Coffee with CEO
A black SUV stopped in front of the bus stop where Nova was waiting for the bus. Nova had just started working in a multinational company. It was her third month of probation. After her employer finds her job satisfying they will give her a permanent contract of three years. Then she will get pick up and drop from the company including other benefits besides basic salary. She was hired as an operational manager.
Nova and her elder sister Ninny lived with their mother Anula in that big city where their father had huge construction business. Their father died from a cardiac arrest twelve years back. Both Ninny and Nova were teenagers then and mother was not that educated to take over the business. So Anula sold the share of their business to her husband’s business partner. The money she got from it, she spent on educating both her daughters. She also opened a mini departmental store and hired people to run it. It gave her daily income. Whatever little money left from selling the business and savings from her husband, she kept in a bank for her daughter’s marriages. Anula had passed only class eight when she was given away for marriage so she could not finish her school.
Ninny finished her master degree in environmental science and became an environmentalist. She got a job at the Department of Environmental Science and Technology. She is been working there since three years. Now Nova has finished her masters in business administration and recently has joined this multinational company.
The dark glass of the black SUV scrolled down and a hand waved. Other people waiting for the bus saw it but Nova for who the hand waved was lost in her own thoughts and her eyes were fixed on the direction her bus would come. A man called from inside the SUV,
“Nova….. Nova…..”
Nova looked at the black car and got alerted at once. It was her boss the CEO of the company where she worked. She quickly came to the car and said,
“Yes sir.”
“Guess you are waiting for the bus, right?”
“Yes sir.”
“Get into the car; I need to talk to you.”
“But sir…….!”
“No buts I really need to talk to you. Come on.”
“Can we not talk tomorrow at work sir? I will be home late and my mom worries.”
“Don’t worry I will reach you home after I am done with what I have to tell you.”
Nova looked back and noticed all the people were watching them. Also she thought she is in probation period. If she did not listen to him then he might as well not give her permanent contract. So she quickly opened the door and got into the car. She looked at her CEO from the edge of her big eyes that were protected by long thick eyelashes. She could see CEO smiling victoriously. For a moment she got scared thinking what if he asks her……. No, no she should not think negative. She kept telling herself think positive, think positive.
Nova is a very pretty girl with fair complexion. She has soft and flawless skin. She does not put so much make up. She just applies light colored lipstick and eyeliner. She actually does not need make up. She looks beautiful without it. She dresses up simple. Mostly she wears suits with matching dupatta (thin shawl). At times she wears sari. When she wears western clothes the outfit is always sober. She is simple and introvert.
Ninny is just the opposite. She too is beautiful like her sister Nova. But she has bit tan color complexion and she applies lots of makeup. She always wears modern dresses. Well at work she is forced to wear either suits or sari but outside she is like a model. She is difficult and extrovert.
The CEO, Raj Singh stopped the car in front of a famous Hand brew Coffee Café where they served varieties of coffee, pastries and pies. They got inside the cafe and sat in an open platform under an umbrella enjoying the soft breeze of the evening and view of the calm sea. Day time they missed this breeze, as the strong sun took the rein and breeze did not get a chance to cool down the atmosphere.
Raj asked what Nova wanted. Nova said,
“Sir, my mom would be waiting and she prepares snacks for me so I am good, I don’t want anything.”
“Just a cup of coffee won’t kill you.” Raj said sarcastically.
Nova felt the annoyance in his voice so she said nodding her head,
“Then I will have Café Latté sir.”
Raj called a waiter, ordered two café latté and a slice of apple pie. Nova said clearly beside coffee she is not going to have any other stuff so Raj ordered pie only for him.
There was silent that made Nova more curious and a bit nervous as well. She started thinking it must be about her contract. Maybe the board did not agree to give permanent contract? Or is it Raj who does not want to go on with the contract? Nova’s mind was running marathon thinking about all possibilities while her lips sipped the delicious coffee from a cute ceramic mug.
Raj looked at her thoroughly and deeply before he opened his mouth to let Nova know why he brought her there and what he was about to tell her.
