Chapter 25

Chapter 25

The following morning, Geet woke to an empty bed and was disappointed when she’d joined everyone for breakfast that Maan had gone to work.

Bata nahi sakte kya? She grumbled silently and checked her phone to see if he had messaged her anything. He had not.

She plastered a smile and talked with dadima and Naintara during their breakfast then stood excusing herself to get ready for work.

She changed into a pair of dress pants with a sheer black blouse and a black vest underneath, so it hid her bra. She then pulled her hair into a low ponytail and slipped into a pair of low-heeled shoes.

Mohan greeted her as she walked out of the mansion and opened the door for her. Geet contemplated being pissed off at Maan and not using the car, but the 45-minute walk in the heat would make her too warm and she’d be sweating so she pushed back her disappointment and climbed into the car instructing Mohan to drop her off where Sandeep usually does in the morning.

As usual, Viren greeted her halfway as he walked from his parking space towards the building. Geet smiled listening as he spoke about his evening last night, she glanced up and noticed Maan as he stood outside their office speaking to Adi.

Viren and Geet slowed as both men blocked their way into their office.

“They’re so engrossed, they’ve not even noticed us” Viren whispered as they stood still waiting for them to move.

“Well, they do have their backs towards us” Geet responded softly. “Maybe we should say excuse me and walk in?”

“But what if they’re talking about something important?” he asked.

Geet rolled her eyes and stepped forward. “Good morning!” she greeted cheerily.

Adi and Maan turned around frowning and responded to her greeting.

“Morning” Maan’s reply was a low deep response whereas Adi’s was lighter coupled with a chuckle.

“You’re both stood in our way” Geet gestured with a smile.

Maan and Adi smiled faintly and nodded.

Sasha who happened to be approaching Maan paused and frowned. “Geet, if they’re stood in the way, you say excuse me and wait. You do realise they’re your boss?” she intervened before Maan and Adi could move.

Adi glanced over his shoulder whilst Geet mouthed to Maan.

Work wife she gestured with her eyes then turned to look at Sasha.

Maan frowned and glanced at Sasha as well.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. Even if they are bosses, they are in the way of me going to the office and signing on in time” she replied.

Before Sasha could respond, Maan intervened. “Sasha, it’s fine. Adi and I were in the way” he pointed out stepping aside. “Go on in” he gestured to Geet and Viren.

Adi smirked inwardly seeing Sasha’s tightened fake smile.

“Adi, I’ve got to be at the site right now. I’ll be back around 11am, so we’ll continue our discussion then” Maan turned focusing on Adi.

“Alright, I’ll email across the contracts to the Singhania’s to review and come back to us if they want any amendments” he agreed.

“If they want amendments, maybe set up a virtual meeting later this week sometime. We can go through it properly and agree without any further delays” Maan informed then walked off after Adi’s agreement.

“MK…” Sasha called but he was gone. She sighed and narrowed her eyes seeing Adi smile faintly. “What?” she snapped.

“Nothing” he chuckled and entered the office where Geet and Viren were already logged in and checking through their emails and tasks he’d assigned.

Sasha followed and pinned her focus on Geet. “Do you not know office decorum?”

“Excuse me, ma’am?” Geet frowned and wondered why Sasha was being irate.

“I don’t know where you’re from, but things work differently here. You’re no longer a teenager or something acting like so innocent, but this is the adult world” she stated leaning across the desk trying to be intimidating.

Geet clenched her fists by her side and stood unclasping her fist and stared at Sasha with determination. “I don’t know why you’re being salty towards me, but do not question my work ethics. I have been nothing but professional since I’ve stepped into the office” she replied.

“How dare you?”

“Excuse me?” Geet responded. “How dare I? I’ve not done anything and you’ve been salty with me since I’ve joined for no apparent reason. I’ve completed any works assigned to me and I’ve not had any complaints so far by my manager or otherwise. Now, ma’am, nobody in encroaching on your space to become the next Mrs Khurana so you can bring down the witch factor down a notch”.

Sasha’s face reddened with anger. “That is it! You’re fired”.

“Sasha!” Adi stepped forward trying to intervene.

Geet only smiled in response. “I’m sorry, but you have no grounds to fire me. Calling you a witch doesn’t constitute as a ground for firing. If I stole, docked up my hours, messed up to cause financial loss, refused to do my work – then that’s a good reason but I’ve done none of those”.

Sasha glared at her. If her eyes could shoot fire, then Geet would have been a pile of ash right now. “I’m watching you, the moment you slip up, you will be out of the doors so fast your head will spin”.

“Good luck with that, Ma’am. I’m earning my place here and working hard for it”.

Sasha gritted her teeth and spun on her heels slamming the door behind her.

“Wow” Viren released a breath. “I think I held my breath the entire time scared to even breathe” he walked over with Adi. “Geet, you called Sasha and witch and challenged her” he informed her.

Geet nodded slowly as a wave of anxiety coursed through her. She sat down clutching the desk edge and chewed on her lip. “She’s going to make life hell now, isn't she?”

“Yeah, probably” Adi nodded in agreement. “But its good you’ve stood up to her. Don’t worry too much about her, Viren and I were witnesses to this spat and I won’t just let MK or Sasha fire you”.

“Thanks, Adi” she smiled exhaling loudly.

Naintara: What are you doing for lunch?

Geet: Nothing yet.

Naintara: Isn't veerji there to take you for lunch?

Geet: No, he’s in a meeting with Adi I think. Why?

Naintara: I’ve finished early today, do you want to go out for lunch? I’m close to the office.

Geet: Yes sure. But no one knows I’m married to Maan so I would like to keep it that way.

Naintara: Why not?

Geet: Please can you keep it this way

Naintara: Ok fine. We’re going to discuss this further though.

Geet: Ok :) Text me when you get here, I’ll come down to meet you

Naintara: Ok

“Yes?” Maan called at the knock on his door. “Sasha? Did you want something?”

Sasha smiled sweetly entering inside. “MK, are you free to speak for a few minutes?”

Maan glanced at his calendar, “Yeah, sure. Sit” he gestured. “Only few minutes though, I’m expecting a call shortly” he told her.

“Of course,” she agreed. “I wanted to discuss…”

He frowned when his door swung open and was about to teach the person a lesson about manners and knocking when he realised who it was.

“Naintara” he smiled in greeting. “What are you doing here?”

“I was passing by. Finished with court. I was about to head home so thought about going to lunch with a friend” she smiled entering inside approaching his desk. “Would you like to join?”

Maan realised who her friend was. “Not today, I’ve got a meeting shortly” he replied.

Naintara nodded with a smile and frowned seeing Sasha.

Sasha returned a glance of annoyance and disliked how casually Naintara walked in and yapped on like she was friends with Maan and not his young brother’s wife.

“Alright, I’ll see you tonight then” Naintara dismissed Sasha and looked at Maan.

He hummed in agreement nodding his head and looked at Sasha. “Go on, you were saying?”

Sasha hummed looking over her shoulder watching Naintara leave then turned to Maan. “MK, you know I’ve always been loyal and hardworking”.

“Yes” he replied and looked at her confused wondering where she was going with this conversation. “What is it?”

“Earlier today…”

Maan’s MacBook pinged with the incoming call from overseas. “Sasha, the client has called. We’ll pick this up soon” he dismissed her answering the call.

Sasha gritted her teeth and walked out. She cursed Naintara for disturbing them and taking up precious minutes in which she could have told Maan about Geet’s behaviour and have him agree on giving her a verbal warning. She halted when Geet stepped out of her office talking to Naintara.

Geet and Naintara are friends? She watched them in confusion as they walked to one another and disappeared into the elevators.

“So, what is with the secrecy behind yours and veerji’s marriage?” Naintara pounced on Geet with her loaded question after they’d placed their order.

“I don’t want Maan’s fame and name attached to me yet. Anything I do, everyone will point and say it’s all Maan’s doing. No one will recognise my hard work or talent in the finance department if they knew I was his wife” she explained.

“I get it” Naintara said as she thought of Geet’s explanation. “No one knows your background so speculation will be more. I probably would have faced the same if it weren’t for my parent’s name” she admitted.

“And I don’t have that to fall back on. Nobody knows the Vihaan name, go to Hoshyarpur and you’ll find people singing praises but here – nothing” she chuckled.

“It’s good that you’re in a different department and are being managed by Adi”.

“Yeah, that helps” Geet agreed.

“Don’t worry about it, no one will know” she waved.

“Well, they’re going to assume I’m friends with Khuranas thanks to you not waiting downstairs like I asked and telling them we’re friends”.

“We’re friends” Naintara shrugged.

Geet hummed mockingly.

After lunch, Naintara dropped Geet back at the office and drove away.

Geet was entering just as Maan walked out with Sasha and Adi to leave. She paused waiting for them to pass, Maan held the door open for her gesturing her inside. She mumbled a thanks and walked inside.

He pondered over her odd behaviour but shrugged it off with the others with him and climbed into his car. “I’ll see you at the site” he told them and closed the door.

Adi and Sasha climbed into one of the company car and gave the address to the driver before settling back.

“Did you know Naintara and Geet are friends?” Sasha looked at Adi.

“No. I have a life after the office and not interested in other’s personal matters”.

“You’re so useless” Sasha hissed.

“Ok”.

“How do you not know this, Adi? You interviewed her!”

“Exactly, I interviewed her. I didn’t ask her history of friends and family”.

“This is why MK is probably lenient on her. She’s friends with Naintara so he knows her” she snapped.

“Do you think MK would be getting to know Naintara’s friends?” he raised his brows.

Sasha pondered then shook her head. “No, but he must know her now”.

“Sasha, he didn’t know her at all. I introduced them the first time” he rolled his eyes. “Now can you calm down and just focus on work than MK and his life”.

“He’s got a girlfriend”.

“What?” Adi laughed. “No, he doesn’t”.

“I saw him with a girl. She kissed his cheeks and they were laughing”.

“It could have been a cousin or a friend” he rolled his eyes. “Have you ever seen MK look interested at other girls? Even temporary workers didn’t grab his attention. If he had, all the newspapers will be all over it”.

Sasha sighed and chewed on her lower lip. “I don’t know… He seemed really friendly with that girl…”

I've started a quick short story, do check this one out as well please
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/5228920#157197991

[NOCOPY]