“Go meet your mentors and learn about the schedule for the coming months. Best of luck,” Dad says with an affectionate smile. Reyansh and I exchange a look before thanking them.
Once our parents exit, Reyansh nearly makes my heart stop by slinging an arm around my shoulders and pulling me close.
“Rey!” I hiss in shock.
“You already look like a businesswoman, wow!” he teases, voice too loud in my ear. Heat crawls up my neck as I suddenly become aware of my outfit.
A lavender cropped blazer and high-waisted tailored trousers. Hair in a sleek ponytail. Nude lipstick, soft shimmer on my eyelids, gold hoop earrings, layered chains around my neck, an elegant wrist watch, and nude pumps pulling it all together. I liked my look, but hearing it from him hits differently. His cologne drifts my focus, sharp and intoxicating, and I quickly elbow him before stepping out of his hold.
He winces dramatically. “Dude! I was complimenting you.”
“This isn’t college. Behave. Also, we have CCTV cameras here.” I point at the camera. A playful smirk spreads across his lips.
“Please, we’ve been here since we were kids. Everyone knows we’re close,” he says, reaching for my shoulder again, but I dodge, making a beeline for the exit.
“Work ethics, Rey. Learn them. Also, good luck. I have to meet my mentor.” I slip away before he can respond.
God, please don’t let us be placed on the same floor.
A building map helps me navigate to the seventh floor, the Marketing division. I spot Ms Shanaya Kapoor’s cabin, knock lightly on the door, before entering.
“May I come in, ma’am?”
“Yes. Ms. Amyra, please have a seat,” she says warmly. She seems to be in her early thirties, confident, yet kind.
“So ma’am—”
“No need to be nervous. We’re a team now,” she assures. “The CEO and Chairperson personally assigned me to plan your internship. Everything is sorted. You just focus on learning and growing. Your future responsibilities are big, so don't hesitateto ask questions and stay curious. We’ll go at your pace.” Her genuine smile loosens every tight knot in my stomach.
“Thank you for your kind words. I promise to give my best.”
“The first month is all about orientation and fundamentals in marketing and branding, slightly deeper than what you studied in your post-grad. Any questions before we begin?”
“How long will the training last?”
“Anywhere between twelve and fourteen months, depending on your progress.”
“Alright, ma’am.”
“Report to me every morning when you arrive. You’ll be working mostly from my cabin in the first month, so I can guide you better.”
“Noted, ma’am,” I reply, and she suddenly chuckles.
“You can call me Shanaya. I’m barely a decade older than you. Think of me as a sister more than a senior.”
“Oh, no, ma’am. You’re my mentor. You deserve respect.”
“I never expected the future heiress to be this humble; that’s refreshing,” she says with a proud smile.
“Thank you, ma’am,” I reply, remembering how my parents always taught us to stay grounded despite our status.
“For now, I have a client meeting. Review this project document in your cubicle. I’ll call you once I’m back,” she says, handing me a thick file.
We leave the cabin together, but the moment I step into the corridor, my eyes widen. The whole corridor has a dulled silence,yet a strange excitement touched me. Right beside Marketing lies the Finance department. That makes me realise Reyansh is reporting to the same floor.
The floor in-charge leads me to a semi-private grey cubicle with a clear sliding door and even a small sofa outside, practically a mini cabin, quiet and distraction-free. But my smile fades when I spot another identical cubicle a few meters away.
Is that… his?
