Chapter 130

“I gave you hope? When exactly did I do that, Saira?” Adam asked, his voice laced with a casual indifference. Without waiting for a response, he continued, “Anyway, I’m not really interested in digging into the past right now. So, you summoned me here for something specific?”
Saira gave a firm nod and gestured towards the screen in front of her. “Yes. I wanted to talk about the proposal you submitted. I’ve gone through it in detail, and frankly, I’m concerned. You haven’t offered many cost-effective strategies for reducing the carbon footprint. In fact, if we move forward with your suggestions, the costs will rise significantly. That means we’ll have to deal with pushback from the finance department.”
Adam gave a nonchalant shrug. “That sounds like your area of concern, not mine. As per HR’s role definitions, I’m the one who plans—and you’re the one who implements. Isn’t that what the great Mr Robert Collins suggested and everyone agreed upon?”
“But you can’t just hand me a bunch of impractical, half-baked ideas and expect me to make them work!” Saira snapped as her frustration rose. “How am I supposed to implement something that isn’t feasible?”
Adam shrugged again, unconcerned and stood up. “Well, that’s not really my problem, is it?”
With that, Adam turned around, ready to leave when Saira suddenly stood up and stepped in front of him, raced around her desk and blocked his path.
He instinctively took a step back, his gaze darting towards the door for a moment but she didn’t stop. His eyes narrowed and he continued to walk backwards… and she continued to follow him, invading his space and closing the distance between them until there was barely a breath between them. He stopped then.
“It is your problem! As per the HR-defined roles, you’re required to provide feasible ideas. Not just toss random concepts and walk away.”
He shrugged again, even as her nearness made his hands clench and challenged, “Then go ahead. File a complaint with HR.”
The air between them thickened. Sparks rose and he watched as Saira’s eyes darkened. His already clenched hands tightened further as sher eyes flicked to his lips, just for a second, then back to his. Her breath hitched as she leaned in, closing the distance further between them. He knew the meaning of the look. She wanted to kiss him. He stayed still, only letting his hand move backward, along her side of the desk…
And just as she was about to kiss him, Adam turned his head sharply, dodging her lips by a fraction. His voice was cool and detached as he said, “Careful, Saira. You’re bordering on sexual harassment. And just so you know… everyone can see it.”
Saira stepped back instinctively and her heart dropped as she turned to see the blinds slowly lifting. They were already almost half way up and the frosted glass was beginning to clear, revealing their figures to the office outside.
Flushed and reeling, Saira quickly walked back around her desk, putting distance between them while he walked to ‘his’ side of the desk.
Thankfully, the blinds hadn’t opened completely so when the view cleared, she was sitting on her chair, and he stood in front of her desk.
Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up the file in front of her and tossed it onto the table between them with a sharp movement.
“You need to rework those suggestions and make them usable.”
Adam looked at her trembling hands and picked up the file, walking away. This victory was his.
Once outside, he put on a disgruntled expression and as his office assistant approached him, he handed the file to her and ordered loudly,” She really thinks I have all the free time in the world? Calling me here and wasting my time. If people knew how to communicate properly, this file could’ve easily been passed on through you or sent via email. But no—we had to waste my time for a meeting that could’ve been a memo.”
“And just so you know,” he added to the young assistant who was at a loss over her boss’ rant, his voice loud enough for a few curious onlookers nearby, “if she expects me to work overtime on this nonsense with her, you’ll have to stay back too. I’m not suffering through working with ‘her’ alone.”
Then, as he strode down the hallway, he muttered under his breath, “Need someone around to protect me from women throwing themselves at me.”
As soon as the office door clicked shut behind him, a slow, calculating smile began to spread across his face. Gone was the annoyed executive persona. He had finally orchestrated the perfect redirection of the rumors.
He walked calmly to his desk, sat down and leaned back in his chair as his fingers tapped idly on the armrest. Patience was key now.
A knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” he said, already knowing who it would be.
His assistant stepped in, tablet still in hand, and an excited expression on his face. “Well?” Adam asked slowly
He smirked. “It’s already started like you thought. They’re buzzing like bees in a heatwave out there. Word is… there is indeed some history between the two of you. But she is the one who got too close. That maybe you were trying to walk away, and she didn’t let you. Also, I’ve already leaked that her mother was your nanny so if everything goes as planned, no one will be able to point fingers at you.”
Adam let out a small, satisfied exhale through his nose, tilting his head back slightly to stare at the ceiling. “Let them talk.”
Saira liked rumors, didn’t she? She’d used them once to her advantage. This time, he was not going to let her use them. Love was love, sure. But business was business too. She’d thought him that. And now, let her suffer from the lessons she had personally taught him. It would serve her just right…
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