"Miss Melanie Miranda, nice to meet you again," Raymond said.
"I never thought I would meet you so soon and that too formally" she replied.
"No, Ms. Miranda, you are not meeting the same person you met at the mall, that person was someone else, here you will be working under me and I am way too professional"
"I hope I enjoy working with you..."
"We have a lot to discuss Melanie, can we talk work now," he said cutting her in between.
"Sure"
Raymond explained Melanie about her job responsibilities, he also mentioned the details of the current project they were working on and what was Melanie's role on the same. Raymond asked a few questions in between to which she replied politely. It was a sort of a short interview for Melanie. She never thought that her first meeting with her boss to go in such a way.
"Thanks for your time Mr. Sharma"
"You can call me Raymond"
"Okay..."
Melanie got up from the chair and just as she was to leave, Raymond stopped her and called her name "Melanie"
"Yes," Melanie turned and replied.
"Next time please be a little presentable" he commented.
"What do you mean?"
"That stain," he said pointing to her shirt.
"Oh! This stain...this is all because of my daughter..."
"Daughter?" he asked looking into the computer, he didn't even know what she was talking about, as he was all engrossed in his work.
"Is there a problem?" she asked
"Please leave Ms. Miranda"
Melanie got outside immediately without asking another word to him. She felt he was too rude and way too professional as he had warned. He was not the same person from the other day. That man didn't even react to her obnoxious comment that day and here he had even noticed the stain on her shirt and commented on her for the same.
She was not in a good mood after meeting Raymond. Her assistant showed her the way to her cabin. She looked around, it was a small cabin, not spacious enough, but she was impressed by the interior and the space-saving furniture. She remembered Raymond's comment and thought of cleaning it before anyone else embarrasses her. She was on her way to the ladies' room and suddenly bumped into someone.
"Miss Melanie Miranda," the person said. Melanie immediately looked up and heaved when he noticed the familiar face.
"Leo"
"Oh! So you have finally recognized me" he commented.
"Leo..." she called hitting him lightly.
"By the way, I am the Product Manager," he said raising his tie collars.
"I know that, please Leo no lame jokes, I am already upset"
"Oh! So you have finally met 'The Raymond Sharma' "
"Yes, you are right"
"And how did it go?"
"Terrible"
" I should have known it, he is a bit strict and a little rude too"
"Little rude?"
"Okay, very rude"
"That's better, and I'll meet you later Leo, I have some work to do, I am sure you would be busy too," she said
"Okay, I'll catch you for lunch"
It was lunchtime and as per Melanie's promise, she had to meet Leo for lunch. They decided to have lunch in the canteen area. Leo ordered sandwiches for both of them.
"So Ms. Melanie Miranda, Project Manager at Skyline Technologies, you know it is so good to see you here," said Leo.
"Leo, you are repeating this for the fifth time and it is getting irritating," Melanie eyed at him.
"But I am happy for you Melanie, at least you have tried to move on"
"Don't remind me of that Leo"
"Oops! Sorry, Okay so tell me where were you, it's a long time, I know your NGO keeps you busy but this month you were completely lost, where were you"
"Don't even ask Leo I was so occupied can't even tell you and then..." she heaved.
"Then what?"
Melanie narrated the whole incident about Aashi and her heated argument with her father. Leo placed his hand over hers and said "You did the right thing Melanie, even I would have done the same thing had I been at your place"
"But I don't know what to do further, I mean I can't explain my father he won't ever understand"
"and you have decided to adopt her legally right?"
"That's true Leo, I am thinking about something"
"What?"
"I am thinking of leaving my house and shifting to some other place," she said grabbing a bite.
"What? Are you mad Melanie? Where will you go?"
"I-I don't Leo, I'll try to convince Dad but if he doesn't agree I would move out"
"But where Melanie"
"I will look for some rental places, I don't know where but I am not going to obey Dad, he wants me to leave Aashi at the orphanage and that's not going to happen, I am adopting her and that's final"
"You are not alone Melanie, I am there with you in this, tell me if you need any help," Leo said giving an assuring smile.
Melanie nodded. Meanwhile, Raymond was also in the canteen to have something and he saw Leo holding Melanie's hand and the two of them talking very comfortably, passing smiles at each other and laughing.
Wow! It's her day one and she has already started showing her influence on the people he thought.
After finishing his work, he packed his stuff and picked his laptop bag. Just as he was to leave, he got a phone call. He immediately picked it up.
"I am angry!" he said.
"But what happened, Pia?"
"You promised lunch today and you weren't here" the little one complained.
"I am so sorry Pia, it completely slipped off my mind, don't worry I am having my dinner with you" Raymond assured.
"Promise?"
"God's promise," he said.
"Yayy!" an excited Pia cried.
Raymond smiled when he heard this excitement and laughter on the phone. Pia was one such kid who was always positive and even filled positivity to others. Raymond and Pia shared a bond of sacred friendship. For Pia, Raymond was his friend, his mentor, he saw a loving fatherly figure in him. He used to get all his wishes fulfilled through him and even Raymond loved to do so. Raymond showered all the love that he wanted to shower on Clara, but due to their differences, he couldn't. Raymond tried to fulfill all the wishes of Pia. He saw his Clara in him. He felt as if he was doing it for Clara.
After the office, he went to the orphanage. The receptionist there had asked him to wait for a while. When he was waiting on a bench, he saw a pair of hands covering his eyes. He immediately recognized those lovely pair of hands.
"Alvin!" he called.
"Alvin? Did you call me by my real name? I am not going to talk to you now, I am angry" Alvin said turning to the other side, he acted of being upset with him.