-Present-

Esha boarded her plane wearing a pair of sunglasses to shield her eyes from the blinding sunrise. The flight had been delayed an hour, not that she could complain as it meant she wasn't going to miss it. She had had to rush to her room once she had gotten out of his, only too relieved that they were in the same hotel, making it easy for her to just get on the elevator, instead of having to leave the place, find out where she was, and then find a cab to take her to the hotel she was staying at.

She sent a quick text to her friends, letting them know she was headed to the airport. They were staying back a couple more days, since they could afford it. Esha couldn't. She was starting a new job, and she needed to report to work. She couldn't very well tell them that one of her friends had turned twenty-one so they were going to Vegas and she needed them to push back the dates of her orientation and training period.

Right now, however, she wished she had listened to Arjun and stayed in New York. But no. She just had to insist she wanted to move away from NYC so she wouldn't have to hear her parents nagging her for her decision made one month ago and how the Indian community there kept gossiping about it as if they had nothing better to do in life. She was not one to live in a negative environment and she knew it would only get worse for her if she stayed and talked back to those people making her life difficult.

She would never understand why everyone was so quick to blame the females for the slightest err concerning marriage but not a single word to the males or even acknowledge their error. It was always the girls who had to bear the brunt of any failed relationship regardless of whose fault it was and that mentality irritated her to the core.

She deemed it best to just leave, start a new job now that she had graduated from college and focus on her career. She was hoping that with some time, her parents would move on from the topic as well... but after last night and what she had done...

She was about to lift her handbag to put it in the space above, when all blood rushed to her brain, making her wince. She looked around and finding one of the hostess, she called him over, "Hi, I'm sorry, but do you mind? It's a bit heavy for me." She lied, not willing to give away the fact that she was hungover.

"Ofcourse, ma'am." He answered and lifted it. The bag was light as feather. He gazed at her and thankful to her sunglasses, she pretended she hadn't seen it. She went in to her window seat and settled in. He held back a smile, shaking his head, and moved on to return to his place, welcoming other guests inside the aircraft.

She buckled in, and closed her eyes, ready to sleep. She didn't care to wait for the flight to be in air.

Her wish, however, was unfulfilled for she felt a shadow. She opened her eyes to see a man putting his bags up. When his face came in view, she observed he must be atleast a decade older than her.

He grinned at her, making her cringe internally, "Hey, what's your pretty name?"

Esha didn't offer it, in no mood to be polite towards the person she was going to have sit next to for the next seven hours.

"Ah, playing hard to get, huh?" He smirked, sitting down and purposely brushing his shoulder to her.

She inched away, rolling her eyes and trying to go to sleep. He didn't say anything, so she believed he'd leave her alone. That's not how it worked though.

He moved, brushing his leg to her. She glared at him through the glasses, not that he could see. He had the nerve to smile, and play innocent. "Sorry, you know the crammed space in economy."

That's how the next hour went, until he got up to use the restroom. If she wasn't hung over and wanted to avoid the yelling that would exacerbate her headache, she would have given him a piece of her mind already. The aircraft was well up in the air, and the pilot had turned off the seatbelt sign.

Letting out a sigh, she grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders, closing her eyes and getting rid of her glasses. She felt a person in the seat next to her, and assumed he was back.

"Would you like to trade seats?"

She opened her eyes hearing a voice that didn't belong to the creepy guy. They narrowed in at the stranger. He had brown eyes, an attractive face, and looked decent enough to her with the way he was dressed in a faded blue button up and business pants. It also helped slightly for her to trust him, given he was Indian. Still, she denied as she didn't know him, "I'm fine, thanks."

He continued to coerce her, "I noticed him bothering you when I was walking by earlier to use the lavatory."

"So? What's it to you?" She questioned his intention of helping a stranger out.

"Just trying to help."

His answer didn't help his case for she snapped at him, "I'm not a damsel in distress. So thanks, but no thanks."

"Oh come on, my seat is in business class. You can't say no to that."

She crossed her arms over her chest, turning her body slightly in his direction, "Look, pal, if I wanted a business class seat, I would have bought the ticket. Now, you are more annoying than that creeper, and I have a nasty headache. Go back to your seat and leave me the heck alone before I lose it."

He could only stare into her eyes as she ranted off, and even for seconds after that. Never would he had assumed that the girl he talked to last night, the person who spoke in a soft voice, could also be feisty and look that cute when pissed off.

He blinked away when a guy spoke standing behind him, "Yo, this is my seat."

He looked up at him, fighting the urge to go off on him for bothering her for the past hour. He didn't like the feeling, especially making him more confused for being possessive and concerned about someone he knew less than a day. "You can have my seat. 2A."

The guy started off, "I don't..." and trailed off on realizing 2A fell in business class. Then, he shrugged his shoulder, "Whatever."

Esha opened her mouth to scold him when the creeper walked off, "What makes you...?"

He cut her off, speaking softly, "I recall you stating you had a headache. I'm not going to bother you, so feel free to go to sleep."

She couldn't continue to scold him at that, for she did feel gratitude; though she didn't understand why he would give up his comfortable seat for this.

"And, your welcome." He finished, just as she was going to close her eyes.

"For the record, pal, I didn't ask for your help." She made it known, biting the inside of her cheek to not let her smile be known, and also refusing to let his help scar her pride. She heard him let out a chuckle, and then felt a warm breath near her ear.

She stiffened as he spoke, "For the record, the name is Nikhil Khanna... not pal."

He offered his proper name, recalling how she had called him out on it the previous night when he had initially given his American-adapted name which was easier for everyone to pronounce. For some reason, she made him want to accept his Indian heritage - which was a thing in itself considering he did not relate to more than half of the Indian culture due to being the second generation in his family to be born and raised in United States. At the end of the day, he used to believe that the only thing 'Indian' about him was his birth name and skin color.

But Esha, she was starting to make him question his beliefs. He hadn't yet realized that he was still an Indian at heart.

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Esha woke up when the lights were turned on and heard a ding, letting the passengers know the pilot was about to speak. She lifted her head, and realized it had slipped down to his shoulder.

Feeling awkward and a bit embarrassed, she apologized, "Um, sorry."

He offered her a genuine smile, "'ts no bother."

She didn't say anything to that as the pilot requested everyone to return to their seats, pull them upright and buckle up as the staff prepared for landing.

He asked, "So Portland, is that where you live?"

"No, I mean yes."

He raised his brow, "You don't seem so sure."

"I went to college in New York, but I got a job now in Portland. So..." She explained. It was still new to her and grasp the fact that Portland was now going to be her home for years to come. "What about you? You from here?"

He nodded, "Yup, born and raised in Portland. Though I have travelled here and there."

"Nice." She commented. She'd always wanted to do that, but never could with how strict her father was, and also going on straight to college after high-school, and then getting a job offer even before she had graduated. Her internships and academic scores had allowed her multiple offers.

Two years later, now, she was ready to move on to a better job and it seemed to be the perfect time in her personal life to make that move.

Now that she wasn't in a bad mood, she talked to him like a normal person, instead of giving a hard time and being unfriendly. She didn't know it, but most of the answers, he already knew. She had told him the night before, after all. Since he knew she didn't remember telling him, he didn't mind asking again. And, nothing gave him a hint that she even remembered his face, or had seen it this morning. Thus, he didn't bring up their shot-gun wedding.

He'd already understood pushing her wasn't going to work in his favor. After he'd left his hotel room, he'd booked a ticket to Portland, remembering that's where she was heading. He wasn't supposed to fly back there for two more days. He'd simply called his assistant to let her know he was going back, and it was on her to finalize the deal. He figured he'd deal with his boss later. He needed to focus away from work for the time being.

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The first week at work for Esha had been hectic. A lot of information was thrown in her direction, but that wasn't the issue. The issue was her direct supervisor whom she was starting off assisting. She hadn't known she was going to be her boss for the time being, so she had thrown a comment unintentionally. Now, her 'boss' disliked her. She kept trying to make it difficult for Esha so she would quit, given she didn't have the power to fire her.

Esha, after all, came highly recommended.

Her boss, Camille, instructed, "Get the files for the new hotel deal. We have an early morning meeting tomorrow, and boss wants you to come along. Don't be late. Don't mess it up for me. Don't embarrass me. It's an important project that could change everything for our company."

"Important. Got it." Esha answered. Camille glared at her. Esha shrugged her shoulders, not understanding what she'd said wrong now. She went over to the files drawer, and got the required files.

She started to skim through it, catching on to a few details. She could definitely see why it was an important deal. If their proposal was accepted, they would be designing the interiors for a bed and breakfast chain. It wouldn't have been a big thing, if it wasn't to be owned by Jace & sons. They were known for owning a chain of five-star hotels. Now, they were looking to expand and venture into bed and breakfasts in town. She didn't understand why someone who could very well afford to build ten more luxurious hotels would want to start a chain of bed and breakfasts.

She hoped she'd find out when she attended the meeting. She let out a quite sigh, realizing she was going to be working on a Saturday, even though it was only her first week. She had hoped to go around the city a bit, familiarize herself to where she was living.

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The next morning couldn't have come fast enough. Esha had received a call from her mother, and though she hadn't started a fight, a guilty feeling kept nagging her. She couldn't decide if she should tell them what had happened and Vegas, and if yes, how?

She knew for sure how they would react - going as far as to say how such behavior was exactly the thing they expected from her. 99% of the time she did not take their words to heart but she knew this time might be the rare 1% because it wasn't just any reckless thing she had gotten herself in.

Marriage was a big thing - an institution she did not believe in initially for she was against love  and the heartache it brings. She had seen how loveless her parents' marriage was and how it didn't just affect them but her sister and her had to deal with it growing up as well. When one is constantly in a hostile environment with marital conflicts of the parents, it tends to leave an emotional scar on the children. They tend to follow the pattern - unintentionally, ofcourse. They tend to grow up emotionally distant from others.

But, since the past few hours, having seen a change in her immediate surrounding with Arjun and Sanam and Parth and Maahi, she had sslowly but surely started to open herself to others. When it came to other men, yes, she still kept them at an arm's length, but she wasn't totally opposed to the idea of falling in love and eventually getting married. But, at this moment in her life, she did not think she had grown emotionally to have space for that. All she had the time for was her building her career.

The first thing Camille told her when she walked in the office building was, "You're late."

Esha gaped, glancing at her wrist watch. "It's 8:32. The meeting isn't until 9! I'm early."

Camille chose to ignore her, looking at her outfit and made a face, "What, are you wearing?"

Esha looked down at the white button up top and black skirt. "What?" She questioned, not understanding it. The outfit was completely professional.

Camille rolled her eyes, "You're so boring." She reached forward to undo some of the buttons on Esha's shirt.

Esha slapped her hand off, very well aware she was her superior. "Hey!" She objected and tried to button up again.

"Just stand still." Camille scolded, swatting her hands off. She then went on to pull Esha's hair off the ponytail, "You've got a body, Esha. Make use of it."

Esha glared, stepped back, and put her hair up again. "I'm here to work and earn decent, not have some perv take advantage of how I look to get a project, never mind the fact that I can report you for harassment. If you don't trust your designs, maybe we shouldn't be going to the meeting. Now, I'm going to get the conference room ready. If you need me for anything work related, feel free to call for me, else, don't bother."

Feeling enraged at the suggestion Camille had made, Esha stomped off towards the conference room. She didn't care that Camille was her supervisor. What was wrong, was wrong. And she believed she was well within her rights to speak up against it.

The copies of the project idea were seated at the head of the oval table. She grabbed them, divided them into the files, while muttering comments filled with rage and indecent language towards her superior.

"Ahem."

She got startled when someone cleared their throat. She looked behind her to see the younger brother of the owner of the company, Louis Santora.

"Oh, um, hello. Good morning." She greeted him, remembering him from their interview. They hadn't met over the week considering he was out of town for business.

"Good morning, Miss Shah. Is everything ready for the meeting?" He questioned, walking inside and taking his spot at the head of the table.

Esha nodded, picking up the files. "Yes, just about." She went on to place the files in front of each chair. She looked up to see he had opened the file in front of him, perhaps to review.

He then hummed in approval a few minutes later and having flipped till the very last page. "Good work."

She smiled, "Thanks, but how did you...?"

"Know you prepared the overview?" He finished, looking up to meet her eye, "Cammie has worked for my brother for six years now. I know her style when it comes to things like this. Your words were precise, to the point. To say, the ideas even flowed from one to another. Cammie... let's just say one can get lost at times."

Esha held back a laugh, knowing it wouldn't be appropriate to laugh at her superior. Just then, the said person walked in. "You better not be bad-mouthing me, Jr."

Louis chuckled, standing up to give her a hug, "I wouldn't dare, Cammie."

Camille scoffed, "Yeah, right. Where's Sr. anyway? Don't tell me he allowed you to attend such an important meeting?"

Louis smirked, "Well, big brother is occupied elsewhere in bed with the wife. If he dared leave for work on a Saturday morning, you know Isa would very much divorce him."

Both of them laughed at that, and Esha wondered how well they knew each other. They seemed to be talking as friends, almost as if they were all a close family. Another thing that surprised her was Camille's care free nature today. She had only seen her to be uptight throughout the entire week.

Camille noticed the way Esha was looking at them, and explained, "Relax Esha, this is the normal me. I tend to get a bit uptight when I am under stress. Sorry if I was a bitch to you earlier, and excuse my French."

"Um, no problem?" Esha answered in doubt of Camille's genuineness.

Louis offered, "It's not like Camille to apologize. She means it. Now, let's go and get this project, yeah?"

Esha nodded, relaxing the muscles in her body. She figured it wouldn't be a bad day after all, and it wouldn't be too bad working here either if Camille showed this side of her personality more often than the one witnessed over the week.

Coming over to the reception, a woman stood up and introduced himself, "Mr. Santora, Julie Armstrong, Nick's assistant. A pleasure to meet you."

Louis gave his signature smile, shaking her hand, "Pleasure is all mine. Is Nick running late?"

"Oh no, he's down in the parking lot. He received a personal call, but should be up in just a few."

Louis nodded, "No problem, come in. This is Camille Woods, our senior designer, and Esha Shah, her assistant."

After introductions, Camille asked, "Would you like some coffee?"

"That'd be great." Julie answered.

She instructed Esha, "Esha, why don't you wait for Nick? I'll get some coffee for us all."

"Sure thing." Esha answered and the three walked inside the office space. Esha strolled back and forth by the elevator waiting. She saw the red arrow and the floor numbers coming up, catching on that he was in the elevator now. Reaching their floor, it dinged, and then the doors opened.

She followed her eyes from his shoes up to his face, and was surprised. She hadn't thought she'd see him again, let alone at work. "Nikhil?"

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