before the doors closed.
I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding. What were the chances I’d have to work in the same building as that arrogant ass?
At least the office had multiple floors. With any luck, I’d never have to see him again.
On the fourth floor, I walked down the main hallway and spotted a sleek wooden desk beside a door labelled Jai Advani, COO. A woman sat behind
it, and a glance at the nameplate on the desk confirmed what I already suspected. It was Kavita Patel.
I pasted a friendly smile on my face and placed my résumé on her desk. ‘Good afternoon. I’m Ananya Tripathi, the new assistant.’
‘Not yet.’ She gave me an analytical once-over. ‘Did you pass the interview?’
Her intense stare was unnerving, but I stood my ground and answered as convincingly as I could. ‘Yes.’
‘Do you have any previous experience being an assistant?’
‘Yes.’
‘Good.’ She passed me a contract. ‘Read it, and let me know if you have any questions. If not, you may go ahead and sign it.Thenyou can introduce yourself as the new assistant.’
As I reached out for the papers, I saw how unsteady my hands were.
The salary –?7,20,000 – caught my eye first. It was more than I’d expected. Enough to comfortably pay rent every month and gradually clear the credit card debt I’d accumulated.
I kept reading. Standard confidentiality clause, non-disclosure agreement, eight-month fixed term. Everything looked normal. Professional.
Except that nowhere in this contract was there anything about reporting to Rekha. Nothing about our arrangement. It was all verbal – unwritten, unenforceable, unprovable.
If this blew up, I had no protection. No proof. Just her word against mine.
My hands shook slightly as I held the pen.
Eight months. You have to survive eight months.
As my signature dried, a silent finality settled over me.
‘Congratulations on the job and welcome to House of Advani,’ Kavita said, a tinge of lightness mixed with her otherwise monotonous tone. ‘You start Monday.’
I suppressed the small voice whispering that I’d just crossed a line I could never uncross. ‘Thank you. I—’ The elevator dinged.
I glanced over. My stomach dropped.
The cab thief stepped out and headed towards us. Unbelievable.
‘Couldn’t resist finding out?’ I said, unable to help myself.
His brows lifted in surprise, then his mouth almost curved into a smile.
‘Ananya,’ Kavita said, her tone turning cautious. ‘This is Mr Jai Advani. The COO. Your boss.’
The words didn’t register at first.
Boss. COO. Jai Advani. All the air left my lungs.
