Hey all hope you enjoy this first chapter of this new THREE-SHOT. I was bored and this came to mind. Basically, the story is set in New York. Asad's a world-wide successful CEO and Zoya is his assistant who also has a passion for dance.
Read on to know more 😉
Chapter Index
ONE <page 1>
TWO <page 11>
Teaser for Chapter 3 (part 1) <page 18>
THREE (Part 1) <page 20>
THREE (Part 2) <page 27>
ONE
Zoya Farooqui had grown up in New York all her life with her Aapi and Jeeju. Never having known any of her parents and only remembering snippets of her mother. She'd always wondered about her father, an unknown enigma that plagued her life. She wanted answers. Answers to the questions that shed always had. Why'd he leave her? Did he not want her? Was he happy with her mother, even for a little while?
She'd always been an inquisitive and free soul, trying new things all the time and so when she was ten, her Aapi enrolled her in dance class and she'd been dancing ever since. When she turned thirteen she started taking an interest in Latin and Ballroom dancing. Her Aapi and Jeeju were very supportive coming to all her showcases and competitions. She had trophies lining her apartment now, twelve years later.
She was a successful administrative assistant to the CEO of a major construction firm. Mr. Asad Ahmed Khan. He had made his name in India with his construction firm and slowly branched out to other locations, New York being one of ten. His main headquarters was in India but he spent time in most of the other locations for varied amounts of time depending on what was going on at that location at the time. Presently, there was major construction going on a hotel. Major reconstruction and Dilshad's Construction was the firm on the job.
Zoya worked for Asad five days out of six, the other day being her day off and the day she taught a dance class to six year old girls at a community center near her apartment. She was presently getting ready for a group and pair performance for her dance academy's annual fund-raiser. She was paired with a born and bred American ballroom dancer,Mark, who was more versed in ballroom than the Latin stuff so they'd been rehearsing for their performance every day at six when she got off work.
Today, however, Asad needed her to stay back and help him get some figures and statements in order for the hotels owner to go over. They had some estimates to work through and had to also give an estimate on how long the reconstruction would take.
"Looking at the materials and all the different things he wants done, from the ceiling, to the flooring, the rooms, everything, this project will take about a year. We'll have to have a meeting with the owner, hash things out and see where we go from there." Asad said, his eyes buried in the papers in front of him. His forehead scrunched in concentration.
"I worked out the estimate of each reconstruction, she said handing over the papers. We'll probably be adding to that list after you meet with him so . . ."
He grunted in acknowledgement, his eyes never leaving the work in front him. Zoya looked down at her watch and sighed, when she realized she was very late to meet Mark for practice. "Am I boring you Ms. Farooqui?" Asad asked suddenly making Zoya jump. "Ah . . . no Mr. Khan. I'm sorry, It's just . . . well . . . I was . . . never mind."
She risked a glance up and saw him staring at her with a indiscernible look. She looked down again. "What were you going to say? Speak freely." He said his voice calm, polite. "Well I . . . I was supposed to meet . . . someone."
He sighed a heavy frustrated sigh, "Ms. Farooqui, I'm sure your boyfriend can do without you for one evening." He took some papers placing them in a folder then looked back at her. "You should know Ms. Farooqui that when you work for me, you have to be at my beck and call. Might sound arrogant but it is what it is." He shook his head. Yep it definitely sounded arrogant, the ass. Zoya hadn't much liked Mr. High and Mighty Asad Ahmed Khan. The man who made it his business to let everyone know it was his way or the highway. The man who walked with authority and a raised nose to everyone around him. The man was what he said - ARROGANT. And she really disliked him for that. She'd had to make up so much excuses to get that one day off a week. And was so relieved at having her evenings to herself. Seems now that was about to change.
"I apologize again Mr. Khan." She gritted her teeth on that apology when she wanted so say much more unpleasant things to the unpleasant hard-ass.
He nodded his head in approval and she wanted to smack him. Good lord, she'd escaped working in too much close proximity with him for so long but now she saw that was going to change. She sighed again but softly enough that she didn't draw any more of his attention.
~~**~~
At eleven o'clock that night after working on statements all night, Zoya was hungry and tired and just wanted to flop in bed and sleep for a day straight. She'd had fifteen missed calls from Mark and ten text messages. She made a note to call him as soon as she got out of there. She went to her desk to gather her things when she knocked her purse to the floor all the contents spilling out.
She mentally cursed as she bent down to pick up her things. As she packed up she reached forward to pick up the flyer for the Dance Academy's Fund-raiser when a long lean hand snatched it before she could. She looked up at Asad Ahmed Khan as she opened the paper and read the details.
"A fund-raiser? For a dance academy? So you dance Ms. Farooqui?" He looked at her with curious assessing eyes. "Ah . . . that's nothing." She reached forward to snatch the paper from between his hands but caught air instead as he slipped the crumpled paper into the pocket of his trousers.
She looked at him with large surprised eyes, "Mr. Khan?" She said softly. "Hmm?" He answered airily. "Can I have my paper back?" She was seething inside but she promised herself she wouldn't let this man cost her this job with the great benefits.
"I think Ill hold onto it if you don't mind." He said looking at her with piercing dark eyes. "Is that okay with you?" he raised his brows in question.
Zoya stammered, she was about to answer when he said, "Alright then, see you in the morning Ms. Farooqui." And left Zoya standing there gaping at him. She grumbled as she slung her purse over her shoulder and walked towards the elevator.
~~**~~
Asad stared at his assistant as she grumbled her way to her car. He laughed. Making her uncomfortable was a treat for him. She pouted those full pink lips, scrunched those perfectly arched brows and cursed him mercilessly under her breath. Riling her up was always a treat. When he'd come to New York for the launch of the new location, he'd met her for the first time. five years ago. She'd stopped him dead in his tracks, wearing a black wraparound dress and sky high black heels, long dark hair curled into fat ringlets down her back. The look was modest enough but on her sexy as hell. Professionalism had kept him away from her for years, now he wasn't going follow that path anymore.
Five years he'd wanted her but he always got the distinct impression that she hated his guts. Maybe it was the fire in her eyes. The thin set of her mouth when she had to be near him. Well, she'd just get over it now because he was keeping her late for the foreseeable future. He'd finally decided that enough was enough and he wanted her, hate or no hate, she was going to be his.
He pulled the flyer for the fund-raiser from his pocket as he disabled the alarm on his car and smirked. This was a new revelation. Ms. Farooqui had a thing for dancing and he was damn sure interested in finding out more about this new discovery. And this person whether it was an excuse or an actual boyfriend, wouldn't be a factor for much longer. Shoving the flyer back into his pocket, he started his car and drove off . . .
Comments? 😃
NOTE:Just to clarify on Asad wanting Zoya for five years. Seems a bit much right? 😆 Well here's the reasoning - He met her five years ago at the New York firm's launch but professionalism kept him away. Having so many firms in so many locations, he doesn't stay in one place for long, his HEAD firm being in India. So he hadn't had much time to pursue her. Now that they're in the SAME location for an extended period of time, he's not wasting time anymore 😉 Hope that clarifies 😃
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
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