Secretary to Mrs. Campbell

The First Day

Waking up early, Anika brushed her teeth, had a bath, and offered her prayers to Krishnaji. she was excited for her first day at the job. She has in fact made the Indian sweet dish ‘malai barfi’ for Mrs. Bridget and Mr. Campbell as well. Even though he acted rudely yesterday, Anika just wants to start her new beginnings totally fresh and filled with happiness and sweetness.

As Anika reached the office, she could see shock written on the receptionist’s face in the main lobby. She reached at the counter to greet her and start anew. “Good morning, I start my job today. How are you? What’s your name?” Today the receptionist replied to her but in a concerned tone, “Morning, you can call me Kate. Now get back to work. If Mr. Campbell sees you wandering around here in the lobby he’ll get angry.” Anika doesn’t know why they all seem to be scared of Nathaniel. No one really talks here; they all just work, work and work. “Okay see you at lunchtime” with that said Anika left from there and entered the lift.

Giving the sweets made by herself to Mrs. Bridget, Anika said, “Good morning Mrs. Bridget! How are you? Here, I got you some homemade Indian sweets. I hope you like these. It’s a small token of love like you I feel certain warmth and affection from you every time, I meet you.” “Aww…. Dear, that’s really sweet of you. It wasn’t required.” Mrs. Bridget replied with a charming smile. Anika stated with enthusiasm “Mrs. Bridget let’s start with my 1st day. What should I start with? Also, can you show me where the pantry is, I want to keep these sweet boxes in the fridge?” “Aren’t you a chatty lady? Come I’ll show you around. Mr. Campbell will be late today as he has an early meeting.”

Mrs. Bridget has gone out for few hours, giving Anika filing work. Nathaniel arrived in the cabin I saw Anika working on some files while playing some music in the background, unknowingly he was smiling at the site.

Anika wasn’t aware that Nathaniel is outside her cabin, she was startled when he cleared his throat. Nathaniel asked her, “What are you listening to? It might be your 1st day but you are not being paid to listen to this music. Where is Mrs. Bridget? Come to my office with my coffee.” Without waiting for a reply, he left.

Anika knocked on Nate’s cabin door and just as she was going to open the door, Nate opened it and clumsily she spilled the hot coffee on him. Anika kept them on the floor and started to clean Nate’s clothes with her hands. Uff, now it's being an awkward situation “What the f..!? Are you blind? Who stands at the door like this! Ahh… What are you looking at now, go get me another coffee and clean all this mess up?” Nate exclaimed angrily and went inside the cabin again to freshen up. “Wait! I’ll clean your clothes up if you want. I am really sorry.” Nate just shook his head and said “Coffee.”

This time when Anika brought Nate his coffee, she also got the sweets she made for him. Serving it to Nate she apologized once again. Nate just arched his eyebrow looking at ‘Malai Barfi’ “What’s that?” he asked. “1st taste it and tell me how’s it then I’ll tell you.” With that Anika left the sweet and coffee on the coffee table. As Anika was working, she heard a loud roar from his cabin “MISS GRUPTA.” Mrs. Bridget and Anika looked at each other and ran towards the cabin. Anika opened the door to his cabin and there sat Nate more than angry, he looked at Anika like he was going to eat her right at that moment. Anika gulped and replied in a very low voice, “Mr. Campbell it's GUPTA, what did I do this time, I was just working in my cabin?” Nate coldly replied, “I don’t give a damn about your name! Did you add sugar in both these items and don’t you dare fool around with the words, just Yes or No is what I want in reply. Understood? A shiver ran down her back and merely nodded, she didn’t understand where she was wrong. “Answer me” Nathaniel shouted. “Yes, I did” at this reply Nate just lifted his hand and said “You’re fired! Noe leave!” Mrs. Bridget tried to interrupt Nate, but he wasn’t in the mood to hear anything. Anika’s mind was puzzled, she tried asking Nathaniel, “Sir, but what was my mistake? Why are you overreacting to such a small thing? If you don’t like it, I’ll make a new one for you, a better one this time.”   “Such a small thing? If you can’t follow basic instructions then you’re not capable of working here.” “What basic instructions are you talking about? Are you going crazy or something?” “LEAVE” is all Anika got in reply. Anika left with tears in her eyes and thoughts muddled in her mind. Mrs. Bridget was astonished at Nate’s behavior and decided to talk with Nathaniel after he has cooled his mind.

Nathaniel felt bad at his outburst but he couldn’t control it. He had received a call from his mother and had an argument with her, then having coffee and the sweet dish made by Anika triggered his anger.

He wasn’t aware Mrs. Bridget had forgotten to mention to Anika that he is a diabetic patient.

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I hope you guys like the story so far! I’ll update the next chapter soon…

Stay tuned.