7. New Managing Director

ROSE

I stepped into the same glass and steel fortress where I’d once lived a thousand lifetimes in the span of weeks. The same office building where my world had first begun to unravel. Where I’d been blackmailed. Humiliated. Punished.

And cherished.

Where I’d fallen for the man who had ruined me and yet held me like I was sacred. Like he was made to destroy and protect me in the same breath.

I felt the memories rushing back in as I crossed through the entrance lobby. But I had become pretty good at stopping them, barricading them out of my mind and heart so that it won’t hurt any longer. I had turned it into a much better emotion that will suit me for what I had to do now…

Because, I think, now, it was my time to exact my revenge. It’s my time to have control.

As I passed by the familiar faces, I pasted a wide smile on my lips, hiding everything I was feeling and marched towards the hallway for the elevators. But before I could reach the elevator, I was stopped by that same stupid receptionist that was seated just past the entrance.

You remember her, right? Oh, come on, she had asked me too many questions and given me a look at the first day of my job. And it seemed she was still at it, trying to stop me from where I belong.

“Excuse me!” She yelled from behind me. When I turned back around to face her, she asked, “Do you have a visitor’s pass?”

I raised an eyebrow at her, and knew that I did the perfect imitation of that grey eyed tormentor who shall not be named.

She stared at me with a nervous expression, her red lips pursed in a fake pout as she said, “Actually...” She paused and licked her lips. “The rumor has it that Mrs. Singh,” I gave her another look, and she explained, “She is from the human resources, and she had terminated your employment contract because Mr. R. K. isn’t here any longer who was the one to hire you.”

“Oh. Did she now?” I asked, feeling a little bit amused.

“She thinks that you’re incompetent as you were absent for the last three to four weeks,” She answered, looking flustered as I looked back at her steadily.

“And, who gave her permission to do so?”

“She’s acting as a managing director in the absence of Mr. R. K.”

I was thankful that she wasn’t saying his full name. I didn’t want to hear it but at the same time my heart was crying out loud for a piece of him. Even his name would do.

Controlling my unfurling emotions, I replied, “Then it’s good for me that new managing director is here.”

She looked confused and I really felt a teeny tiny amount of sympathy for her as her face brightened and her eyes twinkled as she asked, “Really, so you know who he is? Oh, I hope he is a ‘He’. And, is he from New York too?”

I gestured for her to come closer with my fingers. “Let me tell you a secret, pretty girl.” When she leaned closer I said, “You’re looking at her right now.”

The look on her face was picture worthy and I almost laughed out loud in her face. And something told me I will see many such faces, filled with same expressions for the next few days.

__

“You have a conference call at twelve and then lunch with Michael,” Mia said, her voice a little too careful.

“What’s the update on the End of Summer catalogue?” I asked, eyes still scanning my screen.

“It’s on hold. The model they signed up had a recent break-up with her long-time boyfriend, so she had a breakdown on the set, spiraled, and backed out of the campaign. They’re looking for a replacement now.”

“At this rate, we’ll be launching the summer line in the middle of winter,” I muttered, clicking through the fresh designs that just hit my inbox. I wondered if Ryan had approved them already or if he even knew they’d been forwarded to me.

“I’ll speak to the department head. Get things moving.”

“You do that,” I murmured. I was glad that I was still part of this project. At least it gave me something to do and to have my mind busy, it stopped me from thinking about him most of the time.

When I didn’t hear her walk away, I glanced up, catching Mia still rooted in place, clearly squirming with something else on her mind. I arched an eyebrow in enquiry and she fidgeted with her fingers.

Mia was my new assistant. I’d hired her after the fiasco with Mrs. Singh, who hadn’t exactly thrown me a welcome party when I was appointed the new Managing Director. She called me incompetent. And insulted me at every turn. Loudly. Repeatedly. So I had hired my own assistant to deal with her bothersome presence and to help me in settling in my new role.

Mia was all soft edges and nervous energy— but she was hard working and not much interested in office politics.

“Mia, I am a little busy. If you have something to say… Go on.” I already knew what she wanted to ask. Her interest in Michael wasn’t a secret and Monica had already warned me last night, during our third episode of Lucifer. That devil really did look like sin.

“If it’s okay… Can I ask something personal?” She finally blurted.

I gestured toward the chair across from me. “Go ahead.”

She sat, then looked around the office that I had taken back as my right from that stupid vulture-like woman. She opened her mouth and then closed it, she hesitated as if the walls might be listening. Walls that had once seen me on my knees, stripped of my dignity. On my back, surrendering. In his arms, cared for. Shattered. Worshipped. Owned. I hadn’t changed a single piece of furniture in this office— maybe because I couldn’t. Maybe because a part of me didn’t want to.

“You’re married?” She asked at last.

My lips twitched. Not this again.

The first day I had returned, I had made it crystal clear— my role, my position, and my marital status. Monica had been thrilled about the promotion, less so about the man I married. It wasn't that she didn't want me happy or was jealous, the reason was she didn't want to see me hurt or to live in denial. She was terrified for me.

I tilted my head. “I sign every document as Mrs. Ryan Johnson, don’t I?”

In our culture, no ink on paper outranked the sindoor I wore or the vows I still remembered in his voice. But still he’d left me the papers that will forever bind me to him. At nights when I lay awake, I wondered if it was his way of making sure that I only belong to him.

Mia flushed. “So, you and Michael, I mean… Are you two…?”

“Together?” I almost smiled. “Mia, I saw you eyeing him like he was your last meal when he was here last week.” I leaned forward. “Don’t worry. We’re just friends. And as my ten-day-old assistant who’s already proven herself ten times over, how about I set you up on a date with him?”

Her mouth fell open. “Oh my god. Seriously?”

I nodded, feeling a strange flicker of warmth at her joy. It felt good to see someone else happy. Briefly.

Then her expression shifted, before she cleared her throat and said, “I need to tell you something,” Her voice lowered as she continued, “Mrs. Singh… I heard she has been spreading rumors. HR was buzzing about it today.”

I stiffened. Of course she is. The bitch hated me for taking my rightful place and kicking her out of the office.

“What kind of rumors?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral.

Mia hesitated, looked at the door, then finally whispered, “She’s saying you’re lying. That you’re not really married. That, he, Ryan used you. Left you. And that in a few months, you’ll be giving birth to a bastard.”

The words, soft as they were, hit like a slap. Cold. Precise. Deep. Insulting. And cutting like a knife to my heart.

I didn’t flinch. I controlled my emotions and the rage burning inside me.

“I didn’t want to tell you,” Mia rushed, guilt painting her cheeks. “I know it’s all bullshit, ma’am. They’re just jealous—”

“Mrs. Ryan Johnson,” I cut in smoothly. “Let’s use that one, for now.”

“Of course. Sorry. Mrs. Ryan,” She corrected quickly.

“Call a meeting,” I said, turning back to my computer.

“But— ma’am…” I looked up. And whatever she saw in my expression shut her up instantly. “Right away, Mrs. Ryan,” She whispered, retreating like a soldier dismissed to prepare for the oncoming war.

____

A. Gupta