Beauty & the Beast||Thread 2||Final note page 97||Chapt 59 page 92|| - Page 49

Chapter 47

Geet aged 23, Adrian aged 26

Geet smiled inwardly as the manager informed her of his decision, she stood shaking his hand and thanking him then turned walking out of the room.

Her eyes drew to Helen who was leaning casually against the counter chattering away with Kanchan. She walked over masking her expression.

“Helen, they’re calling you in” she informed.

Once Helen had gone, Kanchan arched her brows.

“You’ve got the job, haven’t you?” she inquired.

“Sorry, I can’t discuss anything” Geet responded smiling.

“Congratulations, Ms Senior Stewardess” Kanchan whispered. “She’s going to hate you”.

“She shouldn’t have treated me like a bitch then” Geet shrugged, “I was happy where I was, we’ll see how she feels when she can’t boss me around anymore”

Geet glanced over her shoulder hearing the door swing open, she smirked seeing Helen walk out of the room crying, she tried to be discrete, but her makeup stained face was enough.

“Shit, she’s crying” Kanchan murmured.

“Yep, I noticed” Geet nodded and turned around grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl. “I’ll see you later” she waved and walked out.

“Did going to the session help?” Shirley asked staring at Maan curiously.

“A little” he nodded.

“Would you like to talk about it?” she inquired.

“Not yet” he shook his head.

“How about you tell me about your captaincy?” she approached gently.

He considered it silently then nodded his agreement.

“You mentioned you lost a friend for the first time…” Shirley started off.

He nodded, “I did, I was injured much more that time. It wasn’t just cut and bruises, I’d been shot and I had suffered from a couple of broken bones. That was my first serious incident”

“How did you feel?” she quizzed.

“I blacked out after I returned to the base with Yash’s body. The adrenaline had kicked in so I barely remembered any pain” he answered, “A month after recovering at home, I returned to the base”.

“How did your family take it?”

“My mother and grandmother were not pleased” Maan smiled at the faint reminder of his grandmother cursing everyone in the house, “they begged dadaji to stop me. Dadaji attempted to speak to me, but I wasn’t listening to any of them. Being in the army, fighting for my country was in my blood. I wasn’t just going to let go of it because of a set back and a couple of broken bones. I was recovering quickly anyway”.

“Did you not consider the risks?”

“I knew the risks when I signed up for it” he reminded. “I… I just didn’t think… I didn’t think I’d have been injured so much that I’m unable to return to the army”.

“One day, maybe” Shirley looked at him hopefully, “What you’ve suffered isn’t something small. I’ve treated patients that were recovering over the course of a decade, once I have given them the all clear they were able to return” she replied.

Maan nodded in acknowledgement and understanding.

“You’re not serious, are you?” Geet looked at Diane.

“Deadly, you’re not getting a raise” she stated, “You’ve only been here two years”.

“Exactly two years” Geet reminded sharply, “Diane, I’m working my ass off here despite having another job”.

“You’ve got two jobs, why do you want a raise?” Diane crossed her arms in front of her.

“It’s not about me wanting it, I deserve a raise” Geet replied.

“Well then, you’ve heard my decision” Diane waved her off nonchalantly.

Geet clenched her jaw and turned walking out of the room, she kept a straight face all the way to the washrooms. Once the doors closed she expressed herself.

She swore all the names under the sun as she paced the washroom, frustrated she pulled her hair out of the ponytail and brushed her fingers through her wavy locks.

“Someone sounds angry” Adhira stepped out of cubicle moving towards the sink and washed her hands.

“I f*cking am” Geet grated, “She’s refusing to give me a raise, last month she refused to acknowledge my designs. I’m never going to get my own project if I go on like this”.

Adhira wiped her hand then turned to Geet, “What are you waiting for?”

“What do you mean?” Geet frowned.

“You’ve worked here on your free days getting experience, you studied for design degree and aced the exams right?”

Geet nodded.

“You’ve for the experience, knowledge, why are you hanging around here? You want your project – start from now” Adhira responded.

“For that I need a team, I need clients” Geet reminded rolling her eyes.

Adhira smiled softly, “I’ll get you for team, you however I’m sure can yourself some clients. Don’t you have an appointment with the Desai’s?”

Geet realised what Adhira was hinting at, “I steal the clients?”

“You’re clever, Geet. I’m sure you’d figure it out plus I wouldn’t call it stealing, the client hasn’t signed on with Diane yet” Adhira smiled and walked out leaving her to ponder in the washroom.

“You’re the newbie?” Geet looked up from the file arching her brows.

“Yes, Grace Jenkins” the young woman responded.

“Alright, Christina has spoken highly of you” Geet read through the references as she stood up from her desk.

“She was a great manager” Grace replied smiling gently.

“Okay, as you’ve only arrived I assume you’ve not yet seen your apartment?”

“Not yet” Grace shook her head.

“It’s shared accommodation until your trial period is over” Geet explained grabbing her car keys and walked out of the office with Grace following behind almost jogging to keep up with  her new line manager’s long strides.

“After that, you find something yourself” Geet continued, “You can continue to stay in the shared accommodation however you’ll have to pay discounted rent” she informed. “After the trial period, you’ll probably want to move out anyway and get your own place. There’s only so long you want to share” Geet added unlocking her car door, “Climb in, I’ll drive you to the shared accommodation”.

“Your first time at the India base?” Geet asked.

“Yeah, I’m kinda nervous. They speak English right?” she asked unsurely, “Sorry if I sound ignorant, between my flying hours I couldn’t find time to research much”.

“It’s okay, I’m not offended” Geet responded shrugging, “it’s a multicultural country, vast majority around here speak English”.

“Is the city great to live in?” Grace questioned, “what’s going to be the best place to go sightseeing?”

“I don’t know; I’ve never gone sightseeing here. Between my flying and running my own business, I don’t have time” she replied driving into the parking area. “Your new home for a while” she climbed out. Grace followed as Geet climbed the steps entering the building.

Once Geet showed Grace around the building, she walked out leaving Grace to unpack the luggage which was already brought down by a member of staff. She was just about to start her car, when her phone rang.

“Hey Adhira” Geet answered.

“Hi Geet”

Geet tensed noting the tone of her voice, “what’s wrong?”

“We’ve got a problem at the Khurana outhouse” Adhira murmured slowly.

“Aren’t you taking a risk?” Adrian asked Geet as she explained what her plan was.

“Every job comes with risk, you know that very well” Geet answered.

“You’re about to take two of Diane’s top clients, that’s bigger than a risk. What if it comes to bite you in the ass?”

“I’m not dumb witted to take this step without assessing the risks” Geet smiled. “Before I seal the clients, I need an office to work out of. Want to join me tomorrow?”

“Speaking of looking around for an office…” Adrian started as he walked out of the kitchen handing her protein shake and settled on the sofa besides her stretching out his legs, “You know maybe we should go looking for our place as well…”

Geet stopped mid sip and looked surprised, “Where did this suddenly come from?” she arched her brows.

“I’ve been thinking about it, we’ve barely had much time over the last couple of months. With me now working as the face of… and your job now as line manager” he responded.

“Wow…I… I don’t know what to say” she chuckled, her cheeks reddened and warmed.

“What do you think Pearson? You more than like me enough to move in?” he teased.

“Maybe” she grinned widely.

“So, we can start looking tomorrow?” he lifted his brows.

“Yes!” She squealed placing her glass down and wrapped both arms around him tightly.

“Hey Pearson” Adrian whispered enveloping his arms around his girlfriend.

“Yeah?”

“I think I’m falling in love” he murmured softly.

Geet burrowed her face into the hollow of his neck, a wide smile adorning her lips and her eyes squeezed closed.

“Have you decided whether you’re going to join?” Kartik walked into Maan’s bedroom looking at his brother curiously.

Maan looked up at his brother, his request had been playing on his mind a lot. This was Kartik’s first trip abroad, that too for something so big that would motivate him further.

“I understand if you don’t want to” Kartik mumbled seeing his brother unresponsive. “I get it, you know bhai you can just tell me” he smiled trying to seem as if it wasn’t hurting him a little that his brother wouldn’t be there. He couldn’t recall the last time, Maan had joined them for a family outing. Since the incident, there had been family dinners outside or certain parties they’ve had to attend – Maan had missed all of them.

“I’ll come” Maan surprised Kartik when he answered.

“What?” Kartik questioned blinking rapidly, he walked over nearing Maan thinking he had misheard.

“I said, I’ll come. I… I wouldn’t be coming to the show but I’ll… I’ll join you in LA” he responded slowly, he recalled Ishita’s words from the session. Don’t push away those who want to be with you, they’re your biggest support.

She was right, his family stood by him, loved him without condition, it was only fair that he reciprocated it by supporting his brother.

“I’m so happy, thanks bhai” Kartik bent down hugging Maan taking him by surprise. Maan smiled softly placing his hand over Kartik’s back and patted gently.

They pulled apart hearing Maan’s phone ringing, he was surprised to see Geet’s name popping up on his screen.

“Hello” he answered softly.

“Hi, uh… Maan, would you be able to come into the outhouse please, there’s a bit of a situation” Geet requested.

“Yes, sure okay” he cut the call.

“What’s wrong?” Kartik asked.

“I don’t know, come with me to the outhouse” Maan told him grabbing his cane and stood to head out towards the outhouse, all the while wondering what had happened.