Page 25 of Okay Boss
“Oh.” A small smile appeared. “That’s wonderful.”
“It is.” He set the tablet down. “I need you to coordinate some media responses. High-profile outlets get priority statements. Regional media gets official confirmation. Nothing leaked, everything controlled.”
“Okay, Boss. I’ll draft responses and send them for your approval.”
“No need. You know what I want. Handle it.”
She nodded, making notes. Then glanced up. “Oh, and Riya Ma’am’s assistant called twice this morning. She’s planned dinner tonight. Eight o’clock. I’ve already confirmed you’ll be there.”
The shift in topic was so abrupt that Vikram blinked. “Wait...what?”
“Dinner with Riya Ma’am. Tonight at eight. At Citrus. Private dining room.”
“Tell her I’m filming,” Vikram groaned.
“You wrapped yesterday.” Her response came without missing a beat.
“Tell her I’m sick.”
“She’ll send a doctor.” Divya’s voice was gentle but firm. “Your blue Tom Ford suit is being pressed. Car picks you up at seven-thirty. I’ve ordered orchids. Her assistant mentioned they’re her favorite after the lilies incident last time. I’ve also noted it in the preferences file.”
Vikram stared at her. “You keep notes on Riya’s flower preferences?”
“I keep notes on all frequent contacts’ preferences. It’s more efficient than asking each time.”
Something about the simple practicality of it, the way she managed his supposed relationship with the same efficiency shemanaged everything else, irritated him in a way he couldn’t quite name.
“You’re very thorough,” he said.
“I try my best.” She looked up from her notebook, expression earnest. “I don’t want to disappoint you.”
The simple sincerity behind her words caught him off guard.
“You’re not disappointing anyone,” he said, voice softening. “You’re doing great.”
Her smile could have lit up the entire van. “Thank you, Boss.”
Vikram found himself watching that smile, the way it transformed her face from merely pleasant to something that caught and held his attention. The realization made him slightly uncomfortable.
“Your call time is in eighteen minutes,” Divya said, already shifting back to efficiency. “Costume is ready, and makeup is waiting.” She tucked her notebook against her chest. “And congratulations to your brother. It’s really very romantic.”
The unexpected softness in her voice caught him off-guard. “It is, isn’t it? Love at first interview.”
Her laugh was soft, almost musical. A sound he realized he’d heard rarely in their time working together.
She slipped out of the van, closing the door with a soft click.
Vikram stared at the closed door for a moment longer than necessary.
He had heard Divya speak every day for three months. Calm. Measured. Efficient. But laughter? Rare. And when she smiled, really smiled, it altered her face in a way that was… distracting.
He swiped back to the engagement photos of Raghav and Ishani, but his mind drifted.
Divya’s expression earlier. The careful notes about Riya’s preferred flowers. The way she’d said everything with such calm professionalism.
She genuinely believed he and Riya were something real. That she was coordinating for an actual relationship.
And she was so… comfortable with it. Too comfortable. No hesitation. No flicker. Just pure efficiency.
