[FEATURED IN WATTPAD INDIA PROFILE]
❝Pioneering the art of constructing love, my Kanmani.❞
Xavier teased her skin, slowly caressing her cheeks and her lips trembled.
❝You don't dare!❞
And he kissed her.
------
When he had compromised his dreams and...
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The interview stretched on for another hour, diving into every possible topic—technical know-how, strategic insights, and a few psychological zingers that felt like Satya's sneaky way of probing her mind. Krithika answered most of them, not perfectly, but enough to hold her ground.
"Well, it was nice talking to you, Krithika." Satya signaled the end of the interview, glancing at her wristband before shaking her head. "Hopefully, I'll see you on my team. If you're selected, you'll get an email."
They both stood, and Krithika eagerly extended her hand to shake Satya's.
"It was a real pleasu—"
A loud knock on the door shattered her train of thought, making her jump back. So much for her well-rehearsed exit line. Cursing her luck, she turned to see who had dared interrupt her fangirl moment.
A man stood in the doorway—a very handsome one. Krithika stared—almost gaped—at him, trying to place his face. She'd seen him somewhere, but her brain was scrambling through the memories with no luck.
"Xavier, you actually came here today?" Satya's voice was laced with disbelief.
And just like that, it clicked.
So this is him—Xavier Lucifer Joseph.
As much as she worshipped Satya, Krithika wasn't exactly keen on this partner of hers. Sure, Xhasis was Xavier's brainchild, but she believed it was Satya who put them on the map. Satya was the face, the presence everyone admired. Xavier? He was just the reclusive genius lurking in the shadows, the brain behind the operation but rarely seen.
"Oh, for fuck's sake, this is my company too, Satya." Xavier rolled his eyes, shaking his head in exasperation. "I've told you a hundred times I'll be here daily, so drop the dramatics."
"Drop the dramatics?" Satya mimicked him, raising an eyebrow. "I wasn't mocking; I was just surprised."
Krithika felt like a kitten caught between two lions, glancing nervously between them. On one hand, it was a rare thrill to see Satya's playful side. On the other, she was rattled by the sheer presence of Xavier. The man radiated danger—a kind of predator ready to pounce. She'd heard enough horror stories: he'd supposedly fired employees over minor issues, ripped into trainees for asking "stupid" questions, and demanded nothing less than absolute perfection.
Her college friends had warned her to be careful around him, but she'd brushed it off, thinking her role would be under Satya, handling business, far from Xavier's wrath. But here he was in the flesh, making her squirm under his intimidating gaze.
He looked exactly as people described him—like the Devil himself, albeit a ridiculously attractive one. His suit was standard corporate fare, but damn if it didn't fit him like a second skin, accentuating every chiseled angle of his frame. Delicious might have been the right word, if her inner voice would stop scolding her for ogling. Her eyes traveled up from his broad shoulders, drinking in every lean muscle until she met his eyes. Heat prickled the back of her neck as she realized—he'd fucking totally caught her checking him out.
Oh God, you don't check out your future boss, Krithika! That's beyond unprofessional!
His face was unreadable, no smug smirk or cocky grin, just an impassive stare. Feeling more than a little awkward, she quickly lowered her eyes, feeling oddly small under the weight of his scrutiny. She chastised herself for even letting her mind wander.
"I'm leaving," he announced, his deep voice filling the room. "Let me know if you want to grab a drink. I need one after that American idiot fried my brain." He muttered the last part under his breath as he walked out.
"Well, Krithika, I suppose that's all for today," Satya said, nodding to indicate that it was time for her to go. "And next time, wear something comfortable." She smiled, hurrying off after Xavier. "We do have a dress code, but a saree isn't mandatory."
Krithika's cheeks flushed, realizing that Satya had seen her struggling with the outfit choice.
Great. Embarrassed yourself in front of Satya. Well done, Krithika.
Satya caught up with Xavier near the exit while Krithika tried to follow, her small steps no match for Satya's brisk pace as she attempted to keep up with Xavier's long strides. She huffed quietly, trying not to trip over her own saree again. Soon enough, they were far ahead, leaving her standing alone near the door.
She watched them as they reached the far end of the campus, her fingers clutching her file. Her soon-to-be bosses—assuming she got the job—looked like polar opposites. Satya was animated, gesturing as she talked, while Xavier walked in silence, barely sparing her a glance. He didn't even crack a smile and Krithika wondered if he even knew how. Didn't he know that not smiling was borderline rude? But then again, that wasn't her problem.
She shrugged, brushing off the thought, and turned to flag down an auto-rickshaw. Just then, a prickle of awareness washed over her. She turned her head slightly and noticed Xavier staring back at her from a distance, his face unreadable. Gathering her courage, she offered a small, polite smile. His only response was to turn his back and climb into his car, completely unfazed.
Fine. Be that way, she thought, narrowing her eyes. She turned back and dug through her bag for her phone, muttering to herself. She barely glanced up as he pulled out of the parking lot, but their eyes met for the briefest second before he drove past.
"Asshole," she muttered, watching his car disappear around the corner.
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Do tell me what you feel about this and the upcoming chapters, always open to positive criticism.
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