"Soooo?" Cabir's irritating voice rang through my ears as soon as I started driving. He's really not going stop. Oh god.

"Come on Manik, tell your brother what you think of Nandini." Cabir insists on irritating me. This is going to be a long drive back home, Malhotra.

The familiar ring tone of my phone echoes in the car and I have never been more grateful. I press the button on the steering wheel and the voice of Sonia, my pa, is heard. She starts updating me on the Dubai project and from the corner of my eye, I see Cabir rolling his eyes and I hear my mother sighing. Good. Don't expect much from me.

I kept asking more questions to Sonia, I need her to keep talking until we reach home. My luck seems to be on my side since this morning. Sonia is oblivious to my plan but she keeps on talking. This is the most I've heard her talk. As we approached the familiar entrance of our home, I ended my conversation with Sonia.

We all came out of my car and Cabir looked at me annoyed.

"You can't get away from me for long."

"We'll see, for now, I'm going to work. I'll see you all in the evening."

"I thought today was your day off Manik. You work too much, son." My mother shakes her head at me with a frown.

"You wanted me to accompany you to the Murtys which I did so now that it is done, I'm going to work. I can't be like Cabir and sit at home idly." I lie trying to turn the conversation into another direction and my plan works because soon I hear Cabir's high pitched voice.

"Excuse me? Just because I'm not working all day doesn't mean that I don't do it all!" From his tone, it's clear that he is annoyed and I know this will result in us arguing like children and it seems my dad knows that as well which is why he changed the subject immediately.

"Manik when are you meeting Nandini? You said you want to know her better so did you ask her out?"
And we are back on that topic. Great.

Cabir's annoyed expression is gone. His teasing smile has replaced it. Ignoring his face, I turn to my dad.

"I did. In fact, we are meeting tomorrow in the evening."

They are looking at me surprised. I know, I know, even I'm impressed.

Ignoring their surprised faces, I say my goodbyes and walk a little far from them to John who is standing near the SUV.

"Leave the SUV. We'll take my car."

I pass him the keys and he nods his head. He walks to open the back door of the car for me.

Once in the car, I wonder where I should take Miss Murty tomorrow. We didn't even decide on a time. I frown thinking I don't even have her number.

I pull my phone and call Jay.

"Jay I need you to find Nandini Murty's number and email address. Email them to me immediately."

"Mr. Malhotra would you like me to do a background check on her as well?" I usually do background checks on everyone, it's one thing that you are taught when you grow up in a wealthy and extremely privileged house. But doing one on Miss Murty won't be needed since her mother is best friends with my mom.

"No that won't necessary."

"Will that be all sir?"

" Yes. Thank you."

I cut the call and look out of the window. Miss Murty is confusing. When she walked down the stairs she looked so playful yet stern. Her confidence when she greeted my parents was evident yet she is so shy around me. Is she shy around all men or is it just me? She did say she finds me intimidating but I was really normal in her house. I didn't have my usual bossy attitude on. I wonder if she knows about me from before.

John pulls me out of my thoughts about Nandini. He is standing outside with the door open, waiting for me to come out. Damn, when did we reach?

I walk inside MEH with my usual bossy attitude. John following me closely. He presses the elevator button and we wait for it to come.

I step inside and reach the familiar space where I spend most of my time. Sonia is sitting at the reception desk. She stands up immediately when she sees me.

"Good afternoon Mr. Malhotra. Would you like me to bring your coffee?"

"Yes and get Jay on the line."

"I'll get on it, Mr. Malhotra."

Nodding my head at her, I walk inside my office and sit on my chair. The power I feel when I sit amazes me every time. It's satisfying. Satisfying your ego, Malhotra.

The office phone is ringing, indicating that Sonia has done her job.

"Malhotra" I answer it immediately.

"Mr. Malhotra I apologize for the delay. I have emailed you Miss Murty's number and email address."

"Good. That would be all."

I cut the call and turn on my laptop. Sure enough, I see an email from Jay with the information I asked. Should I email her? No that's way too formal. Call her? What if she is at work? I should probably text her. That way it won't be too formal and she can answer anytime she is free.

Without giving myself a lot of time to overthink, I send her a quick text.

Hi. I just realized we never decided on time and place. How about tomorrow at 6:00 pm at XYZ cafe?

Manik Malhotra

There. This will do. Quick and easy.

Right after I send her the text, I have a sudden urge to check her social media account. Nobody uses Facebook anymore except for my parents so I didn't even bother checking that. I straight away go to Instagram and search her name. I see her account on top. Her photo is so cute and beautiful that it took me a few minutes to tear my gaze to click on her account.

Nandini Murty has blown me away with her beauty and cuteness. My jaw drops at her photos. She looks gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. I'm not saying she is the most beautiful girl in the world but she has something in her that attracts me and I can't deny that. I haven't felt that attraction with anyone. I've seen so many beautiful girls but those were all looks and nothing else. She, on the other hand, has something that has captivated me.

I sit there and check all her photos. It seems Miss Murty is really active on social media as I scroll through her feed which is full of her photos. Her latest one which was posted just a few minutes ago is of her looking away from the camera, instead, her gaze is turned on her left, far in the distance while her face is slightly turned to the left as well. Nandini's long hair are gathered on her left shoulder on top of her black t-shirt, while few strands of her hair cover her face in the front. Her gaze is soft like she is looking at her favorite person while her lips are parted a little and her cheeks are slightly red. Her beauty is overflowing and I find myself staring at the photo for far too long. Just when I manage to tear my gaze off of her, her caption attracts my attention. It says "The light will guide you". Well, well is Miss Murty referring to our marriage? To us? To me?

Before I could dwell more on that interesting caption, a knock on my door interrupts me, and Sonia walks in.

"Mr. Malhotra, everyone is ready for you in the conference room on the second floor."

Shit, I forgot about that.

I nod at her dismissing her while I close the screen of my laptop. Turning to my phone, I exit from the Instagram app after clicking on the follow button.

Time to make money Malhotra.

Nandini's POV

I was sitting with Aditi in her office. Aditi is the one who is handling all the interns so basically my boss. She was explaining to me about a project that she wants me to work on when my phone beeped.

Both of us looked at it and I quickly apologized before turning it over. Whoever texted me, can wait.

"It's okay we are done here so you can go ahead."

I nod my head and leave her office after gathering my stuff.

I walk out of her office and once I'm outside I decided to check my phone. And there it is. A message from the most unexpected person. Manik.

Even his message has the capacity to make me nervous. Our discussion comes in my mind and I smile when I remember the cute way he had asked me out for a date. I totally forgot about our date. Date. And suddenly I have a shy smile on my face.

Without giving it much thought, I reply to him and save his number.

Hi, thank you for choosing a place and time. 6 pm works for me. I'm sorry I forgot.
N

After sending the text, I walk towards the endless desks lined up with all the interns working, some of them stressed while others are relaxed. We all have our own space. The desks are placed next to each other in a line. Each line has 10 desks. There some distance and then there is another line, desks facing each other.

I walk towards mine on the first line on the right corner. I smile at Vishali who smiles back at me. We both started our internship at the same time and since our desks were next to each other, we became friends quickly.

"Oh my god, this file is never-ending." She groans and I look at her file and sure enough, it looked like it would take a lot of her time. I give her a sympathetic look and she bangs her head on her table, hiding her face inside her hands and I let out a small laugh before turning my attention on the file in my hands. Start working Murty.

I open the file to start working on it but my mind drifts to Manik. Manik. My lips turn into a smile. I remember the first time I saw him. It was at a business party. Abhimanyu had forced me to accompany him. To my luck, Vishali was there along with another intern, Anjali. After getting bored with Abhimanyu who was having a deep discussion about a company takeover, I joined the girls. Networking wasn't my thing back then. It still isn't Nandini. My subconscious taunts me but I ignore her and get back on the memory lane.

We were joking around about the business people when Anjali suddenly squealed.

"Holy fvcking shit! My eyes are blessed by God."

We looked at her like she has lost her mind until she pointed in the entrance where the greek god stood himself. My jaw hit the floor. His face, his body, his jaw, his everything was a treat to the eyes. All the ladies in the party agreed with me. He's been here for a few seconds and he's already the talk of the party. Manik's tall height stands out in the crowd. He is wearing a black suit with a white shirt underneath and he matched his suit with a black tie and black shoes. The outfit is ordinary but he makes it look so extraordinary that you can't take your glance off of him. His face is covered with slight stubble, he probably hasn't shaved for a few days. Manik's big brown eyes wander around the room trying to recognize faces and my gaze moves up to his black medium length hair that is styled neatly.

He walks ignoring the stares he was getting. He's probably used to being stared at. His confidence fills the room. He doesn't smile at anyone instead his jaw is clenched and he looks sternly around, he just shakes hands with some people and makes a quick talk before moving to another group of people. His body language is screaming that he means nothing but business. He looks intimidating to me. If he looked at me, I would probably shiver with fear. Or so I thought. He looked at me so sweetly at my house. So unlike the Manik, I saw at the party. I drift back in the memory lane.

"Imagine having that greek god as your boyfriend or husband. I would be happy every single day. Damn, I would even quit my job and stare at him all day."

Anjali hasn't stopped fangirling over the handsome guy who I'm informed is Manik Malhotra. He's the owner of MEH. That guy is making millions, no wonder he is arrogant. His family is already really wealthy too. I remember my mom mentioning his mother as her friend.

"I wonder if he has a girlfriend. He's never seen with a girl." Anjali says and turns to look at us.

"He's handsome for sure but looks are not everything. I wonder how his personality is. And about his girlfriend, he probably has a lot of people taking care of every photo that surfaces on the internet. Even if he had one, we wouldn't know unless he wants us to know."

Both of them nod their head agreeing with me before turning to look at Manik again who seems to be leaving the party. Did he come here just for 30 minutes? I notice a person walking behind him that has been with him since the time he walked in. He's probably his bodyguard whom now I know as John. He's the same guy that came to our house with him.

I'm brought back to reality by Vishali who is shaking me by my arm.

"Where are you lost, Nandu? I asked you if you want tea. I'm going to get coffee, otherwise, my head is going to explode."

"Sorry I was just thinking about something. And yes, I'll love a cup of tea. Thank you."

Vishali doesn't ask me anything more and I'm grateful. I wonder how she is going to react when she finds out Manik came to my house or better when she finds out there is a possibility I might get married to the greek god we were lusting over at the party. Shit, Anjali is going to kill me when she finds out.

I don't get to dwell much on that thought because my phone beeps. A text from Mr. Malhotra.

You don't need to apologize. It was both of our fault. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow Miss Murty.
M

I smile widely and type a reply.

Me too.
N

His reply comes within seconds. Isn't he working?

Shouldn't you be working right now Miss Murty?
M

That's what I was thinking Mr. Malhotra.

I am. Shouldn't YOU be working right now? I'm sure you have an empire to run.
N

I do Miss Murty. In fact, I'm in a meeting right now talking about expanding my company to Dubai, if you're interested. Also, are interns allowed to be on their phones instead of working at your company? Get back to work Nandini.
M

Wow. He is ordering me. Such a hypocrite. He's literally doing the same thing as me yet he scolds me. Rolling my eyes, I ignore his message and do what he ordered me to do.