Sia woke up with a start as she saw the same nightmare again. She sat up and looked around herself. She was alone in her room. It was still dark outside.

She clutched her hair and wiped her sweaty face. The crash. The cries. The pain. All of it was replaying in her head like a movie.

Tears fell from her eyes and she curled up like a ball. Everything was fine just two months back. And then the next second, her world was upside down. She lost the one person she loved immensely.

She couldn't sleep again and so she started doing daily chores.

The sayings were true. People show their true colors in times of despair. She had found out about her boyfriend's infidelity a month after the accident. When she was still coping with the loss, he was busy fucking his best friend, who he had told her was like a sister to him.

Sia had not wasted even a second before breaking up with him. She didn't love him but she had grown attached to him and his betrayal hurt. Why would he continue to lie to her and give her false hopes when he didn't want to be with her.

And the justification he gave was that she wasn't tempting enough for him. That she wasn't bold and he wanted someone who was ready to explore physical stuff with him. Basically, he was a horny bastard who wanted anyone with a pussy.

Sia didn't bother about him after that but his words about her being not desirous enough and not being beautiful broke her confidence in herself.

She was often told by people her age that she dressed up too plain and boring. Sia wasn't comfortable wearing revealing clothes or crop tops. She liked her body covered. She did love sarees though. But even in that outfit she made sure her breast and navel were covered. No unnecessary exposure. She was just not comfortable displaying her body.

It was her body and not some display piece. She liked what she wore. But the people around her and the man she called her boyfriend just a month back instilled an insecurity in her.

Usually if she felt down like this, only one person could bring her confidence back. But she lost that anchor of her life two months back.

Vardhan was in his cabin when his intercom rang. He was the Finance Head of their Delhi branch. And he had been emailing the HR team for a few months for an assistant because his workload was too much.

His request was finally accessed last month. He was hoping for positive news any day now. He closed his eyes and remembered how Armaan had teased him when he had said that he requested an assistant.

"Oohhh! What if they give you a female assistant?"

"What then?"

"Seriously Vardhan! Kitna serious hai tu. Think about it! It could turn into a potential love story. And a very intense one."

"Whatever!"

Vardhan had rolled his eyes while Armaan had went on to describe what all he could do if he actually gets a female assistant. All of the ideas pretty much entitled him for a harrasment case more than a potential love story.

He missed his best friend. Time flies! It had been four months since Armaan's accident and death. Their apartment felt too empty. One of the major reasons that he had started doing overtime. To avoid going home.

He picked up the ringing intercom.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Vardhan. Your request for an assistant has been successfully accessed. The recruit has reported for her first day and is waiting in the break room."

"Thank you so much. I'll look into it."

Vardhan sighed and got up. He wore his coat and raked his fingers through his hair before moving out of his cabin.

He entered the break room nodding at a few employees' greetings and looking around for a new face.

When he couldn't, he called her name.

"Ms. Sia Kapoor?"

Sia got up hearing her name being called. Vardhan felt his blood boil seeing the face of the woman he hated. His best friend's murderer.

Sia walked towards a fuming Vardhan and bowed her head a little in respect.

"Good morning sir. Sia Kapoor."

Vardhan gritted his teeth. Now this woman had started lying about her name too. Or did she not use her real name with his best friend?

A sinister idea entered his mind and he smiled too sweetly although an evil glint was there in his eyes. He forwarded his hand and shook her hand.

"Welcome to the company Ms. Kapoor. I'm Vardhan Malhotra. Head of the Finance Department. You'll be working as my assistant."

Sia smiled and nodded.

"It will be my pleasure to work with you and assist you in every way possible sir. I hope to learn a lot from you."

Vardhan smirked before covering it with a smile and said.

"Ofcourse. I'm going to give you a lot of learnings. Let's move to your desk. And then we can start with the basic introductions."

Sia nodded and followed Vardhan. He entered his cabin and held the door open for her to enter.

"You can set up your desk there. This table is for you."

He said pointing towards the table set up at one side of his cabin. Sia nodded and placed her bag there. She didn't have many things and was done in 10 minutes.

Vardhan was surprised that she didn't recognise him. He remembered Armaan telling him that he had shown Vardhan's picture to her. She must have forgotten. It wasn't easy remembering the friends of all the boyfriends after all. He thought bitterly as he glared at her.

She looked at him after setting her table and he quickly looked away clenching his fists.

"I'm done sir."

"Great! Have a seat here."

He pointed in front of him and she took a seat with a soft smile.

"Since we'd be working closely now...I'd like to know more about you...Sia."

The way he took her name made her frown but she didn't comment on it.

He asked some basic questions about her which she answered truthfully.

"One last thing, Sia. Do you have your passport?"

"Yes sir."

"Good! We'll be traveling a lot. We have our investors all over the world. Hope you're ok with traveling?"

She nodded and failed to notice his sinister smirk.

**************************************

Please do leave your comments.

Also, please vote for the story.������

Laters!!��❤️