Shoma Narayanan - An Offer She Can't Refuse

Darius looked into her eyes and there was an instant of absolute connection that made his earlier thoughts irrelevant. A small part of his brain recognised how clichéd the moment was, and he was even amused. The rest of him was completely overwhelmed, and he kept on looking at her stupidly until she blinked and looked away.

‘Goodness, look at the time!’ she said, her voice slightly more high-pitched than normal. ‘I really need to get going.’

‘You haven’t touched your drink,’ he said, and she blinked at the can as if it had just materialised on her desk. ‘I’ll … um … carry it with me,’ she said. ‘What about your coffee?’

‘I hate that stuff from the machine,’ he said. ‘Next time we’ll go to a proper café.’

The way he said it made it sound like a promise he couldn’t wait to keep.

‘See you around, Darius,’ she managed to squeak, before making a hasty exit.

The next time he saw her was a few days later, with over fifty other people in the same room. Venkat had called for an investor conference, and Mallika was the main presenter.

Darius came in late, slipping into the back of the room. He very rarely attended investor events, but Venkat had been unusually insistent, and he hadn’t been able to resist the thought of seeing Mallika in top professional mode.

She was an impressive speaker—economical with words, but leaving her listeners with no doubt of her grasp over the subject. Slim and graceful in a raw silk printed sari, she exuded an aura of confidence and authority that was strangely attractive. Some people would probably think that it detracted from her femininity but, standing at the back of the room, Darius had to work hard to maintain a professional veneer.

She was quite something.

‘She’s brilliant, isn’t she?’ Venkat said, materialising next to Darius.

Mallika was answering a question raised by a grizzled investor old enough to be her father—and by the way the rest of the audience was nodding they were as impressed as Venkat was.

‘It’s been a while since we’ve held an event of this sort—it’s bloody expensive, paying for the dinner and the booze, but it’s worth it if we get the monies to come in. And people are interested—the market’s looking up. We’ll get a couple of hundred crores of investment after this event.’

‘So does that mean you guys are doing perfectly well without me?’ Darius asked, giving Venkat an amused look.

‘We are,’ Venkat said. ‘Mallika’s probably the best person you could have hired to replace you—in spite of all that flexible working rubbish. But, man, this place isn’t going to be the same without you.’

The event wound to a close, and Mallika stepped off the dais to mingle with the guests. Venkat had been called back for the vote of thanks, and Darius stood alone at the back of the room, watching Mallika as she moved from one group of middle-aged men to the next, her smile firmly in place.

There were only a handful of women in the audience, and Darius noted that she spent longer with them, explaining something at length to one group and patiently allowing a much older woman to peer at the necklace of semi-precious stones she was wearing.

It was a while before the audience dispersed, most of them heading towards the buffet dinner.

Mallika’s shoulders sagged a tiny bit, and the smile left her face as she walked towards the exit. It was as if she’d turnedt off a switch, changing from a confident, sparkling professional to a young woman who was just a little tired with life.

Darius waved to her, and she came across to him.

‘I didn’t see you come in,’ she said. ‘Did you just get here?’

‘A while ago,’ he said. ‘I’m impressed, Mallika. You had everyone eating out of your hands.’

She shrugged. ‘I’ve done this kind of event many times before,’ she said. ‘They’re exhausting, but it’s part of my job.’

‘What do you find exhausting?’ Darius asked.

‘Talking to people,’ she said. ‘It’s a strain. Everyone asks the same questions, and by the end of it I get so sick I could scream. Don’t tell Venkat,’ she added, looking up with a quick smile that lit up her face. ‘He’s planning a whole series of these events.’

‘I was about to tell you that,’ Darius said, a smile tugging at his lips. ‘He’s thrilled with the way you handled this one.’ She made a little grimace, and a spurt of chivalry made Darius ask, ‘Should I talk to him? He can handle the events himself—or one of the other fund managers could speak in your place.’

‘The other fund managers aren’t lucky for Venkat,’ she said drily. ‘I doubt he’ll agree. Anyway, it’s part of why you hired me, right?’

Darius nodded. It had been unprofessional of him to suggest he intervene, and he couldn’t help admire Mallika’s determination to do every part of her job well. Even when she obviously hated what she was doing.

It was intriguing, the way her ultra-professional mask slipped at times to betray her vulnerability. He had a feeling she didn’t let it happen often, and all his protective instincts surged to the forefront whenever it did.

‘Aren’t you having dinner?’ Venkat asked, popping up next to them. ‘Or a drink? Mallika?’

She shook her head. ‘I need to leave,’ she said. ‘My driver’s taken the day off, so I’ve called a cab. The cabbie’s been waiting for half an hour already.’

‘Wouldn’t it have been simpler to drive yourself?’

‘I don’t drive,’ she said. ‘I’ve tried learning a few times, but it’s been an unmitigated disaster.’

‘And you don’t drink either! What a waste,’ Venkat said sorrowfully. In his opinion, the best part of an event of this sort was the company-sponsored alcohol. ‘Darius?’

Darius shook his head. ‘I need to leave as well,’ he said. ‘Got some people coming over. And I’m driving, so I can’t have a drink either.’

Venkat looked ridiculously disappointed, and Darius laughed, clapping him on the shoulder.

‘I’ll take you out for a drink this Friday,’ he promised. ‘Come on, Mallika—I’ll walk you to the lobby.’

Their event had been held in a rather exclusive midtown hotel, and there were several other corporate events in full swing there. The banquet hall next to theirs was hosting an annual party, and the waiting area outside the banquet hall was dotted with entertainers. Jugglers in clown costumes, living statues, and even a magician or two.

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