Page 57 of No Boss
“Yes, Boss.”
“Printed multiple times.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“The same thread again and again.”
“Yes, Boss.”
He stared at her.
“Boss.” Sweetly. Innocently. “You asked me to print the emails you forward. I have printed all of them.”
He set the stack down. His jaw clenched.
There was a spark in her eyes that came close to laughter.
He could have argued. He chose his phone instead. Scrolled to a contact. Pressed the name. His eyes stayed on her.
“Mr Desai. Apologies for missing your calls. I have reviewed your offers.”
He watched her.
Her teeth came together.
He saw it.
“Tomorrow at four works. I am open to a serious discussion.”
He ended the call and set the phone down.
She inclined her head, picked up her notebook, and walked to the door. Her steps even. Her composure intact.
The door closed behind her.
He leaned back in his chair. Satisfaction settled in. Under it, a feeling he chose to ignore.
He checked the time. An hour to the next meeting. He left for lunch.
???
Ten minutes to the meeting.
Abhinav crossed the main courtyard toward the office, laptop tucked under his arm, Singapore running through his mind.
The acquisition had taken weeks. Clearances, negotiations, due diligence that had stretched entire teams thin. Fifty million dollars rested on the call he was about to lead.
The afternoon sun pressed down. Heat rose from the stone and pushed through his shoes, climbing through his body. Sweat gathered at his collar despite the fine cotton of his shirt.
A sharp scream tore through the air.
He stopped and saw a crowd forming near the temple entrance.
Another voice followed, urgent. “Someone help! Please!”
He did not hesitate.
He changed direction and pushed forward. Recognition moved ahead of him. People stepped aside on instinct. He barely noticed. His focus had already narrowed to the center of it.
