Manik stared at her face cleaning the tears which made her little nose red and cheeks beautiful but pale. "if being with you is a mess, I'd have a mess. A very beautiful mess."

Nandini looked at him and said "about equal rights."

"yes, yes, whatever you want. What is it you want right now?" Manik asked like he would give himself to her if she asked. If only she would.

"leave me alone for a while without pounding on doors, shouting my name or behaving horridly with others. Please. I promise I will be back by tomorrow." Maybe.

As much as it scared Manik to let her go, he knows something isn't right with her but he also knows that she won't be giving up the only familial feeling she got and he knows how to exploit that one weakness of hers.

Manik nodded and hugged her once before dropping her out of office and turned realising how much work he has to do. First thing to do is to make his employees understand how rude it is to gossip.

"call a meeting with every department head. Now!" his voice boomed as everyone ran to complete his command.

"So, I heard some rumours which I would like everyone to help me with by telling them one by one." Manik smiled but this smile sent shivers down their spine and the alpha male shouted another word causing everyone to start stuttering and speaking.

"Start."

"there are rumours going on about how Miss. Kapoor sedu-uced you." a woman started stuttering but hiding how she was the one who started the rumours.

"You should say Miss. Dhawan. Her real name." Manik said and one of the old women who has been working for years raised her hand and asked her question shocking everyone around "is she Mr. Dhawan's sister?"

"yes." Manik's single words caused an uproar in everyone's heart.

They have just insulted that disaster jokester's sister.

That was simply too scary for everyone. At one point they have offended the CEO of their own company and at another, they have offended the rumoured prankster and a man hated by anyone who ever offended him.

"but isn't he the last of Dhawan family? I never knew he had a sister." Mr. Kanzi questioned as he heard the words of his boss. Everybody knows about Chirag Dhawan's only child but does he have a sister too, if he does since when? Why isn't media doing anything? It's a big deal for billionaires of have the spoiled sister.

Especially if those sisters are about to marry the billionaire.

Every gasp was about how it will be bad for all of them from now on, the prankster and the cold-hearted asshole, both will make their life hell and as soon as the thoughts of bad life passed their head, Manik stood up and suddenly the work that was supposed to be done in a month was supposed to be done in a week with efficiency. If failed, directly fired with no good character letter.

Manik looked at all the pale white faces and nodded to himself. Finally! The problems solved!

The employees looked at him and bowed a bit as he left and suddenly the conference hall erupted with rumours about how they should have never messed with the CEO's girlfriend and everybody started messaging on WhatsApp about what happened.

Suddenly everybody wanted to know the reason why she was kept a secret and nothing without a proper explanation was able to calm their curiosity and curiosity kills the cat.

Manik notified Cabir of what he did and Cabir who was down was suddenly extremely happy since he has a way of handling the public by making them believe that he is surely the brother of Nandini and also, he can accept her in public. Not that he cares about what other thinks but she does, so...

While all this was happening, Nandini was sitting on her bed and thinking what suddenly happened and deep in thoughts she realised that she was truly acting overly. True, she doesn't have a family but she has a brother and about demands and rights, she can fight for them. She will fight for them. And Manik is a softie with her who will surely agree with whatever she said and will also help her if she ever is in bad condition.

Manik loves her, the hottest billionaire loves her. suddenly she understood what scared her. it wasn't about him at all, it was insecurity of losing him to other girls who have more than her, money, class, dresses, makeup, body and everything that's better than her.

She felt her world brighten and then she thought of how she can handle those gossipmongers.

She stood up and got ready to head to the office.

"Manik..." Nandini whispered as she knocked on the door and opened it to see him there looking at her with an expectant smile. She smiled in return and sat across him.

"I wanted to talk to you." Nandini said and Manik was looking at her with anxiety and his expressions told that he is scared.

Nandini felt that fear and realised that he also has some insecurities and she is fine with that and maybe that made her a little happy that he cares so much about her words.

Her confidence that was broken down lifted up and she told him what she felt "I like you. I mean... you are nice and great guy who does things for me, brings me roses –white roses and loves me a lot. I can see myself with you but there's lots of differences too..."