*sighs*
You read that book? I did, and I have lost the counts, I read it. I am Khushi Kumari Gupta. You must be thinking about, as to why I mentioned "50 Shades of Grey" in start, well the thing is that there are many similarities between this book and my life. Not only that, I am pretty much like the female protagonist of the story, average height of 5'2", brown colored hair but I have coffee brown eyes. Not only my physical appearance is similar to Anastasia Steele, the female protagonist of the book, but there is a certain, very particular, "Mr. Grey", in my life too.
He's not exactly, "Mr. Grey". He's Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada or ASR for short. His name is like a very famous brand in the fashion industry. Known for the perfect, and classy fashion clothes and accessories, he just received the youngest and most successful businessman of the year award. There are two things about Mr. Raizada's physical appearance that are very hard to be ignored.
1. His soft dark brown hair.
2. His captivating chocolate brown eyes.
3. That damn irritating, his, "I-know-it-all" smirk.
He may appear a handsome, well cultured, polite and business savvy but he's a devil in disguise. A devil who can't see me having a moment of relief. My luck, I had to be the personal assistant of the crowned king of the workaholics, rude, arrogant and self obsessed idiot! You may be thinking that I have something personal against him. NO. It's just that...he makes me feel uncomfortable. No doubt, he looks handsome but there is something in him that intimidates me. And I hate to admit but I too like him..like that, you know, right? And that's what scares the hell out of me. Secret yet consuming crush on your boss, HELL NO!
"I think, I did not hire you for "Just Thinking", Miss Gupta."
And here he goes again.
"I am really sorry about that, Sir. What do you want?", I am really proud of myself, that I had maintained my perfect fake smile, my demeanor professional like and my tone strictly polite.
"Have you fixed my date for tomorrow night's charity ball?"
"Whom would you like to go with, Sir?", I asked as he twirled on his revolving chair, tapping his desk with his fingers.
"Uumm..Anhaita?"
"She went to Paris for a photo-shoot, for out new magazine edition."
"How about Daisy then?", before I could answer him, he himself added, "Nah! She's too clingy. Last time I went with her, she had me attached at her hip."
I bit my cheek, trying not to laugh. I remember the time he had went with Daisy at a launch party and if looks could kill, Daisy may had died thousand deaths.
"What about Aryma?"
"Calendar shoot. So not available."
"Katrina?"
"On a vacation to Europe."
"Asmin?", he had stopped tapping the desk and opened his contacts diary. A particular, black colored contacts diary, that had the names and contact info of all our models, who could pose as his "date" for the numerous events, he organizes and is invited to.
"She's sick. Chicken pox."
"Anna?"
"She left, uumm..saying that you were..ah..", I felt my cheeks turning red out of embarrassment. Apparently Anna wanted something more, and Mr. Raizada didn't approved of that.
"No need to mention Miss Gupta.", and that's there, his cocky smirk.
"So is there any one available for tomorrow night?"
"The possibilities are quite low, but I'll arrange a date for you before the ball tomorrow."
"You better do it soon. I don't want to go to the ball alone. Damn the woman! They make me feel as if I am the only glass of water in a desert.", Mr. Raizada exclaimed, running a hand loosely through his hair.
"Yes of-course! I would love to die rather choose that glass of water.", I muttered.
"You said something, Miss Gupta?"
"No..nope.", Boy! I am scared.
"I think, I heard you say something.", he narrows his gaze on me. Great.
"Oh, I was just thinking about your "date"!", I added swiftly, stressing on the date word.
"Good. Now go get back to work."
And that's what I do all the time. Jerk!
Turning around, I sighed and walked out of Mr. Raizada's cabin. Now I have to fix a "date" for him. A girl who'll accompany him to the charity ball tomorrow. Hush! Leaning back on the chair, I pulled out a medium sized diary out of my desk's drawer. Checking the contacts in that diary, I sighed and muttered, "Let's see who's available!"
After 3 hours
"God! Kill Me!" I whisper yelled not wanting to gather attention of my fellow workers. 3 hours, torturously boring 3 hours, that I had spent calling various models (girls). Some were busy, some were on vacation and some, well they just hung up on me. Apparently Mr. Raizada was more famous for his short temper instead of his charming looks. Not every girl is as courageous as Daisy, I guess.
"Bad day?", I looked up and saw a pair of deep forest green eyes looking at me, sympathetically.
There stood Shaurya Verma, with two cups of coffee in his hands. He offered one to me, smiling at me. I had met him when I started working with Mr. Raizada, 2 years back. He's in the PR team, he's a friend to me, a good friend, not more, not less.
Taking the cup, he offered me, I gestured him to sit. "So, what's the reason that you so much want to be dead?", he asked sipping his coffee.
"Need a date for Mr. Raizada and apparently no one is available!"
"Aaww..wish Mr. Hottie had different tastes."
Raising a perfectly threaded brow, I mock glared at him. Well, Mr. Shaurya Verma, 5'7" tall, fair skin, dark black hair and the most gorgeous deep forest green eyes. A guy, every girl would love to have as a boyfriend, apparently has a huge crush on our boss, Mr. Raizada. If any of you are having doubt, then get this fact clear. Yes!! Shaurya Verma is gay. My bad, I had a little crush on him, until I got to know that he's gay. Curse my luck, for having crush on such people! Jeez.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah yeah! Leave it, so isn't there any girl who would like to be his date?"
"Nope, no luck. Only Daisy is left, and I am dead sure that Mr. Raizada would prefer going alone or not going at the ball at all, rather than go there with Daisy."
"So..what next?"
Huffing, I placed the empty cup of coffee aside, and stood up, "I'll just let Mr. Raizada know about the situation."
"Best of luck!", he said, giving me a thumbs up.
Knocking the door for the fourth time, I huffed. What's with him? Why isn't he answering my knocks. Mr. Raizada doesn't like anyone to just barge inside his cabin, so there is this "Knock before" rule that we all had to follow. Patience is not my cup of tea. I was getting agitated by every passing second, so I just pushed opened the door. "Knock before" rule be damned.
"Shit!", I murmured. I think I should have waited a bit long. Because there in front of me stood, Mr. Raizada, shirtless, barefoot and looking...Ssshh..stupid Khushi, don't go there!
"What are you doing here? Why didn't you knocked?", he asked, frowning in anger.
"I did. I did knocked for 4 times, but you weren't answering, so..", I mumbled, my head bowed.
"So, you just decided that you walk in just like that!", he sounded close, I had my head bowed
"Sorry" I muttered trough my gritting teeth.
"Look at me, when you talk.", and so I did. Thank God, he had put on a shirt. But still it was unbuttoned.
"Actually i just wanted to inform that apart from Daisy, no other girl is available for tomorrow night.", I said.
"Crap!", he huffed angrily, buttoning up his shirt.
"No one?"
"Nope! No one!"
Sighing he walked back to his desk, leaning on his chair, he closed his eyes. What am I supposed to do now? Walk out of the cabin or wait for him to say something or yell for something?
"How about you?", he asked suddenly, taking me in for surprise. I thought that I heard something wrong, so I asked, "Excuse me?"
"Yup! Why don't you come with me? You are My Personal Assistant, so it's your job to assist me where and when I want your assistance, isn't it?", he asked, shrugging as if he was just stating a simple universal fact. Ha!
"It isn't mentioned in my job contract that I have to be your "date"!", I snapped.
"Ah! Miss Gupta, think about it from a different angle!", he smirked. Did I mentioned, that he wants everything his way? Well now I did. He'll use every way to get things his way. By hook or crook.
"Can you explain that angle? Please!", I batted my eyelashes. I was being bitchy, I know. But he deserves that.
"You don't have to be, as you quote it, "my date". See Miss Gupta, I want women accompanying me to such parties, functions and balls to avoid un-necessary attraction and attention. Think about this way; You'll just be accompanying me, as an assistant.", he explained, as he sat on his chair and twirled the sphere shaped paper weight.
"I'll think about it.", I sighed.
"OK. Mrs. Singh will get you the gown for the night, the jewellery and other accessories. I'll just inform her about the same."
"What the?", I am amazed at his audacity. "I just said, I'll think about it. I did not said yes!"
"I know you will! So you better go shopping.", he smirked and picked up the landline phone, "Yeah Mrs. Singh, take Miss Gupta for shopping, she's going with me tomorrow night at the charity ball. Pick the perfect."
"Haaww.."
"We don't have much time Miss Gupta, you better go.", he said, without looking at me.
"Jerk", I muttered, in a low voice.
Either I am simply very mad or he really just said, "I know."
Damn you Arnav Singh Raizada. Damn you!
"Miss Gupta.", she gave me a slight nod of recognition.
"Mrs. Singh.", I also nodded, as greeting.
"Hhmm..", she hummed, taking in my whole physical appearance. She made me revolve round and then around, then stared at me upside down and also checked my hair. God! She's giving me creeps.
"I have the perfect outfit for you.", she suddenly exclaimed. "Joseph, get the car ready, we are going to the main store." Great! Not in a sarcastic way.
The whole drive, Mrs. Singh didn't even looked at me. After 20 minutes of uncomfortably silent ride, we reached the main store of parfaitement Cre. I have been here many times, but I would be shopping here for the first time.
"Code - 2326, Shade - white", Mrs. Singh said.
All the time I was just staring. Soon a guy brought the gown and I was pushed inside the trial room and Mrs. Singh followed.
"Take your clothes off.", she demanded.
"What!", instinctively I wrapped my arms around myself.
"Girl! Don't act shy now. We need to put you in this!", she said pointing at the white gown. Gathering up some courage, I removed my work clothes and got dressed in the gown, Mrs. Singh hand.
When I finally looked into the mirror, boy was I amazed. Oh hell I was. The gown was sheer white, with silver embellishments at the bust area. It was an off shoulder gown, and flowed down till my ankles. I looked perfect.
"Not like, what I thought. We need to change this.", she ordered. Damn I liked this gown. I wanted to wear this. But alas! Mrs. Singh had different plans.
"Code - 1831239, Shade - Black", 1831..what? Seriously, how the hell she remembers the exact codes? Soon that gown was also brought and again I was pushed into the trial room and blah blah.
I was a little bit upset, I wanted that white gown, so I wasn't exactly paying attention when I wore the black one.
"This looks perfect!", she clapped her hands and walked outside, I heard her say, "Danny, we are taking the black one! Get me the shoes."
I sighed and turned around to face the mirror, just to see what Mrs. Singh thinks is perfect.
Incredible. Fanfreakingtastic! OMG, I thought that white one looked amazing and nothing can beat it. But dude, I was so wrong! Here I am dressed in black, looking wow! The dress was fabulous. There were a few elements to the dress, including the sprinkling of red, starburst-like appliqus on the sheer stomach panel and that slit. Oh my! That was an unexpected detail, that I loved. And oh boy! It was backless. I was looking sexy, feeling sexy.
I was busy admiring the dress when I heard Mrs. Singh calling me. I went outside and tried on the peep toe black heels that she had brought.
"Perfect", she commented. "Danny, we are taking these heels too.", she exclaimed.
After 20 more minutes we both walked outside of the store, with shopping bags in our hands. Mrs. Singh brought me, a wrist watch, matching earrings and a bracelet. And I was happily amazed. But still deep down, I had this fear, "What will happen tomorrow?" I mean, will I be able to control my fluttering feelings for Arnav Singh Raizada while I'll be so close to him, the whole night?
Sighing I lean back against the car seat and closed my eyes.
"Don't worry too much. Relax.", Mrs. Singh said, her tone soft.
"I am not stressed!", I lied.
"Yeah, yeah! Girl, I am no fool. Anyone can tell that you are stressed. I guess Arnav has something to do with it.", she said.
"I.."
"There! Got tongue tied?", she mocked, and then staring at me, eye to eye, she said, "Don't let him overpower you. Be at ease and be confident."
"Huh!"
Suddenly the car stopped and Mrs. Singh stopped staring at me and looked straight at the road.
"Now go and sleep, I don't want you to look sleep deprived tomorrow."
And just like that, my day ended quite eventfully!
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