Arvi's pov:

I stood outside his cabin for a full minute before knocking. My palms were slightly sweaty, the folder I was holding felt heavier than it should've, and my heartbeat? Loud enough to hear in the silence of the corridor.

You've got this, I whispered to myself and finally knocked.

"Come in," came his deep, clipped voice.

I pushed the door open, stepping into the sleek, glass-walled cabin. It was minimalistic, modern cold. Just like him. Rayaan Oberoi sat behind the massive black desk, flipping through a file, his jaw set like stone.

He didn't look up.

"Sir," I said, hating how my voice wavered ever so slightly.

His eyes flicked up, finally acknowledging me. He didn't offer a greeting, not even a chair. Just a glance. One that felt like it dissected every layer of confidence I had.

"I assume you're not here to waste time," he said, setting the file down.

"No," I said quickly. "I'm ready for work."

He nodded once, then slid a file across the desk toward me. "Good. You'll review this vendor proposal, highlight discrepancies in the cost sheet, and prepare a summary. I want it on my desk before lunch."

I took the file, flipping it open quickly. My eyes scanned the first page it was dense, full of numbers, contracts, comparisons. Way more intense than anything I expected on Day One.

"It's a proposal from Bedi Enterprises," he added, watching me like a hawk. "We've had issues with their billing practices. I want to know if this one's worth our time."

I swallowed, keeping my tone firm. "I'll go through it carefully."

"Don't go through it," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Understand it. If you miss something obvious, I'll assume you're not ready to work in my company."

My company. Not our company. Not even the company.

I nodded, gripping the folder tighter. "Understood."

He raised an eyebrow, almost amused. "You're surprisingly obedient this morning."

"I'm not here to argue," I replied, matching his tone. "I'm here to prove myself."

There was a flicker of something in his eyesinterest? Curiosity?before it vanished.

"Let's see if you do," he said simply, returning his attention to the paperwork on his desk.

I turned and walked out, my heels clicking against the tiled floor, the file in my hand and the weight of his expectations heavier on my shoulders than I cared to admit.

But one thing was certain I wouldn't mess this up.

Not for him.

Not for anyone

Rayaan's pov:

I don't usually waste my time watching the office feed. That's what the security team is for. But today, I found myself staring at the monitor on the wall, one split screen catching my eye more than it should've.

There she was.

Arvi.

Standing by the coffee station with a file clutched to her chest, talking to someone some guy from finance. Rohit, I think. The kind who talks too much and works too little.

I narrowed my eyes, watching.

He said something. She smiled. Not that polite, distant smile she wears around me but a real one. And then she laughed. Actually laughed.

Something twisted in my chest.

And then she reached out her hand.

He shook it.

My jaw clenched before I even realized it. My fingers tightened around the pen in my hand.

What the hell was I doing? Watching a handshake like it was a goddamn security threat?

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she spoke again soft, graceful, unaware of the fact that someone was watching. Unaware that I was watching.

And I shouldn't be.

This wasn't personal.

She wasn't personal.

She was an employee. A new recruit. Nothing more.

But the sight of her standing there, smiling like she actually belonged... it did something to me. Something I didn't like.

There was a knock on my door.

"Sir, the Bedi proposal is ready for review."

I didn't even look away from the screen. "Leave it on the table."

The door clicked shut again. On the screen, Arvi turned to leave, walking down the hallway still talking to him.

I watched her until she disappeared from view.

Then, without thinking, I clicked the feed off.

"She's just an employee," I muttered.

But somehow, that lie tasted worse every time I said it.

Arvi's pov:

I don't know what it was exactly maybe the subtle nod Rayaan gave me when I handed him the corrected file, maybe the tiny shift in his tone that sounded almost like... respect but I couldn't help it.

I smiled.

I smiled all the way down the corridor, past the receptionist, and even when I stepped into the car waiting outside to take me home.

The city blurred past the window as I leaned my head slightly against the seat, hugging my bag to my chest like it held my pride inside. Today had gone better than I ever imagined it would.

I hadn't just survived Oberoi Industries I had held my ground. And somewhere in that sea of stern stares and tension, I had made him notice.

I didn't need his approval. But God, it felt good to earn it.

When the car pulled into the Oberoi Mansion, I stepped out and blinked up at the familiar grandness of it all. But today... it felt different.

It felt a little more like home.

"Arvi!"

Vanisha was the first to spot me as I entered the living room. She practically ran over, followed by Arekha, Aleesha, and Vivaan. The sound of their chatter filled the space, and suddenly, I was being tugged into the couch, handed juice, and bombarded with questions.

"You're glowing!" Arekha grinned. "Did something happen?"

"Did Rayaan bhai shout at you?" Aleesha asked dramatically. "Blink twice if you cried."

Vivaan laughed. "Or did he cry this time?"

I rolled my eyes, giggling despite myself. "He didn't shout. He... was strict, yes. But fair."

"Oh?" Vanisha raised a teasing eyebrow. "That's huge. He doesn't even say 'fair' to us when we lose board games."

"How was your first day though?" Jaya aunty's voice came from the hallway as she entered with a soft smile. "Everything went well?"

I looked at all of them this loud, nosy, unexpectedly warm family and nodded. "It went... really well. I feel like I actually did something right today."

"Of course you did," Sulekha aunty said from the staircase, watching me with that ever-knowing look. "You're not the kind who gives up, Arvi."

My heart swelled just a little. Not because of their words but because, for the first time since I stepped into this mansion... I wasn't the outsider everyone pitied.

I was the girl who came back from her first day smiling and that smile?

It was contagious.

Even Rayaan's name didn't feel heavy on my shoulders anymore.

I will prove him i am not a gold digger.

Rayaan's pov:

Riaan practically exploded out of the car the second we pulled into the driveway, already talking about how much he missed the "madness" of our home. "Man, this place better still have that unlimited dessert policy," he said, laughing as we walked in together.

The mansion was buzzing. Vanisha and Aleesha were hanging around the living room, music was playing faintly from someone's phone, and the scent of freshly made tea lingered in the air.

And then I saw her Arvi.

She was standing near the console table by the staircase, talking to Arekha, still in her work attire, her hair slightly tousled like she'd only just gotten home. Her eyes lit up when she laughed, like she was made to belong in moments like these effortlessly part of this place. My home.

Riaan's pace slowed when he saw her.

He turned to me, eyes wide. "Bro. Is that her?"

I didn't need to ask who he meant.

"Yeah," I said flatly. "That's Arvi."

Before I could even finish the sentence, he was already walking up to her. "Hey! You must be Arvi," he said brightly, sticking his hand out with that stupid grin he always uses when he's about to charm someone. "I'm Riaan. Rayaan's best friend, unfortunately."

She smiled, polite but warm, and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you. I've heard about you."

"Only the bad things, I hope," Riaan chuckled.

I stood there, watching the two of them interact like they'd known each other for years. The handshake lingered just a second too long, and her smile... that wasn't how she usually smiled at the others. Or maybe I was imagining it.

Jealousy hit me out of nowhere.

It was ridiculous, really. She wasn't mine. She worked under me at Oberoi Industries. She was living in this house because of my mother's kindness. That was it. That should be it.

But watching Riaan talk to her like that, seeing her smile at him like that, stirred something uncomfortable in my chest.