Dually Devoted ?

Chapter 9

Within she could answer, the woman continued with a snort, "Don't tell me! His office fling?" She smirked, "Or should I say-"

Arpita fumed. "His Secretary," she replied, her voice involuntarily harsh and inappropriately loud. "Now if you excuse me, Miss, I have work to do." She turned and reentered the passcode.

Within the woman could digest the fact that she had been spoken to so rudely, Arpita was gone. The woman's face flushed as she looked around, checking if people had witnessed what had happened. Though no one had, the few normal glances she got made her cross her arms in a defense posture, opposite to the confidence it had always given her. "How dare she!" She seethed.

As Arpita reached her desk, the office phone rang. She hurriedly picked it up. Mr. Tripathi, her boss, had never been late to work. By the time she finished her lunch, he would have already started working. And he had never forgotten to dismiss her on time, except for once. He himself left a little late. Clearly, he worked more- Arriving on time but working faster and leaving later than her. She somehow felt incompetent, though she knew she was acknowledged since she's capable. "Yes, Sir?"

"Miss Mathew is visiting in a few minutes. See to it that she's not discomforted."

In a few minutes?! Arpita was horrified. Miss Mathew was an important shareholder, who acted like she's the owner. She needed a grand welcome. Arpita needed to make preparations for that, and then send for refreshments; she needed to inform the team-

"Am I clear?" His voice boomed through the line, cutting off her frantic thoughts.

"Yes, Sir," she said, trusting he must have told her as soon as he could. Unconsciously, that's the kind of trust and strength their friendship and partnership now carried.

I'm doomed. I'm doomed. She chanted, as she got to work without delay.

Siddharth had gotten a call from Miss Mathew just a few minutes ago. Thankfully he didn't have any meeting to attend. She's as arrogant as it gets. He closed the file after reading it carefully and signing it. Then, he got up from his seat, walking to the door. If only his dad hadn't had a good relationship with her father, he wouldn't have ever bothered to tolerate her attitude. She had only recently bought a few shares in the company, just because she wanted to flaunt it to the outside world. He had given her that privilege solely because his dad wanted him to. He hadn't forgotten how the rumour about her being associated with him had given her pleasure, when in reality, he couldn't even stand being with her in the same room.

Stepping out of his cabin, he decided to tell Arpita to take it easy. "Are the preparations done?" He asked her, not expecting much.

"Yes, Sir." She exhaled, not even trying to hide the tiredness that came with the stress she was carrying.

Amazed, he shoved his hands deeper into his pockets. "Sure?"

She nodded, with a tired smile. Then, to her astonishment, he smiled back!

For that one slow moment, everything around her went out of focus. Arpita's lips slightly parted in awe. Then, she smiled back wider, every pain and stress melting away at the sight. People who smile rarely seem to have the most beautiful smiles.

His eyes crinkled with an admiration, that he was sure, no one had brought out of him before. With a soft voice, "So reliable," he praised, shaking his head slightly. And went back inside his cabin.

A long-lost warmth rose to her cheeks. She stood there, wonderstruck, at not only his words and his smile, but also at the tone he had used. It seemed to gently touch her heart.

What had just happened? She asked herself, a smile warm on her lips as she entered the elevator to receive Miss. Mathew. She recalled his sharp black eyes glowing with a liveliness that she never imagined in him. His perfect lips curved slightly upwards, enough to show his dimple. He didn't look like the intimidating unapproachable billionaire, but like the man he really was from within. It made her notice the one thing she hadn't ever associated with him... his boyish charm!

For the first time since she had worked for him, it suddenly hit her that he was so similar to Arnav. From the way he talked to the way he smiled. Everything was eerily similar.

Similar?! Why the hell am I comparing?

With her lips pressed together in a thin line, she forcefully pushed her thoughts away and stepped out of the elevator.

Arpita took the bouquet that she had asked for and waited to welcome the lady. As Miss. Mathew entered, so did the woman whom she had met near the elevator. Are they related?

She tried not to be distracted as she welcomed them and led them to Mr. Tripathi's office.

***

When both of the ladies walked out of the office, Arpita couldn't but grimace at their angry and frustrated expressions. Not to mention the glare they threw her way. It wasn't of disgust anymore. It held something else that she couldn't really pinpoint.

So, not realizing that the look was that of jealousy, she bit her lip.

Just what had happened inside? She wondered. Even though she had done nothing wrong, Miss. Matthew's acquaintance thought otherwise. Understanding that from the woman's expression previously, she had concluded to not enter the cabin as she had opened the door for them. She had hoped, in her absence, things would go smoothly. It hadn't; she chewed on her lower lip.

When Siddharth came out of his office, she looked down at her feet. He had to handle her mess. What a trouble she was being...

"Had you argued with her sister?" He asked nonchalantly.

Sister?! She felt a lump in her throat almost choking her. "It- wasn't anything like an argument, Sir."

He studied her, before deciding to ask, "...Would you have acted differently, if you knew who she was beforehand?"

She lifted her chin, trying to grasp what his question implied. His toneless voice and stern face gave away nothing, as to what he expected her to say. So, she stuck with the truth. "I... don't think so, Sir," she boldly replied, knowing she was in for a lecture.

But that was the only truth. Even if she had known who that lady was, being called a fling would have enraged her just the same. She would have reacted to it just the same.

"Fine, then. Get back to work," he said, and walked back in.

What?!

She stared at the closed door of his cabin. What's with him today? What's with everything that's happening today?

Siddharth sat down on the couch in his office and closed his eyes, heaving a sigh. He hoped she wasn't foolish enough to blame herself for it. She looked so sad, that he wanted to move closer to her, gently caress her cheek and cup her face, telling her not to worry. But he had restrained himself.

It wasn't really her fault. He could've handled it easily if he wanted to. Not that he even needed an investor, especially someone like them. All they wanted was for him to tell her off, but when he refused to believe she had insulted them simply out of arrogance, that woman had suggested that he was favoring her to satisfy his own needs. He had known they were both blockheads, but to think they could be so mannerless in front of him! No wonder Arpita wasn't to their liking. His lips twitched. She had even argued with him; who were they to her?

His dad was going to ask for an explanation. He hoped his was satisfactory. He could have asked Arpita to explain everything but he didn't want her to repeat anything that might have made her uncomfortable. When had he become such a softie? His face twisted at the word.