Page 104 of Wasted Grace

We’ve got one gunshot victim, an oblivious woman, and two armed combat operatives in the room.Fuck.

Viraj is quick to spot Gitika’s eager walk around my desk. I don’t miss his amused expression.

Gitika is holding a folder, instead of emailing the damn report. She printed it out?Fucking hell.

Viraj smirks. “Didn’t know we were back to hard copies.”

I shoot him a look, but it’s too late. Gitika’s already trying to slide the folder toward me. Her body leans in closer than it needs to.

I lock my eyes on Greesha, who’s leaning casually against the far wall, arms crossed, eyebrow raised. A quiet smirk dancing on her lips like she’s watching a soap opera.

I stand abruptly and round my desk before Gitika can get any closer.

“Thanks,” I say coolly, taking the folder from the desk and stepping away. “This could’ve been emailed?”

Her face twitches. Not enough to count as offense, but enough to signal that she thought this was going to go differently.

Viraj snorts softly behind me.

Gitika shifts awkwardly but recovers. “I just thought—since it’s your first full day back—you’d prefer a walk-through inperson.”

I nod tightly. “I’ll go through it myself. I’ve got a meeting right now.”

I gesture toward my other two guests.

Greesha lets out a barely audible breath of amusement, and Gitika’s eyes flick in her direction for a split second. Then she turns back to me and, in the most audacious move of the morning, places a hand lightly—deliberately—on my shoulder. Theinjuredone.

I flinch for two reasons.

Her voice is sugarcoated concern. “Advik, do you need me to take minutes for the meeting?”

Mr. Advik. Isn’t that what she usually called me?

I step back immediately, jaw tight. I’m trying not to make this a scene, but she pushed it.

Yeah.I’m done.

“No,” I say flatly. “And you’re no longer on my accounts. Starting today.”

She blinks with a faltering smile. “I’m sorry?”

“You’ll be supporting the other senior partners. I’ll assign someone else to my projects. Effective immediately.”

Her hand drops, but her voice dips into something almost petulant. “I don’t—I’m your only executive assista—”

“Youweremy executive assistant. Now you’re not. I’ll be getting someone else. Do you understand?”

That silences her. Almost.

She tries to laugh it off, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Oh. Of course. Just let me know if—”

“Please leave the room, Ms. Gitika,” I cut in, my voice suddenly razor-sharp. “Now.”

She stiffens but finally walks out, but not before casting a look over her shoulder. One that lands straight on Greesha. She closes the door a little too softly.

The room is quiet.

Viraj lets out a low whistle. “Well damn. Do we need an HR rep next time or...?”