3

Ayaaz and Naila were busy in their playful banter while Ziniya chose to avoid them. It was then that their colleague informed them about the meeting in the conference room. Ziniya was never happier about the team meeting than she was at that moment. What irked her was that her friend forgot about her presence as soon as she saw a decent-looking stranger.

Okay, he is not a stranger, but one of the employees now, and fine, he looks good, not decent. But still, how can she ignore my existence before him? Ziniya was scowling inwardly.

She couldn’t understand why this stranger was stirring such strong emotions in her, and she was certain it had nothing to do with yesterday’s incident. She knew she should be grateful to him, but his presence was unsettling her.

Perhaps it was her past experiences that were coloring her perception, or maybe it was just her own insecurities. Ziniya had always maintained a safe distance from men, and this situation was no different.

Leaving them on their own, she went to the conference room and took a seat. Perhaps she needed a moment away from the stranger to set her thoughts straight; however, to her dismay, Naila and Ayaaz sat on either side of her, fuelling her annoyance. Before the meeting could commence, Naila leaned forward and continued to enlighten her new friend with the office gossip, while Ziniya had to press deeper into the seat to avoid touching either of them. Seeing Ayaaz’s interest in the gossip, Ziniya made a mental note to brief him on professionalism.

When the speaker cleared his throat to grab everyone’s attention, both of them were leaning back in their seats.

“Good morning, everyone,” a senior executive from management addressed the conference.

“I’m sure by now your manager and departmental head must have announced the takeover of our company by a new one. I wanted to clarify a few points, as I know many of you must have questions about the sudden change. First things first, none of you will lose your job, but that doesn’t mean you will lose our focus on our work.”

As soon as the executive said, the hall was filled with numerous sighs of relief.

“The new management is very particular about professionalism and behavior; however, I’m sure we will continue to give our best as we have been providing for so many years. We will continue working as we have for the past few years, and process-wise, nothing will change.

“The company that has taken over is a big name, and it’s an excellent opportunity for us that we are honored to work with them. Our company will gain new exposure and access to new resources with the backing of our new head. I assure you, this takeover will not only positively impact the company but also its employees.

“The senior management, along with me, will remain the same; however, there will be an addition. Tomorrow morning, our CEO will join us and work with us. He was enthusiastic about working with us, having seen our office culture and how diligent our staff is. 

“Before I end, I’ll reiterate, your jobs are secure. I request you all to keep giving your best,” he concluded before passing the mic to another executive, who added a few more points and moved on to answer the employee’s question.

“They look optimistic about the takeover,” Ayaaz murmured to Ziniya.

“Hmm,” was the only reply he got.

“What? Don’t you think so?” he asked.

“What I think or what I don’t shouldn’t be your concern,” she replied nonchalantly.

“You seemed to be upset with me,” he asked with a furrowed forehead.

“I hardly know you to be upset,” she said, but deep down, she couldn’t deny his words. Her cold behavior towards him contradicted her statement.

“Ignore her,” Naila interjected before Ayaaz replied.

“Did I offend you in any way?” he still asked.

“She is like that with all men,” as soon as Naila said, Ziniya glared at her.

“Make sense now,” Ayaaz said and leaned back in his chair.

The moment the meeting ended, Ziniya was the first to rush out, making Ayaaz frown at her retreating back. He didn’t understand her cold behavior towards him, but when he recollected Naila’s words, he let it go.

“Want to grab a coffee?” Naila asked, to which he nodded with a smile. 

He was comfortable with her, unlike Ziniya, who seemed to be holding a grudge against him, and the worst part was that he didn’t even know the reason.

As soon as Ziniya reached her desk, she immersed herself in work to divert her mind from her turmoil. If her past had taught her something, it was that work was the best way to distract your mind from unwelcoming thoughts, and she was in dire need of one.

Ziniya Jabri was a financial analyst. Once a carefree girl, but now everything that comes out of her mouth is calculated. Once jovial, now she hardly trusts anyone, especially men. She was still engrossed in her laptop when someone called out to her.

“I’m looking for Naila,” a nerdy girl asked in her timid voice.

“This is her desk, and she should have been here,” Ziniya said.

When she glanced around, she saw her walking towards their desk along with her mentee carrying a disposable cup.

All men are the same; when will Naila understand? Not even a day, and he is flirting with her, she scowled, looking in their direction.

Ayaaz’s careless attitude didn’t go well with her.

She stood up from her chair, crossing her arms over her chest, “Is this how you are going to work?”

“I took him to the pantry,” sensing her hardened expression, Naila interrupted.

“I think he can answer for himself,” Ziniya retorted.

“It’s okay, you continue,” Ayaaz nodded to Naila before grabbing a chair and positioning it beside his mentor’s chair.

“I’m sorry, it won’t happen again,” he said, sitting on the chair before saying, “I know when I’m wrong, I should apologize, and when someone helps me, I should say thanks,” taunting her about yesterday’s incident.

“No one asked for your help,” Ziniya replied.

“In that case, make sure you don’t bump into people’s backs,” Ayaaz was not the one to back down and had had enough of her cold attitude.

Angered, Ziniya opened her mouth to reply when Naila interrupted, “You were the one she bumped with.”

“I didn’t know I was the topic of the day,” he smirked, looking at Ziniya.

“If you guys are done, shall we start working?” she said.

“Aye Aye, Madam!” he mocked her for being autocratic.

The next hour was spent with Ziniya teaching him the basics of their job, and he listened attentively. She was never one to judge people; however, he didn’t give her a reason for a good impression, and the entire time, she was skeptical of how much he actually understood what she said. Her incredulous look at him didn’t go unnoticed by Ayaaz, who chose to remain silent on her judgmental look.

At one moment, Ziniya was finding it difficult to organize the data on the Excel sheet to analyze and forecast the company’s future monetary hindrance; however, it was not yielding the desired result. Seeing her annoyance, Ayaaz, who by now was a silent spectator, couldn’t stop interrupting her.

“You are using the wrong formula.” Her fingers on the keypad halted in mid-air, making her turn towards him.

“Is that so?” she asked with a raised brow.

“Yes.”

“Barely an hour passed, and you already know everything about the work?” Ziniya said. With each minute spent with him, she was losing her composure. Even she knew it was petty, but she couldn’t stop her strong reaction to his words.

What is wrong with me? Why am I behaving like a snob?

“It’s not about the time, it’s about knowledge. If I know something, there is no harm in sharing,” he said with a shrug.

“Alright, it’s all yours,” she passed him the laptop before adding, “I hope you have seen what I was working on and what result I need.”

Without a reply, he leaned towards the laptop. For the next 2 minutes, only the sound of buttons resonated in the cabin before he announced, “Done!”

Still skeptical about him, she looks at the screen only to be astounded. True to his words, he not only achieved the required results by modifying some formulas in the sheet but also produced an organized outcome, exceeding her expectations, which left her embarrassed at herself.

“Don’t judge the book by its cover,” he said, fueling her embarrassment.

“Thank you,” she murmured, weakly refusing to look at him.

It was not in her nature to hold a grudge against anyone, and deep down, she knew she was wrong, first, for not saying thank you to him for saving her yesterday, and second, for being rude to him for no reason. Something about him was getting on her nerves, and she didn’t know why. It was her intuition that was telling her to be wary of her mentee.

“You are welcome,” he said with a mesmerizing smile that brought out his dimple.

It was then Ziniya noticed him closely, as Naila said he was definitely handsome, but what grabbed her attention was his smile. His smile was warm, and it somehow made her smile in return. 

Letting out a deep sigh, she said, “I didn’t mean to be rude with you, it’s……” she trailed off, unable to find the right word, though he surprised her when he said, “Something is bothering you.” It was not a question, and with the way he was looking into her eyes, she felt he could look into her soul.

“Yes…..and I—” before she could finish, he added, “you don’t know what is bothering you.”

“Right,” she said with a nod, looking into his orbs that somehow were calming her nerves now.

She was still in a trance when he took her by surprise, “Are you afraid of people?”

“Why did you ask?” she said, averting her gaze from him.

“Usually people act aloof not to sound mean but to keep people away,” he said with a shrug.

Ziniya had a habit of licking her lips whenever she was anxious or when she was caught doing something wrong. 

“I don’t act aloof,” she said.

“No, you don’t, but you don’t keep your guards down,” he replied, tilting his head with a scrutinizing look as if solving a puzzle.

“You are overthinking. Let’s continue with the training,” she said, and Ayaaz obliged, seeing her uneasiness.

The rest of the day passed as they discussed the work. At night, Ziniya couldn’t stop pondering over his words: ‘You don’t keep your guards down.’

How was he able to read me so well? She kept thinking.

The next morning, as soon as she reached the office, something was off about the surroundings. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry, and the hurried footsteps and murmurs filled the air.

Before she could question, Naila came into her vision and answered her, “Boss is coming.”

“Boss?”

“Yes, the new owner, he will be addressing us in the conference room, exactly where I’m taking you,” she locked her arm around hers and pulled Ziniya along before starting to walk.

They were halfway through when Ayaaz met them. “Hey, what’s happening?”

“It seems the first thing our new boss wants to do is to meet us all,” Naila said.

“As much as I appreciate his gesture, it could also mean he might be announcing new rules or—” before Ziniya could complete, Ayaaz held her hand and interrupted, “You are overthinking. I know you have trust issues, but not everyone is out there to hurt you.”

“No, I don’t,” she stuttered without noticing his warm hand over hers. 

“Then do you trust me?” he asked before raising their joined hands before her.

“It’s too early for that,” she replied, pulling out her hand from his grip.

“Naila, do you trust me?” he asked, to which came an immediate reply, “Of course, I do.”

“See, that was not too early for her,” he said with a raised brow.

The entire office was already present by the time they arrived, and they couldn’t find a seat, so they were forced to stand in the side aisle.

“Good morning, everyone.” This was enough to grab everyone’s attention in the room.

While the meeting commenced in the conference room, a black Mercedes-Maybach stopped in the driveway, trailed by two more Range Rovers. As soon as the commotion of cars halted, four guards in black suits immediately emerged from the tailing vehicle and stood near the Mercedes-Maybach. The guard opened the door, and the next moment, a young man in his mid-20s clad in a dark blue Burberry suit stepped out, his piercing eyes covered by his shades.

Tall frame, muscular build, broad shoulders, and unmasked arrogance. His aura, domineering, didn’t go unnoticed by the management executives who were standing at the entrance to welcome the new owner.

“Mr. Hashmi, a pleasure to meet you,” one of them said.

“Is everything ready?” came his cold voice.

“Yes, the employees are waiting for you.”

“What are we waiting for?” he asked, removing his shades and looking straight into his eyes. The reply from the new CEO came as a surprise.

Inside the conference room,

“Everyone, I would request you to welcome our new CEO, Mr. Kabir Hashmi.”

As soon as the name was announced, a shudder ran through Ziniya, and she couldn’t stop averting her gaze towards the door. On cue, the door opened, and in came men clad in black suits. From the look of them, anyone could guess they were the bodyguard, surveying the place before their boss could enter.

Ziniya’s heart was pounding rapidly.

Is this a coincidence? She thought, a sheen of cold sweat forming on her forehead.

“Are you alright?” Ayaaz whispered, looking at her pale face, to which she nodded.

The room broke into murmurs, looking at the tranche of people trailing Kabir. By now, Ziniya’s breathing was rapid in anticipation. 

The room resonated with applause as soon as Kabir entered and continued till he took his seat.

“And now, I would request our new CEO to say a few words,” the orator said.

Unconsciously, Ziniya grabbed Ayaaz’s hand as soon as Kabir stood before the mic, as if seeking his protection.

“A warm morning to all,” a deep voice, demanding respect, echoed. Kabir’s narrowed eyes gazed around at the anticipating crowd.

“One thing I hate the most is wasting my time on repeating things. So listen carefully.”

He looked around the crowd; however, his gaze halted on a particular person before he said, “I expect your 100% commitment, don’t give me a reason to notice you….”

Ziniya moved closer to Ayaaz, and Kabir’s heated gaze followed her move despite the room filled with hundreds of employees.

“Because if I find you, you won’t end up good. So,” his gaze never left Ziniya’s trembling form before he added, “Be careful from now onwards and give me what I want.”