Secretary to Mrs. Campbell

The PI

The next morning Nate woke up earlier than usual, he went to his gym - worked out but still wasn’t able to forget the beauty that has conjured his mind these past few days. Nate got ready for the office and is sitting at the dining table for breakfast. His phone rang and he answered without looking and the caller, “Hello” the person replied, “This is how you greet your father early in the morning?” Nate tightly closed his eyes and replied, “Sorry Papa. I didn’t check before answering. Well, Good evening to you!! Why did you call this early? Is everything all right?” Nate’s father smiled and replied, “Yes… yes, everything is alright. No worries here. A little birdy told me, a beautiful lady has got you interested in her. Is that true?” Nate rolled his eyes at this and said, “Daniel! I’m gonna kick his ass when I meet him. It’s nothing like that papa. He is joking. I’ll be there next week to check on them and have some business to take care of.” “Language young man… You could have at least told me, you are coming to meet me and not attend some business. Your mum will be happy to see you, you know that right? Tell me the name of the lady at least. Will she be coming here as well? I’ll like to meet her.” Nate unconsciously smiles thinking about Anika and replies, “Papa she’s just my secretary whom I hired 3-4 days back. Daniel is just making up things. And yes she’ll be there. As for mum, I’m not that eager to meet her.” Nate’s father sighed and replied. “Well, you didn’t tell her name yet, I’m waiting…” Nate pinched the bridge of his nose and replied, “Anika. Now bye I’ve work to get back at.” With this, he disconnected the phone and thought, ‘I really must find a solution to remove her from my thoughts. Maybe having someone tonight might help and as it is, it’s a weekend and I guess 3 nights and 2 days will be enough to get her out of my mind.’ Nate left for his office and reached just in time.

Nate’s father in Rome is happy that his son has found someone and can’t wait to meet Anika. He might as well get some room prepared before their arrival. He hopes this time around nothing goes wrong and Nate will make amends with his mother.

Anika woke up with a smile on her face but that smile disappeared as soon as she realized that she was late for the office on her very 3rd day! Hurriedly she got off the bed and got ready for the office. As she reached the office, she realized that she skipped her breakfast, ‘Hay Krishnaji! I forgot my breakfast today as well!! Now rats are running around in my stomach like havoc.’ Just as she settled on her desk and started going through mails, Nate arrived. She thought, ‘Phew, Krishnaji, I reached just in time or else…’ She shook her head not wanting to think about it and greeted Nate with a smile, “Good morning!” Nate just ignored her as he had planned earlier this morning. Anika frowned at his action and thought, ‘What’s wrong with him? Did he just ignore her? But why? Ohh… no no was it because they almost kissed last night?’ At this thought, Anika’s eyes went wide and she ran into his cabin, “Mr. Campbell, what’s wrong? Why did you ignore me? Shall I get you your coffee? Wait! I’ll get you one. I’m so sorry.” Anika ran to the pantry and started making coffee for Nate. Anika knocked on his door and entered juggling a mug of coffee and notepad to discuss the schedule for the next week before flying to Rome. Anika kept her things on the table and then handed over the coffee mug to Nate. “Can we discuss the schedule now or do you want it to be done later on? Anika asked politely. “I’ll call you in after some time.” Nate replied without looking up. “Okay. Till then do you want me to do all the bookings for Rome? I’m really excited to travel there. I always wanted to travel but never got a chance. Rome will b….” “Anika shut up and leave. I’m trying to work here, and so should you. Ask Mrs. Bridget’s help, she’ll guide you. Close the door behind you.” Nate said. Anika made a face, muttered “Khadus (Rude) huh” and childishly banged the door while closing it. Nate is amused by her behavior.

“Mrs. Bridget, are you free right now? Can you help me with something?” Anika asked Mrs. Bridget. Mrs. Bridget replied, “Oh Anika I’ll be happy to help. What’s to be done?” Anika while sitting on her chair annoyedly replied, “Nate and I…. I mean Mr. Campbell and I are visiting Rome this coming Thursday and will be back on Monday. Can you guide me on the bookings and everything? Which hotel does he prefer?” Mrs. Bridget was astounded to know Nate was taking her with him to Rome. She curiously replied, “Ahh… So he is taking you with him? Wow! That’s surprising. Well, for starters, he has never taken any of his assistants to his homeland. You can directly call his own hotel you know in Rome to make his suite and a room for yourself from Thursday onwards. The room expense will be on the company so you don’t have to worry about that. Then I’ll forward you his pilot’s contact details and inform as well about the departure. You’ll have to inform them today as well as on Wednesday night as a reminder. Confirm the timing with Nate and update them accordingly, usually, Nate likes to travel early in the morning, say around 5 a.m.” Mrs. Bridget wanted to know the reason why Nate was taking her with him and made a mental note to ask him later. “What 5 a.m.!? Hay Krishnaji! Is something wrong with Mr. Campbell, who likes to travel at dawn? What am I going to do?” Anika reacted but continued, “What about my visa?” Mrs. Bridget grinned at her and replied, “Visa will be handled by the agency. I’ll do that for you. No worries. Anything else dear?” Anika responded her by shaking her head as to say ‘no’ then looked up and smiled, “Thank you Mrs. Bridget for your help. Send me the numbers asap, so the task will be done.”

Mrs. Bridget sent the contact details to Anika and immediately ran towards Nate’s cabin. “Nate, I…” Nate lifted his palm to stop Mrs. Bridget to converse further, and said, “Is it important? I’m a bit busy. Where’s Anika… isss… I mean Ms. Gupta… Has she done all the arrangements for the trip? Can you please send her in?” Mrs. Bridget’s eyes twinkled in amusement. She did observe the first name basis thing and she further teased Nate ignoring Nate's question, “All you want these days is Anika… Huh. I wanted to talk with you for some time.” Looking up Nate replied, “Oh Mrs. Bridget, I’m sorry… What is it that you want to talk about right now?” Gingerly Mrs. Bridget replied, “You’re taking Anika to Rome?” Nate frowned his eyebrows in confusion and said, “Yes, I’m. I did tell you this yesterday or something.” “Nope, you said Italy, not Rome, Nate. You never took any secretary to Italy. You have always dealt with the business there all by yourself.” Nate sighed, “Nothing like that sort. I felt like taking her so… Don’t read too much. Now that your gossip session is over can you call her over?”

Anika entered Nate’s cabin, “Mr. Campbell I have made arrangements for Rome’s trip. Can we start with the schedule for the next remaining days? Also hmmm… Mr. Brown called and said, he'll be there as per the time, I’m not sure who he is.” Nate replied, “Okay. He is the PI I have been mentioning about. Let’s start with the work. Sit.” Anika wanted to ask more but decided otherwise. Next one hour they both went through all the scheduling and adjusting the appointments. “Okay, that’s it. You may leave and fair everything out, whatever is been discussed, then make notes of the site visits, along with that make a note on what is your point of view for that. Submit the report to me tomorrow morning, I’ll go through it then.” Nate said concluding their meeting. Anika got up and left with confusion as to why Nate was behaving like this. She wanted to question but couldn’t.

Anika was sitting at her desk working as per Nathaniel’s instructions and suddenly she saw someone passing her cabin. She wasn’t sure if Mrs. Bridget was back at her desk and saw him. So she ran towards the man and tried to stop him from entering Nathaniel’s cabin, “Excuse me, sir, May I know if you’ve got an appointment with Mr. Campbell?” The man cleared his throat and said, “I’m Mr. Brown. Mr. Campbell is expecting me.” “Oh… So he’s the PI” Anika muttered. “Yes, I’m.” “Huh… I’m sorry, Please take a seat I’ll confirm with Mr. Campbell first.” Mr. Brown just nodded his head. Anika intercom Nate and said, “Mr. Campbell, Mr. Brown is here.” “Anika? Where’s Mrs. Bridget? Don’t answer, send him in.” Nate said and disconnected the call.

Nathaniel’s POV

I received Anika’s intercom stating Mr. Brown had arrived, so I let her send him in. As he entered my cabin I got up and shook hands with him. Mr. Brown is almost my age, American and best at his work. “Welcome, Mr. Brown. Have a seat. Would you like to eat something?” “Oliver Brown. Thank you. I’ll like coffee if that’s okay.” he smiled and replied. I nodded my head and intercom Anika, “Ms. Gupta, Get two mugs of coffee for us.” I decided not to tease her this time, as there is too much on my mind. “So, Let’s start with the work. First, tell me about Mr. Ricci. What all have you found about him? You’re Etahniel’s friend, that's the reason I gave you this job. I know you two were best mates ever since college.” “I understand and thus, I’m personally invested in all this. Please call me Oliver. Mr. Ricci is indeed involved in many illegal works. I would suggest you back out from his deal. He isn’t worth it, Mr. Campbell.” “Call me Nathaniel. If I back out, I’m not sure about the family business there. It will be a huge risk for my family business. As you know, Ethan has always been involved in the family business and I’ve been its part from the outside only. Right now Papa is managing there.” I replied. Oliver gave me a file and understandingly said, “Okay. I understand your point Nathaniel, but if I’m being honest here, Ricci is involved in crimes like brothels, he can and will touch ladies in your family if the deal goes wrong anywhere. He is in fukcing Mafia. Even though his upfront is tight legal, don’t risk it and get involved again.” I was going through the file Oliver gave and Ricci’s crimes were long-running. “Then how and who does his dirty work man? Seeing him, I don’t think he is The Mafia, you know what I mean. Like after me..” “Mr. Campbell, coffee and some sweets as you requested.” Anika interrupted me and she walked inside directly to my desk. I looked towards her and said, “Shouldn’t you knock? I’m in a meeting right now and who the fcuk told you to get sweets, Don’t answer this.” Anika glared but immediately said, “Oh! The meeting has started already? Sorry Mr. Campbell I didn’t know. Can I use your notepad to take notes?” She just took a seat next to Oliver and started checking the file I had just kept on the desk. I snatched the file back and angrily said, “There’s no need for you to take notes. I didn’t want you here, that's the reason I didn’t call you in. Now leave.” I didn’t want Anika getting involved in Ricci, if he's bad news I want her out of this. Anika got up, but she was hesitant, like she wanted to talk with Oliver. I sometimes don’t really get what goes around in her head. I cleared my throat to grab her attention and the silly girl yet again gave me a glass of water and said, “You should get your throat checked Mr. Campbell.” “Leave Anika” after Anika left I cleared my throat and further continued, “Sorry for that. Let’s continue.” “Yes, I’m still finding the bigger fish here. I’ll need some time for this. This file is of the investigation you asked me to do. I’ve found something that even shocked me. Gia was right all this time Nathaniel, all this time. I know you all believed her, I’m stating this for your mom. I think next time you visit there, make a better plan. I have also got new leads for that, I'll be leaving tomorrow to Rome, so I had to meet you today.” Oliver said and handed me the file. “Okay. I always trusted her. She’s the sister I never had. I’ll be planning but this time I won’t lose. Is it okay if I keep both these files?” “Sure, you can. What’s your secretary’s name again?” He asked. “Anika. But why?” I felt fire in my heart when he asked about Anika. “Nothing. Just like that. Okay, then I’ll take my leave. Will see you soon.” We both stood up and walked outside, shook our hands and I said, “Thank you. I’ll call you once I’m in Rome again.” As Oliver left I saw Anika stealing glances at us, this irritated me and I questioned her making her feel embarrassed, “What’s wrong? Why are you stealing glances at Mr. Brown?” “Huh? No, I wasn’t! Even if I was, what's wrong in that? He's a handsome young man. Why are you asking though?” I glared at her and said, “Do whatever you want.” I went to my cabin, stood at the window looking outside. My thoughts wandered off again to the Indian beauty outside. For some weird reason, she is always at the back of my mind. I know what I have to do to get her out of my mind. I dialed the contact on my phone and said, “Come to my office in the next 10 minutes.” 

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Hello, lovelies!

Here I have introduced the POV of Nathaniel and if you guys liked it let me know I’ll try to write more and more of the person’s POV.

Thank you.

Enjoy and stay tuned!