FF: M&G - Protect The Boss 2 - Ch39 pg95 24/2 - Page 24

Her words lingered like a deathly silence between the office, which now felt much larger than it originally was.

He managed to find his voice and cleared his throat, before asking "Can I ask the reason why?"

"I applied for a management position for a new store opening."

"You applied?" his eyebrow raised in question, as his shoulders stiffened.

"Not me exactly, Pinky did for me."

Her gaze scattered nervously towards him, as she smoothed her skirt in an attempt to fray her sudden nerves. After what seemed like deep moments of thought on his part, he finally spoke out.

"Okay. You'll be expected to serve a week's notice period, but after that, you're good to go."

Maan didn't attempt to be polite or be his usual laidback self with her, as the sudden news of her impending departure cast a heavy stone over his heart. He felt like he couldn't remain in her presence anymore, so he grabbed his blazer and stormed out of his office, leaving Geet to watch his disappearing figure as he nestled further into the building.

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Pinky and Yash were at their daily lunch date, tucking into finesse Italian pasta as they discussed their impending engagement.

"Maybe we should keep it low key, Yash. No one else hardly knows, apart from Geet."

"I don't think Maan has realised we're even together. He has a million and one things going on right now, I haven't talked to him since the night we met at the bar."

She smirked at the memory. "That was not me at my finest."

He scooped another mouthful before speaking. "How's Geet's application for management going?"

"I think she posted it off on her way to work this morning, I'm not too sure. Her face was all purple."

"Purple?"

Pinky nodded as she sipped her water. "She fell asleep on an inky paper last night."

He chuckled. "Typical Geet." Yash twirled his fork in his food as he conjured up a few ideas in his mind, then he spoke out. "Maybe we should-"

"Don't even think about it," she warned.

"How did you even know what I was thinking?!" he asked incredulously as she grinned.

"Yash Singhania is as readable as a book."

"Oh yeah?" he raised an eyebrow as he leant across as his mouth pulled up into a lazy smile. "What am I thinking of right now?"

She kicked his leg lightly in mock anger, then giggled. "Not in broad daylight," Pinky looked up at him through her lashes. "Maybe later," she winked.

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"Did you grant Geet the permission to resign?"

Manish looked up from his book to find his annoyed son glaring at him. "Good morning to you too son, nice to see you in the office. So you are taking your responsibilities seriously."

"Don't beat around the bush, Dad. Why are you letting her resign?"

"The girl has found a job elsewhere and she wants to leave. It's human nature to want for better things, Maan. Besides, she was overqualified for this role anyway."

"I am aware of that, but-"

The sound of a knock and then heels made him roll his eyes as he gritted his teeth, keeping his eyes focused on Manish. Pammi strolled into the office and stood beside her nephew.

"You seem disarrayed, Maan. Something the matter?"

"Everything is fine."

"I couldn't help but notice your absence from the office yesterday," she studied a nail with mock interest. "I hope it wasn't anything too important."

"Maan and I discussed the issue last night and it's now under control. Thank you for your concern, Pammi," Manish spoke, removing his glasses. "Maan, I will arrange for the secretary position to be re opened for a new candidate. It really is not the end of the world."

You don't know the half of it, he thought as he took his cue to leave his father's office.

Pammi's ever scrutinising ears picked up on the new secretary detail, but her eager eyes fell on a finance file. A new plan merged into her mind, a plan that would change the future of all involved at Khurana Constructions forever.

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Dev was restless as he paced his office back and forth. The usually hard working, ever knowing employee had other things on his mind, more importantly one person.

Had his selfishness interfered with her career, her life here? Had he resigned her to a life of unrequited love, a life of sorrow?

His mind wouldn't seem to switch off as his guilt continued to nibble away at his brain, providing him with anything but peace.

How could he have ignored her signs? Even if he didn't return the feelings, the most courteous thing to do would have been to remain good friends.

Dev couldn't help but feel as if he had lost an important part of his life. And he was determined to fix this gaping hole that he saw in front of him, no matter what happened.

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Maan hadn't returned to the office since her bombshell in the morning, and Geet had grown tired of waiting for him. His files had been organised, his financial papers in order. She'd even resigned to giving his desk a once over.

She was tempted to leave a letter in his drawer, explaining to him what she truly felt and her hope for him to reciprocate the feelings. But she gave up on the idea as the clock struck 1 and she decided it was time to get some food down her.

Thankfully, a generous application of foundation had reduced the purple ink stain from her face, although she was resigned to peculiar looks from the other staff when she stepped out from the office. Stopping by a glass display on her way to the lift, she double checked her appearance.

Feeling satisfied for now, she pressed the button and stepped into the lift, to be greeted with none other than the man himself.

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He felt the tension in the air as she stepped in. Her curved back was in his view, her ever bouncing tendrils catching his eye again.

'For the sake of the Lord Maan, stop paying attention to her! She is leaving you without a second thought, without a single realisation for your motives behind your behaviour. And here I was, thinking she was smart. I would be wishing a thousand curses upon this beautiful enigma, if she hadn't so spectacularly captured my heart.

Wait, captured your heart?! Maan, since when did you turn into Shakespeare?! Shut your inner voice up and focus ahead.'

She sighed as quietly as she could in the deafening silence as her mind went through a turmoil of its own.

'Geet, do not focus on his greek God features, do not look at those biceps which are even more enhanced in that tight shirt, which I would have no hesitation in taking off- chi chi, have some shame girl! A thousand inner slaps to you, control yourself! So you have feelings for the guy, that doesn't change the fact that he's behaving like a total jerk to you and is ignoring you like you don't exist, especially when he said those three damned words that night! Damn you Bollywood for giving me ridiculously high expectations of men, they are nothing but fruit loops in real life! And not the good kind.'

The lift jerked midway in its journey, and Geet swivelled around to locate the area of the problem. Her eyes met Maan's for a brief second, before her inner sherni awoke in her and all hell broke loose.

Chapter 31 - Five Questions - Page 47