Chapter 2

*Pari Pov*

Finally, I am in Mumbai along with my dad. I asked him to stay back, but of course, he didn’t listen to me.

This whole week just passed with my packing, my mom’s tears and, my dad’s safety measure rules.

My new house is not far from my office building. My Dad said that the area is equally a prudent one. I even met the maid, and I told her the timings when she could come and tidy up the house.

It would be very easy for me if she comes in the early mornings, and she accepted it. I at least talked my dad out of keeping a security guard for the house.

I know I am only going to start working, and if I have a guard, then it will be definitely over the top.

I got another surprise when a Scooty was delivered, which turned out to be my Dad’s other gift. He knows me too well by the model of it and also color.

My Dad finally settled me down and went away. House is totally furnished and I just changed a little here and there.

It’s already evening and tomorrow it would be the first-time day in the office. So I freshened up and got ready for bed.

After settling myself on the bed, then it hit me. I have actually left my home to come here and live in an unfamiliar city to work in some company.

I just hope I did the right thing and will not regret it later. What’s done is done? Now I have to just try to make full out of it.

The next day I woke up at the time maid said she will come. She was on time. She did her work, and I tried different outfits to be presentable today.

Finally, I chose one simple, but with a little sophisticated look. I got ready and reached the office on time.

“Excuse me? ” I asked the receptionist.

“Yes! How can I help you? ” she asked with a boring tone.

“Uhmm... Actually, I got appointed here as a P.A two weeks back. ” I replied.

“And, by whom? ” she asked me again just rolling her eyes.

“By Mrs. Simran for the CEO. ” I replied calmly.

Immediately after hearing that, her eyes widened and coughed uncomfortably for a few seconds.

“Just a minute? ” she asked me and immediately called someone.

After talking in whispers, she finally looked at me smiling, and I saw some pity in her eyes.

“Go to the fourth floor. You can easily find the madam's cabin, and all the best.” she said and the last line definitely with pity.

Maybe I am imagining things here. I shook my head and went to find the cabin using the elevator to reach the floor.

I knocked on her cabin door and heard a faint reply ‘come in’

This is it right! I took a long breath and entered the cabin.

“You must be Ms.Pari. ” She asked me.

“Yes, Maam. ” I replied as we do for our teachers at the time of attendance.

She suddenly chuckled and said, “Take your seat. Now I know I interviewed you online, and it is certainly uncanny. However, we were in a hurry, and you having all the qualifications required for this job. So here you are, but let’s just have a small interview for casual.”

I nodded and finally had my actual interview. When it is finished, she said, “I hope you have boundless patience level. It is totally needed on this job.”

“Of course Maam, but when shall I start my work? ” I asked.

“Your boss is not in today, so your actual work will start tomorrow. However, today settle yourself here and get to know the people and also about your boss from them. ” She replied.

I nodded and left her cabin, but I stopped myself because I don’t know where my table is. I looked around and saw everyone working seriously.

One girl came out of the elevator and was about to pass me, but I cleared my throat letting her know that I need something.

She looked straight at me and said, “Yes?”

“Hi! Actually, I just got appointed, but I don’t know where my table is.” I replied.

“You are appointed for? ” She asked.

“As a P.A for CEO. ” I replied. I am actually getting tired of saying ‘CEO’ to everyone. I mean, what is his name?

Her eyes widened same as the receptionist. Suddenly, she turned around and said, “Guys, new one is here!”

Immediately everyone looked up from their desk and looked at me with wide eyes. There are just only four people aside from the girl beside me.

I felt uncomfortable completely by this point. I mean it’s not like every day we get five people looking at you shocked or something at the same time.

“Sorry about that, but come on I will show you your desk.” she said, dragging me away towards the rear end on the floor.

“So this is our boss’s cabin, and the opposite desk is yours. The side desk is mine. Of course, there are more distances between our desks.” she explained.

“I am Pari. ” I introduced myself.

“Oh! How silly of me. I am Rani. ” She said hugging me.

Ok, didn’t expect that. But anyway, I too hugged her.

“Guys, she is Pari, and introduce yourselves. ” she shouted loudly.

Doesn’t she care that the Maam is just down the hall? I thought, frowning.

They all nodded at me and started introducing themselves. An older man is present whose name is ‘Srinivas’. A girl, of course, a bit older than me whose name is ‘Rashi’.

Another girl of my age whose name is ‘Sakshi’ and then a man he just told his name as ‘Imran’ and turned away.

He must have a huge attitude problem. After the introductions, I went to my seat.

I couldn’t help but ask Rani. “You shouted so loudly. What if Maam heard you?”

“Don’t worry about that. I will explain everything in the Lunch break.” she replied and continued doing her work.

I just browsed around the computer and learning about what I should do and what is important.

Then I remembered I don’t know my Boss’s name right. So I looked towards the door and felt disappointed because there is no name on it.

By passing every single minute this office is turning out to be totally weird.

I am actually quite shocked by hearing that there is a canteen in the office building. All girls who work on the same floor as I sat with me for lunch.

“Ok, I know you must have lots of questions to ask us. Ask away. ” Rani said.

“Ok, why did you look shocked when I introduced myself as P.A?”

“Do you know anything about this office? Or read any news about our Boss? ” she asked.

I shook my head and said, “I don’t even know his name.”

She chuckled and said, “His name is Mr.Stone.”

“Oh! Is the company named after him? ” I asked her.

“Nope. It is not his real name. ” She replied.

“Then is he named like that after his company? ” I asked her confused.

They all laughed at that and said, “Not at all. He is called like that due to his personality.”

“What do you mean? ” I asked her because I got even more confused.

“His personality is like a stone, you know. He is so hard and acts cold-hearted towards everyone. ” Rani replied.

“And don’t forget so hot.” Sakshi added.

Rani rolled her eyes and said, “As I was saying. He doesn’t hesitate before making anyone cry. We get to see a new drama every month while he fires his number of P.A’s. So that’s why we all reacted like that towards you. Be careful ok.”

“I don’t know why he is not in the office today. He never takes leave. Like Srinivas sir saying, this is the first time of three years he took the leave.” Sakshi said.

“Really? ” I asked her in surprise. Who works that much these days?

“Yeah! He even has a penthouse in this building to stay here at late nights so that he need not waste his time going into his home. However, for the whole last week, he didn’t stay here and went directly to his mother’s house. ” Sakshi added.

“He may have taken the leave, but he just closed off another deal today from his house. ” Rashi said.

“Then his leave doesn’t count at all. As Rani said, be careful ok.” Sakshi said.

I gulped and nodded at her. I didn’t expect this at all. We all made small conversation, and I told them where I came from.

After the lunch break, we went towards our respective seats, and then I remembered something and asked Rani “Hey, you didn’t tell me why did you not get in trouble when you shouted with Maam at the end of the hall.”

“That’s because even if we talk in whispers she will know everything. So we all talk loudly. ” She replied.

“How do you know that? ” I asked her.

“There are still five minutes, so I will explain quickly. Like Sakshi said before, our boss is totally hot. So there are many bets happening in the whole office about who will get to touch his hand or hug him like that. ” She said.

I nodded, asking her to go on. “So, whenever someone gets to do any one of those with him, they will give everyone a small treat like sweets, chocolates, or cakes.”

“But that is completely wrong, right? ” I asked.

“Yes, but we will get the treats, and it is fun. You are saying this only because you still didn’t see him.” She said.

I rolled my eyes and said, “You didn’t answer my actual question.”

“Yeah, like I was saying when all this started Maam somehow got to know each one of them, and she too took the treat from them. ” She explained.

“What? ” I asked her in shock. I mean she encouraged them all.

“Yes! She knows a lot about this office. She gets all the gossip we talk even in whispers. We don’t know how so we left it like that.” She replied.

“But don’t you feel uncomfortable?” I asked her frowning.

“At first it felt like that. However, now we became accustomed to. She really likes to hear all the gossips, and we are giving her. ” she said.

I shook my head and said, “I am finally sure this office is completely weird.”

The evening passed eventually with her giving me some tips regarding what to be done and everything. She even told me that I had to bring coffee every day for Mr.Stone and Maam.

She knows the type they drink, which she heard when he was shouting at one of his P.A. I am still terrified about that.

When it was time to go, I bid my ‘Byes’ to everyone and everyone returned except that ‘Imran’. God knows what is his problem.

I reached a silent home and quickly called my parents. After that, I cooked myself some dinner and ate it.

I slept with a little uncanny feeling of fear.

*Simran Pov*

After hearing the conversation between Pari and Rani, I am sure that I have chosen the right person as his P.A this time.

I chuckled when she said this office is weird. I know it is wrong to hear their conversations through secret mikes present all around the office on each desk.

Nonetheless, this is for my brother. I don’t want anyone to hurt him or even betray him. I even get some entertainment.

It’s a win-win situation. I couldn’t help but have a little bad feeling about Sheela. I hope she is correct for him and doesn’t hurt him.

I know he is cold and stone or whatever, but he is my brother, and I know he is not like that before a few years. The situations made him like that, and I really hope if Sheela is correct for him. Then she would bring his true self again.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but feel terrified like something bad is going to happen. I sighed and shook my head and reported to my brother about his new P.A got arranged.

He still didn’t like me appointing her online, but it was important, and she is totally suitable for this job which I got proved again by today’s interview.

I hope at least she is not going to be fired by my little brother in one month itself.