Chapter 215 - You work for me, Srinivas.

When Shreya walked out of the café, she found Srinivas waiting at the door sipping a coffee of his own leaning against the wall. She knew he had been in the café keeping an eye on things.

Shreya came and stood beside him leaning on the walls just like he was. She could feel her mind going numb. It was almost like her brain was lulling to sleep or something. She could not even remember what she was planning on doing next.

Srinivas asked, "Are you done..?" once he was done with his coffee.

Shreya just nodded her head without opening her mouth absentmindedly.

Srinivas kept his palm on top of her head tousled her head and asked softly, "Are you okay?" She did not seem her normal self. And he was not talking about the dark circles either. After all, Shreya had those more often than not. But there was something else different about her now.

She looked out of focus somehow. As if she was here but not exactly here.

"I am fine… I need to get back to the company…" Shreya said to Srinivas as she looked around for the car.

Srinivas did not answer her immediately. He instead kept a hand on her back and guided her to the car first. He felt as if she was going to stumble and fall face-first onto the street if he did not hold her. 

"Nope… not happening. I have strict orders from Anand to take you to your apartment. He asked me to carry you on the shoulders and deposit you there if that is what it takes…" Srinivas said opening the doors for Shreya when they finally reached the car.

Shreya's muddled self took a minute to comprehend that he was actually replying for the thing she had said a while back. But when she did comprehend, she gave him a glare and said angrily, "You work for me, Srinivas…"

Even though she was being serious and angry, it did not really bother Srinivas. At least not with those unfocused eyes she had right now.

"I know. But you need the rest Shreya. You look like you are going to pass out. I am not looking forward to taking you to the hospital later. I would rather take you home now.You have done your part… You gave everyone clear instructions as to what they were supposed to do. And as far as the company is concerned, Anand can handle it. You do not have to babysit. Just let them do their jobs…" Srinivas said calmly ignoring her glares. Normally, he wouldn't disregard her wishes this brazenly but she really looked beat. And he cared about her now… more than his job. So, it did not matter what his job is…

Shreya puffed and stomped like a kid while getting in the car but did not do anything more. If it was someone else she could have beaten them… Nakul or Ayush would have been a piece of cake for her. But Srinivas was not… Shreya was good but she was not that good. She would never be able to beat Srinivas in a fight. Especially not with the way she was feeling right now.

Srinivas's combat ability was brilliant. That was the whole reason why she kept him around her. It was either him or Zack and Zack had to manage the security of the building and everyone else in her family. Zack is responsible for delegation. If she was to ask him to follow her in addition to managing everything… he wouldn't be able to get much sleep anytime soon.

Amongst everyone around, she knew she was the one in the most danger. Not acknowledging that would be foolish and she was no fool. And she needed to walk out of this one alive… she was not planning on dying in their hands. So, she would take the necessary precautions and she wouldn't take it lightly either.

Normally, she was pretty good at protecting herself. She was a big girl and can take care of herself. But things were not normal and she needs a hand in keeping her safe. She knew she was not a superwoman. Acknowledging that she needed help was the first step and she had crossed it.

She realized that when she was in that warehouse with Charan bound in front of her. If only she had asked for help, things wouldn't have gotten so dicey. If only she had told Zack or anyone about her plan, things wouldn't have gotten so dangerous. That was a mistake on her part and she had acknowledged it. And she was not planning on doing the same mistake twice.

But she had also forgotten how annoying it was to have a bodyguard following her around 24/7. She had never had to face such a situation from when she had graduated from college. And now facing the same situation she had faced during her puberty with Hank so many years after… it was nostalgic and so much more annoying.

"I'm really regretting choosing you to be my bodyguard…" Shreya mumbled under her breath.

Srinivas chuckled and ruffled her hair but did not comment on it. He just switched on the engine and drove off.

As soon as she reached her apartment, Shreya slumped on her couch. It had been way too long she had been here last. But Ramani had come in every few days to clean up. So, thankfully, it did not smell like a pigsty.

Srinivas banged on the doors after another 10 minutes.

Shreya lazily walked over and opened the doors. Srinivas was armed with food.

"Ask Zack to enter your bio metrics to the security system here… he will know what to do…" She said walking back to the couch.

Srinivas just nodded and took the food to the kitchen. When he came back, he had a plate filled with food and it came to a stop right in front of Shreya's face.

Shreya's face lit up instantly as she took the plate. She did not even realize how long it had been since she last ate or how hungry she had gotten. The last time she ate was when Anand had brought her late lunch which was almost 20 hours before. After that, all she had was a cup of coffee she had in the café. Her stomach grumbled unconsciously as she reached out to the plate eagerly.

"Thank you…" She mumbled before taking a huge bite.

Srinivas went back to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water, "Hey, eat slowly. Nobody is trying to steal your food here…" He scolded seeing her stuff food into her mouth in quick successions.

Shreya did not acknowledge him but then she also consciously slowed her eating speed. But the damage had already been done… she chocked on her food without being able to swallow.

"You behave like a kid sometimes," Srinivas said handing her over the water which Shreya accepted gratefully. But this time, she did not make the same mistake and actually took smaller sips rather than gulping it down.

Shreya finished her food in a blink.

"You want some more..?" Srinivas asked handing her over a napkin.

Shreya shook her head while wiping away the crumbles around her mouth.

Srinivas took the napkin from her hands and cleaned them up for her seeing as she had missed a spot.

"You can go back now… I won't leave the apartment. I promise. If I have to go out, I will call you…" Shreya said seeing as he was still sitting on her couch when she came out after a shower.

Srinivas gave her a suspicious look.

Shreya rolled her eyes as she reasoned with him, "I am not reckless like Zee. Nor an idiot. I know what is at stake. I do not plan on taking my own safety for granted. If I was, I wouldn't have assigned you this job. You think I don't have the power to transfer you or have the means to escape from you if I wanted to?" She asked him with her brows arched.

Srinivas thought about it. After all, if Shreya wanted to, she could transfer him to another job in a whim and nobody can question her let alone him. And with how sly she was, she could have easily escaped from his grip. So, after contemplating he shook his head and got up from his couch.

"Lock the doors properly behind me. Don't go back to work as soon as I leave. And get some sleep, will you? I am not looking forward to seeing a panda every morning." Srinivas said taking out the keys to her car and leaving it on her desk.

But Shreya took it back and handed it back to Srinivas and said, "Take it… Anyways I am not going anywhere. And I will get some sleep. Don't worry…" She then walked him to the door and closed it behind him.