Chapter 1

*Prathap Pov*

Ugh! This is child abuse for sure and maybe I can try to sue him for forcing me to sit here and work on something I am not interested in.

It's been three years and I am already 27 but he is still insisting on me to continue working here. I am 27 for god's sake and I shouldn't be doing all this.

"Sir! You have a meeting scheduled within an hour." I turned my seat to look at my pitiful secretary.

Maybe even he can sue me along with my Dad for forcing him to work for me like this. I sighed glancing at the file he placed near my sight.

"Do you know what important meeting we need to have right this moment?" I asked closing the file to stare at him.

"Prepare on how to deal with the later meeting, Sir." He replied with a confident look but I shook my head losing the hope that he is not made for me.

"No! Prepare the energy to bear with the later meeting." Saying that I stood up and took my coat from the hanger before stepping out of the cabin while he rushed behind me by calling my name.

When we reached my favorite place, I smiled before standing in the queue and he followed my suit.

I waved at the canteen staff before checking out the food while checking which needs to be tested today. They gave their opinion and I finally chose two from the menu before sitting on the corner table.

"Why are you eating in such a rush? Food needs to be enjoyed properly. Do you know how much effort it takes to cook?" I asked frowning at my assistant while he kept on mumbling that we need to prepare for the meeting.

I shook my head and turned a bit only to stiffen when I found my best friend walking towards the canteen which is not a weird thing as he is the Vice-President of this company already at 31.

But the person beside him who seems to be really close to him. I turned towards my assistant before gesturing her and he nodded before explaining everything he knows.

"She is a model who is getting popular with every commercial she is doing but the main gossip is her connection to the Vice-President." He explained and I frowned at him.

"Connection?" I asked not believing it as Vikranth is not someone to be in gossips with any woman in the company atmosphere no matter how much time passed as he is a workaholic and work passes even through his veins. So even his relations are always disconnected from the company completely which showed that those were never serious at all.

"Yes! He is giving her attention for the past month and a few rumors circling the company. As this is the first time to have a rumor from Vice-President, everyone is showing too much attention." He continued and I glanced at the said couple as it doesn't feel normal between them.

That thought caused me to feel the hope that I never felt the moment I fell for Shrishti, my other best friend as she is always thinking about Vikranth and no one else even though we both are of similar age and spent more time together.

Shrishti and I wouldn't have been friends with him if not for our fathers to work under Vikranth's. Talking about my father, I got disturbed with his call which I am sure to remind me of the meeting.

"Learn more about those rumors and the truth behind them." I ordered him before getting up and left the canteen not falling in his sight.

"Why are you not preparing for the meeting?" Dad barked the moment I stepped into my cabin.

"I went to have lunch which you should too. Do you want me to suggest the dishes you may like?" I asked walking leisurely towards my chair.

"Do you have any idea how important this meeting is for your career?" he shouted slamming the file.

"How important? Can you give the key points so that I need not go through this file?" I asked folding my hands and it feels like he just turned into a pressure cooker.

"Look at Vikranth and how much he is walking in his father's steps but look at Shrishti and you. When will you both listen to us?" he asked frowning.

"Uncle is fine with Shrishti's job choice and why can't you learn the same? Vikranth's passion is this work and he is doing it. I want to do the same and I will." I replied not at all in the mood to hear all that.

"What do you mean?" he asked frowning.

"Wait for my resignation letter soon to appear on your table." I replied and he gave a disbelief look.

"And? What will you do? Can you open a restaurant with the funds you have?" he asked scoffing and I fisted my hands.

"Don't worry about me like that, Dad. I already have my plans and now please leave my cabin." I said gesturing the door and he frowned at me but went on his way.

This will be the last month and I can finally leave this place for sure. I know he wants me to walk Vikranth's path but that is just not for me.

Now, what is about that model I just saw? Is he finally serious about a girl? Then Shrishti will give up on him and then I can finally... I took a deep breath to calm my thoughts and decided to wait for a few days to get a clear picture.

****

"They are still roaming around the company together and that's all you can find out?" I asked frowning at him and he nodded looking down.

"She is meeting him nearly every day but they are meeting in his cabin. But we heard she is going to join our GH Entertainment and is going to leave her old one even though there is still time on her contract." He added and I immediately stood up.

"Our company will be paying the penalty fees, right?" I asked and he nodded and I gave him a nod before asking him to leave.

GH Entertainment is still at the starting stage and that too it is Vikranth's idea completely as the board is not completely in tune with the idea but he is already spending money like that just to add a new rising model.

I got startled hearing my ringtone and smiled looking at the caller ID. I lifted the call and my smile slipped hearing her first words.

"Vikranth is not lifting his phone. Is he busy?" I sighed brushing away the disappointment while thinking about the new character that could solve this huge problem between us.

"Why would I know? What is it?" I asked sitting down.

"I finished a major Event yesterday which made me reach my first goal and took rest the whole day. Tomorrow I want to treat you both. Can you inform Vikranth?" she asked and I stiffened hearing those words.

"First Goal?" I asked remembering the meaning behind those words as she said the day she reaches the first goal, she will propose directly to her crush instead of hiding her feelings.

She is stupid to think none of us know whom she likes but they both are stupid to not know my feelings and we don't even think about Vikranth as he always talks about his relationships normally.

"Yes! You remember too? I am confident that it will result in positive as my crush is not in any relationship recently." She chuckled and I closed my eyes.

"I will inform him." I mumbled before cutting the call while staring at my phone in silence for the next hour.

No! She needs to know that this time he is in a serious relationship or is going to be for sure with all the actions he is doing because of that person.

But I need to confirm it first and with that thought, I stepped out of the cabin and ordered my assistant to find the contact details of the model along with her name before leaving the building as I need to make some preparations before submitting my resignation letter tomorrow.

****

"What is the meaning of this, Prathap?" I removed the phone from my ear to not get them damaged with the range he is shouting right now.

"I think I wrote the spelling properly, Dad." I mumbled and he continued to shout but I cut the call when my assistant gestured the person who is just walking out of a small independent house.

I glanced at the message from Shrishti informing the dinner appointment changed to lunch appointment as Vikranth already has plans and she even scolded me for not informing him yesterday but I really forgot and it was not intentional.

"You can go your way. I already resigned and you are no longer working for me." I said gesturing him to leave.

"I actually thought you were planning to damage Vikranth Sir's reputation in front of board members and raise your position with all the spying, Sir." He mumbled frowning at me.

"You watch too many dramas. I am going to ruin his reputation but at some other place." I explained and he sighed before leaving to catch a cab while I stood near my car as she needs to pass the car to go wherever she wants to.

"Excuse me, Ms. Anitha!" I called her as she didn't even glance at me but my voice caused her to shift a bit to look at me and she got startled after realizing that I am standing there.

"Oh!" that's all she said while I smiled at her.

"I am a friend of Mr. Vikranth Guptha." I offered while extending my hand which she took after pausing for a second.

"Is there a change in the appointment? We are meeting for dinner, right?" she asked frowning at me, and that kind of confirmed a bit as he is never the one to cancel our appointments unless it is for company issues.

"Are you close to him?" I asked and she nodded while clearing her throat.

"Yeah! Then... about the appointment..." she trailed off while looking around and I can understand her discomfort.

"You need to join for the lunch appointment instead of the dinner." I explained and she glanced at her watch.

"I will cancel it then. I don't have enough time to get ready." She mumbled but that's nonsense as she is fine as she is now but I can understand her feelings to be perfect near the person she likes.

"It's okay! Everything is ready and you need not worry." I gestured her to get into the car and she did without asking another question.

"You are looking forward to meeting him?" I asked looking at her nervous glances.

"Yeah! This is an important one. But why are you picking me up like this? You are not his assistant, right?" she asked frowning.

"Is it uncomfortable that I am picking you up?" I asked back and she immediately shook her head.

"Do you like... someone, Ms. Anitha?" I asked after a few minutes and she glanced at me with a startled look.

"If it's too personal, you need not answer. But I think it is better if you express to the person you like confidently." I added and she smiled at those words.

"Thanks for that advice, Mr. Prathap." She mumbled and I glanced at her in surprise.

"You know me?" I asked her and she nodded smiling.

"You don't remember me?" she asked back while frowned because this is the first time I am actually talking to her.

"Oh! You mean by your profession?" I asked but she shook her head in negative and the conversation stopped when we reached the place I hired for the day using the company's card for the last time.

I got her a dress prepared and even the makeup artist is ready to get her ready. I had to wait just half an hour for her to get ready and we again got into my car.

"Thanks for all this but this is like too much." She mumbled glancing at her dress.

"It's okay! Today's meeting is important, right?" I asked and she nodded taking a deep breath and we finally reached the restaurant we three generally meet as there are private rooms available and one set aside for us all the time.

We both walked into the private room and found two pairs of eyes looking at us in shock. Vikranth immediately came out of the shock before standing up to receive her while smiling at her.

"We are supposed to meet for dinner, right?" he asked in a whisper and she immediately glanced at me.

"He said the appointment is preponed." Hearing that reply he glanced at me with a confused look.

"Shrishti! Congratulations on reaching your goal." I said walking towards her while ignoring the other two but she is glancing at Anitha completely ignoring everything else.

"Who is she?" she asked looking at Vikranth.

"Could be his girlfriend soon!" I commented and heard three people shouting, 'What?' instead of one like I expected it to be.

That day I never knew the schemes I planned will return to bite me at a huge level even after a long time passed. If I had any idea then I would have just shut my brain and wouldn't have done a single thing for sure. Well, I was childish to the core with my actions and I may deserve some punishment but not at this level.