“I don’t know! What do you do here?”
“Business, Ritu. Business. That space is mine and mine alone. Now get in and keep quiet.” He pushed her inside the lounge and closed the door. Just in time for his main one to ping.
He ran a hand through his hair, then the back of it. Nilay settled his appearance and buzzed her in. And then he saw it. Ritu’s purse. With a wild hand movement, he knocked it to the floor. A loud thud and it had fallen on the other side of the desk, hidden from his visitor.
“Hi, NiP! Did something fall?” Maya strutted in, frowning.
“A pen stand. Nothing of value. What brings you to my little haven?”
“An emergency.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Don’t balk, but can we sit and talk?”
“Of course.” He offered her his visitor’s chair and settled on his own. Was this about Ritu? Did she know? Maya never acted so… plain. “What should I order for you?”
“Let’s knock this off first.”
His body tensed up.
“So, there has been a mix-up with your last consignment of muslin…”
Phew!
————————————————————
“Thank you again for being so understanding,” Maya got to her feet.
“As I said, it was beyond your control.”
“Wow! Phew. Thanks, NiP. We had arm-wrestling matches to decide who would come to you with this news. Now I can go back as the Damage Control Queen. And G doesn’t know it. So keep it that way, please.”
“Sure.”
“This is my first win after giving birth!”
“Glad to be of assistance.” He smiled, shooting to his feet and walking her to the door. Her eyes went around his office and fell to the floor.
“Nice shoes.”
He kept walking, smelling rat.
“Thanks.”
“Where did you buy them from? I have been looking for similar loafers for G.”
“Uh… they are handmade from Vigevano.”
“They look singular. Are they from a brand there?”
“A local shoemaker.”
“Please share the contact.”
“Sure.”
Something thudded behind him.
