5. Meeting Again

As Zayed walked inside the office he inherited from his maternal grandfather, he felt a weird kind of peace settling in his too long unsettled heart.

He didn't understand what it is.

His personal assistant Ameya Patel followed closely behind him.

Ameya Patel, the woman who once tried to con him and take advantage of his friendship.

Meeting Ameya Patel after so long was totally unexpected.

And he realised the damsel in distress facade she showed him when he met her the first time seven years ago ,was not really a facade. She really was a damsel in distress who was forced to play with him because of her family circumstances.

At the time it felt like a huge sin. But after what Aveline did, Ameya's sins were no longer sins. She was merely trying to protect her family unlike Aveline.

After all Ameya was not a homewrecker was never responsible for anyone's death. Neither had she committed the sin of infidelity.

Aveline! Aveline! Aveline! All talks and thoughts ends up with Aveline.

What the hell is wrong with him? Why does she still have such a power over him.

Brianna, who shared his life for over five years never had such kind of power over him.

Then why Aveline! She was there in his life for only eight months.

"Your highness. The conference room is ready and all the employees are waiting for you to 

address them" Ameya said

"Sure. Let's go" he said and walked towards the conference room.

The room went silent on his entrance and as he walked towards his chair he heard a sharp gasp from one of his employees and he looked up and stopped dead on his tracks.

"Aveline" he whispered still not believing he is seeing her after all these years at his grandfather's company.

She is still as beautiful as he remembered.

She suddenly looked away from him but not before he noticed the look of pure torture in her eyes.

She still doesn't look one bit guilty. The look on her face was like she was the one who was brutally betrayed. As if she was the one who suffered the deepest of the hurts.

"Sire??" Ameya called seeing her employer looking spell bound at a woman.

Ameya frowned. She had been working for him for the past three years. He had been generous enough to give her a job even after the way she had tried to take advantage of him in the past. And she had fallen madly in love with him. But he never reciprocated her feelings. Not just her. She had never seen him so much as look at a woman no matter how beautiful or inviting they are. That is one thing that she admires the most in her boss!!

But to see him looking at this woman like she is the only woman in the world was quite surprising.

She has to admit the woman was extraordinarily beautiful. In fact the word beautiful doesn't do justice to her. And not to mention, she doesn't have an ounce of make up on her face. 

No wonder her boss was looking at her like that.

But what is more confusing is how the woman is trying to avoid any eye contact with Zayed

"Sire. I think you are making her uncomfortable" Ameya said snapping him out of the spell he was trapped in.

He shook his head and walked ahead towards the CEO chair 

"Good morning everyone. I hope you all know who I'm.  Zayed Ahmed al Zidea. The previous CEO Mr Rudolf Maxwell is my maternal grandfather. I'm taking over the business today and I hope we can make a good team" he said and everyone cheered for that.

"So why don't you all make a brief introduction" he said 

People introduced themselves and tried to impress their new boss.

Ava was squirming in her chair. 

What were the odds that she was going to work under Zayed Ahmed, of all people.

Not even in her wildest dreams did she imagine meeting Zayed again.

Okay!! That may not be true

She had dreamt about meeting him again. Making a family with him. But they were all dreams which were never meant to come true.

She fidgeted with the hem of her suit as she was to introduce herself next

"Myself Aveline Dupont" I said

"From??" He asked

"France" she said looking straight into his eyes

"How long have you been in the London city Ms Dupont" he asked

"2 months sire" 

"Where have you been before that??" He asked and she glared at him.

He didn't enquire much when other employees introduced themselves.

"I don't think it is in any way related to my job here" she said

"Who is the boss Ms Dupont??" He asked raising an eyebrow at her.

"Sorry sire. I have been in UK itself for the past few years. Just moved to the city to months ago" she said and he nodded and asked the next person to continue.

After the meeting  ,as everyone left, Zayed called out for Ameya

"Get me the employees file of Ms Dupont" Zayed said and Ameya looked at him stunned.

"Ameya??"

"Yes sire. Just a second" she said and typed something on her iPad and all the details appeared there.

"Read it" Zayed ordered and relaxed on his chair.

"Aveline Dupont. Twenty four years old"

"24???" Zayed asked stunned at that information. 

Aveline always looked younger but he never thought she really was that young!! 

Was she only 18 when he married her?? 

He didn't even know what her age was. What kind of a husband does that make him??

"Yes sire. Twenty four!!" He nodded and asked her to continue.

"Single!!" Ameya said and looked at him warily.

Why?? What is there to be wary about. He didn't understand. And he didn't particularly care

But the fact that she is single brought an unnecessary joy in his heart.

It doesn't matter. It shouldn't matter whether she is single or committed. Then why does he feel otherwise.

"Graduated from London university 4 months back with a bachelor's degree in economics. Top scorer of her batch"

"Top scorer!!" He parroted in wonder....he always knew Aveline was an intelligent girl. So this should not surprise him.

"Good reference from two top most companies in London where she worked"

"She graduated 4 months ago!! Then how come she worked in two companies??" He frowned...

"She did internships there during semester breaks." Ameya said

"Which floor she is placed??" He asked

"Second floor. She is placed under Alexis Moore. She just joined a month ago and is still a trainee" Ameya said

"Transfer her to my floor" Zayed said 

"May I ask why??" Ameya asked frowning 

"You may Ameya. But I'm not entitled to answer you. I'm the boss. Remember!" he said

He wanted Aveline working on his floor because he wanted to show her he has completely moved 

on from her betrayal.

He has seen her getting uncomfortable during the meeting and he wants to make her more uncomfortable.

He want to make her squirm and fidget in his presence.

He wants to make her regret for betraying his trust.

And he will make sure he does that!