On that day, she had went to the company and the HR had directed her to the training department and for a week, she was given the training and after that she was supposed to pass an exam which she did. Now today, she was to meet the main people whom she would be working with.
"I'm the Secretary of Chief Financial Officer of this company. My name is Rafay alvi," The person introduced himself to Sheharzaad, who sat infront him.
Sheharzaad gave a nod of understanding to him.
"There are total 4 financial officers, one of them is chief while the other 3 works under him. Due to high work load, CFO, Mr. Ijaz had decided to keep 2 assistants. One is me and the other is you,"
"Ok, sir,"
"And your degree is in management and finance?"
"Yes, sir,"
"Good. Mr. Ijaz office is on 27th floor. The floor comprise of the rooms of the five important officers of company along with the CEO, Mr. Shehryaar Haider Syed,"
"Ok,"
"So let's show you your office," Rafay said, and led her towards the elevator as they both got in and he pressed the button, 27.
"What was your name?" Rafay asked her, once they were alone.
"Sheharzaad...Sheharzaad Qureshi,"
"Nice name,"
She didn't answer him. She found his compliment unnecessary.
"Why have you people specifically called me. Even my interview wasn't conducted," She asked.
"You had submitted your CV, right? We checked it and called you because you were the only one that had a degree in management and finance, that is why," Came his response. "And we like your projects as well," he answered, skipping the part out of him requesting her CV to forward to the Mr. Ijaz.
She was internally relieved now as Amna's question was repeatedly coming in her mind that why only her? It seemed like Amna was being too skeptical specially after that hotel incident.
"Okay," she shortly answered. Meanwhile, he continued talking to her but she only gave short responses as she didn't open up with people easily, specially the opposite gender.
Men were vultures, according to her. And the simple proof was what she witnessed that night in the hotel and what she experienced on daily basis. Every single men would turn around and eye a woman from head to toe when a woman would walk past them. On daily basis, she had experienced their hungry eyes checking out her and every other woman.
The door ringed open and they reached on the 27th floor. She stepped out but suddenly she felt like she got a push or something that she was about to fell, when Rafay held her arms. She instantly became active and snatched herself away from him. Instinctively, she rubbed her arm where his hands were.
"I'll show you the way," he said and moved ahead while she followed behind. The floor was spacious and so vast and big. the area was triple the size of the house where she lived in.
As soon as you would enter there was a vast lounge that was surrounded with glass walls. You could see clouds from those glass. The area was beautiful and gave her those office-like vibes. To the left was a kitchenette and to right waiting area. The floor was voluminous and capacious, almost all the offices were present along that lounge but to left there was a corridor. It wasn't quite a corridor, narrow and thin rather it was widened and even she could see that there were some rooms along that dilated corridor. She gave a cursory glance to see what's the end of that corridor and she could see a spacious lounge over there too. That area was kind of kept private from all the rooms that were present on the floor.
"That's CEO'S chamber. His office, his secretary office is there and along the corridor are those rooms where you have to get permission from, before reaching CEO's office. If there is a serious problem, a dead serious one, that the people sitting in these rooms can't solve then you can go to CEO. Otherwise most of the problems are taken care of before they reach Mr. Shehryaar,"
"Oh, it means he is a private person?"
"Yes, very much. There's Mr. Ijaz's office, the CFO. Let's go,"
Soon, she was assigned a personal cabin. It was very near to Mr. Ijaz's office. Now, she was sitting on her chair and going through the file that was given to her.
She had a small meeting with Mr. Ijaz and he told her that there were tons of work to do and she might have to stay a little long. She had instantly agreed because she was here to work and second, she wanted to impress her boss as well. In that way, he would also assist her in getting a loan from the company.
Before entering into this building, Sheharzaad had decided that within two to three weeks, she would apply for a loan. And as the amount would be huge then definitely there would be difficulties in getting the loan. So if she would have her boss, Mr Ijaz on her side then definitely the circumstances would become more flexible for her.
She was going through the file and was asked to review it and perfom audits on financial statements and the reports. She began to do her task and as it was her first day, she was facing difficulties in understanding the figures and coping with the enormous amounts when Rafay came in her cabin.
He sat on the chair infront her table and asked, "do you need any help, Miss. Sheharzaad,"
"Yes, sir. Can you help me in decoding the figures here. I'm thinking to make a statistical analysis of last five years so it could be more evident and lucid to one yet I'm unable to comprehend what's going on here," she said, pointing at a line.
"Show me the file. I will assist," he said, rolling his chair closer to her. She placed the file on the table and he sat next to her. And they both began to work.
As soon as they both were done, he left the office and her skeptical grey eyes looked at his retreating back. His 'accidental' touch leaving a lingering feeling on her hand. Sheharzaad didn't know but she thought, he continuously touched her hand and kicked at her feet on purpose. Because on and on, and out of nowhere he would place his hand on her or hit her foot through his, yet she would ignore it thinking it might be a co-incidence.
Since, it was kind of her official first day so she let it go. She thought she was being too skeptical. Atleast, he helped her in understanding the file and brushed the thought away.
As Mr. Ijaz had said, she was handed a dozens of file and instead of understanding it from Rafay, she went to Ijaz who gave her an idea and she was a quick learner, she immediately grasped it. The training sessions were very useful otherwise she couldn't do anything.
A dozens of files were given to her for review and report and she was supposed to submit the work by tomorrow so she decided to go to home once her work would be done. At 7 pm sharp, Rafay, again came in her cabin.
"Won't you go home?" He asked.
"Once I'm done with the assigned task, I will. I have to submit it by tomorrow," she told.
"You know, you can go home. I'll talk with Mr. Ijaz,"
"No. Thankyou very much, Mr. Rafay, I will manage. I'm here to work," her tone came out polite and professional yet she didn't like what he was trying to imply.
She was here to work and she can do it without his help. She didn't need to rely on him. He had the same post as hers so there was no need to act as if she was less than him and she would have to rely on him.
"Okay, Sheharzaad," he said, his voice holding an edge.
Only Sheharzaad?
"Yes, Mr. Rafay," She on purposely called him 'Mr' indirectly asking her to be professional with her.
He didn't say anything and left and she got herself to work again.
She didn't keep the track of time and when she was done with all her work, she was surprised to know it was 11:30 already. She didn't even inform Amna that she would come late. Given how stressed Amna would become, she quickly began to pack her things and took out the key of her cabin and locked the door of her room. The light was coming out from the glass walls of her room only while the whole floor was swirling with silence and darkness.
She was lowkey afraid yet she wasn't admitting it because if she admitted it, she would become more afraid. Her hands slightly shivered as she was turning the lock of her cabin and for unknown reasons, her heart began to pummel within her chest and she slowly began to mutter ayat-al-kursi under her lips.
That scene from the hotel was running in her mind and when she looked around herself, there was just lonliness and darkness. The floor was dimly lit. That hotel incident did affect her mentally.
'Don't or you'll die'
That voice whispered again in her ears overpowering her fear.
She turned around and hurriedly began to move towards the lift while struggling to open the zip of her purse so she could take her phone out and place the keys within her bag. She was walking and walking without looking up when suddenly she crashed into someone and at that exact moment the office drowned in utter darkness as the light was out.
She shrieked and was almost falling down on the floor, when she felt two firm hands on the small of her back and she was pushed up. Now her hands were resting against someone's chest that prolly most was a man, rather a giant man. She could feel his well built and muscular chest underneath him and an earthy and minty scent came off of him.
As she gained balance, she got herself out from his grip and stepped back. Her chest cavity expanding with her slow and shallow breaths that implied, she was fretful.
"Th..thanks," she said and on the cue the floor illuminated again. Her eyes landed on the person who stood infront him. His muscular chest was cladded in a white shirt, the first two buttons of it was opened, his sleeves were folded up revealing her veiny arms. His eyes had that very pinning or intense appearance. He looked enigmatic. He had that tinge of broodiness in him, as to her, he looked darkly menacing. A certain coldness and quietness had enveloped him. Specially the metallic shards through which he was staring into her soul.
"I'm...I'm sorry," she apologized, "and thanks," muttering, she moved past him.
"Careful," his faint yet dark voice reached her ears and for some odd reason his voice made goosebumps stand on her body.
She didn't give an answer to him and quickly entered the lift. The thought that only both of them were alone on the floor was provoking ominous assumptions in her mind.
She entered the elevator and when she reversed her direction, she found him staring at her whilst his hands were in his pockets and his eyes staring into hers. The doors closed atlast and she released a breath. For some strange reasons, she felt chills raising on her spine that was why she held her breath. She felt like he was not upto any good, he didn't give her that colorful vibes. All she felt was coldness.
She brushed off of her thoughts. After that hotel incident, she had gotten way too much skeptical.
........
"Shehryaar Haider Syed," A voice called out at him and he, who was busy in his office work, looked up. His grey eyes pinning that person, "aka the bastard,"
Shehryaar stood up from his position and stuffed his hands in his pockets and gave him a good look.
"Zaroon junaid," he called out his name, "aka the fucker? Serves you well?"
"Well n well," he haughtily said, while moving closer and spread his arms wide before engulfing his friend in a hug.
"When did you come?" Shehryaar asked.
"A week ago" he said as they both approached to the sofa and settled themselves down.
They both got occupied in their usual chit-chats, that basically comprised of business, football which was Shehryaar's favourite sport and at the end Zaroon's favourite topic, his friend's marriage.
"My mother has sent an order for you. This time around, it's not an advice,"
"For me to marry. Ahaan?"
"Exactly. She is saying next time she would be coming to Pakistan must be the occasion of your marriage,"
He just gave a dry chuckle to that.
"Fuck me. Everybody wants so,"
"Don't you like any girl?"
"No," his smug response came.
"Then what about marriage?!"
"What you want my answer to be?"
"That, I want to marry. On a serious note, won't you ever get marry?"
"There's much more to do in my life than marriage. And don't start again, Zaroon. You know I don't want to marry,"
"Yeah I know. You despise woman,"
"Don't start again. I warn,"
"Yo bro, listen. Don't see everyone from the same perspective,"
"So are we talking about that? What you have got to say this time around that would have me to dislocate your jaw, again,""
"Get over her,"
He frowned and looked at him. "The fuck?"
"You're still struck on her,"
And a punch landed on his face that busted his lips.
"What the fuck. shehryaar?"
"I can do more than that,"
"I just stated a fact,"
"Don't assume things," his tone was harsh and crisp that made his friend shut-up. "You only know the fraction of me that I allow you to see. Don't establish facts about me when you don't have an absolute idea of who I actually am. The next time I saw you repeating the same words again, for sure I'd have bleeding knuckles and you, a broken skull," His voice came out grave and dark. Zaroon knew, he was serious. Rather very serious.
"Fine. I won't talk about that anymore. Let's not get too serious,"
"I've some work to do. You can go,"
"Don't act like a pregnant woman now, shehryaar,"
"What more you have to say?"
"I came here to chill out with you after such a long time,"
"You know I'm private about many things and I don't like to discuss those things with anyone. Be it a friend, family a any fucking one,"
"That's fine. I won't talk about that. Yet my statement still stand firm, if she is a slut then that does not mean every other woman is a slut and you won't marry for that reason. I know the notion that you've regarding the womankind. And I don't even want to mention that because my mother, she is a very strong woman, why god gave woman the status of mother?"
"Bearing a child and being a mother are two different things. Even a prostitute can bear a child,"
"I wish you will come across someone who will change your views regarding her kind,"
"I wish that too," Shehryaar scoffed.
"You'll come across her. I bet, sooner or later but you would,"
He laughed it off. He knew he was a hopeless case. Zaroon's lecture won't bore any fruit.
"Is that so?"
"Yes it is just make marriage your thing,"
He kept quite and didn't answer Zaroon as if contemplating. After a few seconds with himself, he spoke, "You know I won't. I won't marry at all. I'm fine with fucks. Not more than that can a woman have a role in my life. I extract pleasure and they take my money. That's it. Even if I'd feel any attraction, a mere fuck would be enough to get over her because you know what, I show them money and they are ready to open their legs for me. I've never came across someone whom I'd have an utter temptation to get my hands on. Unique, captivating, enticing and definitely not a slut. Who would make me run for her, who without trying would force me to achieve her, who make me obsessed of her. Show me, if there's any like that," he expressed. It was the rarest time of year as Shehryaar Haider Syed expressed himself.
"I know someone that might fit into your definition," Zaroon spoke, his tone smug.
"Who?"
"Sheharaad,"
"Sheharzaad who?"
"Sheharzaad Qureshi," Zaroon reiterated, "I saw her at your office today as I was coming in now,"
"How do you know her?"
"University times. I was a teacher at her university and even got a chance to teach her as well. You know, she is pretty and the boys used to worship the ground she walked on. It wasn't only due to beauty of her face but also beauty of her character. She had a great, great character. I always found her protecting her dignity and preserving her chastity. I've never ever seen her to even turn around and notice as much as an inch of the guy who'd be staring at her. She never brought them into her notice and that had made those perverts to strive more and more for her. And today I saw her walking out of this building,"
"She has grey eyes," he stated, more to himself.
"Yes. You know her?"
"Maybe,"
"She is a nice girl. Marry her, Shehryaar. I guess she'd upto your standard. She would make you change all the revolting views you've for women,"
"Aren't you being too so fast?"
"I am but I don't want you to marry at 50,"
"Don't worry bout that," Shehryaar said and took out his phone to demand some details from one of his officers.
'Any recruitment on my floor?' he texted and the reply came back within seconds.
'Yes sir. An additional secretary to Mr. Ijaz. Ms. Sheharzaad Qureshi,'
'Her details'
'Give me a minute, please. I'll forward her file to you,'
Within a minute, he had her file in his hand as he was going through it. The file contained all her info. Where did she live. Her university. Her projects. CGPA. CV. Everything.
"What are you doing?" Zaroon asked him.
"Going through her file,"
"What? Why?" he questioned, curiously.
"Maybe, I would also want to bed her," he answered playfully while putting his phone away as he was done analysing her file.
"No fucking way you are going to do that,"
"There is a reason people call me unexpected, Zaroon,"
"Are you literally going to do that?"
"Let the fate play it's game, Zaroon,"
"Let's see then. And hat about her?" Zaroon asked, his voice getting serious. Shehryaar stopped and moved his thick lashes up, looking at Zaroon.
His grey eyes getting darker than he had ever witnessed.
"She begs me for death, each day and each night," he stated with mirth but his eyes got soulless within seconds, "she had tried to kill herself many times so I've cut her hand and I'm eagerly waiting that she would make this attempt again," he continued and Zaroon could feel a shiver travelling down his spine, his face losing colors which Shehryaar noticed but he continued, "so I can cut her other hand too,"
Zaroon gave no reaction, that was most expected and at the same time unexpected from Shehryaar.
A mirthless and deadly laugh was apparent on his lips, making devil appear in his eyes as he ecstatically imagined the state he had put that girl in. Zaroon knew he liked to torture and for a moment he thought, he made a mistake by mentioning Shehrzaad to Shehryaar. He did make a mistake.
Because if she would come into his notice, her life would never be same again.
But thing was, she already had entered his radar.