"I'm just saying, the world would be a better place if your name didn't exist" Avni's smile was bordering on terrifying and the way her eyes glinted with excitement mirrored the expression of every murderer in horror films before they made their first kill.

Jim gulped, a bead of sweat making its way down his nose. He'd come here for a meeting about the possibility of a new partnership deal with Neil Khanna, only to be ostracised by his receptionist who seemed offended by the name his mother had given him. "Why, why's that?"

"Well" she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, "The gym as a whole brings a girl like me a lot of anxiety; lifts, squats, stretches, lunges, it should be; mechanical lifts, yanno like elevators, squishes with cheeks" she pushed his cheeks together as she spoke, "Str-".

"Avni!" Neil growled, fists clenched and his eyes stormy as he interrupted her babbling. "Stop scaring people, this is the fifth person in one day I've seen petrified by your behaviour" he moved her away, stepping between them and hoping the very large fruit basket he'd send later would make up for her behaviour, "I'm so sorry, Jim, please accept my apologies, you see Avni here isn't really with it".

"Hey" she wanted to say more, but the look he'd just given her was all the notice she needed that one more word would send her into an early grave and him into a prison cell.

Wrapping his arm around his shoulders, he smacked his back "So, let's just forget this ever happened and you go home and chill with Cookie and the kids".

Pushing her boss away, she grinned. "Your wife's called Cookie? Why didn't you say? Now, that's a good name choice, cookies are good for the soul, love a good chocolate chip, hey maybe I could bake some-" she was cut off abruptly when her very exasperated boss had finally hit rock bottom and swung her over his shoulder. "Aw, thanks, yanno I was getting a bit tired of being on my feet, a bit of a bumpy ride, but I'll take it" she gasped when he threw her into his chair and slammed his hands onto the armrests so his nose was an inch from hers, deciding it was too good to ignore, she reached up and bopped his nose with her finger, which of course left her in a fit of giggles.

And he in complete shock.

"Do. Not. Touch. My. Nose." He exhaled, trying quite unsuccessfully to reign in his anger. Unfortunately, the rules he had made stated he could not differentiate due to mental illness, but he could coax her into getting help and that was exactly what he was going to do "You know how we spoke before about you not being all there?"

She nodded, lips in a pout and shoulders slumped.

"How about you go and see a doctor, get checked over, I'll even pay the bill because there's something really" he enunciated, "Really not right about you" he shook his head at just how right his words were.

For the first time since they'd met, she sat up straighter and her expression changed. "That's sad, Khanna, that you think I'm mentally ill just because I'm happy, okay maybe I'm out there and never stop talking and probably say things I shouldn't, but life is too short to be anything but happy and honest, that's my motto, it's what my parents live by, what I live by and what my brother lives by, everything about your life is so in order that you have no idea how to live, you exist and by doing that you're dying every day, death is a one-time thing, don't give up before your time, I'm not saying act like me, there's no way you're courageous enough to be like me".

"Excuse me?" Neil cleared his throat, stepping back and eyeing her carefully, "What's that supposed to mean?" Did she think he was the type to shy away because he had no confidence? If so, she was wrong.

"Am I wrong?" Avni folded one leg over the other and gave him a challenging look as she stared up at him, the man needed to let loose and have a good time and her name wouldn't be Avni Ayesha if she didn't make that happen. He didn't appreciate the hit to his ego, so she'd use that to convince him to step out of his comfort zone.

"Yes" he held his head up higher, he wasn't about to let her get the better of him. "In fact, let's make it a bet if I can prove to you that I have the confidence to act like you for one entire hour, you allow me to get you checked up by a psychiatrist".

Hiding her smile, she stood up and held her hand out "And if you can't, you allow me to be the boss for an hour, meaning you have to do whatever I say".

Neil didn't care that this was stupid and dangerous, he never lost a bet and he wasn't going to lose this one, damn Avni and damn her crazy antics, he was THE Neil Khanna and he only knew how to win. Shaking her hand like he was signing his life away, he pulled her closer. "I will win".

Tipping her head back so she could meet his eye, she smiled "I look forward to it".

His breath caught in his throat at the way her eyes softened, lightening to a caramel that sent shivers down his spine, catching himself leaning closer, he jumped back at the knocking on his door. "Come, come in".

"Baby" a woman rushed forward, long black hair bobbing along with her as she wrapped her arm around his, "Did you forget? We're meant to go shopping for the engagement" turning her head, her eyes darkened, voice becoming scratchier, "Who's this?"

"Juhi, this is Avni, my receptionist, Avni, this is Juhi, my" he paused, unable to say the word.

"Fiancée" she filled in, a smile as fake as the nails on her fingers.