Radhika's pov

I woke up and looked at time. I still had plenty of time to get to work. I was already dreading going. I was upset about what happened yesterday and was in no mood to see my boss's face.

I got ready quickly and made my way out for breakfast.

"Hey mom. Good morning" I said taking my seat at the counter. We had a cute two bedroom apartment with one bath and one cute little kitchen with a counter as the dining table but the best part was we had a view. This was the soul reason to rent this place.

"Good morning" She replied serving me my breakfast. "I am thinking about leaving this afternoon" she continued.

"What? Why?"

"You got your job, you are settled now and Naina would probably return in one or two day. So I think you can manage yourself now moreover your Dad needs me there" she explained

"Can't he manage for another month or so? I mean, come on, I want to spend time with you. I like having you around. Can't he just make a little scarifice here?"

Mom sighed "Honey.. you know how he is. I want to spend time with you as well but your father is all alone in that big house and he needs someone with him because-"

"You can't stay. Got it. I don't want to hear about his needs now. I'm leaving. Bye" I got up kissed her cheek "Have a safe journey." And left with my bag.

My father and I don't have a perfect relationship. Actually, we've no relationship. If it weren't for my mother, we wouldn't even bother talking to each other. We've had a complicated relationship for a long time now and none of us bother repairing it. I don't even use his last name, I go my mom's last name. We've no connection, nothing. It is just a name sake relationship now.

I entered the office and found everyone on gathered near my desk and Rishabh was standing with a file. I tried to ignore the glances but it was hard when I was the center of attention.

"There you are" Rishabh as soon as I came into his view. He gave me the file he was holding but I didn't open it right away.

"Good morning" I said putting my stuff down.

"Yeah, indeed" Rishabh replied but with a poker face. "I dropped the client"

"What? Why?" I was clearly very shocked.

"Open the file. Read it and meet me in my cabin."

I read the file but couldn't understand the point. There was a name, some random fact, a police report. I wanted him to explain why he dropped the client he was so hell bent on keeping.

I took the file and marched to his cabin. I knocked on his door but didn't wait. I entered his cabin.

"Why did you drop the client?"

"Take a seat." I sat down "You didn't read the file?"

I just raised my eyebrow for him to continue.

"These are the proofs I was talking about. I ran a little background check on him, turns out you  were right. He has outstanding suspicious records that cannot be explained. It is a good deal now but it can turn sour anytime. I send them to the client and I explained my situation and dropped him."

I opened the file and read it again. He was right. It was a wise decision to drop him.

"If you were going to listen to me, why did you make me look like a fool yesterday?" It was a genuine question. I wasn't pissed anymore, I was just curious.

"Because you were being a fool. You were rationalising your decision on something you heard on a gossip site. That's not how we function, you weren't wrong but you know it was a lucky guess. You're a professional, Radhika. You can't make big professional decisions on how you feel about someone." Even though his face showed no emotions, I knew he was being sincere. I was touched that he atleast care enough to actually check my suspicions. 

"Thank you. I got it." I got up to leave "I should leave. I've got work to do."

"You should have lunch with me today. Lunch?" He asked

I was surprised at the question. He wasn't even looking at me. I didn't understood this man. I replied yes, I didn't had any choice, he's my boss.

"See you at 2 in the cafeteria." I nodded

I was busy working on some little tasks Rishabh gave me when my phone rang. I saw the caller ID, it was Naina.

"Heyyyyy. Lunch today with yours truly?" She said from the other side as I answered the phone.

"Hello to you too"

"Yes, right, Hello! Whatever. See you at lunch then?"

"You're back already? I thought you weren't going to be back for two more days" I asked

"I know. I know. But work got over soon so I decided to come home early and surprise you."

"I'm not a big fan of surprises. You know that?" She hummed in response. "Anyway, I've got a lunch thing with my boss. I can't join you" I replied

"Kiss ass. Is your boss atleast as hot as I'm?"

"Nobody can compete with you"

She chuckled and hung up. 

Naina is a journalist, more like photographer for the newspapers and media and my roommate. She used to work for a big media house but found the desk job restraining. Now, she freelances which means she takes up jobs which she likes, travels around on other people's dime and is gone for days and months for an assignment.

She has been my roommate ever since I left home and came to live in Delhi. She liked that I never judged her choices and I liked that she never interfered in my personal life. Like she always says, our vibes match. As someone who is always fleeting away, she has been my constant for a really long time. Irony of life, I guess.

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