Not A Simple Engineer Boy! | ✓

035 • ignition theory | one

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"Gosh, Satya looks so... so beautiful," Valmiki breathed, his voice barely audible over the chatter around them.

"She's already taken," Xavier replied, smirking.

"Fuck."

Xavier chuckled at his friend's desperation. "She was single for ages, man," he said. "You could've made your move when the stars were aligned."

"Easier said than done," Valmiki muttered.

Xavier knew his friend was interested in Satya but had never meddled. Some things were sacred—like a man being able to confess his feelings on his own. If he couldn't step up, what business did he have dreaming about the girl? Women, in general, weren't drawn to either arrogance or crippling shyness. They wanted effort.

And yes, it would've been harder for his friend, considering his introverted nature. But what was done was done—no rewinding, no rewrites.

"I hope you weren't silently pining for her love," Xavier clapped a hand on Valmiki's shoulder. "Were you?"

Valmiki shot him a furious glare.

"Hey, Miki!"

The unmistakable voice of trouble came bounding toward them, and in a second, Satya's arms were wrapped around Valmiki's shoulders. "I can't believe you actually showed up to our poor people's party," she teased, her hands lingering on his shoulders.

Xavier noticed Valmiki inhaling sharply before replying in a hoarse voice, "It's rather lavish to be called a poor people's party."

"Oh, Miki, come on. For you, this must be very plain and boring."

Xavier bit back a grin, noticing Valmiki's growing uneasiness with Satya's relentless assault on his personal space. She had no clue how her unconscious touches were wreaking havoc on his friend's body.

Valmiki darted a desperate please save me look in Xavier's direction.

"Satya," Xavier cut in smoothly, taking her hand in his, "what about the games? Let's see who's actually winning tonight."

"Yes, yes!"

This year, their employees had been extra creative with the games and wanted their bosses to participate as much as possible—beyond the usual duet entrance. He had wanted to veto the idea, dismissing it as crass shit, but Satya had outvoted him with her trademark don't-be-a-dick logic.

"It's one night, Xav. Don't be such a jerk."

And now here they were.

The games were structured department-wise to keep the chaos manageable. This year's final challenge? Winners from each department would face off against the bosses and board members.

"I'm not playing," Xavier groaned. "We're too old for this crap."

"No, Xav," she countered, pinching his arm hard enough to make him wince. "We're not old. Wait—you might be, but I'm just thirty."

Quoting Jaime Lannister, he muttered, "The things I do for love," and chuckled as she made a face.

They walked around the hall, greeting happy faces as they passed. Amid the sea of colors, something caught Xavier's eye—a brilliant flash of yellow. A little lady in a yellow saree stood with her back to him. Her long, wavy hair cascaded below her hips, the silk clinging to her perfect curves. She was radiant—impossible to ignore.

As if burned by his gaze, she reached up and twisted her hair into a tight bun, then turned around.

Xavier stumbled.

The feisty sweetheart. His lips curled into a smile as he recognized her.

She was worlds apart from her usual self—an ethereal stranger in vibrant yellow. Why did she bury herself under shapeless, drab clothing every day?

His thoughts were interrupted by a voice on the microphone.

"Hello, everyone!" A woman from the QA department had taken on hosting duties, and she was doing a commendable job.

The crowd turned toward her.

"So, we have all the department winners for the paper dance game!" she announced. "We'll write their names on chits and randomly pair them for the finale."

A roar of cheers erupted.

Xavier raised a brow. Why do people have so much enthusiasm for things like this?

"You can all carry on. We'll have the pairs ready, and the dance starts at twenty-three past eleven," the host concluded.

"What is this paper dance thing?" Xavier asked Satya, intrigued by the terminology. Were they supposed to dance with papers?

"They lay a sheet of paper flat on the floor. The pair has to step onto it and dance to the music," she explained. "Whoever steps out of the paper loses. In the next round, the paper is folded in half, and the process repeats until the paper is too small to stand on. The last pair standing, hugging, or whatever...wins."

"That sounds a bit raunchy for a company event," he remarked. "I don't think the board members will be pleased."

"Did you hear anyone objecting?" she asked, raising a brow. "Other than you, of course."

He groaned. "Remind me why I agreed to any of this?"

"Are you scared of losing?"

Xavier scoffed. "Are you challenging me?"

"Yes," she purred, her fingers trailing along his arm with maddening ease. "You're so big and hulking..." She motioned dramatically at his height. "I'm sure you'll lose spectacularly."

"Let's see," he said, bowing sarcastically.

I have to win this.

Do tell me what you feel about this and the upcoming chapters, always open to positive criticism.