An hour later after the 'Nothing's wrong' ruse of Sia, which should not have been that big of a deal, Nandini still couldn't get her mind off the fearful look that Sia had in her eyes. That look in Sia's eyes she had seen it before and she dreaded that look.

'Don't. Don't come near me. Y-You are a monster.' Those words rang in her ears yet again, making her shriek. She ran a hand through her hair, letting out a heavy breath. She didn't want anyone looking at her that way, never again.

'It was nothing. That look meant nothing. I am just overthinking.', she tried convincing herself for the umpteenth time only to fail miserably. Her hold on the open file on her lap tightened and the side of the file cover broke, breaking her trance.

"Nandini!" Manik's concerned filled voice made her raise her head from the file, she had been holding, to him. "Are you okay?!"

"Eh, yeah. But the cover..." sighing, she lifted the broken piece of the cover. " It's broken. I need to replace this." Placing the file on the chair, she stood up with the intention to leave the room but stopped when he came in her way.

"Calm down first." his gaze lowered to her hand and lingered there for quite a few second, for he wasn't really convinced that her hand was unscathed. "Is your hand okay?"

"Yeah-" she nodded, showing her hand. "absolutely okay. So, I'll just go and bring a new cover."

She sprinted to the door and in the process tripped on her own foot but like a scene from a movie before she could fall a pair of hand held either side of her arms, stabilizing her. "Careful. What's the hurry! You seem lost and a little disturbed. Something is bothering you. Right?" his voice sounded too soft and warm.

"No, I am fine." she managed to say ignoring the churning feeling in her stomach.

"You don't look fine at all. I have been watching you. What's wrong?" he came in front of her with his one hand still on her right arm. 'Too close.' her mind registered but she didn't bother stepping away. She just didn't want to.

"I am just a little disturbed by last night's incident." she wasn't really lying. A half truth is never a lie after all. That incident had really been bothering her. She had looked around the area the previous night after the incident had taken place. She had found some scratch marks at the back alley walls followed by splutter of blood. She was sure it was a deed of a vampire but what confused her was the heavy unfamiliar scent that lingered around the area. It was neither a human scent nor a vampire.

"It's going to be okay." his hold on her arm slightly tightened as a sign of assurance. "You don't need to be scared."

"I am not scared." she denied. She believed there was nothing to be scared of, especially when she herself was a vampire. "I am just worried about Tiara. Whatever happened yesterday..." she looked away from him, feeling a little guilty. "I don't even want to talk about it."

"She is going to be okay." he assured.

"Is she?" she doubted, stepping away from him. "I mean you went to the hospital before coming here right? How's she?"

"She'll be okay."

"Manik!" she gave him an incredulous look.

"Fine. She is not okay-" he blurted. "at least not for now. She is still unconscious and her attending doctor said that her condition is still not stable because of the excessive amount of blood loss. But she will be okay. So don't stress." his tone softened on the last sentence.

Her demeanor changed in an instant on the soft tone and a small smile made it's way to her lips. "I never thought there would come a day when you would try to assure me. Screw that! I never even thought that we would get along."

"Why not? I mean we instantly clicked." he sounded offended. He never took himself as someone unapproachable which was clearly a big misunderstanding on his part.

"Did we sir?"

"Didn't we Miss Taylor?"

"I don't know." she shrugged with a playful grin.

"But I do." he said, mirroring her grin.

"Do you?"

"What are you guys talking about?"

Kai walked in with his laptop, looking at Manik with a little hint of surprise in his eyes. Manik had been smiling which was a rare sight to witness unless Manik was with him.

"Good morning sir."

"Kai." he said, waving a hand at her. "Just call me Kai." Placing the laptop on the table, he settled down in one of the chairs of the long round table. Manik was supposed to have a meeting with an oversea client which got cancelled the end minute and now an emergency meeting with the planning department was being called. Kai wasn't a part of the planning department but he sure was of the IT department and his presence was needed.

"So what were you talking about?"

"Nothing." Manik shrugged, taking a seat beside him.

"I'll go and get a new file cover." she left the room after saying that.

"You were called in for further inquiry by the cops. Right?" Manik started, to which Kai nodded.

"So what happened?"

"Nothing much. Apparently they found a foot print near the crime scene." he shook his head a bit. "Can we even call it a crime scene?"

"What do you think?"

"I don't know. I mean which human in their right mind would do that to another human. And I don't think any human would have such sharp teeth to pierce the other's skin." he reasoned, opening his laptop.

"You never know."

"I don't know anything." he let out a sigh. "So apparently they found a foot print other than my foot prints in the crime scene and they just wanted to double take my foot sample to be absolutely sure. Like see even my foot is so much in demand." he let out a chuckle which was almost immediately replaced by a sigh. "They aren't suspecting me or something, are they?"

"Why would they? You are the one who helped the victim and you were called in as a witness, not a suspect."

"Hopefully that's the case." his attention shifted towards his laptop screen and the unread invitation message in his Gmail. "You going tonight?"

"Do I have an option?" Manik leaned on his chair, crossing his arms around his chest.

"You do." he nodded. "Just don't even read the message like me."

"Dad's already informed me."

"I can never understand your dad and sometimes not even you. Why follow whatever he says when you don't even get along well with him?"

"Fa-" Before Manik could complete, Kai did. "Family!" Kai huffed. "Don't give me that bullshit. He doesn't deserve to be called your family. Urghh, I just hate that man."

"Kai." his voice was soothing.

"What?" Kai grumbled. "Can't I be angry on your behalf?"

Smiling, Manik gently patted Kai's head and Kai snorted. "Don't treat me like a kid. I very well know he isn't the reason why you go to that stupid gathering. So stop making the excuse of family and-" he held Manik's wrist to to stop him from patting his head. "you are not going there alone."

Manik withdrew his hand. "You are planning on coming?"

"No." he denied. "I vowed to never attend that stupid so called high class gathering but I'll send someone else to accompany you."

"Who?"

"You'll know."

-
Later that night,

"The lockdown has had quite a severe effect on the economy. Thank goodness the online platform I invested on is holding up quite well. It would-"

Manik was only half listening. He hated attending this kind of gatherings. He could never understand as to why his dad wanted him to even be a part of such a showoff fiasco gathering. It was just a family gathering between socialites in a private club where all people did was brag about their wealth, profit, their children and whatever else they could brag about.

"How's the event preparation going on Manik?" Sia's dad asked. Lifting his gaze from his plate, he put on a polite smile, before replying, "We are just getting started."

"It's surprising this time you brought a partner along. Won't you introduce her to us?" Kai's mum said, hand gesturing to Nandini who had been sitting beside Manik.

"She is not his partner." Sia interjected, pulling in all the other's attention. "What I mean is-" her tone softened. "she is his new secretary, Nandini."

"Oh, his secretary."

Nandini just put on a smile and bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement, before getting back to her plate filled with human food which wasn't really her taste buds preference. Moreover she wasn't really comfortable sitting in between a bunch of strangers in the ridiculously long dinner table. Kai had told her to attend this dinner party saying that it was a part of business which was clearly a lie. Only after she came here and face to face with Manik did she realize it was just a high class social gathering where her presence wasn't really needed. She would have thought it was Manik's way of annoying her if not for the surprised Pikachu face he had.

"I've heard uncle is going to hand over his company to Harish. Is that true Manik?" Zubin, one of Manik's relative, probed.

"When Harish arrives, ask him." Manik replied indifferently.

"Ask me what?" Harrish's voice caught everyone's attention.

"Oh Harrish!! so good to see you." Zubin got up from his seat and pulled him into a side hug.

"Late again. What were you caught up in this time?" Kai's mum asked.

"A meeting with the internal audit team." Harrish said as he took a seat beside Zubin. "Oh and-" he shifted his gaze towards Manik. "what did you want to ask me-" he deliberately paused before adding, "big brother?"

Manik scoffed at the unnecessary endearment before pointing his fork towards Zubin. "Not me. It's him."

"Zubin?!"

"Ah, I was just asking him if uncle was really going to hand over the company to you."

"Dad did mention about appointing me as the CEO." he declared. "because unlike my brother who is busy making games in his small company, my dad believes I am way more responsible."

Manik scoffed. "Congratulations. Handle the company well and-" he paused. "don't get scammed like the last time. I believe that wouldn't suit your responsible personality."

Harrish's jaws tightened. "That was a mistake. Everyone makes mistake."

"Yeah of course."

No one said anything to Manik after that. Half way through the gathering, two waiters came in with a pile of shiny blue papers, probably invitation cards, in their hand. "Pass it on." Harrish said to the waiters and the waiters did as said.

"It's an invitation to my father and mother's 10 years anniversary." Harrish said, specifically looking at Manik who had been staring down at the invitation. "Dad personally wanted to give it to you all but you know he's out of town. So he told me to pass it on to you all."

"Brother don't forget to attend our parents anniversary." Harrish added and Manik's fist under the table tightened to the extent that his knuckles turned white. Right then Manik felt a rather cold but comforting touch on his hand. He looked towards the source of the touch- Nandini. Her hands gently traced his knuckles and his grip loosened with every caress. "Wanna get out of here?" she whispered.

He looked down at her hand which were on his and then at her before saying, "Sure."