Chapter 33: chapter 33

As I reached my cubicle, I saw a huge bouquet of Lancashire's red roses on my desk. For me?Nah, I don't think so. I surveyed those nosegays to get a clue if any. Eventually, I caught hold of a coloured card displaying.. "One girl came into my life abruptly!! Just one lightening and I lost my heart to her! And that girl is you ..Daddy's Little Girl !!♥️   Thanks a ton for setting foot in my life!!                 Always your's N❤️❤️❤️"My eyes were out of their sockets after registering those words. N?Neil !! Obviously! Who else could propound me as "daddy's little girl"?That's for me. What is he up to?  *fidgety*"Babydoll?", twins jumped in making my situation worse."Whoa! One more?", Emma grinned in excitement inviting the other sights towards my direction.Damn! "Any card with this?", Ella interrogated examining the bunch.I tried to hide it.Nonetheless, thanks to their eagle eyes.They snatched the card after catching the vision of it."Aah! Who is this daddy's little girl?", both unisoned after discerning the words.Thank God, Neil hasn't mentioned my name. "W..who knows? Leave it, I think it's here because of some confusion", I steer clear it."Doesn't matter babydoll! And those lines? Aww! So romantic", Ella expressed followed by a nod from Emma.Romantic? Absolutely not! It gave me a mild heart attack. *huff*"Give that card to me. I will drop it at reception, so that it would reach out to the right person", I lied taking the card from them to cut this instance once and for all.What if this card creates a new mess?"But, this is on your desk. It can't be a coincidence babydoll", Emma gave a glimpse of her detective brain. I saw Abby entering. "No! Look, Abby is here. We should get back to our work", I diverted the topic, taking my seat.Listening to my words, everyone else involved, retreated to their respective places."Nevermind babydoll! However, my eyes are on you", Emma winked, pointing her eyes with the index finger of her dominant hand. "Shut up", I smacked her hand giving a sarcastic smile.They both left chuckling leaving me a bit relaxed.His handwritten note card dragged my attention. I was literally at an unease on perceiving Neil's move of this sort.Just a bouquet from him had pulled all the curiosity so speedily. In case he does something else, then? Holy Lord! I couldn't even imagine that instance. Should I talk to him?Bad idea!I can't withstand his look of endearment reflecting orbs and his pleasing aura.what else should I do?Probably, I should just disregard him and his efforts. Yes, that sounds the finest. I thought of parking that note in the trash, but a voice scotched my decisiveness forcing me to place it in my bag in haste. It was Abby. I stood up in a hurry in an attempt to hide my agitation."Morning, Aashika", Abby greeted."M..Morning, Abby", I stuttered. "Are you okay?", he asked looking at my comportment. "Of course. You just came in at once, so I..", I went lost of words. "Chills! I understand, catch you later", he smiled.I nodded and he walked to his cabin. I took a long breath and started my work. After a couple of minutes, I heard footsteps and there was a surge of whispers within the female employees. "OMG! He is here!"."Now, it's a good morning".I didn't twitch from my possie as I was least interested."Good morning, Aashi", a familiar voice snapped me out of my composure.Aashi?No one from here calls me "Aashi".My head shot up instantly and I stood up instinctively all flabbergasted. I found Neil standing with his forbearing smile."Relax! It's me, daddy's little girl", he whispered in a frequency which only I could hear.Each couple of sights turned at my cubicle on finding the CEO conversing with me."My cabin, in two minutes", he said in his normal pitch, which was enough to catch about for the rest of the floor.The entire floor was staring at me as if I was an alien. Wait! In his cabin? "Why?", I retorted a bit loud.Shit! Everyone gave a "Now she is gone" look."Because I am saying, okay?", he responded with a tranquil gaze at me and headed further.I stood there with my eyes widened. The hell! The moment which I was frightened for has just now given a touch and gone feel to me.How could he do this?What will these people think of me?I noticed everyone looking at me as if I had grown two horns on my head. Meanwhile, I saw twins heading towards me.Ugh! How will I answer their yet to be shot queries?"Why does he want you to be in his cabin?", they asked."Um..ah..", I searched for words."OMG! OMG! You are going to meet him in person?", Ella expressed."But why?", Emma's detective mind was still active. "I guess, regarding some project discussion or maybe about my last presentation", I shrugged in a try to look casual. "Possibly", Ella supported me."Okay, go then. Good Luck", Emma gave me a thumbs-up."Babydoll! Don't delay, just go! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity", Ella chirped in excitement.Lifetime opportunity?Ask me! *rolling eyes*I strolled towards his cabin unwillingly, yet with a thought of squaring up. I reached his cabin and he asked me to enter with just a single knock."Listen, Neil Sir...", the scenic view before my eyes made me cut my own phrase.I saw a lady in her late forties and a gentleman in his early fifties seated on the couch with coffee mugs in their hands. They were chitchatting with Neil, who placed himself, left to the lady with his right arm around her shoulder.They seem to be from a high-profile background. Their body language was so sophisticated and serene just as Neil's.The moment they noticed me, a smile curved on their faces.Who are they?Clients?But, they seemed to be very close.  "Neil Sir? I had already told you to call me Neil. Just Neil. Didn't I?", Neil initiated."What?", I widened my eyes.Why is he behaving so casually before them?"Why do you always widen your already beautiful eyes more whenever I say something?", he winked nearing me.What's wrong with him?"Stop there", I whisper-yelled. He chuckled and looked at the couple."So, how is she?", he asked pointing at me."She is very pretty and seems guileless. Your choice is super awesome", both of them answered with delighted eyes.What's happening?"Did you both like her?", he questioned them. "Like her? We both loved her", that lady answered accompanied by that man's nod.I stood still noting them vaguely. That lady looked at my foggy expression and came towards me."Oh dear! You look so confused. Come and sit here", she took me with her and made me sit on the couch. She placed herself next to me."Aashika, right?", she asked. I nodded a YES. "I am Sudhika and he is Sujeet my husband", she introduced.We exchanged a smile."And..uh..we are Neil's parents", she spilled the beans.His parents? "Haan?", I stood up as a reflex to the disclosure of the bombshell.They all burst out laughing."Relax honey! We are his parents. We are here just to meet you. I was very eager to see you since Neil told us about you", she added captivatingly making me take my seat back.He even informed his parents?! Is he that serious?This was too much for me. I looked at him in rage, while he looked away. "Yes dear. We really wanted to meet you. Nevertheless, we couldn't as we both were out of London for work", Neil's dad expressed.The next while, his dad's phone rang and after speaking for a while he disconnected."Sorry! We need to leave now as we have a meeting scheduled for the next hour", his dad spoke."No issues, dad. I understand", Neil responded."It was nice meeting you Aashika. Will catch up some other time for a long time", his dad added.I was still in daze. His mom turned to me and shared a good bye etiquette accompanied by an air-kiss on either side. "Take care honey", she patted my head. I smiled back at both of them.Though I was fazed, they being elders and disrespecting them was not acceptable either.They both walked out. Heaviness grew in my chest. How will I make him aware of my situation?I lost my sense of trust after that evening. Why doesn't he understand that it's too difficult for me to even think of it? I don't want myself and my family to suffer all that freaking crap again. These thoughts allocated tears at the cusp of my eyes. "Where are you lost, daddy's little girl?", his phrase broke my chain of thoughts. I looked at him with my blurred vision. "Hey, I am here to make you strong not weak", he wiped my tears.I sensed a stint of reassurance in his words as if he knows everything and wants to tug me out of it.What even I am thinking? That's not possible. I straightened my spine and decided to confront him. "What's with the flowers and all this?", I spoke my mind. "You liked them?", he cleaned the tear stain on my cheek pulling out a tissue from the nearby table. "You..", he cut my phrase."This suits you, not that crying face. You look cute in angry mode", he winked. Argh! "What will I answer to the questions of the people outside raised due to your deeds like these?", I roared. "Tell them the truth that you love me too", he leaned-in to match my height. "I don't love you", I stepped away from him."You do", he said with authenticity."No", I retorted earning a chuckle from him. He neared me and encircled his arms around my waist and yanked me towards him gently."You do, it's just that you are a bit scared for some reason. And I will make sure you will admit it soon, my love", he announced establishing his blue orbs onto mine.How can he be so sure?No ways!I pushed him away freeing myself from his embrace."N..Not at all. Why will I? You all are the same. I can never trust you", I blurted out in one breath and turned towards the exit to leave.However, he held my wrist and pulled me back towards him tenderly resulting in my hands on his chest and his arms around my waist.He smiled for a while and turned to me."I am not Mohak to hurt you, daddy's little girl", the phrase made my heartbeats throb than it's usual fast.Did he just say Mohak?How on earth did he get to know this?"I am Neil! Only.. AASHI'S NEIL", he declared with his forebearing smile.******************************Uh.. oh! He knows?! See you in the next chapter.Till then stay tuned and miss me😉#KeepReading #KeepLoving♥️♥️