One night with Ex-Husband

New boss

‘Shock’ was evident on Maira’s pale face.

How can it be possible? She thought while looking at Abram, who didn’t notice her till now.

He was wearing a crisp white shirt along with gray pants and a blue tie. He ditched his blazer coat, indicating he was mid of something and had joined the meet in haste. Being 5.11 tall, lean built with toned forearms, he was visible to people even at the farthest corner of the room.

He still didn’t lose his charm, she thought.

There was a round of applause resonating inside the conference room, and the moment Abram was turning around in their direction, Maira immediately hid behind Elijah. Since the room was filled with more than 100 employees, Abram failed to notice 3 pairs of eyes with shock marked all over them.

“Good Afternoon Team, it’s good to see you all. You can call me Abram. I don’t believe in formalities. I am a man of few words, so I would directly come to the point. I believe in hard work and sincerity. I expect nothing but your 100%, and with the new client acquisition in the transit, I want no excuses or failure."

There were a few “yes” here and there while some nodded their head in agreement with their new boss.

“Now…," Abram paused when his gaze fell on a couple sitting at the back of the room looking towards Maira’s direction, and he felt he saw them somewhere. Nevertheless, he continued, “Now, once the client visit is completed, I would be reviewing each one of your performance for the last 6 months, and believe me when I say this, each one of you will be reassigned with work you deserved. Greater the performance, higher the opportunity, and weaker the performance, then…," he trailed off intentionally.

He once again looks around the gloomy faces while lingering for a few seconds over the couple at the back of the room and then said, “Well, good luck and good day to you all” with that, he left the room.

I have seen that woman before somewhere, and why that guy looks familiar too, Abram thought while exiting the room.

“Didn’t you say that he was jobless and was struggling with his poor restaurant business?" Sharon asked Maira.

Sharon, Maira, and Elijah were sitting in the cafeteria.

“Yes, he had this restaurant along with his best friend, it was running in loss, and many times I helped him financially," Maira said, grabbing her hair.

“How the hell does he barge into a management job in just two years?" Sharon scoffed.

Elijah was quiet and was in deep thoughts, while Maira was hell confused, thinking how Abram climbed the ladder in his career.

“It’s just not making sense to me. Why does it happen to me? My job is my heaven, where I felt alive, and now I have to face the person who I wished not to see anymore." Maira said.

“When was the last time you talked to him," Elijah asked all of a sudden.

“The day when he slapped me with a divorce paper, I never saw him or talked to him," Maira said in a low voice.

“I think the reason you couldn’t get in touch with him was that he was never in the city. Didn’t you hear the new AVP moved from the US branch? He definitely was not in the country, and all the time, you were desperately looking for a chance to talk to him," Elijah finally told what he was contemplating.

“Maira, I might not know the pain you went through, and it’s your life to dictate, but don’t you think it’s time for you to move past those painful times and start anew?" Elijah leaned towards her and grabbed Maira’s palm in his.

“Till when are you going to let him affect you like this?

“I love him, Elijah. I just can’t stop loving him; I wish I could. I wish there was a button which I could press and remove him from my heart," Maira cried.

“You don’t have to stop loving him, but love yourself more than you love him," Elijah patted her palm.

“When Allen cheated on me, do you remember what you told me?" Sharon asked, hearing which Elijah stiffened.

“You told me he didn’t deserve me, and that’s why God removed him from my life. You said I deserve the best, and I don’t need someone else approval for that. Where is that Maira now? Where is that confident girl now? You changed after you got married; Abram changed you. You promised you will live for yourself now, right?” when Sharon said, Maira only nodded her head.

“Good, now it’s time for that badass b***h to come out of her cocoon and let that asshole burn in hell," Sharon said with a glint of excitement.

Elijah signed and said, “What will I do with your language Sharon, I don’t want our children to inherit your trait."

Sharon rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop saying, “Children, my ass, for that first you need to do the hanky panky with me, and second, you need to marry me. God, I am stuck with two oldies."

“You..", “Sorry I give up," Elijah said while raising his hand in surrender. Seeing her best friend’s confrontation, Maira laughed.

I lived for others for all this time and did what they want; now I deserve to live for myself once. When I can do so much for others, why can’t I do the same for myself? Maira was lost in her thoughts.

“Now, I made a plan for tonight, after office, we are going to a salon and then shopping; how does it sound?” Sharon said, squealing with excitement.

“And I am driving you guys," Elijah said more like a command than as a request. He knew his girlfriend’s temperaments and how she gets carried away sometimes.

By the end of the day, all three of them exited the elevator with Sharon and Maira ahead of Elijah. At that exact moment, Abram happened to see the side view of Elijah from his car. It occurred to him that he was the same man he saw yesterday with Maira. He overlooked Maira, who was walking ahead of him.

His knuckles turned white while holding the steering wheel. He had an urge to walk and smash his face.

“Yes”

“No”

“Yes, Maira”

“No, Sharon, I am not cutting my long hair short."

“Ah, yes you are; I mean, look at you; you got lovely brown and long wavy hair but is it of any use since you always wear a low ponytail. Let them set your hair a little above your waist. Come on, it will look great," Sharon argued, and eventually, Maira obliges to her threats.

“Yes”

“No”

“Oh God, Maira, we are not doing this again. When I say try the Goddamn dresses, just try them."

“Are you crazy? I am not wearing those pencil skirts for the office. What will I tell dadda? You know how conservation he could be when it comes to clothing," Maira replied.

“Fine, at least try those shirts and formal pants; it is neither revealing nor hideous like your old rags," Sharon was out of patience and made a mental note not to go out for Maira’s shopping.

Elijah was enjoying the situation, but he dare not offend his girlfriend.

While Maira was trying the clothes, Sharon turned to Elijah and said, “when I asked her to get that badass b***h out of her cocoon, I think she took it way too seriously. I never knew she could be so stubborn at times." Elijah chuckled, but the next second he stopped when Sharon glared at him.

“Maira, for god sake, please don’t make me beg you. Just buy those bloody shoes I choose," Sharon begged her friend.

A 6-inch black stiletto, 4-inch beige-colored pumps, and 5-inch white sandal were what Sharon chose. Maira wanted something with fewer inches, but after one pleading look from Elijah and Sharon’s exhausted face, she said, “Fine, But I am not buying that red lipstick."

“Such an ass," Sharon muttered.

The next day, Maira stepped into the office, and her colleague gasped, looking at her. When Sharon met, her expression changed from astonishment to smirk. Maira was dressed in formal black pants and a pastel green short-sleeve shirt which she teamed up with black stilettos and nude makeup, flaunting her new hairstyle.

“Oh my God, that’s my badass b***h," Sharon squealed.

Meanwhile, Abram was staring at the ceiling in deep thoughts when there was a knock on the door. “Come in."

Elijah came inside and stood near the desk.

Abram was looking at him, 5.11 tall, muscular built, thanks to the number of hours spent in the gym, deep green eyes, sharp jawline, looks like he came from a wealthy family with his aura and spectacular dress sense. No wonder Maira is with him. Abram thought.

“Mr. Johnson, please take a seat."

Elijah knew about Abram, but he never met or spoke to him before. He only saw him in a picture that Maira used to carry.

“Since when are you working with the company?"

“More than a year, Mr. Ali," Elijah replied coldly. When Shantanu told Abram was looking for him, he knew something was amiss.

“Don’t be so formal; call me Abram."

“Sure, is there something you wish to talk to me about?" Elijah asked.

“Not really! heard a lot about you from Shantanu; I wanted to meet you personally."

“I hope I didn’t disappoint you, Abram," Elijah said while stressing his name.

“Not for a bit, I won’t keep you holding; you can carry on," Abram said while leaning forward and typing on his laptop.

Elijah stood up and was at the threshold when he heard Abram say, “Do you know anyone named Maira?”

Shit, why did I ask him? Abram cursed.

Elijah smiled coldly and replied, “I am sure who I am acquainted with is not the company’s concern” with that, he left.

He seems to know something, Abram contemplated.

Maira felt like someone was watching her, and when she raised her head, she noticed most of her colleagues were peeking at her. They were curious about the change in Maira. The Maira that joined 1 year before was a woman who used to wear clothes one size bigger than her, always wearing a ponytail with no makeup or accessories. All they know that Sharon referred her for the job.

Although Maira was excellent at her work, they never heard her talk much except for work. But today’s Maira was different; she looks fabulous with nude makeup and high heels, a silver chain that complimented her fair skin, and a branded watch. However, the most surprising part was that she laughed heartily when she was talking.

When Maira turned to look at Sharon for answers, she simply winked at her. Maira rolled her eyes and could hear Sharon’s unspoken words, “you are looking bomb."

“Let’s go for a coffee?" Maira asked Sharon. She was getting uncomfortable having to be stared at the entire day. Meanwhile, Abram was pacing in his cabin with no focus on his work and decided to take a break. This was his first day at the office, and because of Maira, he was unable to focus.

“Why do they have to stare at me like they never met before," Maira complained while collecting her coffee.

“Because frankly, my dear, they never saw you looking hot like this before," Sharon smirked, and a second later, she hit Maira on her butt.

Maira gasped at her friend’s bold move in public and got infuriated, “You….wait," she ran behind Sharon. In a hurry to catch Sharon, she took a turn, and with her high heels, she lost balance and was about to touch the ground. She waited for the impact to feel hot coffee burn her skin but nothing. All she felt a strong arm holding, and the next moment she heard her name, “Maira."

When she opened her eyes, she met someone’s gaze; she was not ready to meet at that moment.