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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
IT'S NOT OVER Chapter 29
"What?" Arun barked, the sharpness in his voice momentarily shattering the strange tension that had filled the room. Seeing Swati flinch, a pang of guilt flickered within him. Maybe he was laying it on a bit thick.Swati, for her part, was secretly relieved by his return to his usual bossy demeanor. At least it was familiar territory, a world she understood. "It's ten o'clock, Sir," she announced, gathering her things."Right," he acknowledged with a curt nod. He rose from his chair, his tall frame momentarily filling the doorway. Swati instinctively stepped aside to let him pass, following close behind as he strode out of the cabin.She assumed a driver would be waiting to whisk them away to the meeting. Instead, Arun led her straight to a sleek black car parked in the lot. He climbed into the driver's seat, leaving Swati momentarily confused."Seatbelt," he commanded, his voice clipped.Swati blinked, momentarily thrown off guard. She fumbled with the unfamiliar buckle, a k
IT'S NOT OVER Chapter 30
Arun watched the entire scene unfold, a reluctant smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He couldn't deny finding her fiery response…intriguing. As Swati reached him, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of anger and amusement, he offered her a silent nod of approval.Adi limped over to Arun, muttering under his breath, "Tigress, that one."Arun simply smirked. "Yep," he thought to himself, "a tigress indeed." The day was turning out to be far more interesting than he'd anticipated.A flicker of unease sparked within me as Adi greeted Swati with his usual brand of charm. I knew his flirtations were harmless, a routine he followed with every new face in the office. But Swati wasn't like the others. There was a quiet strength about her, an enigmatic quality that drew me in. The thought of another man flirting with her, even harmlessly, sent a jolt of possessiveness through me – a feeling I couldn't explain.Relief washed over me when Swati politely declined Adi's dinner invitation.
IT'S NOT OVER Chapter 31
I dug into my Pav Bhaji, the familiar blend of spices sending a wave of satisfaction through me. Swati, on the other hand, approached her meal with a cautiousness that surprised me. She picked at the fluffy buns, her eyes lingering on the rich curry with a hint of apprehension. A soft chuckle escaped my lips as I polished off my plate. Swati, having finished her buns, seemed unsure what to do next. Her gaze darted towards my empty plate, a flicker of confusion crossing her features. "Never tried Pav Bhaji before?" I inquired, my voice gentle but laced with a hint of amusement.Swati hesitated, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. Under my watchful gaze, she offered a hesitant nod."Damn it," I muttered under my breath, more to myself than to her. The disappointment was real. I'd hoped to share the experience of this comfort food with her, but forcing someone to eat something they weren't comfortable with wasn't my style. "It's okay," I reassured her, signaling the waiter dis