The drive to office was void of any conversation. After we dropped our personal radio off at Karthik sir's house, the car was silent. As the end of main Street neared, I shrugged my handbag over my shoulder, ready to get down. He stopped the car and I got down without saying a word. He too drove away wordlessly.

"Miss. Verma!", A voice called out and I turned my head. I saw Vanya waving at me from the other side of the road. She gestured me to wait while she crossed road. "Good morning!", She panted and I chuckled before fishing out water bottle from my bag. "Thanks!", She sighed as she grabbed the bottle before twisting open the cap and drinking few gulps down her throat.

"Good morning.", I said taking the bottle back from her.

We both walked alongside each other. "Hey, is that Mr. Raichand?", She tapped on my elbow. I narrowed my eyes and blinked when I recognized him. What is he still doing here?

"Any problem, Sir?", She asked boldly taking the initiative.

He turned around with a frown and his eyes slightly widened at the sight of me. "Huh?"

"Any problem?"

"Oh, my car suddenly stopped.", He mumbled kicking on the tyre.

"Where's your secretary, Mr. Raichand?", She asked stepping forward.

"He's coming in his own car.", He answered. I've never seen The Kabir Raichand answering silly questions asked by his employees. He hardly used to greet back.

"You don't know what's the problem with your own car?", I asked and Vanya elbowed me. I looked at her with my brows raised as she widened her eyes glaring at me.

"Uhm- no.", He scratched his nape.

"He's so adorable.", She cooed in low voice.

"He's dumb.", I said and she snorted.

"Let the car be here, sir. Don't worry, no one's gonna steal it. Let's head to office, and we'll tell the guards to bring it.", She said and he thought for a minute before nodding.

"Okay.", He shrugged before smiling charmingly at her. Is he flirting?

He just smiled.

And why do I care!?

Nevermind. Rolling my eyes, I turned on my heels and walked ahead, leaving them behind. Vanya soon joined me, grabbing my arm and forcing me to slow down. "He's coming with us. Walk along with him, not ahead of him!", She whispered in my ear and I huffed before nodding to get her off my back.

"What's your name?", Kabir asked as his footsteps soon matched with us.

"Vanya, sir. Vanya Mishra. And this is Rivaah Verma.", She introduced me along with her.

"Oh I know her.", He smiled.

"Really!?", She looked surprised as well as excited.

"Yeah. We were together.", He said and she gasped.

My eyes widened.

"I mean, in Mumbai branch. We've worked together. Right, Miss. Verma?", He glanced at me, a discreet smirk playing on his lips as I shot daggers at him through my eyes.

"Yes.", I said shortly.

"Oh.", Vanya breathed out. "I thought- nevermind!", She chuckled.

"It was nice meeting you, Vanya. And it was nice seeing you again, Miss. Verma.", He said before heading towards where the security guards are stationed.

"Oh god! He's so chivalric. And he's so down to earth. I can be straight for him any day!", She continued to blabber and I pretended to hear until we made it inside the building.

"Good day, Vanya!", I shouted to dissolve her praise for him. She realized we reached her desk and smiled sheepishly at me.

"Good day!"

I nodded before heading towards the elevator.

It was busy and already had awaiting crowd. I stood at the back, waiting for it to come down. Seconds later, when silence swept around like large tide gulping down everything within, I frowned and glanced around in search of it's reason.

Of course it has to be him! He strode in and Karthik Sir followed him as usual. He walked as if he owns the place. Wait! He actually do.

Shaking my head, I looked down at my shoes.

When the people around me dispersed suddenly, I tilted my head up and noticed everyone making way for him. They stood around him, as he stood in the center.

No!

There's only one elevator in this building, and if he takes it, then I'll have to wait for some more time. I'm already tired.

I made a discreet groaning sound at the back of my throat.

I looked at him, his back was facing me. I wanted to punch him. Hell! Why am I so pissed off at him today? He hasn't done anything since morning to make me this angry. I think my hormones are playing tennis with me. I'm suddenly feeling so angry over him.

The black suit looks good on him though. I've never seen a suit fitting so perfectly on any man. I mean, every stitch feels as if it's made directly on his body. The trousers are tight and the blazer hugs his broad shoulders perfectly.

"He looks so cool in sunglasses.", A lady beside me said.

Do these girls have no other work? Since the day I've joined, I had only heard female employees gushing over him like some crazy teenage girls. Is Dehradun running low on gorgeous men? Why are all eyeing him like he's some eyecandy?

"Is the elevator broken?", Kabir asked impatiently. His eyes- through shades- stole a glance at wrist watch.

"Not broken, but it certainly is not in a good condition, Sir.", A man, may be in his mid forties raised his voice.

"Karthik, ask the maintenance department to check and fix the problem. I don't have much time to waste. We're taking stairs.", He said with a tired sigh as he headed towards the staircase. I saw Karthik Sir's eyes widening in horror before he muttered something under his breath and followed Kabir.

The small crowd around me let out a breath.

Soon the elevator arrived and we all huddled inside. I was pushed to the corner by some stuck up girls. Huffing out a breath, I pressed myself against the metal wall and tried to keep my cool until I reached my floor.

"Good morning, ma'am."

"Good morning, ma'am."

"Good morning! Team meeting in five!", I announced before entering my office.

As said, my team of seven gathered in meeting room. The rest seven is led by some other team leader who's right now on holiday. I've not seen him yet. I know the person is he, because I've heard a lot about him in just one day. He's; competitive. It'll be fun working here. Note the sarcasm.

"Morning everyone!", I acknowledged everyone with a nod.

"Morning, ma'am!", The enthusiasm was great.

"So I didn't had the time to regard my own team separately yesterday, and I decided to do it today. Let me remind you, from the work environment I come from, I've never had any competition. But I heard here both the teams compete against each other to grab the opportunity of leading the advertisement campaign. Is that right?", Everyone nodded.

"So only one idea is accepted?", I asked raising my brows.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Okay, we'll go through this later but first let me know you all. May I know your names?"

"I'm Tanisha."

"I'm Meghna."

"And we're research analyst.", They both said together.

"I'm Nayan. This is Divya. We look after promotions and marketing."

"I'm Shana. I'm sales representative."

"I'm Karan. And this is Sameer, we're social media manager.", He said and I nodded.

"And what about the Creative director? Web designer?", I asked incredulously. Does this company really wants me to work with half team? I mean, I had team of twenty people to lead back in London. What do they expect from me? How can I lead a brand's name state- wise if I've only seven people in my team.

"Rishabh Mehrotra is the creative director, ma'am. And he leads another team.", Tanisha told me.

"That means it's a creative team?", They nodded. "Then why are we competing when we should be working together?", I asked and everyone just shrugged.

"We've to defeat them only in idea and strategy making. If our idea is picked up by Mrs. Dixit, we'll have the upper hand.", Karan said.

"Which has never happened in last three years.", Sameer said rolling his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"He's a Playboy, ma'am! And very competitive! He had seduced our almost every team leader!", Meghna huffed.

"You're just jealous.", Nayan scoffed.

"Excuse me!? You-"

"Okay enough!", I silenced them. "Tell me why do we have this extra drama of two different teams when we all could have worked together?", I asked folding my arms across my chest.

"Mrs. Dixit, ma'am! She wants best. And she thinks everyone might just turn lazy if we don't have competition during every project.", Divya said, her hands flailing in air for exaggerating effects.

"Okay.", I breathed out. So I'm dealing with this extra shit just because my boss needs some spice in her life. Great!

"He'll try to seduce you too, ma'am.", I heard someone say.

"Let him keep trying.", I scowled.

"Everyone says that. But after he sprinkles the twinkle of his charm shit, everyone changes.", Karan rolled his eyes.

"I think I deserve some respect. We may be team, and while working we're equals, but when I'm leading the team you all are supposed to follow me. That's called team unity. Am I clear?"

"Yes, ma'am.", Everyone mumbled.

"I promise you, this time we'll lead the campaign.", I said before dismissing them.

At the end of the day, a knock interrupted me from my work. Vanya entered with a mischievous smile on her face.

"I know you don't know so I brought the outfit for you to wear.", She said raising the paper bag in her hand.

"What?"

"Actually, when we heard that The Kabir Raichand has decided to join our branch, we decided to throw a welcoming party for him. And it's today. But because you recently joined, you're not added in the company's WhatsApp group. But don't worry, now I'm here, I'll get you ready.", She went on and on as she continued to remove some stuff from her purse.

"So?"

She looked at me as if asking, really!?

"What?"

"Stop staring at me and get ready!", She said thrusting the paper bag in my arms.

"Aren't you getting too much friendly with a stranger?", I asked playfully.

She stopped and looked at me. "Oh! I'm sorry, I thought we're friends? I'm really sorry for overstepping my boundaries. I'll just-"

"Hey, hey! I was just kidding. God you got serious!", I said grabbing her shoulders. She smiled awkwardly. Damn! Now I feel bad. I shouldn't have something like that. Even if it was a joke. "I'll just change.", I said swaying the bag in air before heading inside the conjoined bathroom. It was small but I decided to chuck the discomfort away for matter of time.

I groaned silently when I saw that she brought me a saree. But I wore it somehow. I don't want to make her sad more than I already had.

"How do I look?", I asked after stepping out.

"Who Kabir Raichand?", She sighed dreamily.

I laughed as faint blush covered my cheeks. She made me sit on couch and hurried to put some light make up on my face.

"How do I look by the way?", She asked as she applied some blush to my cheeks.

"As always beautiful!", I said honestly. "Do you always wear Saree?", I asked genuinely confused.

"Yeah. I love sarees!", She said as she stood straight and nodded satisfactorily. "You look ready to kill!", She patted my shoulder. I chuckled.

When we left my office, the floor was already empty. She dragged me to elevator as it was difficult for me to walk normally because of this Saree. It's been a long time since I wore saree. So the discomfort is obvious.

She led both of us to the same hall that Kabir gave his introductory speech in.

"By the way, do you know that Vivek Dahiya is fired?", She asked and I nodded. "Such an amazing news!", She smirked.

The moment I entered hall, it was blooming with laughter, talks and people all around. My eyes examined every corner, almost everyone was here. Right from the floor keeper to department manager. Women were cladded in beautiful outfits while men glided around in suits. They really planned a big welcome party for him.

"He's there!", She pointed at the flock of women huddled in the center of the hall.

I found him in the middle. Along with Karthik Sir and few other men. The women looked smitten by him. He had a charming smile on his face, and a graceful confidence in eyes as he talked. I frowned when a lady put her hand on his bicep.

"Let's go to him!", Vanya dragged me.

"Why? No!", I said trying to escape her claws.

"Don't be a party pooper! C'mon!", She said. "Good evening, Mr. Raichand!", She said loudly catching everyone's attention. I looked down and closed my eyes the moment I felt his intense stare on me.

"Good evening, Vanya.", He said.

"Oh you remember me!", She sounded surprised.

"Of course I do.", He chuckled. "Miss. Verma?", I cleared my throat before looking up.

"Evening, Mr. Raichand.", I said politely, my eyes were automatically drawn to the slender hand that was still on his bicep.

I don't know why, but I had a urge to grab it and break it in two!

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