I woke up the next morning, my mind instantly alert. Today was the day. The first official meeting with Araav Raghuvanshi. After our little banter last night, I wasn’t sure what to expect. He seemed... interesting. Confident, perhaps a little too much. But then again, so was I.

As I got dressed, the feeling of anticipation buzzed through me. I picked a black pantsuit, sharp and fitting, something that would say, “I’m not here to play games.” I needed to be taken seriously in this meeting, not just as the girl who took over her father’s position but as someone who could run the show.

My team and I reached the building earlier than scheduled. The structure loomed above us, sleek and modern, but there was something about it, dark, mysterious.

It gave off an eerie vibe, yet strangely, it didn’t unsettle me. Instead, it was oddly comforting, like the feeling of stepping into the unknown but knowing you were ready for whatever was waiting.

“Quite the place,” one of my employees murmured, looking up at the tall building.

I nodded in agreement, taking a deep breath before stepping inside. The lobby was vast, its polished floors reflecting the overhead lights. We were directed to the conference room on one of the upper floors, and as the elevator doors opened, my heart raced just a little. I wasn't nervous more like... ready.

And then, there he was. Araav Raghuvanshi. He stood leaning against the wall outside the conference room, scrolling through his phone, his expression unreadable. His dark eyes flickered up when he sensed our approach, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Miss Tanvi.” His voice was casual, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Didn’t think you'd show up this early. Eager to impress?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Eager to get this over with, more like.” I shot back, not missing a beat.

He chuckled softly. “Fair enough.”

His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he straightened up, pocketing his phone. As we approached the door, one of my employees stepped forward to open it, but Araav beat them to it, smoothly reaching out to push the door open.

“Allow me,” he said, glancing at me with that same teasing smile. “Wouldn’t want you to tire yourself out before the meeting even starts.”

I fought the smile threatening to tug at my lips. “How thoughtful,” I said, stepping through the doorway. “But don’t think for a second I’ll go easy on you in there.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he replied, his tone matching mine perfectly.

The conference room was bright and professional, in stark contrast to the dark aura outside. As I took my seat at the table, I couldn’t help but feel a small surge of excitement. This was going to be fun.

Araav's pov

I leaned against the wall outside the conference room, glancing at my phone but not really paying attention to anything on the screen. My mind was elsewhere, waiting for her. It had been five years since I fell for Tanvi, and even though she never had a clue, my feelings for her had only deepened over time. I kept things professional, of course, but it was getting harder, especially now that we’d be working together closely.

When I saw her step out of the elevator, walking with that quiet confidence, my heart did something it hadn’t done in a long time, it skipped a beat.

Tanvi had always been striking, but today there was something more, something, commanding about her presence. The sharp black pantsuit she wore highlighted her authority, and yet, to me, it only added to her beauty.

For a moment, I let myself just look at her. The way she held herself, the focus in her eyes, it was captivating. Every step she took toward me made me feel like I was falling deeper into something I had been resisting for years.

I knew better than to let it show. So, I smirked, slipping back into my usual banter. It was safer that way, less complicated. I made my comment, teasing her like I always did. But even as we exchanged words, my mind was caught in a loop, replaying the moment she walked in, that confident stride, the way her presence filled the space.

When she raised her eyebrow at me and shot back her retort, I had to bite back a smile. There it was,the sharp wit that I admired so much.

As we reached the door, I didn’t even think before stepping forward to open it for her. It was instinctual, a small gesture that let me be close to her, even if just for a second. When I caught her glance, I added the comment about not tiring herself out, letting the teasing mask the real reason I was doing it,I simply wanted to make her smile.

And when she did, that subtle, knowing smile, it took everything in me not to get lost in it. As we walked into the room, I realized something.

I was falling,again, harder this time. Maybe this project would be more complicated than I thought, but not for the reasons anyone expected.

As we walked into the conference room, I kept my expression neutral, masking the storm brewing inside me. Five years. Five years of watching her from afar, staying professional, keeping everything buried. But this time, something had shifted.

This project was the perfect excuse to be around her, to get closer. And I wasn’t going to let this chance slip through my fingers. Not again.

She didn’t know it yet, but things were going to change. No more holding back, no more waiting in the shadows. This time, Tanvi was mine.

And I was going to make sure of it.

Pov end

Tanvi's POV

The conference room felt charged, the professional air barely masking the undercurrent of something else between Araav and me. But I shook it off, sitting up straighter and clearing my throat. “Shall we begin?” I asked, looking directly at him. “We have a lot to cover.”

His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than necessary before he nodded, pulling out the files for our project. I did the same, focusing on the task at hand. We were here to work, not play.

“So, let’s start with the budget breakdown,” I said, flipping through the pages. “This project,building a sustainable energy division for that company is going to need significant investment upfront, especially if we’re aiming for a global reach.”

We dove into the details. I talked through the numbers, outlining how we could allocate funds efficiently, discussing potential partnerships, and identifying where we could cut costs without compromising quality. To my surprise, Araav was engaged, offering insights and ideas that actually made sense. It was almost fun, working with him. Almost.

“We’ll need to make sure the renewable energy sources align with each market’s regulatory standards,” I added. “That’s going to require hiring some specialists in each region.”

“Agreed,” he said, nodding. “But I think we should also focus on the marketing angle. We need the world to know this isn’t just another corporate greenwashing attempt. This is the future of energy.”

I glanced at him, mildly impressed. He wasn’t just the smug businessman I expected. There was depth to his thinking. “Good point,” I admitted. “Let’s get the marketing team to draft a proposal, focusing on transparency.”

After a bit more discussion, we wrapped up the details. The meeting had been productive,surprisingly so. But as we stood to leave, the tension from earlier returned.

“Well,” I said, gathering my things, “this went better than I expected.”

Araav smirked. “Admit it, Tanvi. You’re enjoying this.”

I rolled my eyes, unwilling to give him the satisfaction. “I enjoy getting work done. Don’t flatter yourself.”

He stepped closer, holding the door open for me again. “You’ll come around.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Keep dreaming, Araav.” With that, I walked out, but not before catching his amused grin.

We parted ways with the usual polite goodbyes, though I couldn’t shake the feeling that something between us had shifted today. Maybe it was just the project, or maybe… no, I pushed the thought away. I had work to focus on.

When I finally reached home, the scent of fresh flowers greeted me at the door. Another bouquet. My heart quickened as I saw the familiar initials on the note—A.R.J. The same as yesterday.

"Just a little something to brighten your day. Looking forward to seeing you shine in the project. — A.R.J."

I took the bouquet inside, replacing the flowers from the day before in the vase. The note, like the others, went into the jar where I kept them all, though I didn’t let myself dwell on who A.R.J. might be because I had enough on my plate and that's what I convinced myself to not dwell on those thoughts.

After that, I headed for a shower. The warm water helped clear my mind, but the mystery of the flowers lingered. Whoever it was, they had impeccable timing. Still, I pushed it to the back of my mind.

There were more important things to worry about, like the text I received as soon as I stepped out of the shower.

Dad: We need to talk tomorrow. It’s important.

A knot formed in my stomach. My father wasn’t one for dramatics. Whatever this was, it was serious.