Had Vera used her charm and alluring looks to buy her way into her position or was there something he was missing? He wished he could accept his worst assumptions about her as reality. No matterhow much he tried however, his conscience troubled him, and his instinct told him something was awry. He just didn’t know what it was. If only his IT guys would give him an answer soon. He’d been waiting days already.
Which led to his insistence that Vera perform each task he assigned her alone. It would confirm if she truly had the skills to lead such an important project. If so, then why had her recent work not reflected her brilliance?
His stomach churned at the recollection of hurt and embarrassment that had flickered across her face when he’d let his mouth run without a filter.
He picked up the innocuous looking remote on his desk and punched the button with the minus sign, slowly increasing the transparency around his office. He stretched his neck side to side to release the stress that had built through the day, his thumb still tapping on the little button like an addict itching for his next fix.
“Casual, cool. I’m not doing anything wrong. I can open my blinds if I want to. It’s my bloody office,” he muttered to himself, trying to not dwell on the fact that if anyone found him talking to himself, that’d be another piece of gossip to contend with.
The Oberoi heir is certifiable! Read all about it!He could almost imagine the headlines and his father’s disappointed look that said,My son is a fuck-up.
His sideways spiral ended when he saw that most of the office was empty, as was Vera’s desk.
Irritated with himself for having let her presence, or lack thereof, affect him, he shrugged his jacket on and exited the office he’d sequestered himself within all day long. One would think Vera washisboss and he was trying to avoidher. It was utterly ridiculous. He felt far too affected, and he was determined to find a way to get over this feeling.
He’d do it, or die trying, he decided dramatically. His strides slowed when an insistent buzzing cut through his thoughts. The few remaining employees were packing up for the day.
Buzz.
Vihaan followed the noise, stepping back a couple feet and halting in front of Vera’s workstation.
His brows clashed, the crease on his forehead deepening when he saw a phone vibrate atop her desk and fall silent. A notification popped up, and that’s when he glanced at the background picture of a familiar-looking man within. “Nanaji,” Vihaan softly mumbled. He swung a searching gaze about him.
If Vera was here, why the hell had she not brought him the reference material he’d asked for?
His frustration with his own behaviour suddenly had a better outlet. He’d much rather channel it into anger towards a disobedient employee.
He hailed the group that was leaving. “Have you seen Ms. Talwar around?”
“No, sir.”
“She’s been away for a while already,” a young man pointed out. “She missed our 2:00 p.m. meeting.”
Vihaan nodded in acknowledgment as they wished him a good evening, obviously relieved that he didn’t need them to stay and work. He waited for Vera to return from whatever the fuck she was doing. Oh, he’d rip into her now that no one else was around. He planned exactly what he’d say, rubbing his chin. Did she think she could take his orders lightly? He’d show her who was in control, he told himself, tapping his foot impatiently as the minutes ticked by.
The longer he waited, the more his irritation gave way to a growing sense of uneasiness.
Her phone rang again, and this time the caller ID flashed. Shaanti Senior Care Center.
Vihaan straightened, temptation rising. He had an inkling who it would be on the other side. But he shouldn’t. He had no right.
“Hello?” He winced, knowing he’d get into shit if Vera returned now to see him talking on her phone. It was as if the part of his mind that was controlling his body had detached itself from his consciousness.
“Hi, can I speak with Vera?”
“She is not around.”
“Oh, and you are?”
“I’m her. . .” He paused. What were they? Just boss and employee? That didn’t seem right.
They sure as hell weren’t lovers anymore.
What was left?
The word ‘friend’ lingered at the tip of his tongue, at once tasting bitter because it had been true a long time ago. He’d lost his friend and the woman he loved, both.
His mood worsened. “I can pass on a message for her,” he said instead.