CHAPTER 28: THE UNWANTED INCOUNTER

Amna's face flushed with embarrassment as she thought about the recent incident. She had been trying to avoid Shahmeer ever since, but fate had other plans. Her coworker, Sarah, approached her with a stack of documents and a apologetic expression.

"Hey Amna, I need your signature on these papers, but Shahmeer has to sign off on them first. Can you please take them to his office and get his approval?"

Amna's heart sank. She had been dreading this moment, but she knew she couldn't avoid it forever. With a reluctant nod, she took the documents from Sarah and made her way to Shahmeer's office.

As she entered the office, she mustered up her courage and said, "Excuse me, boss. Are you free?"

Shahmeer looked up from his desk, his piercing gaze meeting Amna's nervous eyes. A hint of a smile played on his lips, and Amna's embarrassment intensified. She knew she had to get this over with, but her heart raced at the prospect of facing him again.

"Yes, Amna. What can I do for you?" Shahmeer asked, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine.

Amna took a deep breath and approached his desk, trying to composed herself. "Sarah sent me with these documents. She needs your signature before I can sign them."

Shahmeer's eyes scanned the papers, and Amna's anxiety grew. She knew she had to face him eventually, but she hadn't expected it to be so soon. As he signed the documents with a flourish, Amna felt a sense of relief wash over her. Maybe this encounter wouldn't be so bad after all. But as she turned to leave, Shahmeer's voice stopped her.

"Amna, can I have a word with you for a moment?"

Shahmeer leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Actually, Amna, I wanted to discuss the Smith account project you've been working on. Your insights and ideas have been invaluable, and I believe you have a real talent for marketing strategy."

Amna's mind raced as she tried to process the sudden change in topic. She had been bracing herself for a lecture or a reprimand about the incident, but instead, Shahmeer was praising her work.

"Thank you, sir," she said, trying to sound professional despite her relief. "I'm glad I could contribute to the project."

Shahmeer nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "I think you have a lot of potential, Amna. And I'd like to see you continue to grow and develop your skills. Which brings me to my next point..."

Amna's heart skipped a beat as she wondered what he was leading up to.

"...after this project, I'd like to offer you a permanent position on my team."

Amna's eyes widened in surprise. She had been expecting to return to her original office after the project, not be offered a new role.

"Oh, um, thank you, sir," she stuttered. "I hadn't expected that."

Shahmeer smiled, a hint of warmth in his eyes. "I think you'd be a great asset to my team, Amna. And who knows? Maybe one day you'll be leading your own projects."

As the conversation came to a close, Amna left Shahmeer's office feeling both elated and terrified. She had never imagined that her career path would take such a dramatic turn, but she was determined to rise to the challenge. Little did she know, this was only the beginning of a new chapter in her life.