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IT'S NOT OVER Chapter 21
Reaching her desk, Swati began settling in. A quick glance through the glass window revealed her handsome new boss engrossed in his work. "So, he can watch me too, can he?" she mused with a slight shrug, a hint of amusement playing on her lips. Having witnessed his preference for black coffee and a set lunch break schedule, she decided, "Black coffee, then." With that, she headed towards the reception to meet Kavya."Hello," Swati greeted with a smile."Hi there! Swati, I presume?" Kavya instantly extended a hand, a dimple flashing in her cheek as she smiled. "I'm Kavya, welcome to Malhotra Designs!"Swati returned the handshake, her own smile warm and genuine. "Kavya, can I call you by your name?" she inquired politely."Absolutely, that's what I'm here for," Kavya replied, putting Swati at ease.Great," Swati continued. "Kavya, speaking of which, it seems like it's about time for Mr. Malhotra's black coffee." She glanced at her watch.Kavya nodded. "Right you are. Black coffee, no s
IT'S NOT OVER Chapter 22
When Swath i struggled to reach the files, the urge to help her was almost overwhelming. But he held himself back. He didn't want to appear weak, especially not in front of her. He knew she'd likely heard the rumors – rumors about his coldness, his aloofness. It was a carefully crafted persona, a shield built after witnessing the vultures descend upon him after his parents' deaths. He let her perceive him as the uncaring boss, a role he'd perfected. The sight of her dragging the chair, her face paling under his gaze, had been a silent comedy. He knew she was nervous, probably intimidated by his reputation. And yet, there was a determination in her eyes that intrigued him. When she'd finally retrieved the file, her triumphant "Yes!" was like a burst of sunshine in the sterile confines of his office. It was a stark contrast to the calculated actions of his past assistants, one of whom he recalled feigning a fall for a touch. Now, watching her through the glass window, completely engro
IT'S NOT OVER Chapter 23
Releasing her hand, the man continued, "Kavya was telling me about you. It's lunchtime, come on, I'll introduce you to the crew." His smile was genuine, disarming the tension that had settled in the air.Sruthi returned the smile, then flicked a glance at Arun. He remained rooted to the spot, observing their interaction. Catching her eye, the man spoke again, this time addressing Arun. "Bhai," he said simply, as if informing him of his intention to take Sruthi to the cafeteria.Arun responded with a curt nod, then retreated to his cabin. Sruthi found it difficult to decipher his nature from that single gesture, although his usual demeanor leaned towards the curt and impersonal."Come on," the man said gently, his voice a welcome contrast to Arun's clipped tones."Yeah, just a minute," Sruthi replied. She quickly locked her computer and grabbed her purse, ready to follow him.Sruthi nodded at Anand. "Just a minute," she said, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she locked her com
IT'S NOT OVER Chapter 24
Anand's hand gently grasped Swati's. "You know, Swati," he began, his voice sincere, "the moment we saw you, we knew you were going to be part of the gang. No matter what, we felt comfortable enough to share things with you." He glanced around the table, his smile genuine.Swati's eyes welled up, touched by their acceptance. "You guys are kidding, right? I haven't felt this way... so at ease... like I've known you all forever. I'd love to be a part of this amazing group." Tears threatened to spill over, but she managed a radiant smile."Okay, okay, let's hold on to the waterworks," Karan interjected playfully, ever the mood-lifter. "Change of subject, Swati, where are you staying now? Hostel, of course, but which one?"Swati chuckled, the tension broken by his usual antics. Their lunch arrived just then, Karan having preemptively placed their orders. As they dug in, Swati continued, "Working Women's Hostel."Deepali and Kavya bolted upright in their chairs. "No way!" they exclaimed in
IT'S NOT OVER Chapter 25
Deepali's eyebrows shot up. "An arranged marriage, huh?""Yep," Swati confirmed with a nod."That's so cool!" Kavya chimed in, her eyes sparkling.Anand leaned in and gave Swati a side hug. "You're something else, Swati," he said with a grin."Yeah, I'm already jealous of your future spouse," Karan chimed in playfully, only to receive a playful nudge from Kavya. The nudge set off a wave of giggles that filled the elevator.The elevator doors whooshed open, interrupting their conversation. As they stepped out, Swati couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through her. These people, just a few hours ago complete strangers, now felt like a friendly, supportive group.The elevator doors slid shut, leaving Swati flushed. Compliments on her beauty weren't new, but this time, it felt different. This friendly gang had a genuine warmth to them. Anand and Karan seemed like good-natured guys, while Lavanya and Deepali possessed their own kind of beauty. Lavanya's smile, complete with that adorabl
IT'S NOT OVER Chapter 26
Pushing the thought aside, I buzzed her on the intercom. "Have you finished the presentation?" I inquired, my voice clipped and impersonal as usual.The pause on the other end stretched a beat too long. When she finally spoke, her voice held a hint of surprise. "Yes, Sir," she replied."Good," I said, the word clipped and devoid of warmth. "Then bring it in. And my coffee."Before she could respond, I cut the connection, a pang of guilt twisting in my gut. I stole a glance at the receiver, half expecting it to spontaneously combust from the force of my curtness.Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her staring intently at the receiver, a flicker of something crossing her face before she quickly glanced down at her watch. Relief washed over me, a selfish emotion I instantly despised. Had I been staring at her for too long? The thought sent a jolt through me."Thank goodness," I muttered under my breath, forcing my gaze back to the paperwork in front of me. But the words on the page blur
IT'S NOT OVER Chapter 27
Flinging my briefcase onto the bed, I sank into a chair, thoughts swirling like a storm in my head. When had Anjali ever taken such an immediate liking to any of my previous assistants? Why was Swati so effortlessly charming? Everyone – me included, it seemed – appeared inexplicably drawn to her. Rolling my eyes in frustration, I barked out, "HP!" Hari Prakash, along with his brother Om Prakash, seemed to materialize out of thin air, a testament to the ever-present staff at the Singh Mansion. "Coffee," I demanded, the word laced with a touch more impatience than usual.Hari Prakash returned with the steaming beverage within minutes, but for the first time in memory, it tasted…off. Swallowing the lukewarm liquid with a grimace, I realized the fault lay entirely with me. There was no way I could take my frustration out on the ever-patient HP. He couldn't possibly be expected to intuit the emotional turmoil churning within me.With a sigh, I discarded my suit jacket and tie, optin
IT'S NOT OVER Chapter 28
Despite the unwelcome interruption, the tension in the room remained thick. A minute ticked by, then another. Just as I was about to call out to her, Swati poked her head back in, a shy smile gracing her lips.She knelt down to reach for the abandoned shoe, but her hands trembled violently, making the simple task seem impossible. My amusement momentarily battled with concern as I watched her struggle. The knowledge that I, Arun, the stoic and intimidating CEO, had reduced her to this flustered state, sent a spark of something akin to satisfaction through me.Finally, she gave up on the shoe, opting to carry it in hand as she retreated towards the door. A soft chuckle escaped my lips, the sound genuine and devoid of malice. The sight of her scurrying away, head down and eyes tightly shut, was undeniably endearing.Reaching for my phone again, I ended the call and turned my gaze to the window. There, I saw Swati standing rigidly, taking a few deep breaths. Slowly, she opened her