It has been almost 2 hours and Sonakshi was still not done with her hair. She had changed five set of clothes and tried almost 10 different hairstyles. She had never felt this conscious in her life before but today she did not want to be judged by him. After all, she was going to work more than 8 hours with him in the same room. She made sure that her dress was decent enough and did not expose anything to him.

Finally, she wore a long sleeve light blue tops with white bottoms. Applying light make-up, she decided to leave her hair simple and loose.

Sona's POV

I was not aware of what was waiting for me there. Once I entered the office, I was not welcomed by the usual greetings I used to get. Instead I received a few glares and some pitiful stares. Before I could conclude anything, I heard Jatin's voice behind me.

"Hey Sona, Good morning! Not bad yaar... Itni jaldi? Desperate to meet Mr Dixit?" he asked teasingly and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Seriously Jatin?? Can you be a little serious for once? You know I was so scared that I would reach here late? I have so many left-over paperwork to do. Plus I haven't even moved my things from my desk yet." I ranted.

"Hey...chill Sona. Chill. Your desk had been set up in Dev's office last night. And currently what paper works are you doing?" he asked, looking confused.

"The same industrial project paper works which I have been working on for the past 2 weeks???" I told him like it was the most obvious thing. But the stare I received told me a different story.

"Umm...Sona..."

"What Jatin?"

"Those paper works were passed to Sushmitha, the new employee yesterday. As for your work...its waiting for you at your desk." he completed, leaving me completely shocked.

How could my work be passed to someone who doesn't even have experience in it? Was Dev trying to insult me by doing this? After all, those were my hardwork. I have been working on that project for months!

I could feel Jatin's sympathetic gaze on me. I could tell he was feeling bad about it but before he could say anything, I hurried towards Dev's cabin. When I went inside his cabin, I noticed that there was no one there yet.

Instead, the view that I saw there made my eyes pop out from their sockets.

My table was set up directly opposite Dev's desk and it was filled with loads of work. I saw a note in my table stating the list of things that I had to finish by that day. I swear that only a superwomen would be able to do that much of work in a day. I knew Dev has started to play his dirty game on me, but this was highly unprofessional.

But I was strong. I would take this as a challenge and prove him that I wouldn't get frightened by his antics. You can do this Sona.

I quickly made myself comfortable and started doing all the paper works when I heard Dev entering inside the room. I just ignored him and continued doing my work. I was too pissed off to even greet him. I don't care if he was my boss. I started printing all the relevant documents when I felt Dev's intense gaze piercing at my back. Just when I was about to file in the printed copies, I heard his voice.

"Bring me a cup of black coffee, Ms Bose." he ordered. This idiot!

Not given any other choice, I left my papers on the desk and rushed over to the pantry to do his coffee. Making the coffee, took longer time than I expected. This pantry was a mess. When I came back with his coffee, I noticed the file on my desk missing.

"Miss Bose, don't panic. Your file is with me. I am sorry to say that this is full of rubbish. I have edited the changes inside. I would like you to kindly reprint it again. Oh, and I need it by 12 noon. Please hurry." he spat harshly.

I stood there with my heart broken. I could literally hear my heart breaking into thousands of pieces. There was some kind of anger in his tone which made me think what I had done wrong.

This was totally unexpected. I had checked the file almost 3 times before printing it and I was confident enough to prove that there were no errors. But fighting back with Dev Dixit was close to impossible. Moreover, the time was already 11.30am. Finishing it by 12 was just crazy. I knew he was doing this on purpose but what would he gain by doing this?

Is this his so-called revenge?

Dev's POV

I know this task was nearly impossible for her to do. She was extremely devastated but what bothered me was the fact that she wasn't fighting back. The Sonakshi I knew was a fighter. She was not someone who kept quiet when people accused her without a reason.

Her eyes did not carry the same passion and joy anymore. She was quiet and silent to everything I said. Extremely quiet. Is she acting infront of me? Her eyes never met mine and she never spoke a word to me the whole day. What was she trying to prove?

When I came in to my office today, I was nearly blown off by the sight infront of me. Sonakshi was standing near the printer, printing some papers. She looked like an angel descended from the heaven. Simple, yet outstanding. My eyes were fixated on her face. She hardly applied any make-up, but still she managed to take my breath away.

She fidgeted with her hand, pushing aside her curls every now and then. She was conscious of my glares but chose to ignore it. I felt like I could stare at her the whole day. She needed to leave this place before I pin her to the wall and kiss her senselessly. Woahh wait...what am I thinking?

Dev Dixit don't forget that she is your enemy! A poisonous snake, wearing the mask of an angel.

"Bring me a cup of black coffee, Ms Bose." I ordered.

She looked at me and contemplated her decision for a few seconds before leaving my cabin. I quickly took the file in her desk and viewed the details in it. They were perfect! Too perfect for my likes.

However, I purposely made a few unwanted edits in it to make sure she had to redo majority of the work. I know it was very unprofessional of me to do such a thing but what could I do? After all she was a heartless human being who made me this way. Heartless people are meant to be treated in that way.

When she came back, her facial expressions changed from being exhausted to panic. When she realised that the file in her desk was gone, she went pale in fright.

I immediately went towards her and gave her the file, asking her to complete the entire work by noon. Although I didn't need it that early, I still said it. The minute I spoke those words, I could hear her loud gasp from her side.

I saw her eyes widening and face paling. The task was nearly impossible but its high time, she needs to realise, what happens to people who dare to mess up with the DEV DIXIT.

She will suffer.

Sona's POV

It was half past 12. I was still not done with the work. I was totally exhausted. My plans of leaving for an early lunch break was spoilt. I didn't even have a proper breakfast in the morning. Just when I thought I had almost finished the papers, I received a call from the accounts department, informing me that Dev wanted me to arrange some meetings and clear some more paper works.

I scrunched up my nose in irritation and sighed. My work was still not done and there were more piling up. I sat down on my chair feeling so low and dejected.

Suddenly I flinched when I heard someone entering the room. Thankfully, it was only Jatin.

"Hey Sona, what's up? Are you comfortable at your new place?" he asked. I could sense his excitement in his voice.

"Yea.. I am alright. Just finishing the 'Eco' project papers" I sighed tiredly.

"Wait... what?? Did I hear it properly? Why are you still doing it?" he asked with a shocked expression.

"Yeap Jatin. I know I am late...can you not make this worse for me? I am trying to do it fast." I told him while punching the keyboard, typing the last few changes to the contract papers.

However, there was no reply for some time....he was thinking deeply before he spoke.

"Sona......... Riya compiled all the contract papers for that 'Eco' project and it was sent to our clients this morning already. I was present in the meeting this morning. Didn't Dev inform you about it?" he asked with confusion in his eyes.

My hands on the keyboard froze.

To say that I was shocked was an understatement. I felt like the biggest loser in the entire universe. He made a mockery out of my work and placed me under so much of pressure. He exactly knew what he was doing. Now I knew how my life here, was going to be. The scariest part was, I had to bear it regardless of whether I like it or not.

Jatin slowly moved closer and cupped my face with his palms

"Sona, did dev ask you to do this?" he asked softly with a worried look.

I just nodded lowering my eyelids. I had nothing else to tell him. He immediately understood the entire situation.

"Have you eaten your lunch?" he instantly tried diverting the topic.

"No, but I will eat after arranging the meeting schedules and finishing the upcoming project assignment. Its due by tomorrow morning. I have to at least draft something you know..." I said and took out a new file from my drawer.

Jatin looked at me with worry in his eyes. He knew that I didn't like it when anyone talks to me about my past. Hence he decided to keep quiet. With a heavy sigh, he gave me a friendly hug and looked at me sadly.

"Sona, I have to go out of office to meet some clients. Just promise me that you will go for lunch no matter how much work you have. You must eat by the next hour, okay? Or else I swear I won't talk to you after this!" he threatened me, trying to put up a serious face.

I chuckled at him and assured him that I would be fine. Finally he walked away from there, leaving me alone and devastated. I quickly finished all the work one by one. Gobbling the water from my water bottle every hour, I would sate my stomach from making noises.

I didn't know how 6 hours passed. I still had few contracts deals to check. I looked at the papers, when I suddenly felt my eyes blurring robotically. My head was throbbing and I could hear my stomach grumbling due to hunger. I felt so low and pathetic. I could still hear some mockery being made behind me. I slowly rested my forehead against the table and wrapped my hands around my body, not caring about the world around me.

Dev's POV

It was almost 8pm when I entered my room. It was really a tiring day for me. I quickly wrapped up all my meetings and rushed to my cabin for some privacy when I spotted Sonakshi on her desk. With her forehead resting on the table, she was sleeping soundly. Her face was facing my side and I could see how tired and weak she was. She was still holding on to her pen.

Out of a sudden, there was a sudden vibration near her.

I jerked away and quickly dashed towards her table. Picking up her phone, I checked the caller-id and noticed that it was none other than Jatin. Without thinking, I answered the call.

"Sona, I am seriously going to stop talking to you! You thought I wouldn't know about you skipping your meals, right? Did you at least call your mum? Do you know how many times your mum and Pooja called me?? Helloo? Hey you, loser?? Oiii? Sonaa..." Jatin literally screamed on the phone, making me cringe.

"Can you stop screaming?? Dude, your friend has fallen asleep during work! Tell her mom not to worry as her not-so-responsible daughter is sleeping soundly, having a great time in the office!" I spat coldly.

"Dev are you serious right now?? What the hell man? Do you know what time is it now? Its past her working hours and you are calling her irresponsible? Which unwanted work of yours did she not finish this time? Can you please elaborate." he asked, extremely frustrated.

"So, she's been updating you, huh? I see...."

"Do you know she didn't even have her lunch. I called Riya to check and she told me that Sonakshi haven't left your office even for a toilet break. Are you trying to kill her-" I quickly cut him before he could continue further.

"Jatin, I will call you back. Need to go now." I quickly put down the phone.

*End of POV*

Dev breathed harshly and gulped the lump that was forming in his throat. He shook his head but Jatin's words kept echoing in his mind.

"Do you know she didn't even have her lunch. I called Riya to check and she told me that Sonakshi haven't left your office even for toilet break. Are you trying to kill her-"

He squeezed his eyes shut in guilt. He wanted revenge but was he strong enough to see her suffering?

He slowly went towards her and slowly caressed her cheeks. She was freezing in the office environment. He realized that she lost much weight compared to the last time he saw her. Yet she had always managed to look so beautiful for him. His Sona... He felt her moving in her sleep and quickly took 2 steps away from her to show that he was not interested.

She immediately woke up with a jerk when she spotted Dev infront of her table. She looked extremely weak and paranoid.. She started to stand up but when she tried to take her first step, she felt dizzy. Her legs eventually gave away and she slipped. Before she could fall on the table, Dev secured her waist with his arms.

Sona looked at him weakly and murmured "Sorry, I need to get home. Is it ok if I finish the rest of the work tomorrow?" she asked in a weak voice. That was the first sentence she spoke to Dev for that day. She was still caged in his arms but she doesn't seem to care about it. Her eyes were still half closed.

"Have you eaten Ms Bose?" Dev asked, trying his best to not sound too concerned.

"Not yet. I will grab something on my way Mr Dixit." she said fully opening her eyes and regaining back her composure.

Something about her tone bothered him as he felt that maybe he was too harsh on her on the first day itself. Her voice sounded as if she had given up on her life. She was not even bothered about her state but was worrying about the incomplete work.

She was not even angry at him.. He never wanted her to skip her meals...Damn he didn't even know that she took all her time doing the tasks assigned to her without giving herself a break. But wasn't that what you wanted? Mission successfully completed Dev, his mind taunted him.

He felt really stupid for playing with a person's health! Day by day, everything she does made him more curious about her but again he reminded himself that he would never ever forgive her.

However, he failed to realise that after all, she was his only love. Any damage to her would break him physically and mentally.

He quickly picked her up in bridal style, taking Sonakshi off-guard. She just gaped at him as he made her sit on top of his desk while he went and took a sandwich from his bag, forwarding it to her.

"It's ok Mr Dixit...I will have my dinner straight at home. My mum should be waiting-" before she could complete her sentence, she felt him removing his coat and covering her small frame with it. He was full of surprises that Sonakshi could not form what went wrong with him. Did he still care?

Placing the sandwich on the table, she saw him leaning his face closer to her neck. Her breathing hitched as she felt his chin resting on her shoulder. His arms slowly wrapped around her waist and he pulled her closer. Sonakshi's heartbeats were racing at a higher pace. She clutched his shirt in reflex when his breath touched her nape.

"Mr..Dix..xit." she moaned as his hands roamed on her stomach seductively.

"Why did you skip your lunch Miss Bose?" his whispered huskily.

"Pleaseee....stop this Mr Dixit.." her voice came almost painfully. She was holding back her emotions. She wanted to hug him closer and never let him go. But she was aware of the deadly consequences which would follow her actions.

He abruptly stopped what he was doing and stared at her.

"I hate you Miss Bose. I fixed you..... But you broke me."

**************

Heyy guys!!! I love to read your comments guys and the response I receive is more overwhelming than what I had initially expected. I love you all!!! 😘😘

Precap: Company dinner and more tortures for Sona.