Chapter 2

Like any other day, AR was bustling with activities. The advertising team occupied one of the conference room discussing the marketing strategies, the design interns were running around - some with the accessories designs and some with the clothing line sketches, execs busy planning their next big move in the market.

However, time stood still on the thirty-third floor, inside Arnav Singh Raizada's office. Everyone who knew or met Arnav even once, knew that he was an astute person - finalising deals, handling clients, wooing the stakeholders or keeping his board happy, Arnav always knew what to say, when to say it & exactly how much to say it. He has never ever been rendered speechless, with an exception of today.

The moment he heard the knock on his door followed by pair of hazel eyes that walked inside, Arnav felt his world tilt on its axis.

She was drop dead gorgeous - at least that was last sane thought he remembered having. No words came out of his mouth, as he stared at Khushi Gupta. His eyes, with mind of their own, started at her feet - bare & encased in a 3-inch heels, to her long legs that were wrapped in a black coloured pencil skirt & seemed to go on and on. Still not able to tear his gaze away, his eyes moved further up looking at the white blouse tucked around her tiny waist that stopped on a delicate neck with a thin chain around it, then came her pouty lips, then her cute button nose & finally brown locked with the pair of hazel. He clenched his knuckles tightly, exhaling loudly.

It was his job to work with beautiful people - so it was shocking to him that his body was reacting in such a way to this particular woman. He tried to think what was so special about this beauty & immediately came up with an answer - her eyes. They had so much innocence in them. But there was something deeper in them. He saw pain. He saw stainless-steel-strength guards that he could see going up by the seconds. He could see those beautiful orbs almost screaming at him to back off. But having no control over his own body, he didn't know how.

Never in her entire life on earth, Khushi experienced the intensity with which the Greek god in front of her was looking at her. It was like he was trying to peer into her soul and read her mind. The way his eyes moved from her toe to her head - it was almost like a physical contact that she felt burning her skin. She felt self conscious, she felt uncomfortable but more than anything she felt shocked at being so affected by someone in just a span of two minutes of meeting them. She wanted to look away, wanted to break this weird connection that was almost like a live charge between them but she couldn't. He was so beautiful. She almost chuckled to herself for calling a man beautiful. But, the person in front of her just was. His tall physique, the way that uber-expensive suit moulded around his shoulders & waist - she could tell that his free time was spent in gym. And then came his hair. For someone so immaculately dressed, the carelessly arranged hair, few strands of which lazily rested on his forehead & almost begged to be caressed. She shook her head, trying to pull herself out of such thoughts & stupor, as her eye locked with his.

Stop looking at me... she begged silently

You first...she felt came a silent reply.

They didn't know for how long they stood their. Few minutes, or was it hours, but suddenly another set of footprints barged inside "Oh fantastic, you already met" Akaash exclaimed without thinking as soon as he entered Arnav's cabin. And the spell broke.

Arnav loudly cleared his throat, and extended his hands "Ms. Gupta. Welcome. Hope you had a good trip"

Khushi, who was still recovering extended her hands to shake Arnav's, "Mr. Raizada. Thanks, yes it was really good"

The moment there hand touched electricity shot through both of them. Perplexed and worried they withdrew their hands as if burned and looked at each other helplessly.

However, second time that day Akaash, unknowingly pulled them out of this mutual dilemma.

"Khushi, my EA, whom you will be sharing with me for another week or so until we find someone for you, just emailed you your schedule for tomorrow. Also, think you came here directly from the airport. Why don't you take the day off. We can onboard you tomorrow"

"Thanks a lot Akaash. I really appreciate all the help. I feel fine right now though so I think I will take the second half off", Khushi replied with a smile. She then turned towards Arnav, took a deep breath and spoke in as professional tone as she could muster "Mr. Raizada, it was nice meeting you. I will see you later then. Think I will look around the office and start getting myself acquainted"

This irked Arnav. Akaash was Akaash for her, but him she addressed Mr. Raizada. He knew he was being silly. He was after all the CEO. He expected people to take a moment or two before getting to first name basis with him. And especially after he addressed her as Ms. Gupta. But, he didn’t know why the instant friendliness he saw between her & Akaash bothered him.

"Ms. Gupta, you are not being promoted to look around and make friends. You are here for a specific job. You have a very specific schedule, and you have to get the understanding of the internal management as soon as and as perfectly as possible. But, if that's too much to ask for, then maybe I have chosen a wrong person for this opportunity"

He knew he was being an asshole. It was her first day here, she just flew from New York and came directly to office & above all, he just shamelessly ogled her, probably creeping her out. Over last nine years in AR she had proven her worth millions of times, and there was nothing wrong with whatever she said. But, her aloofness or better yet her perfectly normal professionalism irritated him, and so he dealt with it in the way he knew will bite him later - Anger.

But the hurt that coursed through her eyes, made him regret instantly.

Arnav Singh Raizada was a blunt & right-to-the-point person. Everyone who worked for him knew that. But, what he was doing now, the way he spoke to her was just plain rude. She couldn't for the life of her understand what did she do wrong. Except of course playing a staring match with him.

No, she refused to let him get away with what he said. He questioned her position & work in the company, and that was completely, utterly unacceptable to her. She had worked day and night to get to where she was. And if he wanted to act as a spoiled brat, then he just had to do it in his personal time. He did not get to take it out on her.

Taking a deep breath Khushi replied in a calm, calculative voice, "I have travelled over seven thousand miles just for one single thing Mr. Raizada and that is work. And if I thought that this promotion was something I couldn't handle, believe me I wouldn't have worked day and night for nine years to get here. The only reason I wanted to look around is because I will be here for next few months and I like to know my staff and colleagues before I start working with them. This helps with the trust and, the more comfortable they are with me, quicker their outputs will be. Now, if it is alright with you, I will take your leave"

She then immediately turned towards Akaash. "I am going to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee. Please let me know, where my cabin is once you are free"

And without another word she was out, leaving a stunned Akaash and irritated Arnav behind.

---

The way Khushi spoke to Arnav, no-one had ever dared to do so, that too within thirty minutes of meeting him. Akaash watched his brother closely and worriedly waiting for an outburst, something that never came. Arnav's anger was bad, but this calmness that he had on his face was terrifying. Akaash was unable to guess what the hell his brother was planning to do now because no one got away after speaking to him this way.

His suspicions were confirmed immediately when Arnav spoke with a smirk on his face and calmness in his tone - terrible combination, "Give her the empty office which is right next to mine, tell the office boy to take the blinds off its walls - I would like to keep a eye on her. And, recall the schedule you just emailed her. All her schedules will go through me from now on"

The finality in his voice was enough for Akaash to know that there was no point arguing with Arnav right now. So with a nod, he left his cabin.

Arnav closed his eyes, gave out a shaky breath and collapsed on his chair. His thoughts drifting back to the hazel-eyed beauty. He knew his anger was uncalled for, in fact the instructions that he just gave Akaash were completely juvenile. But something in Khushi's tone and stance made him do it. He understood anger very well, but what he saw in Khushi's eyes when she stormed out of his cabin was much more than that. He saw that deep seated hurt shining in her eyes when her mouth was spitting out those ultra-calm words. Something was up with her, and normally he wouldn't care, but there was something different, something which Arnav didn't understand, but he definitely wanted to find out.

---

Ten floors down, sitting on one of the corner table of the cafeteria Khushi felt worn out. What the hell did she do. How did she let this be the start of her time at AR's headquarters? She was not a short tempered person, never in all the years of her career she ever was rude to her colleagues. She was a strict boss, but being unpleasant to people was not her style. And now, she spoke this way to her CEO. Someone she was so looking forward to meet. What the hell was wrong with her?

She would say sorry. Whatever he said was on his conscious. But she would be herself.

She sighed.

How on earth she would be herself though. The way he looked at her made her feel like hiding herself somewhere. It was like his eyes were asking her questions...questions which she cannot possibly answer. First time since her promotion had been announced she was regretting it. She just didn't have enough strength in herself to face the enigma - Arnav Singh Raizada!