Episode 8

Right after the meeting, everyone has been told by the host to go to the hall where the lunch is being served. I headed to my office to relax and I just sat in my chair and slumped my shoulders.

My mind wanders to the way Kayish looked at me a moment ago. I can't deny that the way he sent the message to me make my worries rising. "You have to be strong, Riya. You can't hurt yourself now, not in physically nor mentally. Don't allow him to rule your world again, no more hiding and afraid of him." I said to myself and repeated it like a mantra to make myself stronger.

"Hey, you there! I'm looking for you everywhere." Juliet's voice snapped me out of my reverie. She peeked his face at my door and gave me a worried look once she saw my uncomfortable face.

"Hi, Juliet. Are you not joining the lunch?" I gave her a tight smile and tried to make the conversation neutral. Guess she already has another thing in her mind, cause she just kept her hands on her hips and stared at me deeply like I had committed some unforgettable sin.

"Tell me what happened, Riya. You are hiding something. Is it only stomachache which bugging you since the boss showed up?" She asked and took a seat in front of me.

"Hey, you okay? Is the stomachache really serious?" Her voice turned into a concern once she noticed my sweating and pale face. My body was sweating profusely and my heart was thundering heavily against my chest, and I believe I lost the color of my face as my worries took over my emotion this time.

"I'm fine, Julie. My stomach is feeling better now; just worried about Sweety. She said there was a boy giving her trouble yesterday and I can't stop myself from worrying. That's all." I lied but she was not convinced at all.

"I know there's more into it, but I won't push you, Riya. Just remember, I'm here if you need someone to share and my shoulders always ready for rent." She teased me and this made myself smile. She's really a sweet person, I'm really lucky to meet her and have her in the same company.

Or else I must have felt lonely.

"Anyway, let's go." Suddenly, she grabbed my hand and dragged me out of my office. "Julie! Where are you taking me?" I asked sounded in more confusing.

She stopped for a minute and eyed me up and down. "Riya, I Know you haven't had anything yet, and your body needs some delicious meal now. As a good friend of yours, I will make you eat and make sure you're healthy enough to worry about Sweety or anything else. Let's go to the hall and eat something. The foods are amazing; I've seen the variants of the menu before hunting you down to your office." Her face lit up by the mention of food.

Oh! No. Not there. I need to prepare myself before meeting Kayish in non-formal conditions, only God knows what he planed in his evil mind. But it's s too late to tell her no and the next thing I know, we already entered the hall where the variant of food is being served. I just dumbfound for a moment, not knowing what to do until Mr. Miller's voice snapped me to reality.

"There you are! I've been looking for you, Riya." Mr. Miller exclaimed while walking towards us as he didn't confront me a while ago. "The arrangement is really good, Riya. I want to personally thank you for what you did, and sorry for my rude comment before." He added and once again engulfed me in a fatherly hug.

Where has his angry mode gone? Hasn't he been angry an hour ago? Moody much. No wonder why Kayish has some state emotion. I now understood where he got the changing emotion from.

Like father like son.

"Anytime, sir." I faked a smile before giving Julie a small smile. Actually, all these credits go to Juliet. She only made this arrangement, not me. But since he strictly told me to arrange the meeting by myself, I can't tell him the truth. If I do it will affect both my and Julie's job.

I mouthed a 'thank you' when Mr. Miller gave his attention to Julie but being a bingo she just winked before flashing a shy smile towards Mr. Miller and stood casually.

"Come on, I will introduce both of you to my son personally. I guess you guys haven't properly introduced yet since you're a project manager-" He then turned his attention towards Juliet and continued, "And you're his PA. I think both of you need to know him more than any other person here." He added and guided us to meet Kayish.

Oh.....No.. no... no. A BIG NO! This is the last thing I need for today. I have enough of Kayish. But I think I can't help myself for this moment as Juliet is ready to meet the boss personally, and Mr. Miller's reason is very true. So I just followed Juliet who is following Mr. Miller's direction.

I can't help myself to look at the surroundings to find the sign of Kayish and spotted his tall figure talking with a bambos. He is thrice my size and shorter than me. Maybe 5.3 inches.

"He seemed busy sir, so maybe another time--" I tried to reason out hoping he will understand and postpone the introducing any other day, but he's not buying it.

"No... He is not. He has been dying out of boredom. So introducing him to a beauty like you would make his heart warm" He sheepishly smiled at me and it made Juliet spit the coke she was drinking. Poor girl, her reaction was priceless like me and where she gets the coke anyway? Am I distract that much? Oh god,, I think it is not a good sign, I can't even relate to the reality around me before I face Kayish.

Juliet seemed embarrassed by her outcome, the same way I do. So, she excused herself and walked to the restroom, probably for cleaning the mess she had caused.

"Relax, girl. I'm just kidding. My son will not swallow you." He tried to cut my worry that I am trying to hide and turned his attention to the direction of where his son is standing.

"Kayish, Son." He called his name. For a second, I wanted to run out of this place and hide or make myself invisible if it is possible. And like God heard what I prayed, Juliet came just at the right time and joined us.

A big relief!

Being an obedient son, he turned around and walked towards our direction. He then stood beside his dad while typing something on his phone, not noticing me who was giving him a murderous glare, cursive him to hell internally yet.

He shoved his phone into his pant pocket and turned his attention to Mr. Miller after some minutes. Mr. Miller raised an eyebrow at him but he simply shook his head. It's like they were communicating through their minds like werewolves do.

Seriously Riya? Werewolf? Where is this coming from although they don't really exist??

"Well, my son. I hope you're not really busy this time." He patted his shoulder and began to introduce us.

"Here is Miss. Riya Kader---" As soon as his dad said my name, his head turned towards me; something victory crossed across his sinful face.

Go to hell, you monkey!

"---The new project manager. She is my friend's daughter. Her dad recommended her to work with us and here is Miss. Juliet Hamen, she will be your PA." Mr. Miller successfully introduced us.

The annoying smirk plastering on his face, he offered me his hand and for another dumb act today, I just stood there staring at him while boiling him in my pressure cooker till there is no more sin left in my sweet vision.

As to ruin my future plan, Juliet elbowed me when I didn't take his hand right away.

"Hello, Boss. It's good to finally meet you." I shook his hand politely even though in my mind, hundreds of different scenarios are running. I wish I could able to rip that smirk on his face with my long nails. But being a jerk he has another plan in his mind and tightened our hand than necessary and the smirk on his face is clear as a day as he's not letting my hand go anytime soon.

I really wish I can direct a punch on his arrogant face.

"Call me Kayish, please. No formalities. After all, you are my...hmp..." He cleared his throat just to swallow whatever sinful comments he was about to pour.

"After all you're the project manager and the daughter of my dad's friend." He then gave me a knowing look but a bit of confusion twinkled across his face for what seemed to be a rare second.

Bang! He got the point.

"It means you are a friend to my family, no formalities between friendship. Right, dad?" surprisingly, he managed a good answer and it impressed his dad more.

Good actor. He could have got a good chance in Cini field if he had tried once.

"Yeah! Her dad is my close friend. It's an honour for me to have his daughter working for us, please do me a favor Kayish, you need to taking care of her, my friend always said that she's a gem to his family, and we will not break a gem right?" Mr. Miller explained to Kayish about me and even adding a teasing tone,,,,, and what?????! He asked Kayish to take care of me??!! I mentally cursed myself for being trapped into this mess situation. Who takes care of whom, really?

"Of course I will dad, a gem like her need to be taken care of, in proper way, right Miss Kader?" he said to his dad and giving me a bright smile like he really understands what he will do to 'taking care of me', his eyes shining with armor. I know he has another meaning for by taking care of me.

"Hello, Boss. It's good to finally meet you. I'm Juliet Hamem. I will assist with your work ahead." Juliet politely greeted him and introduced herself after. Kayish glanced to her for a moment and only nodded his head without any word. DAMN!! This arrogant man!! I mentally slapped him twice in my mind and cursed him to be in the 7th hell. How arrogant, rude, and manipulative jerk!!!

"I know a good restaurant near here; I heard they serve good dishes as well. All tables are full, and our employees are enjoying their lunch. I think we should take lunch there, right son?" Mr. Miller glanced at Kayish for his suggestion. True to his words, all tables were already full.

"Oh, I'm sorry sir. I think I forgot to mention to the event manager to manage the VIP station empty for you and our new boss." Juliet explained the crisis to Mr. Miller.

"Don't worry, Julie. You did a good job. There's another good place I know who serves wonderful." Mr. Miller gave her a reassuring smile. "Shall we go now?" he added and glanced towards Kayish once again who only managed a small nod. I think it's a good time for me to excuse myself.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Miller. But I can't." I set up an answer for my escape, and all three head just looked at me with the questioning look. Uh..oh.. What a good excuse to not to join them?

"I don't eat non-veg sir," I added the sentence that first came into my mind, but Oh God!! What a silly excuses I made. Zero credit for me, it will not make myself free.

"Then let's order veg, Riya. Not a big problem. I'll make them serve vegs for you, dear." Mr. Miller simply said and walked ahead not bothering to hear me up.

"Such a blind excuse." Kayish whispered in my ear before walking behind his dad; his hot breath sent shivers down to my spine. Unexpectedly, I felt my arm was being hit and I glared at Juliet who attempted to kill me.

"Ouch, what's for that?" I asked her and rubbed the spot where she hit.

"Are you sure you don't eat non-veg?" She gave me another questioning look.

"Hmm,, ya,,, Why?" I asked, throwing her one of my best glare.

"Yesterday I saw a chicken bog on your table. So...." She trailed off.

Shit!!

"I'm fasting today. That's why." I masked my lie before walking behind Mr. Miller and his devilish son.

The restaurant Mr. Miller mentioned was a huge hall which arranged neatly. There was a giant table in the middle of the hall and almost twenty members were seated around the table. This table setting made all visitors look as an important guest.

"Riya and Miss.Hamen please take a seat." Mr. Miller said politely to me, and Juliet who as dumbfound as me looking at our surroundings in awe.

I examined the seat arrangement before walking towards another direction which is far from Kayish. Sadly, Juliet is destined to take a seat near Kayish and here I just noticed there was a handsome man who sat on my left side.

"Hello, gorgeous!" He greeted me with a wink. Sassy much.

"Hey, Handsome" I mimicked his tone and took my forks.

Mr. Miller started to order the food and asked both of us what we want for a lunch, and to my luck, with my silly excuse I made before, I only ordered a salad as my option.

Tragic..

They all enjoyed their food except me. Why did I come with the silly excuse? My mouth watered when the smell of hot chicken noodles and curry filled my nostrils but my luck, I have only fruit salad and sandwich.

"You don't eat non-veg?" Mr. Handsome asked me, glancing at my salad. I know man, I know... its pathetic.

"Only for today, I'm fasting," I said and took another bite of my sandwich. The taste was good but I want more.

It's okay. I will order my favourite Chicken Curry and noodles at home. Sweety like chicken curry too. I gave myself an assurance of the meal and a smile appeared at my face when I remembered the way how Sweety had her chicken curry for the first time. It was amusing, yet, adorable. She was too much eager for the food after she had a taste of curry, and the sauces can be found all over her mouth and upfront dress when she was done.

As I was drowning in my daydream about Sweety, a hot sensation hit my sense and I looked up only to spot Kayish staring straight into my eyes and I can tell that he was in his deep thought.

"What's the reason for your bright smile, dear? You seem very happy with whatever you are thinking?" Mr. Miller asked and teased me at the same time.

"Ahh! hmm! It's just......" I tried to reason him, but Mr. Handsome beside me cut my word.

"Oh,, come on! It's your boyfriend. Isn't it? I bet you have a handsome boyfriend. Why did the gorgeous girls I always meet have a boyfriend? Can't one of them stay single for me?" He spoke with a loud voice far enough to grab everyone's attention.

Eww! My cheeks heat up with embarrassment.

"No wonder, beautiful gem always have an owner." Mr. Miller gave me a warm smile and turned his attention towards his Chicken Curry. I twirled my eyes to Kayish and find him staring at me intensely. I ignored his stares and stared back at my lovely salad and burger. Once the lunch has done, I and Juliet excused ourselves to go back to the office, since the restaurant is not really far from our destination.

"Hey!" Mr. Handsome called out when I and Juliet came out of the hall. It seemed he has been waiting for us. "I'm Harith Walsh, you can call me Harith." He introduced himself; He sure knows how to get girls' attention.

"Riya Kader." I took his hand for a polite handshake.

I studied his appearance once more this time, with him standing in front of me granted easy access to get a proper look of him. He has grey eyes matches with his hair, sharp nose, and strong jaw which definitely make any girls drool over him. He stood 6.2' height and has a broad shoulder, he's a charmer for sure. For a second I mesmerized by his handsome figure. I believe he must be every girls' weakness.

"By the way---" Even before he could move to his sassy level, we were interrupted by someone. "Harith." A hard voice called from behind us and I turned my head to find Kayish giving Harith a hard look.

"Hey man!" Harith waved at him while Kayish is walking towards us. And to my dismay, he stood beside him. I took one step backward when I felt his closeness.

"Dad is looking for you," He told Harith in monotonic.

"Okay--- that old man sure knows how to kill my date! I'm going." He managed an answer to Kayish.

"See you later, beautiful! Say hello to your boyfriend." He waved his hand to me and gave another wink before walking away to meet Mr. Miller.

Is he serious? Who told him I have a boyfriend? Boys and their bizarre thoughts. I shook my head.

"Let's go, Juliet." When I and Juliet was about to take another step, Kayish's voice stopped us.

"Miss Riya Kader, meet me in my office once 15 minutes from now" he ordered in a demanding voice, his jaw clenched and with that, he takes his leave. I and Juliet looked at each other not knowing what to say before we made our way back to the office. Well, the first-day work with Kayish will make my life more colorful.. Please... note my sarcasm.

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