"Here.."Manik extended a glass of water in front of her "..you will feel better.."

Though Nandini didn't look up but she simply took the glass from his hands and mumbled "thank you.."

Taking a sip from the glass she wiped the tear away from her eyes.

"Nandini.."the way he took her name sent shiver down her spine. But still she chose to not look into his eyes though she knew that his eyes were on her only. However she knew that it was bad manners to not reply so she whispered "..yes sir.."

"I am sorry.."

Nandini's head snapped up the moment these words were out of Manik's mouth. She couldn't believe her own ears. She thought she might be hallucinating..

..because there was no way her boss THE MANIK MALHOTRA..could actually apologise to her.

But sometimes reality could be stranger than fiction.

...and this is indeed was the reality...

...that he was apologising to her..

...for real.

She wasn't hallucinating..

...and it was actually happening for real.

When she didn't respond Manik continued "I am extremely sorry for everything that you went through because of Alia...and that too on your first day."

"I know how humiliating it could be.."

"..and I truly apologise for her irrational behaviour.."

Nandini tried to speak because she didn't wanted him to apologise for someone else's wrong deed.

"Sir I swear..it was.."however before she could finish Manik completed her sentence "..an accident..right.." she simply bobbed her head as she once again looked down.

Manik could see that her eyes were brimming with tear..

...a burning rage spread through his entire existence...

...just by witnessing her pain.

He could see that she was shaken because of this whole nuisance that was created by Alia.

Even even Alia was busy with her dramatics all Manik was doing was looking at Nandini.

His eyes were not ready to leave her face..

..because he knew the moment her face would be out of his sight..

...he would have end up strangling Alia to death.

Not that he didn't wanted to at that moment when Alia was doing all those theatrics..

...he so wanted to kill her then and there itself..

...but the only reason he held himself back was because of..

...NANDINI.

Yes..

The reason why after creating all this nuisance Alia was still breathing and in one piece was because of...

...NANDINI.

The sole reason why Manik didn't do anything with Alia was because he didn't wanted to scare Nandini.

He knew that once he looses control it would be impossible for him to stop..

...and god knows what he must have ended up doing.

And now he knew his decision was correct..

..because she had only seen a glimpse of his rage and she is already petrified...

...he could see the change in her behaviour.

Just an hour ago her face was glowing with excitement and happiness. She was ecstatic because of her new job.

She was talking freely with him..

...she was feeling comfortable in his presence.

But now...

...her face has not only lost its colour..

...but also he can clearly see that how distant she has become from him..

...which clearly indicated that she was scared of him..

...and that thought was killing him.

How he wished Nandini wasn't there when the security literally dragged Alia out of the premise.

How he wished he didn't have to stay back to make sure she wasn't left alone to deal with this traumatic experience all by herself.

How he wished that he could get that one single opportunity to strangle Alia all by himself.

But of course he couldn't..

...as he didn't wanted to scare Nandini more than she already is.

For the world he was the Monster..

...but for her he wanted to become her GUARDIAN DEMON.

And this wasn't possible if he would show her his Monstrous side.

He knew that one day he will have to let her in..

...one day she will come to know about this DEVILISH SIDE.

But when that day comes he will make sure that she knows him to well..both inside out..so that she didn't end up running away from him.

He will let her in to his Darkest Side..

...but only when he knew that she was ready to face his demons and was strong enough to put his demons to rest once for all..

...by bringing him back to light.

He knew she was strong enough at the moment..

...but right now she didn't knew him well.

And he can't risk loosing her..

...because he honestly didn't knew how to live without her anymore.

She has become her ultimate reason of survival..

...and now he will become her ultimate strength...

...just like she was his.

But that could wait as right now there were more important things to take care off.

So sighing he knelt down in front of her which didn't went unnoticed by her.

Her eyes widened in horror "Sir..what are you doing..please..get up.."but before she could say anything more he silenced her by placing a finger in front of her lips carefully so that his fingers were mere inches away from her lips.

He didn't wanted to make her uncomfortable that's why he made sure his fingers were not in contact with her lips.

"Shhhh.."he whispered and gestured to let him speak.

Nandini simply nodded as she didn't knew what else to do.

Looking straight into her eyes he finally spoke his heart out "I know you are shaken with this whole incidence.."

"...but I also know that you are strong enough to overcome these kinds of situations.."

"..this world is full of cruel people like Alia.."

"..who would go to any extent in order to stop other people who's heart is as clean as yours..as pure as yours.."

"..because for them silence means weakness.."

"..but unfortunately they forget that silence also occurs when the storm is about to hit shore which would result in destruction of everything that comes in its way.."

"..they needed to be remembered that silence isn't the sign of weakness..it's the sign of strength.."

"I know you aren't weak.."

"...I know you could have answered Alia back in the correct way that could have silenced her forever..."

"...but you didn't.."

"...not because you are weak or anything..."

"..but because you were taken aback by her sudden barbaric behaviour and accusations.."

"..that's why you didn't fought back because you were in a state of shock.."

"..but Nandini.."

"..you can't won't survive this world like this.."

"..you have to fight back.."

"..you have to stand against the wrong.."

"..you can't let people like Alia walk all over you.."

"Just remember one thing.."

"..yes..you do work for me.."

"...but that doesn't mean I Own You.."

"..no..absolutely not.."

"If I also do something like this you should have the courage to speak up and stop me.."

"..and I know you have that power.."

"...because back then you weren't apologising to Alia for yourself.."

"..No..absolutely not.."

"You were apologising to her for Abhimanyu and Mukti.."

Nandini's eyes widened again...this time in shock as Manik spoke the exact reason for her silence but she didn't say anything because she knew Manik wasn't finished yet.

So she continued to listen to him while he spoke.."

"..you tolerated all this so that those two doesn't end up loosing their jobs.."

"..but Nandini..how did you fail to see that just like you even they both didn't wanted you to loose your job.."

"..honestly I so wanted to kick Abhimanyu..because he stopped Mukti from pounding on Alia..but of course later I realised that he didn't wanted Mukti to get dirty by touching that fashion disaster brainless bimbo named Alia Saxena.."

Manik rolled his eyes which made Nandini smile which in turn made Manik smile.

"Okay so you find this funny..so why didn't you find my act funny which literally choked Alia..God..Miss.Murthy I am really offended.."he said dramatically.

"Sir..that's wasn't funny.."Nandini looked down. "..that was scary.."

Manik so wanted to take Nandini into her embrace as she looked so vulnerable. But since he didn't wanted her to file a case of sexual harassment filed against him so he got a grip over himself and spoke in the most sugar coated tone. "You don't ever need to be scare from me..Nandini.."

His tone caught her attention and she immediately looked up only to find his intense gaze on her which literally trapped her gaze with him.

"From now on I won't let anything or anyone hurt you ever.."

His words were laced with unsaid promise and Nandini knew in that very moment that he meant every single word.

"But promise me Nandini..that from now on you won't let anyone wrong you.."

"...you will fight back.."

"...always.."

"Promise.."

Manik's words casted a spell on her but it didn't weakened her..

...rather she became stronger.

So she simply nodded what she truly meant "I PROMISE.."

Manik finally smiled and got back from his seat looking at Nandini the whole time who also followed his suit.

"So I guess.."Manik sighed "..it's time to get back to work.."

His words finally broke her trance and she looked away. "Yes..Sir.."she replied looking anywhere but him.However Manik didn't miss the blush that turned her cheeks red.

So like a gentleman he chose to distract her ".so..Nandini..I want you call the accounts department..and ask the head to come and meet me.."

Nandini thanked him internally for the change of topic. She nodded and asked "Sir..may I know what's this in reference to..if they asked.."

"It's about Abhimanyu and Mukti.."Manik's answer shocked her again. "What about them sir.."

She thought he was going to fire them which literally scared the living daylight out of her.
However before she could panic Manik's words not only calmed her down but also made her smile her first genuine smile in hours.

"..apparently I owe both of them a raise..for their splendid performance in handling Alia..especially Mukti.."

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