*Pari Pov*

Oh God! Why are you punishing me like this?

This is the only thought I have at present because of the devil sitting in front of me.

Yesterday when he said that he trusts me and kissing me was never a mistake to him, I was just shocked and actually want to pinch myself to believe it.

Next, the way he stood so near me and kissed me on my cheek, felt so good. Of course not as good as our first one!

My friends teased me at lunchtime like there will be no tomorrow. This time I couldn't even stop them because I am still in shock.

And in the evening, I actually returned his key. Because even though he said that he trusts me, it is not a good thing to do.

Then he said if I don't take it, he will not lock this cabin at all. So in the end, I had to take it.

Today he entered the cabin saying 'Good morning, Pari!' before I even stood up to greet him.

After drinking coffee, he started saying, "I really miss your coffee, Pari. I want to drink it again, and I am sure I will."

Yeah, right! I thought rolling my eyes.

Then after some time, he asked, "Pari, what is my name?" innocently.

I took a deep breath and said, "Your name is 'Mr.Stone', Mr.Stone."

He narrowed his eyes and said, "Ok, there is still time."

I don't know did he say that to me or himself.

And in the meeting when I am seriously listening to the client presentation, he calmly asked me in a whisper "What is my name?"

I shook my head and continued to focus on the meeting.

At lunch, Rani asked, "What is going on between you two?"

"Nothing, Rani. Why are you asking like that?" I asked frowning.

"Because we are not at all blind people, Pari!" Sakshi said.

"Guys, what happened?" I asked them confused.

"Pari, from the first day you joined here, we saw so much happening in this company. We are not complaining because it was entertaining." Rashi said.

"Yeah! However, your journey here is a complete roller coaster. And you actually changed Mr.Stone." Imran said.

"I don't accept that the last line, but what are you all trying to say?" I asked.

"We are trying to say is that Mr.Stone is no longer behaving like Mr.Stone. And you just become Ms.Stone except shouting at people, but your mood is same to him before you joined here." Rani said.

I don't believe it!

"First of all, I am not some Ms.Stone, and secondly, what do you mean he is no longer Mr.Stone?"

"We mean that he is actually greeting us back in the morning and when we do any mistake, he is calmly replying to us. You know what I mean right." Sakshi said.

I nodded, understanding her. She is totally right actually about him.

"Then how did I become Ms.Stone?" I asked them.

"Because you are so moody these days, you are not smiling, which is the first quality of stone genes. And you are not at all in this world when we sit here for lunch. We miss our Pari." Rani said.

They all nodded at it. I really felt guilty about it.

"I am so sorry guys. It's just that so much happened these past weeks in here. I am just still in that mood." I said.

"We can understand, but try to come back." Imran said.

"I will definitely try." I said smiling.

They too smiled, and we enjoyed talking for some more time.

Coming to the present situation, what is actually happening is Mr.Stone asked me to complete some client work as it should be sent today itself to the client.

I completed the file way before we can leave to go home.

I showed it to him so that he can sign it, and I can send it to the client.

He took his pen to sign, but before doing it, he asked, "Call me by my name Pari?"

I rolled my eyes and said, "Mr.Stone, please sign this. You can ask me that same question, and I will also give you the same answer afterward."

He looked at for a few seconds and said, "I don't want to sign this."

"What?" I asked him. Is he crazy or what?

"I will not sign it until you say it." He replied.

I took a deep breath and said calmly "Mr.Stone, this is not the moment for this so please sign."

He shook his head.

"Mr.Stone!" I shouted at him with frustration.

"Yes, Pari?" he asked innocently.

That's it! I can't make him do anything.

So I said "Fine do what you want to do." And returned to my desk.

See, he is just a devil. Who will keep those stupid conditions in the middle of business matters?

I glared at him with everything I have. But he didn't sign at all.

I am also not backing down so I packed my things and said, "Mr.Stone I am leaving. It's time for me to leave."

He just looked at me. After leaving his cabin and closing his door.

I again opened it slowly and peeked seeing he just sighed and signed the file.

I smiled and went near Rani.

She saw me and asked, "Why are you smiling?"

"Come on, Rani, when I don't smile you will ask me why I am not, and now when I am smiling, you are asking me why. That's not fair." I said.

"Did you finish our speech? Now tell me?" She asked.

"What else! Same old, same old." I replied.

"Still torturing him?" Sakshi asked.

"I am not!" I replied immediately.

"He likes you, Pari. We all can see that then why are you doing this?" Imran asked.

"Guys, I heard of this from each one of you. Doesn't he have his own mouth, or he doesn't know how to say it at all?" I asked them.

"Now I understand. You just want him to say it directly to you in clear words, right?" Rashi asked.

"Finally, someone understood me! And brownie points go to Rashi." I said smiling.

"You are actually kind of right, Pari." Sakshi said.

"Yeah! When he can shout at anyone for any reason, then can't he say that he likes someone too?" I asked.

They all nodded in agreement. I smiled and left the office.

The next day started like any other day.

As usual, he greeted me before giving me a chance to and started his talking and questions about his name.

Doesn't he get tired at all?

After some time, I got a call from my dad, I lifted it after asking Mr.Stone's permission.

"Hello, Dad!" I said.

"Princess! How are you?" he asked.

"Dad, I just talked to you yesterday evening. Now tell me what do you want to say." I replied.

He chuckled and said, "You always find out every single time. Anyway, yes there is an important thing I want to say."

"What is it?" I asked him.

"What is your idea of marriage?" he asked me.

I immediately looked at Mr.Stone, who is working not noticing my stare.

"It is a good thing I guess." I replied honestly.

"Then what is your idea of getting married now?" he asked me calmly.

"You are not serious right?" I asked him raising my voice.

Mr.Stone looked up at me frowning.

I excused myself and went outside his cabin and sat in a chair which I placed for me beside Rani.

"I am serious." He replied.

"Dad, I am just 23yrs old. Why is the question of my marriage, even raised now?" I asked him.

With my reply, my friends stopped working and looked at me surprised.

"Actually, one marriage proposal came for you, so I am asking you." Dad replied.

"Say 'no' to them then. I don't want to marry him." I said.

"Princess! He is a very good person, even his family. We both liked him and here you are saying 'No' before meeting him." He said.

"That's because I don't want to."

"Just meet him once please for my sake." Dad requested.

I sighed and said, "Ok dad, but don't expect me to say 'Yes'."

"Just promise me that you will meet him with an open mind completely." Dad said.

"But..." I was about to protest, but he cut me off and said, "Just promise me that Princess."

"Ok, I promise that I will meet him with an open mind. There, happy now!"

"Very much! I know you will accept it." Dad said.

"Dad! I just accepted to meet him properly not for the marriage. Don't think that I will say 'Yes'."

"I know you will. Ok bye. Tomorrow I will send jet and send someone to bring you here." He said.

"I can come on my own Dad." I said.

"Ok, I will accept your decision." He said, chuckling, and hung up.

I rubbed my temples for a few seconds, and then I remembered my friends and saw them looking at me wide-eyed.

"We will talk at lunch." I said and went inside the cabin.

"Is everything ok?" Mr.Stone asked.

I nodded and continued to do my work.

At lunch, we all are sitting at a table and were in deep thought.

"What are you going to do Pari?" Rani asked.

"I will go to meet him and after that, I will reject him saying I am not ready for marriage." I replied.

"But you promised that you will be honest while meeting him right. What if you like him, you know, like suitable for you completely or something?" Sakshi asked.

It is actually a good question. But if I really like him to be my partner, then my likeness of Mr.Stone is a weak one. So we are not correct for each other.

"I will just ask some time to think and even after that if I think he is perfect, then I will marry him." I replied honestly.

"What?" they asked.

"But you like Mr.Stone right then how can you do that?" Rashi asked.

"For how much time do I have to wait for him to say that he at least likes me? And also if I actually like him for real and not just a crush, then I am sure that I will not like another person." I replied.

They nodded but didn't say anything.

In the evening, I went near him and asked, "Mr.Stone, can I take leave for two days?"

"Why?" he asked.

"Family reasons!" I replied.

I nervously played with my fingers hoping that he will allow.

He thought for a few seconds and said, "You can!"

I was about to thank him, but he continued saying, "But call me by name."

He will never leave it. If I don't say it, then he will not grant me leave.

Then dad will call him for his permission and say about the marriage proposal, after hearing that he will get hurt that too if he likes me.

Do I need all these things to happen? Nope!

So I said, "Mr.Akash, can I take two days' leave?"

He was shocked like a lot and nodded.

I went to my desk, leaving him like that.

What will he do if he knew about the proposal?

*Mr.Stone Pov*

She called me by my name. I mean actually, she did.

Finally! I am so shocked at first thinking that I may have heard it wrongly, but she actually said it.

When she will return from her home, I will tell her that I like her.

I need to say this to Di so I left to go to her cabin.

I went inside and said, "Di, do you know Pari called me by my name and didn't call me as 'Mr.Stone'?"

She gave me a look and asked, "She told this for making you accept to leave right?"

"Yeah! How do you know that? She wants two days' leave to go home and for some family reasons." I replied.

"So you asked her to call your name and gave permission." She said.

"Yeah!"

"Do you know you just gave her permission to go home and meet some guy whose marriage proposal is sent to her?" Di asked calmly.

"What? What are you talking about, Di?" I asked her confused.

Then she said about the phone call she listened today morning.

I will not allow her to do it at all. Determining that thought I left Di's cabin, ignoring her calls.

And saw Pari bidding 'Byes' to her friends.

I went near her and pulled her towards me and said, "You are not going to meet anyone."

At first, she got startled, but weakly asked, "Why?"

"Because you are mine!" I replied.

She released herself from me and said, "I am no one's, Mr.Akash."

"I like you, Pari." I said.

There I said it, but I know it is not enough.

And I proved to be correct when she said, "I need to go."

But I again pulled her to me and said, "I love you, Pari."

She looked at me like she does not believe it so I kissed her as I did in my penthouse.

She slowly moved her face away from mine and placed her hand on my cheek.

Few tears dropped from her eyes, and she said, "You have worst timing Mr.Akash."

After caressing my cheek for a few seconds, she gave me a peck and left me alone, and entered the elevator.

Each and everyone is still standing in shock.

What actually happened? What does she mean about my timing?  

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finally he said but is a little late. but there is still more.....

comment please and vote...