Ananya's POV

The thought of seeing Nathan again, being around him, made me sick. I couldn't sleep the entire night.
Alex insisted and stayed back, considering he had to wake up early too to help me out.
He always had a few things stacked at my place for such sleep over nights. Maa had even given him a separate space in guest room cupboard.
The night was long and to distract my mind I washed clothes.
It was 5 am when i went to his room to keep the clothes and also wake him up.
"Alex!! Alex! Wake up. I am so sorry you will not get to sleep more if we have to leave early."
I felt so guilty that I didn't have courage to look into his eyes.
As I was leaving he held my hand in his.
"Hey Donavan!! Show me those eyes filled with guilt once. Don't hide now."
I turned around to see a sleepy Alex struggling to open his eyes.
"Don't worry I am the boss there, i will sleep at work. You know, perks of being a boss."
I didn't have any words to express what I was feeling.
I smiled and left.
I knew within a few days the workload will force him to drop this plan of his.
After all, he loved his sleep.

We left at quarter to six and spent time at the hospital. Alex was with me throughout. There was still no sign of improvement in Maa's condition, however she remained stable.
She was there for me, i knew.
I controlled myself. A tough day was ahead of me. How I wished Maa was here.
"Alex, lets go. No matter what, I should be for work on time. Maa always used to said that."
Alex got up. His eyes were red due to lack of sleep.
I gave him a pitiful smile.
"You'll get bored here. You shouldn't be doing this." I said.

He retorted pretty quickly. "I can never get bored with you Donavan."
I just looked down to avoid his gaze. What I could never see before was right there in his eyes, his feelings for me.
This feeling of guilt will never leave me I guess, until his eyes imprint someone else.

My heart was racing as the car same to a halt. I didn't think I was ready for what awaited me in the office.
I took a deep breath but my heart gave, and I felt sick. A drop of tear rolled down my cheek.

"Hey. It is going to be alright. What happened?"
Alex was concerned. He quickly opened the door and ran towards my side as I tried to shake my head in denial and got out of the car.
"Ananya.. dont worry. We will go meet Mrs.Donavan during lunch time. I know you are feeling guilty to leave her alone there. But isn't this what she would  have wanted? For you to not stop!?"
I couldn't take it anymore and broke down in his arms. I think it made him uneasy because it felt as if he flinched there for a moment. But in days that was the moment I didn’t feel alone.
He patted my head gently and comforted me, not kowing what exactly I was going through.
"I should probably go now."

Soon after Alex left, i half heartedly walked towards the building. People were rushing towards the elevators.
I reached one but the door just closed on my face.
I waited for another one to come by but the next one came from the basement and was all full.
The wait was making my anxiety boil up.
Just then another elevator door opened and I walked in.
But what happened next warned me of what was in store for me for the rest of time I was suppose to spend in the office.

Nathan moved inside the elevator and stopped others from entering.
I was too shocked to react and the door closed leaving me alone with Nathan.
My heart was thumping, my heart beart loud enough, echoed through my ears.

I couldn't look at him but I could feel the piercing gaze he locked at me.
My feet were trembling and I just wanted the get out, but i guess my luck ran out days ago.
Suddenly the elevator came to a halt. I hoped to just rush out once the doors open not realising that the lift did not stop on its own. IT WAS MADE TO STOP.
Nathan had pressed the stop button and was now standing right in front of me with a crooked smile covering his face.
"Ms.Donavan. Honestly I didn't expect that you would dare to come here. I thought one of your lovers would offer to pay the bond. You surprise me."
Nathan spat his venomous words as I struggled to keep my eyes from letting go off the pain of my heart.
I did not want to respond to him in anyway and so I avoided him and moved towards the lift panel to restart the elevator.
But Nathan had something else in mind.
He pushed me back to the side of the elevator and rushed towards me.
He leaned onto me with his one hand resting on the elevator wall.
He looked directly into my eyes. My eyes pleaded him to let go off me. But he was in no mood to let go...
His eyes filled with anger, reminded me of that night and every part of my body just wanted to scream.
"No Ms.Donavan. i am the boss here and don't for a moment think I am even faintly interested in you anymore. You played a dirty game with me and so am I going to. Just wait and watch Ananya. You will pay for every wound you inflicted on my heart." He gritted his words towards me.

"Nathan don't do this please."
I begged.

He turned and hit the button. The elevator started moving.

"You will call me Mr.Swornwell from now. You are just another employee in my company. Don't forget that." He was now looking at the door.
As the elevator reached our floor and the door swung opeN i couldnt take it anymore and ran off towards the ladies room.
The moment I entered the ladies room, my dam broke and I couldn't help the tears from running down my cheeks. I fell down on my knees, crushing my face in my palms, cursing each and every moment of my life.
But the pain wouldn't stop even though my heart wept through my eyes.

**************
Nathan's POV

"Nathan don't do this please."
Her eyes pleaded.

Why God!! Why do her eyes still reek innocence?
A part of me still loved her like crazy. Her eyes, those lips, her beautiful hair, those cheeks, that angel like face, everything still called onto me.

I couldn't take it anymore. The hurt inside burned my soul every moment.
I knew I cannot give in to my feelings about her again.
She played me. And this time round, i am going to beat her in her game so that she never uses anyone ever again.
I turned and pressed the button.
As the elevator moved up, my heart bled a little with each of her heartbeat I could hear. I cursed each and every moment i had spent with her, or thinking about her.
A warm tear rolled down my cheek just when the door opened and she ran past me.
My anger grew more and I wiped off the trace of my lost love off my cheek and walked towards my cabin, thinking how I would make her life miserable and make her beg for mercy.

I saw Amelia sitting on her desk.
"Amelia, get inside my office once Ms.Donavan comes. I have to discuss some changes around here."
She looked startled but responded with a yes.

I looked out the window and thought about the days to come. How I would destroy her.
The thought of her soft lips, weakened my resolve. But the thought of her in a room with Alex, her closeness with him made my blood boil.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in."

"Mr.Swornwell, Ms.Donavan is here. I am ready to take the notes."

I turned around to see Amelia busy scribbling something on her pad. But my eyes focussed on her.
Her guilty eyes couldn't look at me. That's a start.
"Amelia, starting today you will do nothing."
Amelia lioked shocked. "Sir!?"

"I would not be interrupted again. Hope that is clear.
You will not be doing anything except monitoring Ms.Donavan as she will be doing all your daily jobs apart from her own tasks. Hope that is clear."
I was expecting Ananya to retaliate, to fight back. But she just shook her head.

Amelia on the other hand had something to say.
"What would I be doing then sir? I don't know if Ananya will be able to handle it all. I think I should help her out."
She irritated me.

"Amelia. I am the boss here."

"But sir."
Ananya was still looking at the floor. Unaffected by what I had just declared.
I needed her to react.
"On a second thoughy Amelia, i might not need your service at all. You are fired!!"
I announced it cold heartedly, still looking at Ananya.
And this declaration got me what I wanted.
"Nathan, you cannot do this to her please."

" Mr.Swornwell for you, Ms. Donavan. Mind it."

"I am sorry sir. But this isn't fair to Amelia. I will do all the work. I don't mind. But please don't fire her."
She looked disturbed. It made me feel good.

"I am the boss round here Ms.Donavan. off you go.
And Amelia, clear out your desk and leave by end of day. You will get your due compensation."

Amelia was still too shocked to react.
Ananya held her hand and left.
The game begins.

****************
Ananya's POV

"I am sorry Amelia."

"Stop it Ananya. This is all because of you. You did something to get me thrown out. I was always nice to you but you backstabbed me. This is all your fault."
I knew I was responsible for this somehow. To hurt me Nathan has fired her.
I couldn't do anything for her.

"I needed money. And now I am jobless. I will soon be homeless too if I don't get money. I hate you Ananya."
She weeped as she cursed me some more.

"Take it Ananya. It's your job now. Isn't it? I wonder how and why you felt threatened with me to get me fired."
She picked her box and left angrily.

I sat on her chair, which was my new workstation now and I had no clue what I was suppose to do.
I sat there lost.

The intercom buzzed.
"Ms.Donavan, get me the file for the Rantsted tender and also the ones for
Nastekk & Westcom NOW.
While you are coming in, get me a cup of coffee."
Then came a beep and I started to panic.

Where the hell do I find those files now!!