Part 6

Melanie barged into Manik's office in a very irritating mood.
"Manik... I want to know something today... you said you are hiring an assistant designer to help me prepare for the new venture... it's only few weeks left for the event and I don't have anything prepared... if I do not start now than how will I finish on time..." Melanie was very much worried about her designing department.

Manik watches her worry some face and smiled.

"Manik.." she bangs both of her palms flat on his desk right in front of him in frustration.

He got up from his chair and went around to come on her side.
"Mel... relax... take it easy.... calm down..." he said all the soothing words altogether. He took the glass of water and offered her.
"Here... have a seat and drink some water and take a deep breath,." He said.

She sat down on the chair and took the glass from him. Drank a sip and puts the glass on the table.
Manik sat opposite her on the other couch.
"Ok now start from the start..." he said.

Melanie took a deep breath and said.
"Ok... you have given me a very vague idea that you wanted the clothes for all age people... but you didn't say anything about how the patterns should be... and what about the new line you were discussing with me before you went to Paris...our conversation was left in the middle..." Melanie kept her worries in front of him.

"About that... the new line... as I told you earlier that I'm introducing this new line with the venture, for a reason..." Manik said thoughtfully.

"What about it.." she asked.
"But you have to promise me that you will not reveal this to anyone unless it's done and ready to launch..." he said.

"Okay I promise..." Melanie shook his hand as a promise..

"With the new venture I'm gonna introduce the new line of all the matching accessories from all the brand name companies..," he said.

She was listening very carefully.

"And the line of accessories will be matching with the clothing line I ordered in my trip to Paris..." he rubbed his hands together with excitement and continued.
"It's gonna be one heck of a venture.. the most talked about and supposedly famous venture of the decade.." he said.

Melanie can read the excitement in his eyes and his tone.

"May I know who else knows about this that you just shared such a huge news with me.." she asked smilingly. She is happy that Manik has such impressive ideas about how to grow business.

"No one knows until now... other than you... oh yeah dad has a vague idea that I'm working on something but he don't know the details..." he replied.
"And Kathy knows because she keeps tab of my appointments and meetings but she also do not know details..."

"Manik... as far as I know you... I don't think you are introducing this line of accessories for the betterment of our fashion house... because our fashion house is one of the number one in the nation... so what's cooking in that head of yours...." she asked looking and him curiously.

He watched her for sometime because she was always like an older sister that he don't have.

"Alright alright... I'm doing this for Dhruv.. this new line is for him to manage and I will hand this over to him when it's all ready to roll.." he confessed.

Melanie's eyes got moist hearing about it. How he takes care of his younger brother and how he loves him to this extend.

"But it's a top secret... you are not saying anything to anyone..." he said.

She zipped her lips with her fingers and through the pretend keys away behind her.

She got up and pulled him for a hug. He got surprised by her sudden gesture.

"Mel..." he said.

"I love you... in fact I love the way you take care of your younger siblings... how you think about them at every step of life... keep up the spirit..." she patted his back.

Manik smiled and separated himself from her and they both sat back.

"Thanks Mel.. they love me the same way.... anyways... coming to your next concern... I will send Ms. Nandini to you so that she can start working on the designs with you..." saying that he buzzed his intercom.

"Kathy, can you send Ms. Nandini in.." he said.
"Sir... you asked her to go to the archives room to know about our clientele... Do you want me to go get her??...." she asked.
"No... it's ok never mind... I'll take care of it..." he replied and hang up the intercom.

Melanie always watch Manik's expressions when he talk about Nandini. She reads something different every time. Now too she was watching him.

"What... why're you looking at me like that..." he asked straightening himself.

"Like what... is there a rule that I can't look at you... or I have to look at you in a specific way..." she replied back in a teasing tone.

"Never mind..."
"I will not mind.. at all.." she rolled her tongue on her cheeks and looked here and there.

He ignored her and got up from his place and said.
"I will send Ms. Nandini to you in few minutes.

"Ok as you say.." she got up too.
"Manik, one minute.." she stopped him when he opened his office door to go outside. He turned to see her.

She walked to him holding her hands behind her back.

"Why didn't you let Kathy go get Ms. Nandini..." she asked.

"Because..." because he didn't even know the answer why he didn't let Kathy to go get Nandini.

Maybe he wanted to see her. Maybe he wanted to go get her. It's been so many hours... like almost two hours since he see her.
He wanted to feel her presence again.

"Because..." she repeated his words.

"Because... yeah because Kathy has other work to do that's why I didn't let her go... yeah..." he was satisfied by his own reply.

"Umm hmm... ok as you say..." she gave a mischievous smile.

"It's nothing like that..." he tried to clarify.
"What's nothing like that... did I say any such thing... than why are you giving clarifications... it's ok... it happens..." she patted his back going out of the door.

"What happens..." he asked confused.
"I'll see you Manik..." she ignored and left from his office.

Manik smiled to himself and walked to the elevator.

......

Soha was walking in a hurry to Manik's office. Kathy stopped her.

"Ms. Soha.... Mr. Malhotra is not in his office..."

Soha turned to look at her.
"Where did he go...." she asked.

"I don't know... maybe in the archives room..." Kathy guessed it.

"What.... what's he doing in the dusty archives room..." Soha knew Manik never goes there. If he has work, then he will send someone for that but he will never go there.

Kathy didn't indulge more to Soha. She didn't want to make her feel that Soha is becoming secondary now. So she said.
"I don't know for sure if he went there... I guessed that he went there...."

"Oh... leave it... I will check myself.." Soha will not want to go to that dusty room but... she got curious. What made Manik go in there.

......

"Why does he have to to this... I'm hired as an assistant designer and I'm working as a labor... I don't have to know about the company's clientele.... Aiyyappa.... why.... why me..." Nandini was blabbering to herself while dusting the files and opening and closing them.

"All.... the files are here in alphabetical order... but where is the Q letter file..." she searched around the shelves. Up and down.

She looked up and saw a box with a large Q printed on it.

"I tell you Aiyyappa.... that Queen of Q has to sit upp there.... because Queens has to be on top..., you love to make me mad do all the work right..." she said making a pouty face.

Manik was watching her antics standing from a distance and enjoying her blabbering which is unclear to him. He walked towards her when she climbed the ladder.

He came very close and called her.
"Ms. Nandini what are you doing up there.."

She got startled seeing him right behind her and lost her balance. She stumbled and landed in his arms sliding herself on the ground. His one arm slide around her shoulder to pull her near and another wrapped around her waist from falling on the ground.

Her both arms were wrapped around his neck to save herself from getting hurt. And also saving her dear life.

They were in a way hugging each other preventing from falling. They were also from chest to bre**t, the light top she is wearing is not helping at all.

This close, She breathed him in his aftershave against from his neck and he inhaled her fruity smell again. He could hear her heartbeat near his chest.

It reminded him of the closeness that they shared in the previous encounters. But he remembers about the decision he makes with himself that he's not going to ruin it for them. He will not make their relation more complicated by kissing her again.

Though it's hard for him to resist her, standing this close... but he will not ruin it.

She could not think anything right now. Swallowing hard she looked at his neck line, resisting the urge to give a kiss to him at his sensitive spot she silently swore to herself,

'DAMN'
'Why did he have to smell so good..
Why did have to be so strong and protective all the time...' she thought.

She wanted the time to stop. She wanted to stay in his arms like this for the rest of her life. She wanted to stick to his chest and feel his heartbeat against her heart.

But alas,,, that's too much to ask right now. She moved away from him very slowly. And looked up at him, to catch him gazing down at her with the same kind of hotness and the intensity that's going on in her blood.

'God, he is so beautiful, though beautifull doesn't usually go for boys.. but, this word suits him perfectly...' she thought.

'His dark hair some hanging on his forehead, his chocolate brown eyes and his peachy colored skin, his lean cheeks and his hard jaw is irresistible. Wearing a Men in Black dark suit, surely he is looking like a model...'

It was like being hungry for each other. She wanted to taste that mouth again. And he wanted to take those fully luscious lips in his mouth again. In short, They both want to feel the touch again.

But his arms abruptly fell away feeling the need of going overboard again. He stepped back and looked here and there to subside the fire which is going to burnt them at that moment.

Two pair of eyes was watching them with fuming anger and jealousy.
"This two are crossing the limits.... specially this new girl... I will not spare her... I won't let her snatch Manik away from me...." thinking this she left the place with raging anger.

Nandini straightened herself and said.
"I think you the one who asked me to check the lists of the clientele so that I will know who we have as our costumers..." her voice has sarcasm in it which he noticed.

"Yea I remember that... but for now I want you to go to Mel... she has some work for you..." he said not making an eye contact with her.

"Yes sir... it means I don't have to know about the listing anymore right.." she asked happily.

But her happiness was short lived.
"No Ms. Nandini.. you still have to study all the list and know about our clients... but after you are done with Mel... I will ask someone to send this files to your desk..." he said.

Her heartbeat got stable and she was settled when she asked.
"Shall I leave then..."

"Yes you can..." he replied. She was about to leave when he stopped her by holding her wrist.

"Nandini..." he called her without adding Ms to it. His voice softened.
"You didn't answer my question yet.." he asked.

Her heartbeat stopped again with his hold on her wrist. It's not too tight and not too loose. She didn't resist him too.
"What question.." she turned to face him.
"That will you be my friend.." he asked with a very decent face that no one can resist him.

But Nandini is in a dilemma. She has to tell him the truth about herself if she accept his friendship. And right now she is not in a position to do that. She is planning to tell the truth about herself to him. Because she loves this job and she wanted to work here.

"I'm not asking you to sign your life to me... I'm just asking you to be my friend, accept my friendship... was it such a big of a deal that you have to think so much..." he said breaking her thinking process.

"Umm... I....wanted sometime to think about it..." she said just thoughtfully.

"Why is it so difficult for you to accept just a mere friendship... you didn't trust me or you don't trust yourself when I'm around...," he got confused and also irritated by her answer.

"I trust you... but I don't trust myself...." she avoided his eye contact..

"that I can do any blunder again when I'm around you..." she replied keeping her gaze on the wrist that he was holding.

"You trust me..." He was way too pleased with himself hearing her comments about how she trust him... it's a big thing.... how he effected her. The corner of his mouth brakes into a very wide grin.

"Please... let me just think before I accept it... please..." her pleads calmed him down and he left her wrist.

"Ok... I will wait for your answer.." he said. They looked at each other for few seconds. He watched her leave from there.

....

In the elevator Nandini thought.
"Without even knowing each other... we kissed so passionately and got so closed to... what if we become friends... then we will be open and God only knows how many lines we will cross.... OMG... why is it so difficult... I can't resist him and I can't commit to his friendship too... so damn confusing... "

"I have to talk to the girls and let them know what's going on... otherwise I will go bonkers with this situation....arghh..." she make a fist out of her hands and looked at the ceiling.

.....

Nandini entered the designing department and walked towards the desk of Melanie and see that Dhruv is also sitting there studying some file.

"Hello Melanie... how are you..." she asked with a cheerful face.

"I'm good darling, pretty busy with the new designs... and you have to help me in that..." she looked up from her design pad with exhaustion and offed her a seat with her hand.

"Hey gorgeous... how is it going?" Dhruv asked Nandini.
Nandini hide her embarrassment hearing gorgeous from him sat on the empty chair next to him.

"Don't you think your big brother will not like it when you called me that...you the one who said that this company will get burned by his jealousy......" she bend to him asked in a whisper.

"Yea but he's not here... so it's all cool..." he replied. " and anyways... I like you... not as a like like.... but in a friendly way.... and I've seen the look in Bhai's eyes for you so I will not go there..."

"There's no such thing like that......" she whispers again trying to change the topic.... thinking that maybe Melanie will get disturbed. But little did they know that Melanie's ears are all into their talk.

"Deja vu... I just heard someone saying the same sentence sometime ago..."Melanie passed a comment while working.

"In fact I was thinking to offer you my friendship... a pure and clean friendship... what say..." he asked raised eyebrows ignoring Melanie's comment.

"That's a very good idea.... " she said.

Dhruv offers his hand to her.
"Dhruv Malhotra... it's gonna be my pleasure to be your friend and I will make sure that we will have lots of fun..."he said.

Nandini hold his hand and said.
"Nandini Mu... Mathur... I will try to be a very good friend of yours too...." she said first giving her real identity. Then she saved herself.

Right at that moment Soha came out of the dressing room in a white gown that was hugging all her curves and exposing lot of cle***e from the top because its strapless.

"Hey Mel.... how do I look.... exactly like a bride right..." everyone's gaze lift up in her direction.

Melanie raised her eyebrows in not liking it.
"Honey you are not the bride... Kathy is... so quit making yourself look good on Kathy's day..." Melanie's tone was filled with irritation and sarcasm.

"So what... I can be a bride soon... if Manik say yes... I will be a bride pretty soon.... I'm working on it..." she said without any hesitation... to make Nandini hear her point.

Nandini's mouth fell open hearing Soha, but she closed it not letting anyone notice.

"In your dreams sweetheart... Manik will never marry you.... you are not his type..." Melanie never cared about Soha and she always told her point blank what she think of her.

Soha didn't like how Melanie is talking to her.
"Of course he likes me... I spend so much time with him... we also spend nights together in his house..." she raised her volume to make Nandini hear every word.

"Yeah... when you sleep on his couch in the living room... he won't even let you enter his bedroom..." Melanie said very softly that Soha couldn't hear but Nandini heard every single word.

Nandini smiled but still got confused about what kind of relationship Manik and Soha had.

"Anyways I have lot of work to do... unlike you... so just get yourself out of that gown... and let me work... go go..." she shooed her away with her hands.

When Soha went away... both Dhruv and Melanie turned to Nandini and said in sync.
"Ignore her.."
Nandini smiled. Still getting confused.

"Oh yeah... Nandini... you are coming to Kathy's wedding right..." Mel asked her.

"I don't know yet... I didn't decide anything..." Nandini wants to avoid this wedding because of the chaos she has created for herself. She wanted to stay away until she solve the identity matter.

"Sweetheart if you are think about what to wear... then look around... you are sitting in the number one fashion house of the nation.... so you can wear anything you want..." Melanie gestured her hand to show her around.

"That's so sweet of you Mel... I will definitely think about it.." Nandini felt so elated how Melanie treats her when she just ignored how Soha dressed for herself.

"Ok girls you get busy in your work.. I will go meet my big brother, I didn't see him since morning..." Dhruv got up from his chair and said.

"Nandini my friend... I will see you around..." he said to her.
"Sure.." Nandini gave a smile too.

When he is gone Melanie looked at her. Nandini asked.
"What happened.."

"Do you think it's a good idea to make friends with Dhruv... when his own older brother Manik is...." she wanted to say 'interested in you' but she didn't complete her sentence.

"I know how to keep my relations separate... and don't worry... Dhruv is a nice person... and he can be a good friend too.... just friend..." Nandini understands what Melanie's point is but.... she herself doesn't know yet about the what she and Manik have... she has to decide about her feelings for Manik yet.

But before that she has to find a way to solve the biggest issues that's hanging on her head. The identity issue.

Melanie gave Nandini the design pad and asked her to make some good few designs till the evening.

..........

"Someone is very happy today... what's up..." Manik smiled seeing Dhruv's happy face when Dhruv entered his office.

"Yes I am happy... your gorgeous has accepted my friendship...." Dhruv sat on the couch and said.

"What? Really? How come she accepted you friendship... " he was about to say 'when she didn't give a care about mine' but he didn't said it out loud.

"Because I'm genuinely a good guy and she sees that..." Dhruv said.
"So you are admitting that she is your gorgeous..." he poked him with a tease.

Manik stumbled because unknowingly he admitted that Nandini is his gorgeous. But he still didn't like the fact that Nandini accepted his friendship.

"What... I didn't say that she's my gorgeous... it's you who is assuming things..." he controls his temper and replies Dhruv.

"Now bhai... don't get so agitated because she makes me her friend... you know if I make anyone a friend than I always keep it up.. you of all people should know that About me that I won't misuse it..." Dhruv didn't care about his temper and said.

Dhruv knows that what he feels for her. And he will never cross his line.

"She is a nice girl.. and I genuinely want to be her friend.." Dhruv cleared again.
"Ok all jokes apart... let's talk business..." Dhruv said.

"Oh so now you want to talk business... what about it..." Manik's tone has sarcasm in it and Dhruv noticed it.

But he ignored. Dhruv knows Manik's nature. Unless he calm down he will be like this. So it's better to change the topic.

"Seriously bhai... did you finalize the location of the shoot... or you want me to finalize it for you... I have very beautiful and exotic places for the new ventures shooting..." Dhruv said.

Manik calmed himself down when it was a talk about business.
"Let me know the locations... I'll go check it myself and decide if it's good or not..." Manik answered.

"Ok I'll text you the address you can check it out... you know the speciality of this places is to see in the early mornings...,, you will get the perfect view.. it's near the beach and the sunrise makes the place a heavenly...," Dhruv said.

Manik has to give the credit to Dhruv because he's an expert in choosing locations for the shoots. He knows more places then anyone.

"Ok I will check it out ASAP..." getting the text from Dhruv he said.

"I'm going for lunch, you wanna join me..," Dhruv asked getting up.

"No. I'm not hungry... you go ahead.." Manik didn't even look up.

"Don't keep the grudge on me bhai, just because I make her my friend.... you will start disliking me.....
she is just my friend.. nothing more than that..." Dhruv dropped his comment before leaving his office.

Manik smiled at his sincerity. He knows when Dhruv says something then he sticks to it. He will never turned around from his word.

He was satisfied. But he still didn't like that Nandini accepted Dhruv's friendship and not did with his.

.......

When Nandini finished with the designs she asked permission to go to her desk. Mel said ok.

She entered the elevator and was pressing the button. She heard a voice.
"Stop the elevator..."

She hold the open door button. Mr Arun Malhotra entered the elevator.
"Thanks..." he said.
"You are welcome..." she said with a soft smile.
The door closed and he looked at where she is going.
"Oh so we are going on the same floor.. do you work here??" He asked.
"Yes sir... I was hired few days ago..." she answered sincerely.
"Where, in Malhotra Fashion house..." he asked again.

"Yes sir.." she said.
Arun thought something and asked again.
"If I'm not wrong... you must be Mathurs daughter... right..."

'Oh no... another person knows me as someone else's name. My sweet lord please help... he seems like a gentleman... I don't want to lie to him....but well...'

"Ummm... yeah..." she hesitated.

"You didn't remember me... I'm Malhotra... Your father is a very good friend of mine..."

She was blank.

"Well I met you when you were a little girl... maybe you didn't remember me..." he said.

She just gave an uncomfortable smile.
"How is your father... I should meet him... it's been a long time since we get together..."

"He..." she didn't know what to say.
"He's doing good..." she said anyways.

"He did a very good job raising you without a mother... I'm really proud of him... he sacrificed a lot after your mom passed away..." he said.

Nandini choked on her own saliva hearing a new fact about her fake identity and coughed very bad.

"Are you ok..." he patted her back. The elevator door opened and he pulled her out holding her arm. Seeing the staff he said.
"Can someone get some water."

An employee gave a bottle from the table that's sitting there.

She drank a sip and he still rubbed her back.
"Are you ok..." he asked again.
She took a deep breath and nodded her head.
"Have a seat..." he offers her a chair.

Seeing him worried she felt bad... he is genuinely a good heart person and lying to a grown gentleman like him seems so not right. She felt her heart squeezed by her own doings. She can't face him anymore.

"I'm feeling fine sir... please carry on with your things sir... I'm so sorry to held you waiting for me..." she said.

"No problem child... you are like Manik and Dhruv to me, like my own girl... if anything happens to you than it's my responsibility too... and don't call me sir... you use to call me uncle when you were young..." he said.

More guilt drowned her under the water of her lies. Being treated like a special person is making her guilty as hell. She couldn't take it anymore.

"I'm fine..." she got up and said.
"Are you sure..."
"Yes sir... I mean uncle..."

He kept his hand on her head and left from there.

She sanked back again on the chair when he left.

"What have I got myself into... this is too much... that girl... she don't have a mother... I mean her mother passed away... what if the topic comes out again... what if anyone else asked about this matter again... oh my sweet lord... why can't you make my life easier..." she blabbers to herself.

......

In the evening Navya was waiting for Nandini in front of the office when she heard a tap on her window.

Seeing Cabir standing near the window she makes an irritating face.
She didn't opened the window. Cabir tapped the window again.

She opened it and said.
"What do you want?" She asked not in a very good voice.

"What's your problem... I just asked you to open the window, that's all... what's so wrong in that..." Cabir also talked in a firm tone.

"Don't you get it... I'm not interested in talking to you or seeing you..." Navya got more irritated.

"Why, what did I do... I didn't harm you or I didn't do anything bad to you..." Cabir asked surprisingly.

"You don't have to..." Navya said.
"I want to know... why you are irritated... why do you always stay in this mood... always mad on someone..." Cabir asked putting his elbows on the window rim.

"I don't have to give you any answer.." Navya didn't want to go into further discussion.

Nandini and Manik walked out of the building that moment and Navya thanks her stars.

Manik came near the car.
"Why do you have to always go with your friend... I'm sure you can afford a car... being the daughter of a rich man can afford a car..." Manik asked Nandini as she is his fathers friends daughter.

Hearing him Nandini baffled. She don't know how to answer that. Navya looked at Nandini's face and answered on her behalf.

"Her father is a very strict person... he wanted Nandini to buy her own car with her own money and use it..."

Nandini left a sigh being saved by her friend.
"Ohh... but I think that's a good thought... he is making you independent..." Manik said.

Nandini relaxed hearing him. Because he didn't tried to take anything in a negative way. And also he didn't tried to ask more questions. Navya make her sit in the car.

"Nandini I think we have to leave... it's getting late already..." Navya said.

They sat in the car and left the place.
"What's up with her... why is she so weird... she never talks nicely with me or anyone as a matter of fact..." Cabir whines like a baby.

"Since when do you start taking interest in a girl..." Manik looked at him with his one eyebrow raised.

"Since I saw her first... I think she is having some problems talking with new people... I'm gonna find out... what her thing is..." Cabir decided.

"Thank God, at least you will stay away from my neck..." Manik relaxed.

........

In the car Navya asked.
"So what's up... you and your boss getting along fine??"

Nandini was in a deep thought when Navya's voice pulled her out of her trance.

"Hmmm.... what did you say..." Nandini asked.
"I asked is everything ok with you and your boss..." Navya asked.

"Yeah actually I have to talk to you guys about something... something very important..." Nandini said seriously.

"What... what happened...". Navya asked pulling her car in the cook county hospital parking lot where she was picking up Aliya today because she has a second shift.

Aliya was already waiting for her. As soon as she saw Navya's car she came and hopped in.

"Hello girls, what's up..." Aliya asked cheerfully. But the atmosphere in the car was tensed.

"What happened guys? Why so serious faces..." Aliya asked seeing them.

"Guys I have to share something with both of you... but you both have to promise on our sisterhood secrecy that you will not say it to anyone..." Nandini said looking at both Navya and Aliya at the backseat.

"It's that serious..." Aliya being a very clear heart person got seriously serious.

"Say it Nandu.... you are scaring me now..." Navya said.

"Actually..." Nandini fidgeted with her fingers bending her gaze down in her lap.
"Actually.... he kissed me..." she said it at last.

"WHAT..." both of them screamed. Then they covered their mouths with their hands. Eyes wide open.

"Are you serious... you mean he kissed you... did he forced himself on you... did he hurt you... why didn't you tell us before... I should have talked to him..." Navya started blabbering as soon as she got herself understanding the situation.

"Navya... Navya.... relax... it's not what you are thinking.... actually..." she hesitated a little and said.
"I was an equal participant in the kiss...."

"Really... you guys kissed... awwe... that's so romantic... why didn't you tell us before..." Aliya is totally enjoying the situation here. Because she is a very soft and romantic hearted person.

"Shut up Aliya..." Navya snapped at Aliya and turned to Nandini.
"So you are saying that you guys kissed... and may I know when did this happened..." Navya was pissed now because she wanted Nandini to get out of this mess as fast as she could but... instead she is going deeper and deeper in it.

"The first time I met him and..."

"What... what do you mean by AND, you kissed him again... totally how many times did you kissed him..." Navya didn't let Nandini finish her sentence.

"Two..."

"Two times and you are telling us now..." Navya huffed with anger and turned towards the road.

"Navya listen to me first...." Nandini started making her understand.
"It's not like I deliberately went to him and kissed him... it happens in the spur of the moment..."

"Navya be in her place and think... it was her first kiss and she would've wanted to make it special but, it happened... and she can't do anything now... am I right Nandini..." Aliya said taking Nandini's side.

These girls knows each and everything of there lives very well. They are more like sisters than friends. Their personal stuff, how many crushes they have when they were in high school and colleges and also who did what....

But fortunately or unfortunately they have never fallen in love till now. And they haven't been kissed yet. Until now.

"Ok.. I understand... now what..." Navya is also concerned about Nandini.

"I don't want to lose this job, I want to continue working here. I liked it here girls... I enjoy working here.... people are so nice.... and it's not fair to lie to them.... what should I do... help me..." she said with moist eyes feeling very low. Hopefully Navya or Aliya has a solution.

Navya hugged her. Aliya too joined her from the back throwing her arms around both Navya's and Nandini's shoulder. After having a cozy moment they separated.

"I understand your feelings... " Navya took Nandini's hand in hers. "we thought of giving this job a weeks time right... so tomorrow when you go, find a nice opportunity and tell him about yourself... let's see how it goes...ok.." she said.

"But before that tell me something sweetheart..." Aliya asked Nandini turning her face.
"Did you start building feelings for him... your boss..." she asked.

Nandini was surprised with this question. She never thought about it. What kind of relationship or bond she shares with Manik. She is confused. She didn't even accepted his friendship yet.

"I don't know..." she said covering her face with her palms.
"I really don't know guys, I'm very confused right now. You know he offers his friendship to me but I asked time to think about it... I don't know whether to accept it or not... and you know.... his father.... the CEO of the company met me today.. he was so nice. He thinks I'm his friends daughter.... this is going too far girls...."

"Let's just take things slowly... we will take it step by step... first we will go with the plan... then we will think about that later part.... " Navya said.
After deciding the plan they left from the parking lot.

.......

Next morning Nandini was about to enter Manik's building when he appeared from the back.

"Good morning..." he wished her. It was around 6 am.
"Good morning... you are up early... I thought maybe you were in the gym.." Nandini said.

"Yup I'm early. I'm an early riser..." he grabbed hold of her hand all of a sudden and walked to his car.
"We are going somewhere today..." he pulled her slowly alone with him.

"Where.." she asked when he opened the passenger door for her.

"That's a surprise..." he said closing the door for her when she settled in her seat.

Whether he is in a good mood or in a bad mood or whether he is a big shot of the company, he always keep his manners. He knows how to be nice and respectful to a woman.

He drove the car along with the lakeshore drive and bring them to a boat parking that is close to his building.

Nandini was going along with wherever he is taking her.

In just few minutes they arrived at their destination that was the boatyard. He parked his car in his available parking. They stepped out of the car. He walked to a boat where a person was waiting for him.

He came down of the boat greeted him forwarding his hand.
"Good morning Mr. Malhotra.. good to see you again..."

"Morning Peter... how's it going... everything set..." Manik shook his hand with a formal smile.
"Yes sir... we are all set to leave.." he replied.

"Meet Ms. Nandini... she is my guest today.." he introduced Nandini.

"Good morning ma'am nice to meet you... welcome aboard..." he shook hands with her too.

Peter is a man in his 40's. He takes care of Malhotra clans boats along with his wife Deserrie . His wife is a French. She helps him in making food when Malhotra people go for a ride on the boat.
Mostly this is Manik hobby. Buying boats and going on sailing on still waters of Lake Michigan when he wanted sometime alone from the world.

"How is your wife.." Manik asked while walking along on the steps that leads to the boat. Nandini was walking side by side with him.

"She is doing good sir... she is already making nice and fresh food for you... she really loves to cook when you come along... she knows that you love to eat good food..." Peter answered.

"That's so sweet of her..." he said taking that bigger step to hop in the boat. He turned around and gave a hand to Nandini. She took his hand shyly and took that big step when he pulled her she landed on him hugging him.

"Thanks.." she said her hands resting on his chest.
"I know it's a little high for you..." he whispered on her cheeks. She turned red hearing his voice so close to her and his breathing on her cheeks. But he straightens himself up as Peter is right there with them.

Nandini pulled herself away and cleared her top. She was wearing a white dress shirt with black dress skirt and a black heels pumps that goes along with it.

The boat started sailing on the calm and quiet waters of Lake Michigan. Manik and Nandini sat on the benches by the railing.

Nandini asked not able to handle more suspense.
"Now can you tell me where are we going..."

Manik looked at her. She is so beautiful. Her face is glowing in the morning rays of the sun. The sun has just risen and it's making the atmosphere pure and clean with the start of the fresh and new day.

His gaze was fixed on her face. Heat rises at the. A k of her neck by his intense gaze. She cleared her throat to divert his concentration.

He blinked his eyes and moved closer to her as they were sitting on the same bench.

"We are going to see the location for our next shoot...". He took her hand in his. The touch of his hard and strong hands gave a shiver down her arm that goes all the way to her spine.

Butterflies started dancing in her stomach. He caresses the knuckles of her hand with his palm and fingers and looked into her eyes.

"And we are eating breakfast here..." he took a breath and continued.
"your job is not to make breakfast for me.... but still without any complaints you cooked for me... so you can think that this is a thank you gesture from me.... you can call it as our mini breakfast date..." He smiled and said.

She was in an awe hearing him. He is a very generous and a considerate man. He never forgets if anyone does any favors to him. And cooking breakfast for him every day since last three days is a huge thing.

The boat took a turn and slowed down near a beach resort. There's miles and miles of white sand and clear water everywhere. She loves the view. It's mesmerizing. And breathtaking.

"Beautiful..." she stands up from her place and turned to the view.

"You like it..." he asked going behind her and putting his both hands on the railing on both of her sides blocking her with his huge physique. She was enjoying the view and didn't noticed his closeness.
Him on the other hand is enjoying her closeness and was lost in her fruity smell.

He rest his chin on her shoulders when she realizes that he is so close to him. She panicked and shudders.

Peter came and said.
"Excuse me Mr. Malhotra... I'm sorry to disturb you but we will be taking a halt in few minutes and breakfast will be served as soon as we takes the stop....".

"Thank your Peter...." he moved away from her and she thanked Peter in her mind to save her from more of his closeness.

All of a sudden he remembers something. And he went close to her again.

He asked
"Why didn't you accept my friendship..." his face was serious.

She was confused. She blinked and doing her best to hide her confusion.

"What are trying to say..." she was a little hesitant to talk here.

"You accepted Dhruv's friendship in a flash just like that. And you have to think so much to be friends with me..." she got hurt with his words. She couldn't find her voice. He is doing it again. Bringing Dhruv and making a big deal.

"Listen, I had to ask..." he blew out a breath seeing her confused face.

"You had to ask..." she somehow found her voice and she snapped at him.

"You had to ask... huh... how convenient... how can I accept your friendship... on what basis Haan.... friends don't go around and do French kisses... passionately.... tongue to tongue...."

"And friends don't go overboard with their friendship... and you are asking me that why did I accept Dhruv's friendship.... unbelievable..." she turned around and holds the railing of the boat tight with tears falling down.

He caught her hand and pulled her to face him.

"I'm sorry..." he effortlessly held her and bending down he looked into her eyes.
"I didn't mean to hurt you... sometimes I do say things without thinking I never thought in that sense..." he held both of her arms. She let him.

She didn't looked into his direction. But she still gave the explanation.
"Dhruv is a very nice person... he offers me a pure friendship and I accepted it... I didn't see any harm in doing so...,"

He smiled at her clarification. Even though she got mad at him for being a jerk but still she clarified and cleared the things.

He make her chin lift up with his index finger.
"This isn't going well, is it???" He asked.

"Well, how did you think it will go... you should at least have some faith in me..." she said and she herself started thinking.

'After hiding my own identity I shouldn't be fighting with him with the trust issues... this is not fair to him... I should tell him the truth..'

He cupped her face in his palms bringing her out of her trance and very politely he said.
"Let's forget about everything right now... let's just enjoy the view and a very delicious and fresh breakfast... and let's have some good time together... ok.."

"Okay..." she nodded her head and, Again she got saved by the given situation. She wanted to tell him the truth about herself but she thought that what's so harm in enjoying some time with him. Because both of them like to spend time in each other's company.

End of part 6

Hello my lovely friends.
How are you all doing.

I'm so sorry for updating late. As I told you that I was very sick for two weeks.

But now I'm fine and I'm trying to give you all the updates.

So how is the story going. Do you think Nandini will tell him the truth.
Lemme know.

Is it boring
Is it going fine
Or
Do you want me to change somethings in it.

Please do let me know.
All your suggestions and your comments will be appreciated.

Do not hesitate to say anything.

Next chapter will be the day out of Manik and Nandini.

So stay tuned

And lastly.

I thank all of you for liking and voting on my story.
And also the number followers are increasing Day by day.
Thanks for that too.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH GUYS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT.

Take care and Stay blessed
And always keep smiling.

Love you all.