"For the girls who dared to believe in love, only to have their hearts shattered. She craved a love without conditions. He built walls to keep love at bay. Will he surrender to his heart's desire, or will he leave her with nothing but broken dreams?"
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Kiara stormed out of Agastya’s office, her arms overloaded with files. The sheer weight made her stagger, and one of the files slipped from her grasp, scattering papers everywhere. Frustrated and flustered, she bent down to gather the scattered sheets when a voice interrupted her.
“Whoa, careful there!”
A tall man crouched next to her, effortlessly scooping up the papers. He had an easy smile and an approachable aura that immediately put her at ease.
“Thanks,” Kiara said, standing up.
“No problem. Let me help you carry these to your desk. Where’s your cabin?” he asked kindly.
As they reached her office, she placed the files on her desk and exhaled. “Thanks again. That would’ve been a mess.”
“Don’t mention it.” He grinned. “By the way, I’m Aarav, head of the purchase department. You must be new here.”
“Yeah,” she replied, shaking his hand. “Kiara. I’m the new personal assistant.”
Aarav raised an eyebrow knowingly. “So, the infamous post of being Mr. Agarwal’s PA, huh? Brave choice.”
Kiara sighed. “You have no idea. First day, and I already have a mountain of files to read by tomorrow. I don’t know how I’ll manage.”
Aarav chuckled. “Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it. Everyone struggles at first. Just don’t let him intimidate you too much.”
Before leaving, Aarav added, “Good luck. And just a heads-up—he’s not known for his patience, so brace yourself.”
---
Meanwhile, in Agastya’s Office
Agastya couldn’t focus on his work. His thoughts repeatedly circled back to Kiara’s coffee and her presence in his office earlier that morning. Something about her seemed familiar yet unsettling.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Why am I even thinking about her?
Annoyed with himself, he decided to check on her. When he arrived at her office, he heard her speaking on the phone. Her words caught him off guard.
“...Okay, then pick me up at my office later. Love you. Bye!”
Agastya’s jaw clenched. Love you? Who was she speaking to? His mind raced with questions, but what truly unsettled him was the unexpected pang of jealousy stabbing through his chest.
“Ms. Kiara!” he barked, his tone harsher than he intended.
Startled, Kiara turned around. “Yes, sir?”
“This is a workplace, not a place for personal calls. I don’t pay you to talk to your boyfriend during office hours,” he snapped.
Kiara frowned, her own frustration bubbling. “Boyfriend? Excuse me, sir, but I know how to balance personal and professional life. And for your information, it’s lunchtime. I can make personal calls if I want to.”
Agastya’s eyes narrowed. “Not in my office. If you want to make calls, do it outside. That’s my rule.”
“Fine,” Kiara retorted, storming out of the office, leaving him fuming in her wake.
---
Kiara bumped into Aarav on her way out.
“Whoa! You’re a whirlwind today,” Aarav teased.
“Let’s just say my boss isn’t winning any ‘Best Employer’ awards,” she replied.
Aarav chuckled. “Forget him. Have you tried the restaurant downstairs? They serve the best Italian food. Come on, you need a break.”
Despite her frustration, Kiara agreed. Soon, the two were seated at a cozy table, enjoying their meal. Aarav wasn’t lying—the food was excellent. While they ate, Aarav noticed a speck of sauce on Kiara’s cheek.
“Hold still,” he said, leaning forward to wipe it off with a napkin.
From a distance, it looked like an intimate moment.
---
Agastya stood at the entrance of the restaurant, a bouquet of flowers in hand. He had intended to apologize for his earlier outburst, but the sight before him froze him in his tracks.
Kiara, sitting with Aarav, laughing and leaning close to him, looked... happy. Agastya’s eyes darkened when Aarav leaned in. His mind filled in the gaps, painting a picture of betrayal he couldn’t explain.
He dropped the flowers on the floor and walked away, his chest tightening. Anger and jealousy burned through him, and he couldn’t shake the image of her smiling with another man.
Why does it even matter to me? he thought bitterly as he climbed into his car.
Driving aimlessly, Agastya ended up at his usual bar. A beautiful woman approached him, but her face seemed to blur into Kiara’s. Frustrated and unable to shake her from his thoughts, he left the bar and returned to his penthouse.
Slamming the door shut, he punched the wall, his knuckles bleeding. “What the hell is wrong with me?” he muttered to himself, trying to make sense of his emotions.
