Nathan's POV

Firing Amelia is going to bite me in the ass sooner than I think. I knew the repercussions of my actions well. And my actions were not in my control anymore. My rage has taken over and I have no regrets. She was just like my mother. Selfish!!
I was too young to understand anything back when my Mother left me, but I am no kid now.
Ananya was a game player and I have to beat her in her own game. She would regret all her life for messing with me.

My Father wouldn't be happy about my loss in focus. But I know he would understand the reason behind it.

Its been 30 mins that i had asked Ananya for the files.
I buzzed her on the intercom again.
"Ms. Donavan, do you think this is all a joke? Where are my files?"

There was no answer from her, but I could here her heavy breathing. She wasn't taking me seriously.

I got up and walked towards her desk, slamming my office door behind me.
I lost my temper when I saw her just sitting there, faking those tears.
"What on earth has tied your feet to this desk? Was I not clear enough?"
She still did not respond and kept looking down. Tears flowing down her cheeks.
My blood was a boiling but her tears somehow managed to get to me.

"What's wrong with you Ms.Donavan?
Within 30 mins you have managed to get onto each of the nerves in my body. What is so difficult in getting a few files."
She still did not react and i lost my temper again.
I furiously banged my palm on the table and this time around i succeeded in getting her attention.
"Nathan.. sorry. Sir. I am sorry. I was..."
She stumbled over, in her own words.

"Get me those files. Quick! I can't afford to lose millions and then become a millionaire. How will I be able to attract billionaire huntress' like you then?"

Oh no. May be I have again pushed her into a trance.
"Ms.Donavan. Files!! Now!"

I left while she shook her head in agreement. Her face still showing the tear patches all over.
Not sure why, but there was still a part of me that wanted to wipe her tears away?!
Such an irony, as the other part of me wants to be the reason behind them.

********************
Ananya's POV
Just a few days ago this man's presence was the most comforting thing for me. But now his very shadow scares me.

I had totally lost it when Nathan asked me for those files. I have no clue where to look for them.
But I couldn't just give up. I wasn't the princess anymore to afford the bond amount, so i had to do something. Anything!

I stopped everything and thought for a while, remembering all the places I had seen Amelia go when at work. And then it clicked.
I quickly moved towards the room just adjacent to Nathan's office. That was a good start, it seemed to me.

And when I opened the door I just couldn't stop smiling. The only good thing that happened to me since morning.

I saw files and boxes neatly arranged symmetrically on either side of the room, on shelves bearing the details of what the files or boxes contained.
Amelia was good at what she did. I must say, she really was.
I smiled and browsed through the shelves to lookout for the files.
With the level of sorting Amelia had done, it wasn't too difficult to find the relevant files.
I quickly brewed a cup of coffee just the way i remembered Nathan preferred having and rushed to his office with files in one hand and coffee in another.

I knocked gently on the door.
"Yes Ms.Donavan."  he didn't seem pissed anymore.

"Here Sir. The files you asked for. And your coffee."
A sense of confidence is what I felt when I handed him that cup of coffee.
I do feel bad for Amelia. I know she must hate me now. I was lost thinking about Amelia and how she lost her job because of me. May be not for the reason she thinks.
Thats when Nathan  lashed out at me.
"You call this coffee?" He threw the cup towards the door and little hot droplets of coffee shook me completely when they spattered all over me.

"But Nathan. I mean Sir, this is how you have always had your coffee..."

If at all, I made him more angry. I still couldn't understand what I did wrong.

"So now you will decide? Ms.Donavan this was the worst coffee i have ever tasted. I think you are incapable of making a decent cup of coffee. Now run to the nearest coffee place and get me a hot cup of latte with no foam, no sugar & 2% milk. Will you be able to do atleast that now correctly Ms.Donavan?"

I shook my head and ran out from there. My heart was beating at an unbelievable speed. Buy its my bad luck, that it was all for the wrong reasons.

I thought of the nearest coffee place which was 2 blocks away and hurried to get there.
I was so exhausted emotionally that i had no strength to amy more drama.
I had to get this right.
"A latte, with no foam, no sugar and 2 % milk to go please."
A pretty girl at the counter smiled at me while handing me my order. Her smile was the only that made me feel a little better about that day.
I thanked her and headed back towards office.
It took me 15 mins to walk back and it took Nathan just 1 min to throw this coffee as well.
"What's wrong now?"

"Ms.Donavan,  i will be asking questions here. I asked for a hot coffee and all you could get for me was a cold coffee. Now run back and get me the coffee i asked for. Bring it hot this time."

I was too tired by the time I got back for the 3rd time from the coffee place.
I didn't wish to go back again. I took a cab for the 2nd time but still he said the coffee was cold for him.
'This time I will not let him find any faults.'
Instead of going to him I went to the office breakout area, heated the coffee in one of the coffee kettles and served it right back into the cup.
'Its HOT now.'

"Here, hope this is hot enough for you."
He touched the cup and look startled. May be he did not expect me to get it hot even on the third time.

I was tired with all the walking , standing in the queue. And the emotional roller coaster was too much for me to handle in a day.
I turned to leave when Nathan stopped me.
"Ananya, thanks for the coffee. Didn't think you'd be able to do it. You were not qualified for the job."

"Sir, I would like to go and work on other pending items. If there is anything that I can help you with, please do tell me. "

I left his office and sunk deep into my chair.
I hadn't eaten anything. Lunch hour was over. I rested my head on the back of the chair and closed my eyes.
I remembered Maa, and I just wanted to go to the hospital and hide my face in her lap.
This day was just half gone. With all the drama,  it felt as if I had been there for like forever.
I checked my phone. 4 missed calls from Alex. I should call him back I thought. I know he called to check if I wished to go the hospital.
But how could I leave now. My fingers just swiftly ran on the screen and dialled the number.
He picked up preety quickly.
" Hey. Hope you are Ok. You didn't pick up my calls. I was just worried."
He just babbled as soon as he picked up the phone.
"Sshh..ssshh... stop! Oh my god. When did we start needing all these explaining Alex?"

"You know when."
The line went quiet for some time. It was Alex who broke the silence.

"I don't understand. You are dating the boss and you still have to work?"
He laughed out loud. The sound of his laughter made me smile. But something inside me cringed.
"Alex! Don't say that. You know I would never let it affect my work."
I tried to cover up.
"Oh yeah! I know. Ok. So what time do I come to pick up the princess?"

"Oh how I wish I was a princess. I will call you once I am done. Hope thats fine.
And yes, I wanted to go see a friend of mine before we go to the hospital. Just 5 mins.
I am sorry. I am now exploiting your compassion."
I felt guilty. Poor guy has not slept  last night.

"Hey. We can go to your friends', only if she is single. You know I should get something out of it." Alex laughed out loud on his joke again.

"Alex! Behave."
We both bursted out into a streak of laughter.

"See ya babe. And we can go anywhere you like. Bye."

"Bye."

"Ms.Donavan, if you are done chatting around shall we get some work done?"
Hearing Nathan's voice faded my smile away.

"Yes Sir. Ofcourse. I will check the calendar entries for today. And it would help if you could help me with some of the daily tasks that would need my attention."
Before Nathan couldsay anything else, I moved away from there and walked towards the passage where the cabins of the Board members were there. These cabins were mostly empty, except for the days when they had to attend any meeting.
Nathan was good at his work. I had always wondered how he managed to focus on work even after fooling around with me most of the time.
It was difficult for me.
It still is difficult for me. Knowing how things have now ended.
Being at the place where we created memories, while dreaming of our future, it was difficult for me. But who could I tell my heart's tale to?
'I miss you Maa. Please come back to me.'
I washed my face in the ladies room, trying to wash away my tears
And there in the mirror in front of me, stood my reflection staring at me with pained lonely eyes.

'I was stuck in hell and I had no other option but to get through it all by myself.'

Nathan kept me on my feet all day. I got a chance to drink water and check my phone only when he left office at 8.30 in the evening.
I quickly called up Alex.

After 20 mins we were driving to Amelia's.
I faintly remembered her address. Nathan had once dropped her home before we went out for dinner.

"There. There it is." I pointed towards an old building at the corner of the block.

I was absolutely not sure what I was going to say to Amelia. The thought of asking Alex to help her out, came to my mind but somehow it didn't feel right to burden him with more and more favours.

"Alex. I will be back in 10 mins, max."

"Oh I thought I will be coming too."

"I think she will not be comfortable to talk to me in front of you. Please. I will be back in a jiffy."
He just shrugged it off.

"I am hungry. Be back soon."

I ran towards the entrance. A kind old lady was getting in and she gave me a free pass through the door when I offered to help her out with her grocery bags.

"Bless you my child." She exclaimed when I dropped her bags at her doorstep.

There was no elevator service but thankfully Amelia stayed on the 2nd floor.

I reached her apartment and found the door was open. I called her name out a few times and knocked too but got no response.

I decided to go in, just in case she doesn't want to respond knowing its my voice.

"Amelia! I just want to speak to you."

I heard someone was inside and the noise felt as if they were in trouble.
I decided to cross the limits and walked a little inside the living room and peeped into the kitchen.
What I saw just made me feel as if someone has just pulled the rug from under my feet.

They were making out on the kitchen table.

I just rushed out of there as fast as I could.

I ran down the stairs and towards the car.
Alex was on the phone, but he smiled at me as soon as he saw me.

"I will call you back. Got to go."

"Alex!"
He eyes widened seeing my colourless face I assumed.
In the heat of the moment, I just burried my face in his chest. Holding him by his shirt, I pulled him closer hoping it would block all the thoughts.

"Take me home please. Alex. Take me home."

"What! You saw a ghost up there?"
He tried to read through my impulsiveness.

And not speaking a word, i just thought to myself,

'Yes I saw a ghost. The ghost of my past.'