Sara POV
After Minnie cut the call, I sat silently for a few seconds, still holding my phone in my hand. My heart felt heavy. I could hear the pain in her voice... she tried to be strong, but I knew she was breaking inside. Paris was supposed to be her new beginning, but instead, it had brought her face to face with the past she was running away from.
I wiped my tears and immediately called Akil.
He answered in one ring. Akil: "Sara... did you talk to Minnie?"
Me: "Yes. I just spoke with her."
My voice cracked. "Akil, she is not okay. She met Will today... and he is her boss."
There was a long silence on the other side.
Akil: "What...? Her boss?"
He exhaled deeply. "I didn't know this would happen. I was the one who helped her get this job. I thought I was helping her escape from him... not walk straight into him again."
Me: "That's what hurts the most. She came to Paris to forget him, Akil. But destiny played a cruel joke on her."
Akil: "I swear, Sara, if I had known it was his company, I would never have sent her there." His voice was full of regret. "I only wanted her to heal... I wanted her to stand on her own feet."
I sighed.
Me: "She cried today, Akil. She said she feels trapped. She can't come back to Chennai, and she can't run away from him either."
Akil: "Then we won't let her fall alone."
His tone became firm. "I will be there for her. You stay strong for her from there, and I'll protect her from here."
I smiled sadly.
Me: "She needs both of us right now. She's pretending to be brave, but inside she's still that same Minnie... the girl who loved too deeply."
Akil: "And this time, we won't let her break again. Even if I was the reason she got this job, I won't be the reason she suffers."
I closed my eyes and whispered, Me: "Please take care of her, Akil."
Akil: "I promise you, Sara. I won't leave her alone in that city."
After ending the call, I looked at the ceiling and took a deep breath.
Minnie was far away from me, but my heart was still with her.
Minnie POV
The alarm rang at 6:00 a.m., but I was already awake.
I didn't really sleep. My mind kept replaying yesterday-Will's face, his cold eyes, and the way my heart almost gave up in his office.
I slowly got ready for work. While tying my hair in front of the mirror, I whispered to myself, "Be strong, Minnie. Today is just work. Nothing else"
I heard my door bell i went and open and saw it's was Akil and i let him in and he went and put the bag i think it's breakfast for us and he said
I stayed silent for a second. "It's okay, Akil. It's not your fault. Destiny just likes to test me."
Akil: "No, Minnie. I can't watch you suffer like this. I will talk to my friend and switch you to another company. I can arrange a new job for you."
I stopped walking and held my phone tightly.
"No, Akil." My voice was firm. "I won't run again. I came to Paris for my career, not to escape Will. I will face this."
Akil: "But yesterday you were broken..."
"Yes, I was. But today I choose to be strong." I said
Akil: i signed "You are stubborn, you know that?"
I smiled weakly. "That's how I survive."
He dropped me near the office and looked at me seriously.
Akil: "If you feel uncomfortable, call me immediately."
"I will. Thank you for always standing with me."
Akil dropped me at my office. I took a deep breath, gathered my courage, and went inside. I greeted everyone softly and reached my place.
Nova came with a cup of coffee and smiled.
Nova: "Ready for your second day of work?"
I smiled faintly and nodded. Time passed as I started working-sending emails, scheduling meetings, and arranging files.
Suddenly, Will came out of his room.I could feel his presence, but I didn't look at him. He stopped near Nova and said something I could clearly hear:
Will: "She is here to work. I'm not paying salary for free. Even if it's her second day, she must do her duty."
Those words pierced my heart.
I felt small... and invisible.
Nova came to me and said softly,
Nova: "Minnie, sir wants you to attend the meeting."
I nodded and picked up my notebook. I knew I had to take notes.
In the meeting hall, Will spoke to me only about work. His voice was cold and distant.
This was a side of him I had never seen before.
It hurt me deeply, but I forced myself to stay strong.
I wrote everything carefully, even though my hands were trembling.
After the meeting, I returned to my seat and sat quietly for a moment, trying to breathe and calm myself.
Inside, I felt broken...but outside, I pretended to be fine.
Nova: "Minnie... are you okay? I know today was really hard. I don't understand what happened to him. He never behaves like this."
I sighed and gave a small smile. Minnie: "It's okay, Mr. Nova. Work is always like this."
Caroline suddenly clapped her hands.
Caroline: "Enough sadness. Come, let's go eat lunch before we all faint dramatically."
I smiled a little and nodded. We went to the cafeteria together.
I wasn't hungry at all, but I took some food and sat quietly.
My phone vibrated.
I checked it and smiled faintly. It was Akil asking if was okay at the office.
I quickly replied, "I'm fine." and hid my phone like it was a secret mission.
Nova raised his eyebrow.
Nova: "Hmm... secret smile. Is that your boyfriend?"
I almost choked on my food.
Minnie: "What? No no! He's just my childhood friend."
Nova: "Ohhh... childhood friend category. That's dangerous. Very emotional species."
Everyone laughed.
Nova: "Sorry, sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
I shook my head.
Minnie: "It's okay. Right now, I don't want any boyfriend drama. My heart is on vacation."
Enzo leaned closer and looked at my face seriously.
Enzo: "From your expression... this looks like breakup face."
Minnie: "I was never in a relationship with him. It was one-sided love."
There was silence for two seconds... then Theo spoke.
Theo: "Ah... one-sided love. The national sport of broken hearts."
We all laughed softly.
Caroline held my hand.
Caroline: "Listen, Minnie. One-sided love means you loved honestly. That's not a weakness."
Alice smiled.
Alice: "And you moved to Paris alone for your dream job. That's already superhero level."
Theo added,
Theo: "Yes. If he hurt you, then one day he'll regret it while you'll be busy being successful and eating French food"
Nova pointed at me dramatically.
Nova: "Exactly! New rule: no crying during office hours. Only coffee and confidence."
I laughed for the first time that day.
My eyes still felt heavy, but my heart felt lighter.
Minnie: "Thank you... all of you. You just saved me from a very emotional breakdown."
Caroline smiled mischievously.
Caroline: "Good. Now finish your food before it becomes one-sided lunch too."
And this time, I laughed without pain.
Will POV
I kept my face calm, but inside, everything was burning.Yesterday's scene played again and again in my mind
Minnie in another man's arms, holding him like she once held me. I didn't ask who he was and I didn't want to know.
To me, it meant only one thing: she had moved on.
So today, I chose to be cold.
Not because I didn't care... because caring hurt too much.
When I saw her at her desk, I looked through her, not at her.
Like she was just another employee.
Nothing more.
I said to Nova, loud enough for her to hear,
"She is here to work. I'm not paying salary for free. Even if it's her second day, she must do her duty."
Her silence was my answer.
No protest. No anger.
Only pain.
Good.
Pain means distance.
Distance means safety.
If I stayed close, I would remember the way she smiled at me in Chennai.
If I stayed close, I would forget that she now belongs to someone else.
Jealousy hardened my voice. Pride froze my heart. I told myself she was just an assistant. Nothing more.
Not the girl I once loved.
Not the memory I couldn't erase.
But every time I passed her desk, I felt it- that sharp ache in my chest.
I acted cold, because being warm would destroy me.
Minnie POV
I kept myself busy with work-answering calls, replying to emails, and trying not to think too much.
Suddenly Caroline ran to my desk like she had won a lottery.
Caroline: "Minnieee! Did you see the mail?!"
Me: "What mail ? Promotion? Free chocolate? Holiday?"
She pulled my chair and showed me her screen.
Caroline: "Company anniversary party! Fifteen years celebration next week!"
Her eyes were shining brighter than her computer screen.
Caroline: "I need a new dress. A very beautiful dress. A dangerous dress."
I laughing "Dangerous for who? The company or the people
Caroline: "For men, of course. Come shopping with me!"
I hesitated. "Shopping? My wallet is already crying in Paris."
Caroline: "You don't need to buy anything. Just walk with me and judge my dresses."
I nodded. "Okay, I will be your fashion police."
In the evening, I said bye to Nova and the others. Outside, I saw Akil waiting near his car. I smiled the moment I saw him.
Akil : "Good evening Minnie. How was your second day of work?"
I said with a Singh "Busy... and a little emotional."
Akil opened the car door for me.
On the way, I couldn't stop myself and told him everything.
"You know Akil... Will has changed. He is so cold. He talks to me like I am a machine."
Akil: "Maybe he forgot how to smile after seeing you."
I said "Not funny."
Akil (softly): "Hard days don't last, Minnie. You are stronger than this."
Then suddenly he smiled.
Akil: "Come. I will cheer you up. Dinner is on me."
"Where are we going?" I asked him suprisely
When the car stopped, I stared at the board. "Indian restaurant?! Are you serious?"
Akil: "Madam, emotional problem needs emotional food-biryani and dosa."
He dragged me inside like a hero saving a sad girl.
Inside the restaurant, Caroline suddenly appeared with Alice and Theo.
Caroline: "Minnie?! You also came here?! Destiny!"
Me: "No, stomach destiny."
They laughed and joined us.
Caroline: "So, Paris life already converted you to spice food?"
Me: "My heart is French but my stomach is still Indian."
Theo: "What will you order?"
Me: "Anything that reminds me of home and doesn't judge me."
Akil looked at the menu seriously.
Akil: "One masala dosa, one paneer butter masala, one biryani, and one extra for broken heart."
Me: "Hey! I am not that broken."
Akil: "Okay... slightly cracked."
Everyone laughed.
While eating, we started talking about Sara.
Me: "Sara would be shouting now: 'Why you eating without me?!'"
Akil: "She already sent me five messages. One is 'take care of Minnie', and four are food emojis."
Caroline: "Your friends sound cute."
Me: "They are my family here."
Akil looked at me gently.
Akil: "You may feel alone, Minnie. But you are not. I am here. Sara is there. And even Paris will become your friend
I smiled for the first time properly that day.
Me: "Thank you for bringing me here."
Akil: "Anytime. Emotional crisis = Indian food + company."
We all laughed again, and for a moment, the heaviness in my heart felt lighter.
After dinner, we walked out of the restaurant. Suddenly Caroline grabbed my hand and pulled me away from Akil like a detective who had found an important clue.
Me: "Hey! What happened? Did I forget to pay the bill or what?"
She looked at me very seriously.
Caroline: "Minnie... are you sure about Akil?"
Me: "Sure about what? His driving skills?"
Caroline: "Nooo... I think Akil likes you. I saw how he took care of you at the dinner table. Very romantic behavior."
I burst out laughing.
Me: "Caroline, stop watching too many love movies. He is my childhood friend. And he already has a girlfriend."
Caroline: "Really"
Me: "Yes, and the girlfriend is my best friend. So if I steal him, I will lose both food and friendship."
Caroline couered her mouth.
Caroline: "Oops... sorry, sorry. I thought I discovered Paris love story."
Me: "No, you discovered a family drama."
She laughed and hugged me.
I went back to Akil and waved goodbye to Caroline and the others.
Me: "Bye guys!"
Akil dropped me at my apartment.
Me: "Thank you for today, Akil. But from tomorrow you don't need to pick me up and drop me. You already did so much. I know the route to my office now."
Akil widened his eyes.
Akil: "No way, Minnie. If Sara hears this, she will kill me first and then attend my funeral."
I showed fake anger.
Me: "I will talk to Sara myself. If I need help, I will call you. You are not my permanent driver."
Akil: "Hmm... temporary driver with lifetime warranty."
I laughed and shook my head.
Me: "Go home safely, hero."
He waved at me and drove away.
When I reached my apartment, I threw my bag on the sofa and jumped straight onto my bed.
I said to myself "Paris, office, emotions, drama... too much for one day."
Within seconds, I fell asleep like a phone with 1% battery.
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Author Note
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