MG | Protect The Boss | Ch.28, pg 48 [20/02] - Page 16

Chapter 15 - Secrets

Whilst on the floor, one can have some much needed time to think with clarity about the events which have led them to consequently being pushed backwards onto the ground.

The first thing that came into Maan's mind was the fact that he had let his feelings carry him away, thus attempting to kiss his secretary.

He turned a shade of crimson red when he realised that the very secretary in question had performed some karate move on him & yelled Jackie Chan style, before sending him toppling over.

Maan raised his head towards Geet, who had her hands over her mouth & her eyes popping out.

"I am so sorry!" she gasped, stepping forward to help Maan up, who was still in a state of surprise.

Geet remembered the almost kiss & flushed herself. If anyone walked in, they would have assumed a blushing competition was occuring between the two.

Maan stood up, running his hands over his waistcoat subconsciously.

"I, er, well-" he tried to explain, much to Geet's mortification, so she cut him off.

"Let's just pretend that never happened," she said, attempting a smile. She glanced at the clock on the wall. "Oh, is that the time?!" she feigned surprise, trying to ease the tension between the two. "The day's over, it seems. I'll see you tomorrow."

Geet grabbed her bag & rushed out of the office, not stopping to say goodbye to everyone like she usually did. Maan was left standing in her wake. Loosening his tie, he was visibly exasperated as he tried to put past the events of the previous incident behind him.

...

Geet had her iPod unbelievably loud, trying to block out her karate chop move on Maan as she stood at her bus stop. She was so lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Yash & Pinky in a Bentley, opposite the stop.

"Hey, isn't that Geet?" Yash nudged Pinky, pointing at her. Pinky followed his line of vision, then her eyes widened & she crouched down.

"Pinky, what are you-"

"Drive Yash, drive!"

He did as he was told, hitting the gas pedal as the light went green.

...

Sasha was packing up after a long day; gathering her files together. She strode out of her office & on her way to the lift when her shoe suddenly felt loose. Bending down to fix her loose strap on her heel, she stood up to find Dev smiling & laughing with the new intern. Sasha didn't know much about her, only that she was 20 years old, and serving a two week internship during her university holidays. Not to mention she was very pretty, and wearing a dress which only elongated her gazelle like legs.

Without realising, her fists clenched and nostrils flared. She couldn't describe the way her throat had suddenly dried up, or why her heart had dropped at the sight.

She turned back, changing her mind as she stepped into her office, placed her files down onto the floor then made her way to Maan's office.

...

Manish was on the phone to an overseas client when a knock on the door interrupted him. Just as he was in the middle of informing the client he would call him back, the familiar click of Pammi's heels disturbed him as she walked in and perched her hands at the top of one of his leather chairs across him.

"What do you want?" he snarled.

"I was wondering that we could all have a get together sometime."

Manish's eyes flitted up, then narrowed. "Any particular reason?"

"It's Savitri-ji's birthday soon."

"I am aware of my mother's date of birth."

"She'd like us all to be together."

"Are you sure about that? She'd like Dev to be there, but I don't think she's too fond of you, Pammi. I can't imagine why..."

Pammi smiled slowly. "If that's the case, why did she call me earlier & invite me personally?"

He froze for a second, wanting to question why she would do that. But he was old enough & clever enough to realise the rift Pammi was trying to cause between him & his mother, so he calmed himself down before speaking. "If you're already invited, why are you trying to rile me up?"

"Just keeping you aware of my forthcoming presence, seeing as your mother fails to do so."

Pammi turned around, an unforgettable smirk on her face before she walked out of his office. Manish loosened his tie, sighing in frustration.

...

Yash's Bentley rolled up outside Pinky's block of apartments. Before he could even kiss her goodbye & tell her how much he had enjoyed their date, she was out of the car & half walking, half running inside.

She certainly is an enigma, he thought as he smiled to himself.

...

"Maan."

He looked up from his papers at an annoyed Sasha.

"Shouldn't you have left by now?"

"Who's the girl?"

Maan's eyes widened. Had Sasha seen him trying to kiss Geet?! His windows were tainted, but Maan knew that Sasha was like a persistent mosquito, always there, even when you didn't want her to be. Especially when you didn't want her to be...

"Er, what girl?" he mumbled, looking down guiltly.

"The intern."

He almost heaved a sigh of relief as he looked up at her, relaxing instantly.

"Diya?"

"I don't care what her stupid name is. I want her out."

Maan frowned. "Why? Let me guess, she didn't put enough sugars in your coffee. She's not here to do that, she's-"

"I saw her flirting with Dev and I don't like it!"

Sasha's eyes dilated as she realised she had blurted out her inner feelings in a tempest of annoyance & jealousy. Maan was surprised at first, then he smirked.

"You like Dev, don't you?"

"Absolutely not," she spat out, although the faint blush on her cheeks and nervous body language stated otherwise.

"If you want, I'll ask Dad & he'll assign more projects where you work with Dev..." he winked, not being able to resist teasing her.

"Maan! I told you, I don't like him. I just think Priya or Jiya or whoever she is, is acting unprofessional."

"I'm sorry Sasha, but I didn't approve of her internship. I can't do anything, you'll have to talk to the big man."

"Fine, thanks for the help," she huffed sarcastically, before storming out.

Maan put his hands behind his head, stretching his legs out as he smiled. "For once Lord, I thank you for bestowing Dev Khurana upon this earth, so that she's after him now, and she's not chasing after me. Amen."

...

Geet was sat in front of the TV, not really watching it properly although her eyes were on the screen.

"I need a distraction," she decided. Grabbing a bar of chocolate from the fridge, she retreated to her room for the night. Geet planned to use her mini spa gift set that Pinky had given her for her birthday to relax, when she decided Pinky could relax with her.

But Pinky had been acting strangely all evening. When she got in, they had ordered a takeaway, which they had ate in relative silence. When Geet asked her what was wrong, she mumbled something about being tired & had gone to sleep.

Geet was adamant that the casanova Yash had done something to upset her, so she knocked on her bedroom door, but there was no answer.

"Pinks?"

She knocked again, then opened the door carefully & quietly... to find an empty bed, & an open window.