Chapter 6

Ughhh!!

Today I am even more vexed than usual, when I wake up.

I have to waste an entire day today on a fruitless mission of training Jeet. An unexpected shiver of anticipation ran up my spine. What the hell was that? Seriously, I did not want to spend a lot of time with the guy, but my brain and body were sending mixed signals. I groggily get out of bed and head to the bathroom.

Ok, let's just get this day over with!

I had planned what I was going to do. Tell him to research all the 5-star hotels in the city, negotiate with them the best rates for our event and make a detailed report on his findings. At the back of my mind I knew eventually we would, of course, have the function at DeWorld Hotel, the 5-star hotel owned by DeGlobal Corp but Jeet did not necessarily need to know that.

Ha! ha! I was sneaky. Keep the guy busy for a few days and out of my hair.

When I reached my department, I see Jeet is already seated at his desk, reading 'DeNote' the in-house magazine with great interest and scrutiny. He looks up as I walk in and our eyes meet. His caramel eyes light up as he takes in my appearance, standing up, he reaches me in a few quick strides.

He is wearing a light blue shirt and dark grey pants with the same shoes he wore the first day he came to the office. His hair again parted sideways and patted down with hair oil/gel. His black rectangular glasses almost hiding his dreamy eyes.

"Hi, good morning," his greets in his deep, husky voice like oozing chocolate, making me forget for a second where I was.

"I came a bit early to accustom myself," he looks around the office. "I think I will like it here," he mutters mostly to himself.

"I am sure you will," My tone sounds professional and courteous although I feel like a blabbering fool on the inside.

"DeGlobal Corp is one of the best companies you could ever work for. It is not only one of the top companies in the world, but they also take excellent care of their employees."

Jeet must have heard the pride I felt for the company in my voice, for his eyes shone with happiness. I think he was really, really happy to hear that.

I tell him to continue reading up on the PR materials we have, while I complete my tasks and respond to the emails waiting for me.

I have hardly clicked send on the last pending email that Nivedita enters the office with her usual airs, calling out as she passes me, "Tarana, come to my office."

"What's the status of the launch?" As usual, she does not even wait for me to sit. "It's coming up soon and all arrangements have to be done and finalized at least one month in advance so that we don't have any last minute surprises," she continues without pausing, "You have to make sure every major Indian and international news channels are covering the event. People should be talking about the launch a year later."

I note down all her instructions. "I will be travelling tonight for two days, make sure I have the guest list and the news agencies' names on my desk before I return on Monday," she huffs. "Oh yes, make sure Khushboo has booked me on business class this time, last time I had to sit in economy class." She shudders with a disgusted look.

'You poor thing, it must have been terrible sitting on an economy seat of one of the best international airlines in the world, specially when you don't have to pay for it.' Snarky voice retorts in mock sympathy. It was a miracle that Khushboo even managed to get her a seat on the flight, since Nivedita only informed her about it, the evening before.

"I have heard that Mr. Vicky Grewal is taking personal interest in the event, so I want to make sure its perrfect," rolling the 'r' in a fake American accent. I mentally roll my eyes.

Jeet comes up to me, just as I make my way to my desk. "So, what do we begin with?" I think I could never tire of his husky voice.

"We have to begin making arrangements for the grand re-launch. We shall start with finding the best venue in the city to accommodate over 500 VIP guests, industrialists and media persons." I automatically start jotting on my notebook and he comes closer to see what I am writing. I catch a whiff of citrusy, woody cologne that immediately sends familiar shiver up my spine and this time I also feel my face heating up. Jeet's proximity is not good for me.

"Um, uh" what I was saying? Oh yes! the launch. I look at him with the intention of putting some distance between us.

His golden brown eyes have turned dark and he looks at me with his mouth slightly apart. His breathing seems to have quickened. Have I affected him as well?

Ha! hardly! I am just plain old me.. simple, average.

Why would a guy, show any interest in me while there are a dozen or more girls in this office with faces and bodies like models? Two of them are right here in this department and then there's our boss, the diva herself, Nivedita Shoora. She's like every man's living fantasy.

He must be thinking I am weird, that's all.

I clear my throat "So, um, like I was saying we have to look for a venue to host the launch." Jeet's closes his eyes and when he opens them, his eyes are back to his familiar golden brown.

"Doesn't the company own DeWorld Hotel? Why would you want to hold the event at another hotel?"

Dammit!!! There goes my plan down the drain to rid myself of Jeet for a few days. The plan sounded so good in my head. He seems to know a lot about the company.

"Yeah, DeWorld is a relatively new hotel and may not be used to managing such huge events and well, just so we know what others have to offer," I try to cover up, but Jeet shakes his head, not buying it.

"It doesn't make sense to hold the event anywhere else while we, I mean the company, owns one of the world's best hotel."

Jeet's speaks faster than his usual measured tone as he continues, "The expenses would be negligible as everything would be in-house and the publicity the hotel would get would be phenomenal. Since it's a new hotel the management should want to prove itself. Killing two birds with one stone. That's .. " he suddenly stops, realizing perhaps that he was about to say something he wasn't meant too.

As he talks animatedly, I can see the excitement in his face. He looks at me sheepishly as I stare at him. There's something else that I caught on, but his mesmerizing voice made me forget it. Couldn't be that important.

"What do you think?" Jeet is waiting expectantly for me to say something. I have nothing to say as he is right, and he put my thoughts in words.

Nivedita wanted to host the bash at the Maharana Grand Hotel. One, because she is the owner's friend and two, because she gets a commission for business, she brings him.

I know this for a fact, because one day she forgot her phone on my desk and it buzzed with an incoming message. Since the phone was next to me and the auto preview was on, I read his message saying that he transferred the commission into her account for holding the last press conference at his hotel. Thankfully, she never realized I saw her message.

I knew what she was doing was not only unethical but illegal as well, but I had no proof other than the message I saw, which I know she would have deleted.

That was when DeWorld was still being constructed. This time the event would definitely be held at DeWorld Hotel.

"Hello.. earth to Tarana," Jeet had a twinkle in his eye and his smirk with just a hint of his dimple showing underneath his stubble.

"Sorry, I was thinking about something else, but you are right. Ideally DeWorld Hotel is the best place to host the event." I cannot let his smile affect me.

"Ahem. Hi Tarana! aren't you going to introduce us to the new member of our department?" Purvi was all smiles, curiosity writ large over her face.

An idea struck me "Yes of course!" I reply with a wicked smile.

"Jeet, this is Purvi one of our best graphic designers," which made Purvi's smile grow even wider. "And Purvi, this is Jeet, our new management trainee. He's here to learn about the various departments in the company before he is allocated his permanent position. He will be with us for a few days before he moves to another department."

Purvi was eyeing Jeet with open curiosity. I am sure even she must be thinking how Jeet so does not look like a management trainee.

"Now Purvi will take you around and introduce you to the rest of the staff," I said looking at her with glee.

Purvi's eyes grew wide with shock as she realized I just tricked her into introducing Jeet to the other staff. She gave me the stink eye, but I returned her look with pleading eyes, silently begging her to relieve me from him. Her eyes softened but she still glared at me. "Come Jeet, let me introduce you to people in our department."

Jeet did not look too pleased but did as he was told. As he walked ahead of Purvi, she turned back to me and mouthed "You owe me." I smiled and blew her a kiss in return.

Jeet returned just as I was heading out to the cafeteria to get my lunch. "I was just about to head out for lunch."

"OK you carry on then, I'll be here." Jeet was looking around the almost empty department, probably wondering what to do. I remembered what it felt like to be a newcomer in a company when you really don't know anyone. If it was not for Purvi, I would be eating my lunch all alone till now.

In the spur of the moment, I blurted, "Why don't you join us?"

His surprised eyes flew to mine "Are you sure? I don't want to impose."

"I am sure, it will be a good opportunity to know the staff."

That probably convinced him because he nodded his head in agreement and we made our way to the elevators.

The lift reached our floor and we saw that it was almost full, with staff going down to the cafeteria. Jeet looked at me, "We could always use the other one."

"It's no use. It's lunch time - they will all be the same. Might as well take this one, at least this one has some space, unless you prefer walking down 10 floors." He agreed and we entered the lift, that left just enough space to accommodate one more person.

The elevators doors opened on the 9th floor and standing at the entrance was Deepak Ashay.

Ughhh!!