"Damn! What is he thinking?" I muttered, gritting my teeth. Without wasting another second, I called him. It rang for a half a minute before he answered.

"I am pulling up my pants. Could you hold?" said Siddharth.

"No. I am not going to hold. And you are not going to pull up your pants!" I whispered back. I didn't want Tanya to wake up. It was definitely one of those times when I would get totally worked up.

After couple of second silence, "hmm. Am I sensing playfulness? You don't want me to pull up my pants. How often that is going to happen," he muttered in a husky voice.

"Oh, you pervert! I am saying don't come here!" she whispered angrily. Why was he flirting? I was amazed at myself, how on earth did I end up kissing him? Then again, I didn't regret it. He really was a good kisser. Was he better than Viraj? Ughhh... No... he...was... not!

"I am doing you a favour, believe me," he replied coolly. "I can come and calm you down. Besides, you need to have good night's sleep for your work tomorrow. After all, it's an important day."

"Don't think that you will make my situation better. You tend to make it worse. I have experienced last three times." I retorted strongly. "And tell me, why do you think tomorrow will be important for me?" Things finally sunk in my baffled brain. How did he know about me working with Anamika? In the background, I heard a muffled groan from Tanya. Slowly I peeked from my blanket, she turned over, facing me, still fast asleep.

"For a professional woman like you, works always comes first. Every day is an important day for you!" he responded with overly clear voice. "You should be sleeping."

"I know something is fishy. And I will find out, Sid! You are one weird person in my life. As if it wasn't enough already..." I trailed off, remembering the picture of Mr. and would be Mrs. Dublin. Sigh!

"Okay. I will make you a deal. I will not come over if you tell me, what' bugging you."

And I didn't know why but suddenly I had the urge to confide in him. For just a moment, I thought that his voice shown some other side of him, maybe reflected certain care for me. I smiled inwardly at the ridiculous idea. "I am just tired Sid. I really am. And you are right. I should go to sleep." I hoped that it would suffice his supposed care for the time being.

"Then you leave me no choice but to come over."

I groaned aloud, and that made Tanya steer again in her sleep. "Fine. I will tell you. I am worked up because I am going to work for our CEO, Anamika Vora from tomorrow. And it's already exhausting merely thinking about it. She seems high ended, and I am not sure if she will be happy with my work. Or it's the uncertainty over her expectations from me. Long story short, I am nervous."

"Oh. Are you sure that's what is troubling you?"

"Hmm...mm." It could be!

He considered my partial lie for a couple of seconds before saying, "Anamika is perfectly nice to work with. I know her since the last couple of weeks, obviously in a strictly professional way."

That was odd considering his position as only assistant editor, the last time I heard it. Oh hell, all I might know, he must have had used his charms on her. Whatever, it hardly mattered to me. Still, I should ask, "How do you know her?

"Live Money and Purple are sister companies. I have met her in some party." He explained. Though I found it to be unconvincing.

"And she entertained you?" I asked, unable to stop myself. From what I knew about her, was that she was a single mother of a five-year-old boy. Though not that old, considering her position as the top boss. She earned it, Purple had established its strong market in urban India and made people turn their heads to the strong articles.

"Why wouldn't she? Nobody can resist my charms." He said, I could tell, that he was smirking behind his phone.

"Never mind," I gave up, suppressing my involuntary chuckle. Better be sleeping than any of this. I laughed again this time.

"What?" he asked suspiciously.

"Nothing. Gotta sleep now." I concluded with an actual yawn.

"Good. See you tomorrow."

"Huh? Why?" I murmured.

"We work close by, Ms. Sara. I want to drop by and say hello," he said as if it was the most natural thing to do.

"We will see about that, considering my plans to follow the CEO." I laughed, resisting any more sarcasm.

"Ha... Alright."

When I finally slept, there was a smile on my face.

*

I stood at the end of the hallway of Anamika's Penthouse, still gawking at the surrounding. The housekeeper or whoever received me went inside to announce my arrival. I adjusted my handbag on my arm emulating her style, trying to look confident in my best work clothes. My glance studied the contours of her living room slash unending space. The light from the silver chandelier flickered on the ridged glass wall separating hallway and living room. Exactly at the middle, there was a large square area with two L-shaped beige coloured couches. On the table in the middle, several magazines lay in a neat manner.

"You can sit," a voice called me from behind.

"Morning Madam!"

But before she even heard it, she sat down on the sofa. "Where is your iPad?" She asked browsing through the magazines.

"I...I don't have iPad. Will my smartphone do?" I recovered and pulled out the phone.

She scrutinized me from head to toe, well I did the same. She wore white cashmere blouse with  a golden pencil skirt. Her hair perfected in a small bun. "Why? Never mind," she put her palm up when I started to open my mouth. "Madhav, could you give her my old iPad?"

The super butler gave a short nod and was off to one of the rooms. I dared not to speak in front of her as I sensed that my pleas would go wasted.

"Speaking of business," she began, scrutinizing Vogue's cover page. "You are assigned to keep me company at all times." I nodded giving her my utmost focus, but she regarded a new actress on the Vogue cover with interest. "My assistant, Joyce will be keeping my appointment records. But none the less, I need you carry my schedule with you all the times."

"Yes, Madam." I again nodded. This time, she turned her head upwards towards me.

"Don't call me that. You can call me Miss Vora. And what are you wearing?" Her expressions unreadable.

"I...uh... mm...shirt and a trouser?" I stuttered. My best work attire was a plain white shirt and coffee trousers. Well, it was well-laundered.

"Which designer?"

Okay. This was a hard question, considering that I bought it from a local market. I thought for another moment and thought I should tell the truth. "Miss Vora, it's from the Bandra Market."

"Is that right?" she demanded.

I nodded.

"It is unacceptable. Though I admit that it doesn't look that bad. But I can't just take you with me, wearing less than designer clothes," she said standing up. "Here, take this card. It's in the company name. Buy yourself at least ten pairs of formal clothes and minimum five evening gowns, some shoes and accessories as well."

I took the card a little enthusiastically, owing to the underlying insult on my dressing sense. Though, it was short lived as I got the license to shop whatever I wanted.

"I will tell my personal shopper to help you after lunch time," She strode past me, with her bag in her arms and the housekeeper walking ahead of her.

Thereafter, we went straight to the office in her classic blue Mercedes, awfully quiet ride. When I entered in the office at exactly ten walking a step behind her, the whole of the purple magazine staff peeked from their desks. I quickly got the schedule from Joyce's iPad, transferred in mine. There were two meetings lined up before lunchtime. First with the JP publications and other with the writers. As Anamika was busy typing furiously on her Mac, I turned to Joyce and asked, "Where is the meeting?"

She rolled her eyes. "It's on the top floor, our wing. All the publication wings top guys would be there. It's usually held quarterly by the head of JP India." She whispered.

"Thanks. But what should I do there? Stand outside?" I asked, genuinely concerned.

She smiled wickedly before saying. "No clue. She hasn't taken me once." Oh, Bother! I was going to get bored standing outside. I sighed.

"Joyce, wait outside. I have to talk with Miss Anand alone," Anamika spoke quietly, looking over her stylish reading glasses.

Joyce left quietly without wasting a second. Anamika gestured to take the seat. I did what I was told. She put her glasses down and faced with her all business look. "While you are working with me, I need you to listen to my conversation with people very carefully. I need you to note it down. Whenever I demand, you need to brief me. You will accompany me to the meetings, parties, and every official gathering. Tell me first, what do you know about JP and Purple?"

"JP Publications is one of the oldest publication houses in the world with its headquarter in Washington DC and having a base in over 49 countries. Jonathan Parker established the house in 1919 in partnership with VM broadcasting company. The Purple magazine is a part of JP, founded over forty years back in New York. The Purple India was established in twenty-five years back, has grown tremendously in last six years, with the best ever sale of 276 thousand copies sold in last year December. We have over one lakh seventy thousand subscribers for Print edition and over one lakh thirty-seven thousand online subscribers. Our revenue ratio is 78 percent from advertisement and rest from the circulation. We have--," I stopped abruptly when I saw her palm up.

"And that's why you are here."

*

When I entered the meeting room with Anamika, the other CEOs gave me a second look, before settling on their respective chairs. It was a large rectangular room with light brown interiors and high-back leather chairs. While Anamika took the seat beside the LiveMoney magazine head, I took a seat at a chair by the back of the room along with other assistants. The silence was unnerving.

Soon the meeting started, and the empty seat beside me was filled by someone.

"Fancy seeing you here," Sid spoke in a low register.

Surprised, I looked up to a handsome face. Earlier stubble was gone. Instead, he was clean shaven. I despised that he looked good in his grey suit with no tie. Unlike me, he didn't carry any iPad or laptop with him. He sat casually enough, as the meeting proceeded. "I am here to work. So if you will excuse me," I whispered and got back to hearing the presentation of one of the Live India top guy. It was a current affair magazine, most popular among metro cities of India.

"You smell great," he whispered in my ear leaning in. Though the dim light nobody could see us and it was bad for me. His minty breath fanned my cheeks, as he stayed leaning by my side. My heart rate picked up, I soon realized that I had stopped listening to god-awful statistics on the screen. Instead, I closed my eyes and just breathed in. I could feel his scent, the slight touch of his arms as we sat so close. Damn! That man was making my stupid hormones behave irrationally.

But my ears picked up the silence, sharply I opened my eyes. The Live guy sat back in his chair, while Anamika started with her address.

"Behave," I hushed strongly and pushed him with my arm.

He chuckled. "What can I say? Nobody can resist my charm," he said and crossed his arms over his proud chest, leaning away from me.

Soon the torture was over, and when we went our separate ways, he gave me a knowing look and an annoyingly sexy smile.

*

Fortunately, Anamika was happy with my a five-minute summary thereafter, told her two ideas on the meetings and told me to note them down. Other discussions with the writers in her own office also went well. I only listened and noted down the important points on the overall outcome.

After quick lunch with Tanya and Kush, I was off to the seventeenth floor, excited like a little child. The personal shopper called and told me to come to the floor directly. As I reached the floor, lingered around and gawking at the expensive creations, my phone buzzed. A text from Sid.

Turn around.

I obeyed. I noticed him standing by the railing of the staircase, still in the suit, yet the hair was ruffled from the previous well-set position.

"Fancy meeting you here," I repeated his statement with a sarcastic smile.

"Little bird told me, you were here for shopping. I thought I could help you, or bug you!" he smiled and ran his hand through his silky hair.

"Don't tell me Anamika told you!" I replied dumbfounded.

"No. Tanya did," he explained, the smile cornered around his lips.

"Why are you really here?" secretly I was rejoicing that he was not that close with Anamika as feared.

"I told you, I wanted to meet you today." He replied, taking my hand in his.

Before I could push him away, I saw Mr. Dublin walking towards us. Alone!

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