Ishika Malhotra

I pulled up the car in front of the mansion, Rudra told me that Abhimanyu would be at the office right now. Opening the door, I stepped out. While one of the ladies stayed back with Ridhima. I asked the other maid named Priya to come with me. "You really don't have to do this Ishika. Please." She pleaded. "He can't treat you all like this. I won't allow it." "He has no idea Ishika, Miss. Sarah threatened us not to tell anyone. You need to leave dear." She held on to my arm. "Well, it's about time Abh... the Boss hears about this." I left no room for debate.

I walked up the stairs, completely furious about Abhimanyu being oblivious to the deeds his lover would do under his nose. Did he love her that much, to ignore what she'd do to these poor girls who worked for them?

As we stepped into the house, I could hear him barking orders to someone from the upper floor. "I need more guards near the borders. Damn it! Why the fuck wasn't anyone patrolling the frontier last night? Ben! Ben said it wasn't necessary! Where fuck is he?!"

A few men hurried downstairs; they looked like they had seen a ghost. Following them were one of the top guards, I think dad said his name was Aditya. He walked down the stairs, rubbing his face in frustration.

"Um hi! Going to meet the Boss?" He smirked at us.

"Yes!" I frowned. "Well, good luck." He chuckled while shaking his head. I watched his figure as he headed out the door. "Miss, I-I don't think it's the best time." Priya spoke in worry. "You can stay outside while I have a word with him."

"Normally no one goes near him at times like these Ishika, ple-" she stopped mid-sentence as I looked at her. I was determined to talk to him today.

"I need Ben in here, right now!" Abhimanyu's voice boomed as we walked to the office. The door was completely open, he stood behind the desk with his fist slammed on it. Okay, he didn't look very approachable right now. Maybe I should have listened to the lady after all. He wore his formal white shirt, with the top three buttons undone. His hair slightly dishevelled.

As the remaining men in the room walked out, his greyish green cold

eyes immediately stared at us, specifically me. Too late to run. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I straightened my stance.

"Ishika?" He sounded surprised. His then cold eyes turned gentle. He ran his hand through his hair, rubbing his eyes. I guess he tried to calm himself down.

I looked to the side at Priya, who now stepped at least three feet away from, "I'll be right here if you need me, Ishika." She gave me a forced smile and looked down. Why did this feel like a bad idea now?

His scent got closer; it meant only one thing. I turned around to see the soaring figure of Abhimanyu just a foot away from me. He towered over me with broad shoulders, intimidating enough to scare away any person who stood in my place at this moment.

"Come in?" He gestured to the oak doors of his office. His eyes thoroughly on me. I walked into the magnificent room, on the left wall were framed pictures of all the former Bosses of our group. Right behind his desk was a tall window, giving him the perfect view of the training grounds. On the vault hung a chandelier that looked like it would cost a fortune. The heavy doors being shut echoed in my ears, drawing me look behind.

Abhimanyu had shut the doors, and now he watched my every move, without a word being said. His shoulders still seemed tensed. I wasn't sure if it was from the earlier shouting or if he's uncomfortable with my presence.

"I need to talk to you." I looked up at him.

"I can explain." He nodded. "What?"

"Ishika, what you saw this morning..." he sighed. "Morning? What are you... oh... that?" I slapped my forehead; how could I forget them kissing each other before the workshop. "I ugh... I'm not here for that." He nodded again with a frown, trying to understand why I'm here. "Have a seat." He walked to his desk. "No thank you! One of the maids who worked for you has been severely injured. She's only a little girl."

"What happened to her?" He turned towards me and asked cautiously. "She has second degrees burns on her back, just because she didn't do her chore well." I explained.

"I don't understand, you're saying someone did that to her?" He leaned on his desk while rubbing his stubble in deep thought. His rolled-up sleeves, showed his tattoos. With narrowed eyebrows, he looked like a hunk.

"Funny you never noticed the kind of torture your woman has been doing to the helpers."

"Sarah! She did that to them? What the hell are you talking about?" His body shook in anger, he couldn't accept the accusations I laid on his lover. Something in me didn't let me back down in fear. "She burnt the poor girl because, her damn clothes weren't pressed properly. Who the hell does that?" | raised my voice more than him. If the whole mansion could hear us, so be it.

He scrutinized me for a few seconds. It hurt, he trusted that she devil more than he believed me.

"Priya!" He called out. Priya instantly opened the door. "Boss." She bowed. "Is Ishika saying the truth?" He asked in a stern voice.

"Yes Boss." She answered soundless. "Why hasn't anyone told me this before?" His tone got louder.

Priya didn't reply but, whimpered against the wall. "Could you be a little kind to her. They're the victims here." I spoke on her behalf. He huffed and raked his hair. His lips letting out silent profanities. "Priya, I've known you for years now. You could have just told me." He spoke in a calmer manner. "I- we were told not to tell anyone about this, if we did, we'll not only lose our job but we'll never have a walk of life." She sobbed in her hands. "Give me the name." He asked quietly. "Boss..." she shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. "It's an order, I need the name Priya." He clenched his jaw. "She will kill me sir." Priya's body shook in terror. "I'm your Boss. You have my word when I say no one lays a finger on you in the future. Now, I'm asking you for the last time. Give. Me. The. Name."

 "Miss. Sarah." She whispered. He took a deep breath, registering Priya's words,

"I'll visit the hospital tomorrow and have a word with the girl whose been hurt. It's my duty to make sure you're all safe. I'll also make sure this doesn't happen again. I swear Priya." He spoke sincerely. There was no anger in his tone. In fact, he seemed kind enough for her to stop crying.

"Are there any others who are hurt right now, that we aren't aware of?" He glanced at me for a second. "No Boss, it was only Ridhima for today, since she left early." Abhimanyu shut his eyes as if in agony.

 "Ridhima? The carpenter's daughter. She worked while studying?" His anger began to resurface. "You may leave now." He uttered looking down at his shoes, in deep thought.

Priya looked at me and I nodded to follow her out. I was glad he heard us out. Luckily the poor women didn't have to go through that kind of torture anymore, he said he'll make sure of it.

"Ishika, I need to talk to you! Priya, please close the door when you leave." She bowed and left immediately.

Thud! The door closed. Just us alone now. I heard his heavy breaths. He probably had a very hectic day so far. Abhimanyu had his back towards me.

"I'm glad you brought this up, if not I wouldn't know for how long she'd do this to them." He unfastened his watch and placed it on his desk. Turning around with his hands in his pocket.

"Thank you... for listening, I guess. For believing Priya." I bit my lip. It's getting awkward, why did he want me to stay back?

I glanced up at him, to see him already looking at me, my lips. A slight smirk playing on his own. He looked away, clearing his throat.

"Ishika I wanna explain..." he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Hmm?" I scrunched my brows. "About what you saw, she kissed me. I didn't." He shook his head. "I don't wanna know." I stepped back. Just when I thought we could have a civil conversation and say adieu. "Just listen. Please. I'm ending things with Sarah when she's back and, I... want you to give me a chance. Give us a chance Ishika. I should have done this sooner but I was confused. I kept fighting against the feeling." He walked up to me slowly. I stepped back again, glaring at him to stop

He walked up to me slowly. I stepped back again, glaring at him to stop getting closer.

He was breaking up with her for me? So, what happens to Sarah now? I feel bad for her...

"I don't know."

"Would you consider?" He whispered so close to me. I nibbled on my lip. Retreating another step. His scent and his closeness began to clog my mind. The tip of my heels met his shoes, every step I backed away he came forward. His well-built chest in front of my eyes. This man was very distracting

"Could you stop?" I asked in annoyance. "Stop what?" He asked completely ignorant about what he's doing right now.

"Coming so close to me." I gestured the space between us with my hand, stepping away one last time. "Oh." Unfazed, he only backed one step.

The distance made me breathe out in relief. "I have to go now..." I began walking to the door. "You didn't give me an answer." He gently spoke, a certain kind of amusement in his eyes. Probably realizing how awkward I felt to be alone with him.

"Do I have a chance or not doctor?" He asked again, holding back a smile. Holding on to the door knob I glanced at him, "I said, I don't know Boss." I lied because my heart screamed yes! With that I left the room, swiftly walking down the stairs.

"Ishika! “I heard him call out for me to go back in there with pure frustration. Laughing to myself I drove off.