The next day when Akira got up, the first thing that she saw was her office ID card which was lying on her side table. She looked at it and then sighed. She checked her phone and saw that she had received a text message from Vikram.

"Will come and pick you by 8:30 am" - Vikram

"Your new job offer is ready and please don't think of it as a backdoor or anything. You will have to work hard to convert it into a permanent position after your college term is over" - Vikram

She read his messages and her heart was immediately filled with gratitude.

"What would I have done without you Vikram", she thought and sighed.

Her head was filled with hundreds of thought of how to put her paper down, but none of the ways that she thought seemed effective. She knew how sharp Raymond was and knew that he would definitely question her. And given her amazing track record in lying she was pretty sure that he will catch her. Maybe her decision to leave the company won't hurt him as much as her lying to him would. The only thing that she was afraid of was betraying him. But she had to, as she had no other choice because she had received clear instructions that if she tried to tell anyone about it, there would be consequences. And she knew that the consequences will tear Raymond apart.

With a heavy heart, she got ready and when Vikram arrived, she went along with him to her office.

On her way, she received a text from Raymond.

"Hey Morning!!! How are feeling right now? Headache is better?" - Raymond

She felt like she was stabbed in her heart with his message. He was making everything so difficult for her. The more she was resolving herself to drift far away from him, the more he was pulling her towards him with his love, affection, and care.

"I am good. On my way to the office. I have a piece of exciting news for you." - Akira

"I am happy with whatever makes you happy. Come soon". - Raymond

She saw the message and looked at Vikram in despair. He could clearly see her pain and how much she was suffering from within. He moved his right palm and held her hand and squeezed it tight.

"It's going to be ok. You are doing the right thing Akira. You are letting Scarlett have a happy family together with Raymond. One day he will understand why you did it and will be forever grateful to you. It might hurt him a bit down but you will immunize him forever with happiness", he said and looked deep into her eyes to give her strength and to assure her that she was doing the right thing.

"And trust me, I will make it look extremely realistic. He will have no doubts", Vikram said.

But she didn't say a word. Her restless heart could never understand the principles of what is right and what is wrong. All that she wanted was to be happy. But she didn't know that it came with a heavy price tag.

"I have asked my men to check for the whereabouts of Anthony. As soon as I get any information, I will let you know and as for Scarlett, I will try to get her tailed by a private detective", Vikram said and continued driving.

"It's ok Vikram, I have accepted my fate. I don't want to drag it any further. Let's just it end it for once and for all", Akira said and wiped her tears.

Her office was approaching closeby.

David was waiting at the reception to receive Vikram as they were expecting him. But he was a bit surprised to see Akira with him. He accompanied them to the first floor but he could safely assume that something was cooking up.

Vikram entered Raymond's office and greeted him.

"Hello, Raymond !!! How are you?", Vikram said and shook his hands with him.

Raymond shook hands with him but he was surprised to see Akira also entering inside his office along with Vikram. He gave a look filled with a question mark to her, but she decided not to respond to it and just returned it with a smile.

Raymond glanced at David and nodded his head and he immediately left the room.

"So what brings you here Mr. Shah?", Raymond asked.

"Well, today I haven't come to make any deals or to discuss business. My purpose is a bit personal today", Vikram said and looked towards Akira.

Raymond saw him looking at Akira and he could clearly see that she was slowly turning pale, and his heart could sense that something bad was going to happen. She was standing there like a log of wood without any expression on her face like all her blood had dried up.

"You can sit Akira or are you waiting for your boss to tell you to sit?", Vikram said and chuckled.

Akira smiled hearing Vikram's joke but Raymond could see how fake her smile was.

"So Mr. Raymond, the thing is my company is going to open its own advertisement department as we are expanding our PR section. We do not want to invest money or give a contract to another company to make advertisements for us. We have brought a small company which prepares commercials for TV and small budget animations. So probably Akira can work there as a Graphic team member. And anyways its always better if the family stays within the family right. So I guess its better that she joins our family business. Right?", Vikram said and looked at Raymond.

Raymond heard him patiently and then looked up at Akira,

"So you also want this?", Raymond asked.

She couldn't look him in the eye and so she simply nodded.

"See... she is really enthusiastic about this new opportunity but she didn't know how to break this news to you. So I came in to help her out", said Vikram.

"I see", said Raymond with his gaze still fixed on her.

"Sorry for all the trouble. She will drop her resignation letter with the HR today. I am really grateful that you gave her this opportunity to learn without a question asked. Thanks for keeping my request", Vikram said and smiled at Raymond.

Suddenly Akira lifted her head.

"Request? What request?", she asked and looked at Vikram and then at Raymond.

"Ah... its nothing. I had just asked him to consider your resume for this internship post before. That's all", Vikram said and shrugged his shoulder.

Akira couldn't believe what she heard just now. Raymond couldn't understand why Vikram would bring it up when he had requested him not to disclose about the backdoor request. But what he feared the most was Akira getting hurt by knowing about it.

He looked up immediately in her direction.

She lifted her eyes and looked up at Raymond and he saw her eyes get filled with tears.