Chapter Eleven
Arya
A week has gone by since the new scandal broke out in the country. It’s all anyone can talk about at the office. Thus, annihilating my mission to throw all thoughts and memories of Nathan out of my head.
His utter shit treatment of me after giving me the best sex of my life has turned my simmering anger into a full-blown rage. He did dirty things to me that I never in a million years would’ve allowed any other man to do.
I begged for all of it.
For fuck’s sake, I let him fuck me in front of my ex-fiancé.
The more I think about it, the more I suspect Nathan knew of Aryan’s presence before he walked out.
The man has no shame.
A whore is what he called me.
Then he dumped me like one so fast I got whiplash. I had never felt so cheap and vulnerable when he didn’t even spare me a glance. I ran out of there, embarrassed and without my panties.
He used me, plain and simple.
I swear to God if I ever see him again, I’d slap the shit out of him.
Lately, I’m wondering if either I’m cursed when it comes to men or my radar for red flags is off by miles.
Something else I can’t reconcile is the fact that a bubbly and pure-hearted Iris would help him deceive the world. What was her motivation? Did he con her with well-crafted lies and his sinful looks?
The ping of a notification on my phone jerks me out of my musings. It’s a text from my boss.
RADHA: Come see me in my office.
Rising from my desk, I pocket my phone in my pants and step out of my office.
I’m not sure why she’s invited me since the performance review isn’t up for another week.
Over the past two months, I’ve been trying to redeem my flighty image and build trust to show I’m reliable.
I’m the first one to arrive at the office and the last to leave.
The elevator stops at the executives’ floor.
I’m more intrigued than nervous as I walk toward Radha’s office. Even a little thrilled that perhaps I’m being given a bigger project rather than collaborating with others. Keeping my fingers crossed, I knock on her door.
“Come in.”
Stepping in, I smile at her. “Hey.”
“Have a seat.” She points across her desk distractedly, her eyes glued to the screen of her desktop. “Give me a sec.”
“Sure.” I lower myself onto the seat. Her corner office has the most gorgeous view of the skyline and high-rises.
After a few more minutes, she bestows me with her attention. “Arya, how is it going? Chetna has been singing your praises.”
Surprise flickers across my face before I mask it with a grateful smile. “I’m glad she’s appreciating my work.”
“Oh, we have missed your dedication over these past months. See, that’s exactly why I couldn’t let you slip away. I can envision you leading your own agency one day.”
“Wow… It means a lot coming from you.”
“On that note, I have a very high-profile client I’d like you to handle after you and I convince him to choose us.”
I can’t contain my excitement this time, grinning at her eagerly. “I’ve been waiting just for that.”
“We will need to be discreet because the controversy surrounding him is a very delicate matter. One wrong move and we could make it worse. A lot is at stake for him. His image needs to be overhauled in the next six months.”
“I’m more than up for a challenge.”
“That’s what I love to hear,” she replies. Leaning forward, she shares, “If you succeed, I will be naming you for a promotion to senior publicist in the upcoming board meeting.”
Euphoria bursts in my veins, sending a jolt down my entire body. I’ve been dreaming of hearing these words forever. It will make me the youngest employee to earn the position so quickly.
“Thank you, Radha,” I cry out. Clapping my hands, I ask, “When do I get to meet the client?”
“Right now.”
My eyes widen.
“He’s waiting for us in the conference room.” Rising from her chair, she tips her chin toward the door. “Let’s go. I will introduce you both.”
I’m up from my seat before she can say it twice. “Let me grab my iPad and I’ll meet you there.”
“Be quick.”
Resisting the urge to sprint downstairs to my office, I calm down my racing heart. Once I reach my floor, I rush into the room and grab what I need. Thankfully, the conference room happens to be on the same floor as my office, so it’s less than a minute before I’m standing right outside it.
The corridor is dead silent, not a soul in sight, as I tap on the door before pushing it open with a welcoming smile.
“Hel─” My throat closes up, swallowing the rest of the word. All my organs malfunction and crash into each other.
No. No. No.
The man I never wished to see again rotates his chair in my direction, raising his head to pin me with intense gray eyes.
Nathan Singhania is my client?
It’s a miracle I stay up on my feet. Nathan takes up all the oxygen in the room, leaving me to suffocate.
Something else swirls in his gaze. A cold darkness that didn’t exist before. As if he’s living in a hell that nobody sees.
I’ve gone eerily still, while he gives nothing away. Almost like he’s seeing right through me. I forgot how unruffled he can be under any circumstances.
Not any, if he’s here.
“There she is,” Radha exclaims before introducing me. “Meet Arya, Mr. Singhania. She will be your publicist. One of our very best.”
The stupor bursts as my boss’s announcement registers, slamming into me like a bullet train. Every clue she threw my way in her office repeats in my brain. I guess right away why Nathan is here.
The news of his relationship being a sham.
Has it really put his position as the CEO at risk?
“I, unfortunately, have another important meeting to get to, so I’ll leave you two to talk. If you’d like to have a chat with me, though I don’t think you’d need to, I’d be happy to set up another meeting for the two of us.”
She’s leaving me? Alone with Nathan? I begin to hyperventilate.
Nathan’s sharp gaze cuts to Radha. Waving a hand in my direction, he coldly asks, “Can she even handle it? I didn’t come here to be a training wheel for an intern, Mrs. Sharma.
If you’re saddling me with someone clearly inexperienced, who couldn’t even properly introduce herself without stuttering, I have nothing else to discuss and will take my business elsewhere. ”
I flinch so hard at his insult that my teeth chatter. Indignation boils in my veins, mixing with the rage I buried inside from our last encounter.
He’s become a worse asshole, if possible.
Contemptuous. Heartless. Pompous.
Honestly, I could keep going. And it’s only been a hot minute in his presence.
Suppressing the violent urge to throttle him, I keep my mouth shut to let Radha deal with his disrespectful decorum.
Having been on thin ice for the last few months and finally earning a leeway to a life-changing opportunity, I can’t afford to create a scene.
All my hard work will go down the drain.
I certainly don’t want him to see that his words affected me.
All those times we ran into one another, I was in a bad place and the opposite of confident and grace. It’s led him to believe I’m a wallflower whom he can break with spiteful words. Even though I haven’t done anything to earn it.
As soon as we’re alone, I’ll set him straight.
Instead of bowing down to him, Radha politely but firmly states, “You’re mistaken, Mr. Singhania.
Arya is our full-time employee and has been with us for five years.
She’s worked with many of our clients and they’ll sing nothing but her praises.
She’s the perfect fit for you. Rest assured, I’ll also be working alongside her and personally overseeing your case, Mr. Singhania.
All I ask is that you have a discussion with her and if you’re still not convinced, I’m more than happy to give you other recommendations. ”
Tension simmers in the room as Nathan takes his sweet-ass time. Until finally, he twists his chair to face me. Leaning back and crossing his legs, he flicks his wrist. “I’m all ears, Miss Chopra.”
“Perfect,” says Radha in relief. “I’ll let you two be.”
The door swings shut behind her after she exits.
Nathan’s index finger taps on his wristwatch while his icy gaze holds mine daringly. He doesn’t have to roam it down the length of my body to let me know he’s reliving the memory of me naked and writhing in his arms.
He arches one impatient brow.
Be professional, Arya.
Treat him like a potential client.
Your career is at stake.
Don’t lose your cal─
“You’re a prick,” my lips blurt out.
Time freezes, the tension thickening, pin-drop silence expands in the room, like a bomb is about to go off. Nathan’s unfairly handsome face is a mask of indifference, sending my heart pinballing around my chest.
He’s going to fire me.
Can a person be fired if they aren’t hired?
In slow motion, a cocky glint lights up his eyes and his mouth tips up on the side.
“Oh, angel,” he drawls in a husky timbre. “I’m the perfect gentleman. Don’t you remember?”