Part 6
Geet (hesitantly) : “You’re… offering me a job?”
Maan (with a mocking smile, his voice low): “I am offering you a challenge. Let’s see if your tolerance can withstand the corporate world.”
Geet’s eyes widen slightly, the implications sinking in. There’s something challenging in his gaze, almost as if he’s daring her to take up his offer, testing her resilience even further.
She stares at him, her heart pounding in her chest. She doesn’t trust him, but the temptation to escape her degrading job is overwhelming. She knows that staying here will only mean more humiliation, and the prospect of going back home to a life she hates is suffocating.
Geet finding her voice, matching his tone says.
Geet: “And if I say yes?”
He keeps a card at the counter. And with that, he disappeared into the crowd, leaving Geet clutching the card, her emotions a storm of anger, humiliation, and—much to her annoyance—curiosity.
She picks up the card to read - Aarav Mehta, Human Resource Director, Khurana Enterprises.
++++
Later That Week
Maan stood on the balcony of his penthouse, the city skyline glittering in the distance. His phone buzzed in his hand—a message from Aarav.
Aarav: She took the job. Joining from next week
As he set the phone down, a small moment of satisfaction flickered through him. He didn’t need to tell her she was brilliant or capable—she would prove it to herself soon enough. And if she decided to meet his sarcasm with her own sharp wit? Well, that would be the best part of it all.
+++
Geet’s First Day at Khurana Enterprises
The towering glass walls of Khurana Enterprises gleamed under the morning sun as Geet stepped inside, the cold air-conditioning brushing against her skin. This world felt entirely different—unforgiving and fast-paced, a far cry from the chaotic world of her catering or acting days. She adjusted her blazer nervously, clutching her employee badge like a lifeline; it had her name –‘Geetanjali Kumar’ and her Designation- ‘Associate’ ; it was an entry level role.
The morning was a blur of introductions and training sessions. Her supervisor, Sheetal, had a sharp, no-nonsense demeanor, and Geet quickly realized she’d have to learn fast to keep up.
By mid-afternoon, her desk was already filled with client briefs, detailed instructions, and post-it notes reminding her of deadlines. The terms were foreign, the expectations high. Geet felt like an imposter, but she pushed the thought aside. She wasn’t here to fail.
Her desk was on the same floor as the executive offices, and she couldn’t help but notice the energy shift whenever Maan Singh Khurana stepped out of his corner office. Employees straightened their postures, conversations lowered to whispers, and the room bristled with a mixture of respect and intimidation.
“Good morning, Sir,” Sheetal greeted him crisply as he walked past.
“Morning,” he replied curtly, his tone professional and clipped.
Geet focused on her screen, pretending not to notice him. Her heart raced slightly when she caught the familiar silhouette in her peripheral vision. She reminded herself to focus—this wasn’t a party where stolen glances were acceptable.
By the end of the day, Geet was still at her desk, poring over a training module on client report formatting. Her first task—a simple draft—had taken her far longer than she anticipated. She wasn’t satisfied. The structure felt clunky, the tone too casual. She was determined to exceed expectations, not drag her team down.
As the office emptied out, she stayed, scribbling notes in a notepad and practicing with mock reports. It was nearly 9 PM when she finally leaned back in her chair, exhaustion tugging at her limbs. She rubbed her eyes and glanced toward Maan’s office, noticing the faint glow of light spilling through the glass walls.
Geet collected her things and moved toward the elevator, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. She was halfway across the room when she heard his voice.
“You’re not planning to sleep under your desk, are you?”
She froze, her breath catching. Turning, she found Maan leaning against the doorway of his office, his jacket draped casually over one shoulder. His tie was slightly loosened, his shirt sleeves rolled up, and his expression carried that familiar sardonic glint.
“I’m heading out now, Sir,” she said quickly, her tone professional like everyone calls Maan ‘Sir’ in his office. She straightened her posture, gripping her notepad tighter.
He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. “That’s not an answer.”
She hesitated, unsure how to respond. “I just wanted to finish reviewing some materials. It’s my first day, and I want to keep up.”
His gaze flicked to her notepad, then back to her. “Admirable. But staying late on your first day? Bold move. Trying to impress Sheetal, or just hoping no one notices you’re swimming out of your depth?”
Geet blinked, momentarily stunned by the bluntness of his remark. His tone was dry, laced with something darker—mocking, yet not entirely unkind.
“I’m not trying to impress anyone,” she replied evenly. “I just want to be prepared. I don’t want to disappoint the team.”
Maan’s lips curved into a faint, almost cruel smile. “Preparedness is overrated. Most of this place runs on caffeine and winging it.”
She frowned, unsure if he was serious or merely teasing. “That’s reassuring,” she said, her tone dry.
His smile widened slightly, his dark eyes glittering with amusement. “Sarcasm. Impressive. Though I’d recommend keeping that to yourself around Sheetal. She eats rookies like you for breakfast.”
Geet clenched her jaw, her grip tightening on the notepad. “I can handle it.”
Maan regarded her for a moment, his expression inscrutable. Then, with a soft huff, he turned back toward his office. “Don’t stay too late,” he said over his shoulder. “We don’t need another sleep-deprived martyr clogging up the system.”
She watched him disappear into the dimly lit office, the door clicking shut behind him. For a moment, she stood there, replaying the exchange in her mind. His words had a strange weight—not exactly encouraging, but not entirely dismissive either.
+++++
Over the next few weeks, Geet settled into her role, dedicating herself to mastering the nuances of corporate life. Her evenings were spent much the same as her first—long hours of reviewing documents, practicing skills, and revising drafts. She knew she was behind, but she also knew she could catch up. Failure wasn’t an option.
Maan’s presence was a constant backdrop to her days. In meetings, he was every bit the formidable CEO—precise, decisive, and almost clinical in his approach. His sharp critiques left no room for error, but he never raised his voice. His authority was in his calm, his ability to command a room with nothing more than a look.
++++
Days turned into weeks, and Geet’s life at Khurana Enterprises became a rigorous cycle of work and self-improvement. The skepticism from colleagues, both subtle and overt, was something she had anticipated. With her actress-like beauty and lack of formal qualifications in business, many employees questioned how she had landed the position. Whispers followed her as she walked through the office, but she kept her head high, determined to prove them wrong.
Every evening, as the office emptied out, Geet stayed behind. Her desk lamp burned late into the night as she juggled client assignments and self-imposed coursework. She would scour online resources, take up crash courses in business communication and analytics, and carefully analyze past project reports. Her work ethic was relentless; she knew she had to compensate for her lack of qualifications with sheer effort and tenacity.
One particular night, she was pouring over an advanced data report when Sheetal, her supervisor, walked by. Sheetal paused, her eyes narrowing at the sight of Geet’s tired but focused expression.
“You’re still here?” Sheetal’s tone was sharp, as always.
“Yes, ma’am,” Geet replied, standing quickly. “I wanted to finish the draft for tomorrow’s client review.”
Sheetal scanned the file on Geet’s desk. “Not bad,” she muttered grudgingly. “Still needs some refinement, but you’re catching up faster than I expected. Don’t stay too late. We need you sharp tomorrow.”
Geet felt a flicker of pride at the rare acknowledgment. As Sheetal left, she sat back down, determined to refine the draft even further.
+++++
Maan Singh Khurana watched the progress from a distance, his outward demeanor toward Geet no different from that of any other entry-level employee. In the office, he was the picture of professionalism, acknowledging her only when necessary and never offering her any special treatment. To everyone else, she was just another cog in the machine, and Maan ensured that no one suspected otherwise.
But privately, Maan couldn’t ignore her resilience. He’d noticed how she poured over files late into the night, her dedication unwavering despite the weight of her responsibilities. Initially skeptical of her capabilities—she didn’t fit the mold of a typical corporate hire—he had been prepared for her to crumble under the pressure. Yet, every passing day revealed a strength and grit that silenced even his doubts.
One evening, as he exited his office, he saw her sitting alone, engrossed in a spreadsheet, her fingers typing rapidly on the keyboard. Her brows were furrowed in concentration, and a half-empty cup of coffee sat forgotten beside her.
He paused for a moment, observing her unnoticed. His lips quirked slightly, an unspoken acknowledgment of her determination. Maybe I was right to bring her here after all.
++++++
The skepticism in the office began to fade as Geet’s efforts bore fruit. She delivered her first solo report for a minor client—a task that had been assigned with little expectation of success. To everyone’s surprise, her work was polished and well-researched, earning a nod of approval from Sheetal.
“That was solid work,” Sheetal said during a team meeting, her tone brisk but not unkind. “Keep it up, Geet.”
Geet felt a rush of relief and pride but kept her emotions in check. “Thank you, ma’am,” she replied quietly.
From his corner office, Maan had overheard the exchange. He didn’t show any outward reaction, but a flicker of pride warmed his chest.
++++
As days were passing, Geet was getting comfortable with the corporate life and rhythm, the work was challenging but she liked the respectful environment, the learning and her colleagues.
She felt good when her efforts would be fruitful, she felt she was good at something and could see a path of being better.
Sheetal was strict demanding but fair boss and mentor.
But some days would be more struggling than the others, like this afternoon had been grueling.
Geet felt her nerves fray as she struggled with the intricacies of the market analysis report. Sheetal’s sharp words from earlier echoed in her mind: “Don’t mess this up. The client presentation is tomorrow.”
She had worked tirelessly, but the numbers refused to align, and the terminology felt foreign and daunting. By the time the office was nearly empty, the weight of her task bore down on her. With most of her colleagues gone, the only sounds were the faint hum of the air conditioning and the soft clatter of her typing.
Her frustration was simmering when she heard the faint sound of footsteps. She didn’t need to look up to know who it was. That commanding presence was unmistakable.
“Still at it?” Maan’s deep voice broke the quiet.
Geet startled slightly, her fingers pausing mid-typing. She glanced up to see him standing a few steps away, his jacket slung casually over one shoulder, his tie loosened, and his shirt sleeves rolled up. The sight of him, slightly undone and yet every bit as magnetic as ever, made her pulse quicken.
“Yes……..Sir,” she replied, trying to keep her tone steady. “I’m trying to get the numbers to align for tomorrow’s presentation.”
Maan’s eyes flicked to her screen, and then to the stack of papers and notes scattered across her desk. Without waiting for her permission, he stepped closer.
“Let me see,” he said, his tone brisk yet calm.
Geet hesitated, her heart hammering in her chest. The idea of him scrutinizing her work so closely—being that close to her—made her uneasy in ways she didn’t want to admit. Still, she nodded, sliding the chair slightly back to give him space.
But Maan didn’t take the chair. Instead, he leaned over her desk, bracing himself with one hand against the edge, the other pointing at her screen. The air seemed to shift as his presence enveloped her. His cologne—warm, woody, intoxicating—filled her senses, making it hard to focus.
“This formula here,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. “It’s off. You’ve missed a variable.”
Geet turned to look at the screen, but the closeness of him caught her off guard. His face was so near, his sharp jawline and faint stubble mere inches from her. She could feel the heat radiating from him, and it sent her already frayed nerves spiraling.
“Um,” she stammered, her fingers fumbling with the keyboard. “Which variable?”
He leaned in further, their proximity now undeniably intimate. His hand moved to guide hers on the touchpad, their fingers brushing briefly. The contact sent a jolt through her, and she bit her lip, willing herself to stay composed.
“This one,” he said, his voice softer now, as though he was aware of the charged atmosphere between them. His eyes flicked to hers for the briefest moment, and Geet felt her breath hitch. She couldn’t look away, caught in the intensity of his gaze.
She nodded quickly, her voice faltering. “Right. I see it now.”
Maan straightened slightly but remained close, his focus shifting back to the screen. He walked her through the corrections with his usual precision, but there was an underlying softness in his tone that hadn’t been there before.
“You’ve assumed too much in this projection,” he murmured, pointing to another section. “Ground it in reality. Optimism’s fine, but this reads as naïve.”
Geet felt a pang at his critique but forced herself to nod. “I’ll fix it.”
“You’ll need to,” he said, his lips quirking in a faint smirk. “We don’t want the client to think we’re promising them rainbows and unicorns.”
She let out a small laugh despite herself, the tension between them easing slightly. “Noted.”
When they had finished, and the report finally looked presentable, Maan stepped back, his sharp eyes scanning her face.
“Good,” he said quietly. “That’s better.”
Geet leaned back in her chair, exhaling a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Her hands still tingled from where his had briefly brushed hers, and her heart was racing far faster than it should have been.
“Thank you,” she said softly, looking up at him. There was no mistaking the sincerity in her voice.
Maan held her gaze for a moment longer than necessary. His lips parted, as if he was about to say something, but he hesitated. Instead, he shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Don’t thank me. Just make sure you deliver tomorrow.”
There was a flicker of something in his expression—pride, perhaps, or admiration—before he turned and walked away.
Geet watched him leave; her chest tight with emotions she couldn’t quite name. The silence of the office returned, but it felt different now, charged with the echoes of their unspoken connection.
As she turned back to her desk to pack up for the night, she found herself replaying the moment he had leaned so close, the sound of his voice and the weight of his presence lingering like a shadow.
Despite herself, a small smile tugged at her lips. Whatever this was between them, it was dangerous. It was complicated. But it was also undeniable.
1.1k