Chapter 5

*Pari Pov*

Today is about to be my third day in the office if the first day is not taken into account. And by the third day, I just became a coffee maker too along with P.A.

I know I shouldn’t have accepted it, but the offer is too nice, so I just took it. Now I am sitting on my chair looking at the new coffee stall.

Soon everyone arrived along with Maam. Everyone is watching it confused except Maam, who is giving me a knowing look and smiling at me.

After five minutes, they turned towards me with more confusion after reading the name on the board. As for me, I am just sitting down grinning like an idiot.

Maam cleared her throat and said, “As you can see this is a new change in this floor, and you all can use it at any time of course mostly during office hours. And Pari is about to make it for Mr.Stone and me. Enjoy the facility.”

“Thank you, Maam. ” Everyone replied.

However, she turned towards me and said, “Say that to Pari here because of whom this is organized by Mr.Stone.”

After she left, all the girls came near me raising their eyebrows. So I informed them of everything that happened yesterday.

As usual, all have big smiles on their faces, but Rani said, “Don’t you think it’s unfair for you to even make some coffee for them. I mean you are his P.A, not a coffee maker.”

“I know guys, but, now you all can enjoy this and drink at any time of the day. It saves money and also we can relax even in the middle of the day with few breaks. And as for Mr.Stone, I will take good care of him. ” I said, grinning.

They all high-five me and returned to their places after making their own coffee. As I looked at the watch, I know that he is about to be here in five minutes, so I too prepared for me along with them.

While I was taking one for Maam, I got comments from the girls that it smells is good. I just smiled at them and gave Maam, her one and returned to my desk.

Exactly after five minutes he reached the floor and glanced once at the coffee stall and immediately looked at me. Like yesterday, he ignored all the staff’s greetings.

When he reached me, he said, “Bring my coffee to my cabin. "After seeing it on my table.

I got up immediately and stopped him from entering his cabin by saying, “Mr.Stone! Good Morning! And here is your coffee.”

He turned towards me and reached near me and extended his hand for it. Everyone just stopped doing their work and looked at us.

I shifted the cup towards me and said, “Good morning, Mr.Stone!”

He narrowed his eyes and said, “Hand it over to me.”

“Good morning, Mr.Stone! ” I repeated.

He shook his head, irritated, and said, “Good Morning, Ms.Pari! Now, can I have my coffee?”

I nodded and gave him his cup. He glared last time at me and entered the cabin.

I looked towards my colleagues and saw that they are now looking with their mouths open.

I got some mute claps from the girls, and I bowed to them a little and sat in my chair. Suddenly, we heard a door opening and saw that Maam came out of her cabin, and she too gave me a small clap and returned to her cabin.

We all stared at each other and started thinking, how the hell did she know about that?

Maybe Mr.Stone told her. Great!

The day went eventually with all the calls and some browsing and one meeting and of course with some gossip.

Except in the evening, I got a call from Mr.Stone to enter his cabin. Now, what cyclone entered his brain?

When I entered his cabin, he said, “Please take a seat, Ms.Pari.”

I immediately understand that he got another deal or something had hidden in his sleeves. So I said, “Now, what is your proposal, Mr.Stone?”

He narrowed his eyes and asked, “How do you know anything about that?”

“You invited me to sit down Mr.Stone. You wouldn’t do that unless you are going to deal with me like some client.” I replied.

He took a deep breath probably controlling his anger. This is a surprise actually like the staff said he never controls his temper.

Maybe they don’t know him. He said after a few seconds “Like you can see there is a lot of work going on due to new deals. I even want someone to work as my secretary and note down my dictations and also sort out the files and everything.”

“And I am involved in this because? ” I asked him confused.

“You have to work also as my Secretary.”

“I am Sorry, What? I can’t do that. I got this job to work as a P.A not some secretary. You already make me do something unrelated job and now this again.” I said standing up.

“You are not understanding it. You have to work on both as P.A and Secretary not only secretary. ” He said immediately.

“I can understand what you are saying, Mr.Stone. I will not go through with it.”

“You will get paid for both." He stated.

“No, I will not do it. ” I said, glaring at him.

He sighed and lifted his phone and called someone and said, “I am sending Ms.Pari. Please talk to her.”

He looked at me and said, “Go to M.D’s cabin.”

I stomped and left his room and went towards Maam’s cabin, ignoring all the concerned looks.

When I entered she said, “Come on, sit down.”

“So, you don’t want to work also as secretary.”

“Why should I, Maam? When you took my interview, did you feel like I am suitable for mostly secretary or something?”

“You do not understand Ms.Pari. You are overqualified even for P.A here. I mean you graduated early at the age of 18 only by skipping some grades in school. After that, you did very good courses and even worked in a company for one year. We believe that you are capable of doing both jobs so only we are asking you this. ” Maam said.

I don’t know how she knows all of that; maybe she does background checks for the staff.

“But Maam…” I started rejecting it, but she cut off me and said “You shouldn’t even do the coffee job here Pari but you are doing it. Now you will even get paid for it. There is not much work for Secretary now as you can see we didn’t even need one before. So accept it for my sake.”

“Ok, Maam. ” I said sighing.

“Great! Now sign here for your appointment. You will have a big desk so that you can do both works freely. Trust me Pari this will do good for you. ” She said happily.

I smiled and left her cabin after signing. After I took my place everyone looked at me for a second and continued doing their work.

However, Rani asked, “What happened today?”

I replied “I don’t have the energy to say anything now. I still need to wrap up this all in my brain first. I will tell you tomorrow.”

She understood the pleading in my eyes and nodded. When office hours finished, I too left with them asking Maam’s permission.

Because I don’t trust myself in front of him at present, I may just snap at him.

After a long shower, I slept reckoning, what is going on in my life. Further work is getting added to my job by passing each day.

The next day I got up from my bed and immediately fell back on it. I don’t want to go to work today.

The feeling is not right to pursue both jobs. In my place, they can save someone from unemployment and give them one job right.

However, maybe they are better like that so that they can save themselves from Mr.Stone.

I chuckled at that thought. His behavior is quite amusing, of course, except when he shouts. Maybe because I never met a person like that or maybe because my dad never lets me meet such a person. Or by god’s grace, he is one of a kind and no one else is made like that.

I shook my head and got ready for this dreading day. I reached my office on time and saw a big desk in the place of the previous one. And some extra stationery useful for a secretary job is also present on the desk.

Then I saw a name plate with P.A & Secretary embedded. Like always everyone reached at their usual times and started looking at me.

“Why are we getting a new surprise every day from the time you joined here? ” Rani asked, laughing.

I pouted and placed my head on the desk and filled them about yesterday.

“Wow, Pari! I don’t know for how much time you will work here, but you are going to be in the history books in this company.” Sakshi joked, and everyone bursts out laughing and to my surprise even ‘Imran’.

I was on the verge of reply, but we heard clearing throats, and we turned to see that Mr.Stone and Maam are standing behind us.

Everyone rushed to their places, and it felt like some teacher entered the class, and all students scattered around to take their places. I controlled myself from laughing.

Maam smiled and went inside her cabin after we greeted her. And Mr.Stone started to pass all of us and before he does I get a brilliant idea as a tiny little revenge.

I held the cup and started tapping my fingers on it looking at him. He saw the moment and when everyone greeted him, he nodded to all of them.

I looked up and said, “Good Morning, Mr.Stone!”

“Good Morning, Ms.Pari!” he greeted back with a scowl covering his face.

I smiled and gave him his cup and grinned at all the grinning faces. I mean, it is important for him to acknowledge their greeting right.

Now, I understood that my coffee is a weakness for him. I mentally smiled at that thought and remembered my mom always joking ‘Your husband will fall for you after drinking your coffee or when he eats the food, you prepare.’

Where the hell these stupid thoughts did come from? I shook my head and took the notepad to inform him about today’s schedule.

Like Maam said it is actually not that much burden to do both jobs. Without knowing a week already passed.

Guess what? My colleagues made me give them a treat for passing the shortest time for this company’s P.A.

I got even more comfortable in the job and started completely enjoying it. My parents called me frequently and asked about my welfare, and I too called them so many times.

I get to deal with minor clients instead of Mr.Stone, of course after he sees my presentation and likes it and sets the meetings with the clients. Even check the mails of the company and send some from the company side.

As a secretary, I need to write down his dictation and type them. Set all the files properly and even to inform any important details about the staff.

*One Month after Pari joined*

This whole month is filled with numerous arguments with Mr.Stone when I took my stand in many matters. Of course, he had to give up.

He is facing me in these arguments, and I have my dad’s stubbornness. He is bound to lose them.

He even shouted at me so many times for silly mistakes, and I am still shaken about that.

Today I thought it was going to be like any other day, but I have to give a big treat for my friends for completing one month.

To my surprise, in the middle of it, Imran reached near me and said “Hello.”

I gazed at him warily and said, “Hi. Do you need something?”

“Look, I know you must hate me for my past behavior, but I was jealous ok. ” He said in one breath.

“I don’t hate you. But why? ” I asked him confused.

“Can we sit there and talk?” he asked, gesturing at the corner table.

I nodded and went with him to the corner table in the canteen and everyone enjoying the biryani I ordered.

“I actually applied for P.A post for Mr.Stone. But I didn’t have it, so I took the job which they were offering me.”

“Ok. So now you hate me or like you said jealous of me because I got this job right.”

“Yeah. However, for a different reason.” he mumbled looking everywhere.

“And that is? ” I asked him.

“I trust you in this ok. I like Mr.Stone!” he said and immediately my eyes widened.

“You mean…” I started but stopped myself.

“Yes! I like him, you know, like a crush. So I wished to be his P.A to be near him. That’s why I hated all of them.” he explained.

“So what changed now?” I asked frowning.

“I like you as in a friend. I loved the fact that you are strong enough to stand in front of him, and you are doing so much work without complaining. I even got a boyfriend recently, so... ” he said blushing.

How cute! I never thought I would see him blush like this by mentioning his boyfriend. I am glad I didn’t hate him because of his behavior and just was ignoring him.

“I am sorry for thinking badly about you.” I apologized.

“I am equally sorry. So, friends? ” he said, extending his hand.

“Friends! ” I said, shaking it.

Then he said how his family didn’t accept his choice of life, and he was totally devastated. However, came out of his house and started making his life on his own terms.

He is very intelligent as well. I am glad that he opened up to me otherwise I would have missed this chance to be his friend.

For the weekend, we planned to go to some park or something to enjoy.

I am very glad to join this company and gain such wonderful colleagues as friends.

*Mr.Stone Pov*

I am working on some important deal and I didn’t see someone entering my cabin. I looked up and saw that Di already entered and sitting in front of me.

“What are you doing?” she asked raising her eyebrow.

“I am working. ” I replied.

“Tomorrow you are getting engaged, and you are working. You need to take a rest.” she said sighing.

“What is the problem? Engagement is nothing but to put rings on each other hands, that’s it right. I still don’t understand why everyone does a big celebration for some rings. It is nonsense. ” I said, shaking my head.

“Are you sure you want to get married to Sheela? ” Di asked after sighing.

“Of course, Di. Mom selected her, so why would I not.”

“Mom is not going to spend her life with her. You are going to. So are you sure? ” Di asked again.

“Di yesterday Sheela said she loves me. I can’t start to think about it and break her heart Di. So I am getting engaged tomorrow.” I replied.

She left calmly after that. I was looking towards the door and started thinking about what Di said.

I actually am somewhat less sure about it than before this month. Probably because I never had time to think about her properly. These days are filled only with Ms.Pari’s stubborn replies.

What am I thinking? Tomorrow I am going to get engaged, and that’s it.

Next-day engagement is conducted with so much stupid overdoing. I still don’t understand those stupid functions. Complete waste of time!

After the engagement, we both sat on our chairs side by side as told by the elders.

Sheela said, “So when are you going to take me to your office?”

“Why should I? ” I asked her confused.

“Hey, I am your fiancé right. So, I will come into your office every day to keep you company. It is going to be mine also right after marriage.” she said holding my hand.

Now, I am quite peeved and was about to reject, but my mom beat me and said, “Let her. There are just ten days left for your marriage right.”

I was about to accept because my mom told me even though I didn’t like it, but my sister said, “How about this? You can visit every day for only some time."

“Ok, sure. ” Sheela replied.

I send a ‘Thank you’ look to my sister. So on Monday, I have to introduce her.

Monday arrived, and Sheela joined me and my sister to go into the office. We reached the floor and saw that everyone already arrived.

I cleared my throat and immediately everyone looked at us. I slowly said, “Meet Sheela. She is my fiancée.”

Everyone looked shocked, but Ms.Pari showed a little more emotion which I don’t know. After a few seconds, they stood up and congratulated us.

I nodded for their greetings and reached Ms.Pari’s table and said, “Today onwards make extra coffee for her too. ” without thinking because I want to talk about something or anything to her.

She was looking at me as if I lost my mind and said, “I will not do it, Mr.Stone.”

I was about to ask, but Sheela beat me and said, “How can you say that to your boss? You are employed and be like it. You are getting paid for working so act like that and do what we ask.”

How can she just say that? I looked at the staff and saw that they too didn’t like her comment.

Di said, “We are paying her for the job she is already doing. And she makes coffee as a request by us. You shouldn’t have asked her that, Mr.Stone. And Sheela, they have a talent which we need so they are working with us. Don’t disrespect them.”

“But they need to know their place right? ” Sheela said to Di.

“Will you keep silent? ” I asked Sheela.

In all this argument, we didn’t see the staff moved near Ms.Pari and whispered about something. She said, “Are you sure?” again in a whisper.

The remaining staff nodded at Ms.Pari. I don’t know for what. However, she sighed and turned towards us and said, “You can remove the stall, Mr.Stone. Tomorrow onwards I am not going to make any coffee for anybody.”

“But…” I started to say, but she cut me off.

She continued “I will buy some on my way to the office every day and that too three of them. Your fiancé can tell her type, and I will bring it.”

Sheela immediately told her preference and dragged me towards my cabin. Di left while showing disappointment in me, and Ms.Pari looked with a blank look.

Sheela opened her mouth and disrespected my staff. Is this her thought? She is not that rich, but ok, but that doesn’t mean she has a right to talk like that.

The mistake is also mine. I shouldn’t have asked Ms.Pari about that. I should have kept my mouth shut.

However, what I am surprised by is Sheela’s behavior. Did I make the right decision by agreeing to marry her?

Even the most critical problem here is, I am not going to have that coffee again. How can I cope with that?