Chapter 5

Eleanor stared at me, utterly shocked. 

"What are you saying Meera? You can't drop out right now!" 

"Yeah I can. You said that it was my decision." I revolted. 

"Yes. But not in the middle of a commitment you've already given. You've to meet him Meera,else Mr. Saxena will feel disrespected!"

I sighed. She is right. I can't leave something in the middle like this. Usually, I wasn't the type of person who does half job. My mind would turn into a cluttered opera of my irritating inner voices doing group discussions. 

But this time I was scared! Scared to meet a powerful person who can destroy my entire life in seconds. And who would care about the 5'3 foot tall,  brown eyed, fair and skinny brunette with wavy locks floating dead on the river of California? 

Does California even have a river? Because I don't prefer imagining my dead self lying on the middle of some street. River is more soothing. 

"Don't panic Meera. You'll be just fine." She placed her hand on mine as an assurance. 

*****

The car stopped in front of a huge driveway. I looked through the glass and was stunned to see the huge glass entrance standing in between a walking area flanked by greenery on both sides. 

David opened the door for me and I thanked him. He helped me step out of the car while I saw Eleanor joining us from the other side. 

One man, correction, well built man in a black tuxedo walked towards Eleanor and they had a conversation which I couldn't hear. Is this the guy? 

I'm not impressed! He looks good but...he wasn't what I expected. 

"Boris,this is Meera." Eleanor turns her face towards me and the guy copied her gesture. In short,he looks at me too. 

Two things are running in my mind right now. 

First, thank God that he's not the guy! 

Second, how should I respond to his gaze? 

Option A: Smile at him like the dumb I am. 

Option B : Say Hello

Option C : Run away and say that I am not doing this! 

Option C looked very appealing,but I stick to option B and A. 

"Hello." I smiled at him, making sure to not show my teeth. Let the garbage stay inside. 

The guy responses with a nod and stares at me for a minute. 

God! There should be a rule of not staring at a person for more than five seconds. It's awkward! 

Thankfully he gets turns back to Eleanor and she tells me to follow her. 

We walk inside the glass doors and I am already gaping. 

The floor is absolutely gorgeous!! It is made up of shiny cream colored marble tiles that had paintings over it. So I am literally walking over paintings. The ceiling is designed with silver intricacies and a huge golden chandilier lies at the centre. The walls are mostly covered by shiny golden curtains, which I think is to cover up the windows. 

Though, that's a general thing. Isn't it? 

I walked a few more steps and I would've enjoyed the whole feeling of being in a such a grand place, only if my shoes won't have ruined all the fun! Firstly, it's a high heels and I am not good with high heels. Secondly,  new shoes are a torture to my feet! They never forget to leave a bruise behind. Ok, maybe bruise is an exaggeration but still, my sensitive skin gets cuts. 

I struggle and finally walk towards the elevator. Thank God it's an elevator and not stairs! I will be dead walking half the way if it was supposedly stairs. 

I move inside the elevator and dude, it's posh too. The floor has a fake velvety texture to it. If it's supposed to be something,or I don't know. But it feels soft. Boris, if I remember his name,presses the elevator and up we go. 

Again the elevator nausea hits me. I feel my head spinning,the kind of spinning when you are drunk. My eyes fell on the elevator keys and there were fifty keys. How many floors this tower is? 

The elevator chimes open and I feel my nausea leaving me and my heart attack coming. Great! 

The floor was brightly lit, and I was told to follow Boris. Only Boris. 

Eleanor presses my shoulder and mouths "You'll be amazing.Just Breathe."

I gulped in my saliva that was mixed with fear and all the digestive enzymes. 

Boris kindly asks me to follow him and I do. 

Every step I take makes my heart beat like crazy. I am so scared. I wanted to hold onto someone but I was all alone with this big guy in front of me. 

We walk towards a big hall,which let me correct,is not the meeting room. It's the seating area for the room that is behind the huge door that stood in the middle of the room with pride. 

Doors have attitude too. 

I walk with Boris, clutching my purse tightly. It is the only friend I have. 

We stop in front of the door. 

"Please give me a minute inside." Boris says to me kindly and I nod back. This time I didn't smile. I'm improving. 

Boris opens the door slightly, as much will let him get inside and not let me see what the hell is happening in there. 

Btw, I didn't rehearse on how to greet that guy. 

Should it be -Hello! I'm Meera. Nice to meet you. 

Or- Hello There!! How you doing? 

Scary and out of discipline. 

Maybe- Hi. I'm Meera. 

Followed by a courtesy. But he's not a king, right? Then why should I curt? 

Argh! I hate Eleanor for bringing me unprepared. 

While I dive in my internal battle, Boris comes out and tells me to follow him. 

He opens the door wide open and my heart is already beating inside my mouth. 

I walk inside with him and was stunned to see the interiors of the room. It cries money but more than that, there is an unknown depth to the atmosphere. I can't express how it is. Something very dark maybe. 

My eyes roam around the whole room until they stop in front of a tall man wearing a white formal shirt with black trousers. I stare at him, struck with his charm. 

Damn! How can a guy be so handsome??

********