The next hour passed smoothly. And then, it was almost time.
‘I … um …’Just say it, Ananya. ‘A friend wanted to meet me. I thought I’d use my lunch hour to have a quick meal with her.’
‘Of course,’ he said. ‘Where are you going? I can have Dilip drop you off and bring you back.’
‘No, it’s okay,’ I said quickly. ‘I’ll take a cab.’
He nodded.
I packed up and rose. ‘See you later.’
A taxi stood right by the entrance. I hopped in and gave the address.
Rekha had texted me two days ago to meet her for lunch today. Rhea and I had been discussing her sudden request since.
After my dinner with Jai in his office, I had … softened my reports. Nothing much, just skimmedover the meeting details. Left out the new line he was developing. But there was no way she had picked up on it; I’d kept it subtle.
Rhea suspected she wanted to update me on the job offer for the position of Suraina ma’am’s assistant. I feared it was because she had found out I was hiding information from her.
This was supposed to be an opportunity, my big break into the design industry. Was I about to lose it?
Rhea told me just to be honest and tell Rekha about the line Jai was creating; it would convince her to have faith in him.
But I promised him I wouldn’t tell anyone, and I didn’t want to break it.
Maybe if I told her I didn’t think Jai was the problem, she’d believe me. I was the one working closest with him. She would trust me, right?
I got dropped off at the gates of Peshwa House.
Set in a five-storey townhouse overlooking Marine Drive, it was a members-only club where luxury met power. It offered exclusivity, status and all the frills money could buy. It was also a place where I felt self-conscious, underdressed and like I didn’t belong.
I flattened a hand over my dress to smooth out any creases.
Inside, a staff member led me to a restaurant.
It had sage green walls, dark wooden floorboards and large windows with white trim. The chairs and sofas were covered with colourful block-printed fabric, and antiques and artefacts were scattered throughout the room.
Rekha, dressed elegantly in a peach silk sari and diamonds, was sipping on a glass of wine. A lone lilysat in a vase on the table next to her sunglasses and Birkin bag.
‘Good afternoon,’ I greeted, my voice coming out overly perky.
Tone it down, Ananya.
‘I’m so glad you could make some time for me,’ she said warmly as I took the seat opposite her. ‘You look lovely.’
‘Thank you.’ I smiled lightly, still nervous.
The server arrived with menus, and we placed our order – pan-seared bass for her, and an herb-tossed farm salad for me (Lay’s had surprisingly filled me up).
‘So,’ Rekha said, sipping on wine. ‘What’s it like being Jai’s assistant?’
‘It’s been alright,’ I replied. ‘Busy.’
‘Hope he’s not working you too hard.’ She pushed a lock of hair away from her face, the stones on her finger glittering under the warm light. ‘When he is focused on something, he loses sight of all else. It’s not his fault; he gets it from his father.’
‘It’s not like that,’ I said. ‘He’s actually a great boss. I’m learning a lot.’
‘That’s good.’ A smile touched her face. ‘I suppose I’ve taught him well.’
