This was my only way out.
The car pulled up in front of the House of Advani.
‘I need an answer, Ananya.’ Rekha’s voice was kind but expectant. ‘This position needs to be filled today.’
Today.
I replayed everything I’d lose if I said no. My independence. My dreams. My freedom.
And maybe Rekha was right. Maybe she just wanted to know what her son was working on. What was so wrong with that? She was his mother.
You’re rationalising. You know this is wrong.
But I also knew I couldn’t walk away.
‘Just information I’d already have access to,’ I said slowly, testing the words. ‘His schedule, his meetings. Nothing more.’
‘That’s all I’m asking. And when the eight months are up, I’ll move you to Suraina’s team. You have my word.’
I exhaled. My gut told me this was going to be more complicated than Rekha was letting on. Bigger. Messier. With much higher stakes.
It’s also a step closer to where you want to be,a selfish voice in my head whispered. It was hard to ignore. I’d be working for one of the biggest fashion houses in India. And if everything went well, I could be working for Suraina Mukherjee in eight months. That would make everything worth it.
I inhaled deeply. Released the breath. ‘I accept your offer.’
‘Thank you, Ananya.’ She reached over and squeezed my hand. ‘You have no idea what this means to me. Truly.’
I smiled, nodding.
‘This is my personal number. You can text me your updates on it.’ Rekha handed me a card. ‘One more thing,’ she added, her voice still gentle but with a note of unmistakable finality. ‘This conversation remains between us. You cannot speak a word of this to your family or friends. And especially not Jai.’
She hadn’t explicitly mentioned maintaining secrecy up until now, but I’d known it all along.
‘Of course,’ I said with a nod.
I opened the door.
‘Good.’ Her smile brightened. ‘See you later, Ananya. Have a great day!’
‘You too.’ I stepped out onto the pavement.
Her car pulled away onto the street.
And that was how I ended up back inside the HoA office, nerves in my stomach and a résumé in hand, looking for Kavita Patel, the COO’s assistant. All I had to do was hand her my résumé (which I had quickly updated for an executive assistant position), answer ‘yes’ to a few basic questions and sign on the dotted line – and voilà, the job (with the covert mission) was mine!
I entered the lift and pressed the button for the fourth floor.
As the doors started to close, a hand shot out, stopping them. I looked up.
Dark suit. Honey eyes.
You’ve got to be kidding me.‘You.’
The cab thief stepped in, his eyes widening slightly when he saw me. ‘You work here?’
The paperwork was yet to be signed, but he didn’t need to know that. I crossed my arms. ‘Yes.’
His expression hinted at amusement. ‘What department?’
