Chapter 5 - Locks

"Our companies will dominate because there will be national and international business," I concluded.

"With a population of over one billion, should the Khurana Fashion Company decide to launch into that market, they'd have easier time with prebuilt relations with the Mehras," Jai added.

"Ms. Saini, your company is in a huge debt, isn't it?" Rahul asked calmly.

How did he know?

"How will you fix that reliability and security issue?" Sam asked us.

"How do we know what happened before won't happen again?" Rahul added. "The factories were set on fire and we lost our supplies back in the 80s."

"How do you know it won't happen to one of your other suppliers?" Piya asked. "We cannot speak for political situations that may affect our business. However, we have at least four different warehouses in four separate locations in India."

There were a couple of other people also sitting there. This was the group of people Rahul Khurana trusted and used to back himself up.

Bhim spoke this time. "Debt will be paid off as we get more clients. Our company is consistently paying the bank back for the past two years. We even have last year's financial and bank statements if you want to see them," he said, holding up the file with the reports.

I smiled as Bhim passed the file to Samrat who gave us an impressed look after looking through.

"Rahul, the debt won't be an issue," Sam said passing on the file.

"Okay," Rahul shrugged. "The catalog that you've provided us is updated, correct?" I nodded. "It includes everything sold in all of your warehouses?" My team nodded slowly. "Your prices are competitive, but our Chinese supplier is still three cents cheaper."

I sighed and tried not to fidget. Standing in front of all these people was uncomfortable, but now my legs were hurting. My brain hurt.

The CEO still had his own arguments.

Three cents?

He had a whole market in India he could reach out to with our help, but nope. He wanted to complain about three cents.

Two rupees!

We had no choice but to ask for another meeting with a renegotiated price. We need to get in touch with our superiors if this was worth the investment.

Rahul Khurana made it really difficult. The final conclusion came from the CEO's side:

"If you have a better offer for us in the next meeting, and it is reasonable, then we have a deal. Otherwise, please close this chapter forever."

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"We're screwed," I told my team as we went down the elevator.

"That Rahul Khurana is so mean," Bhim said making a face.

"Who cries over two rupees?" Jai asked fixing his glasses.

"This deal won't be happening," I tiredly said. "That was our lowest and best price for them."

"We must find a great deal for something else along with it. The back office must have something up their sleeve," said Bhim. His face was glowing from nervous sweat.

Once back in our hotel rooms, we all went to work. Piya laid on the bed next to me.

"We have to make Rahul Khurana like us in the first place and then think about that deal," Piya said.

But that was impossible.

"That doesn't matter," I assured her.

"Yes it does. He doesn't trust us and that reflects badly on his trust of our company," she replied hastily. "I tried to smile a lot at him but he never pays attention to me. He was focused completely on you in the meeting today."

"I'd be under most scrutiny after challenging him during our first meet," I told her.

"Sure," she said. "But we must somehow win his trust."

"Let's work first." I searched through my files and realized I was missing one. "Hey, have you seen my file with the catalogs and prices? There were a few fabric samples in there too."

Piya shook her head.

We spent an hour searching through our papers and then the guys'. No one could find it.

"We might've left it with the files we handed to the Khurana team," Piya stated at the end. "We'll call the company and ask."

"I hate this," I said. "Nothing is going right."

Piya and I went out to lunch for a change of scenery. Everyone at the back office was trying to figure out a way to win over this company.

The guys were busy with other office work. We told them we were headed to find the missing file at the company.

My friend and I went to a small Italian restaurant called Bongiorno's that was a five minute walk. We placed a small order of a medium pizza with two pepsi's. Food first, file second.

"Piya! Preet!" Piya and I found Sam rushing our way. Behind him, Rahul Khurana stood awkwardly as if wishing he had reins on his friend. "Mind if we join?" Sam asked.

Piya shook her head.

Sam took a seat next to her across from me.

Unfortunately, that left me sitting next to his friend. I caught a whiff of Rahul's sweet cologne. His vivid blue button up shirt had its sleeved rolled up to his elbows. I tried not to look at him.

"Hello," curtly said Rahul.

"I knew today was my lucky day!" Sam said cheerfully. "Finally, I can have lunch with people I like."

"Starting tomorrow, have lunch with them," said Rahul. "I'm surprised you didn't scare them off at the gurdwara."

"Sadu (Brat)," Sam whispered. Piya and I laughed watching Rahul give his friend a glare.

"Mr. Khurana's always in a bad mood," I ventured.

"My mood depends on the company I'm having," he replied as our food arrived. "And call me 'Rahul' outside of the office."

I ignored him because the food was calling my name.

"Mr. Khurana," I spoke quietly. Sam and Piya were busy talking amongst themselves. Rahul gave me a look and I quickly continued. "I think I forgot one of my files in your office. Do you think I could come and get it today or tomorrow?"

"Today's fine," he said. "Best to drop in at the end of the day."

Excitedly and accidentally, I put my hand on his forearm. "Thanks! I was really worried for the last two days, you know. I thought I had to take an appointment, first."

Rahul looked at my hand and then back up at me. Everyone was staring at me, so I withdrew my hand. A smile came to Rahul's lips and vanished just as fast. He started to say something, but got interrupted by his friend.

"No flirting!" Sam said strictly before laughing.

I went to defend myself. But that didn't work out because I accidentally knocked over my Pepsi can. Everyone rushed to their feet in shock. I covered my mouth with my hands and stared at Rahul with wide eyes. Pepsi was splattered over the front of his pants. "Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!" I grabbed tissues to help him clean.

He grabbed the tissues from me and, through clenched teeth, said, "Please excuse me." He was getting away from us.

I nodded.

Mein te gayi (I'm a goner).

I ended up going to Mr. Rahul Khurana's office ten minutes before it was going to close. Caroline, the receptionist, told me to hurry and try not to make the CEO angrier than he already was. I hurried to his office, praying.

Babaji, aj kuch problem na payo (God, please don't get introduce any other problem).

The boss was on his phone when I reached him.

"Hi," I said a little consciously. "File."

"Please only stick to finding your file," he said not looking at me. He tried to finish his conversation with whoever. I stuck my tongue out at his back before moving to look around his office. "Don't move anything out of place," he said over his shoulder.

Although he had been rude, I was hoping to win him over. Like Piya had said, we needed him to soften up a little.

Why can't he like me?

To make matters worse, I couldn't find the file. In my hurry, I accidentally walked into Rahul, hitting his chest hard. He grabbed my hands and slowly moved away. I was surprised by his gently, yet electrifying touch. We didn't look at each other and moved away.

"Sorry," I mumbled.

He probably thought I was looking for a reason to touch him like a I did earlier.

Shit!

Why do I embarrass myself so much in front of handsome men?

He looked at his watch just as the lights shut down. My eyes widened in fear as to what was happening. Rahul's office was pitch black. "Oh no!" said Rahul in a panicky tone. From the help of the faint light of the door sized window, I could see some things. I shuffled along with the CEO towards the door. Unfortunately, Rahul bumped into me, knocking me into the door which shut with a slam. I heard something click!

"Shit!" he cursed. "Everything is automatic." He was furious.

"Automatic?" I was confused.

"My office cabin has a set close time! At exactly nine, all the lights automatically turn off, and all closed doors are locked, automatically!"

"Why?"

"It's to force me to take a break and go home."

"What?" I asked confused.

"Never mind."

"How are we getting out?" I asked horrified. I didn't want to be stuck here, especially not with this guy. He stood directly in front of me, intimidating me.

"Call the security," he replied, as he began texting on his phone. "Do you have a phone?"

"No. Only Piya has one."

"I texted Sam, so he'll get us out. My secretary must've left since she isn't answering."

"Is Sam in the building?"

"No, he's home. He'll be here within twenty minutes depending on the traffic."

"God, you traitor! I said not to create any problems," I whispered and took a seat on a chair.

"Why are you troubling god?"  he said taking his seat across from me.

"Maybe if you were attentive, we wouldn't be in this situation!"

"Excuse me?"

"'Hurry up, Preet,'" I mocked his earlier statement. "'I am not going to help you find the file because I am too good for that.' Struggle on your own. And this where that led to: Hum tum ik kamre mein bandh ho (Me and you are locked in a room--from a hindi song) and I am ready to jump out of the window."

"Be my guest! At least I won't have to put up with you."

I scoffed and faced him. "Says the man who wouldn't help me at all. Jerk."

"Jerk?" he said in disbelief. "Do you understand that I let you prod through my office without batting an eyelash? No one is allowed to touch anything without my permission."

"Is it because you're a dictator or a germaphobe?" I asked curiously. "Should I feel privileged being locked in here with your majesty?"

I bit my tongue realizing how my words were going against my favor.

Babaji, kithe fasaa ditta menu (God, what have you gotten me into)?

"For someone who needs to win my approval, you have the nerve to be petty."

"Will me kissing up to you win your approval?" I inquired.

He scoffed. "I'm glad you don't know me well enough."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Before he could respond, his phone began vibrating in his hand.

He stared at the lit up screen in disbelief before saying, "Excuse me." He moved as far away from me as possible as he answered his call.

I shrugged and put my head down on his desk, trying not to cause any disruptions. I couldn't hear his conversation until he raised his voice.

"Di, we'll sort it out," he said loudly. "I'm not taking his side, for god's sake! It's not about sides! Why can't we sit down and talk? Like a family. It's been four years now."

Someone was having family issues. I felt bad listening to his conversation so I decided to stick my fingers in my ears to drown out his voice.

I don't know what happened afterwards but he returned within a minutes. I didn't hear his footsteps.

He tapped on my shoulder and I lowered my hands from my ears. "What are you doing?"

"Uh . . . Nothing," I said quickly. He waited as if expecting another response.

Did he think I was picking earwax?

No!

"I was trying to give you privacy. I don't like to eavesdrop on other people's conversations."

"Seriously?"

I nodded sheepishly.

He returned to his seat and said, "Thanks. Can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot."

"Since you belong to the eccentric female species, you might know some magic convincing someone." He leaned forward on his desk. "I mean, say someone is dead set they're right and refuse to sort out an issue, how do you convince her to see your side?"

He must be talking about his sister. I heard him say "di" earlier.

"One, you must believe women are always right," I told him directly. It earned me an exasperated eye roll. "Two, keep trying. Don't force your opinion. Let her vent it out. Let her unleash all the anger and then try to tell your opinion."

"I did that already," he muttered.

"Meeting and talking in person is ten times more effective than phone conversations," I told him. No one could deny the power of a physical communication.

"What if she doesn't want to meet in person?"

"Do you not have her address?"

He quietly considered my words. "I don't have the time. The distance is too far to leave work."

"Mr. Khurana, how do you expect to salvage a relationship that is not your number one priority?" I asked hoping he wouldn't be offended. "Is it even worth it then?"

He eyed me warily, not having an answer to my questions.

I didn't expect him to. He asked for my opinion and I gave it to him. Out of all the things in the world I expected to be doing right now, giving relationship advice was not one of them.

I was more than delighted to allow a wave of silence to fill the dark room illuminated by only the streetlights outside.

Both of us let our thoughts consume us while we awaited our fate.
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/////Author////

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