Chapter 3: The Unexpected Meeting

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I spent the whole night tossing and turning, wondering why Reyansh Kapoor would want to meet me in private. The message from him had been brief and cryptic, which only added to my anxiety. What could he possibly want to discuss that couldn't wait until we were back in the office?

I arrived at the café a few minutes before 10 AM. It was a quaint little place, tucked away from the busy streets, perfect for a private conversation. As I walked in, I spotted Reyansh sitting at a corner table, engrossed in something on his phone. He looked up as I approached, his expression unreadable.

"Good morning, Mr. Kapoor," I greeted him, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Good morning, Dhwani. Please, call me Reyansh," he replied, gesturing for me to sit.

I took a seat, feeling a bit uncomfortable under his intense gaze. "So, what's this about?" I asked, getting straight to the point.

"I wanted to discuss your ideas from yesterday's presentation," he began, but there was something in his tone that made me feel like there was more to it. "You have great potential, Dhwani. I think we could achieve something remarkable if we work closely together."

I nodded, waiting for him to continue. But when he didn't, I felt a surge of frustration. "And you couldn't tell me this in the office?" I asked, a bit more sharply than I intended.

Reyansh leaned back, his expression cool. "I thought it would be better to discuss it here, away from the distractions of the office. Besides, I wanted to get to know you better."

I raised an eyebrow, suspicion creeping in. "Why the sudden interest in getting to know me?"

He smirked, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Because, Dhwani, you're not like the others. You're passionate and driven. But I need to know if you're willing to push boundaries to achieve greatness."

Something about his words rubbed me the wrong way. "And what exactly are you implying? That I haven't been pushing myself enough?"

He shrugged. "I'm just saying that sometimes, to achieve extraordinary results, you need to step out of your comfort zone. Take risks."

"I've been taking risks all my life, Reyansh. You don't know anything about my struggles," I snapped, my temper flaring.

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Then enlighten me, Dhwani. Tell me about these so-called struggles."

I clenched my fists under the table, trying to keep my composure. "You wouldn't understand. You've had everything handed to you on a silver platter."

He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Don't presume to know my life. Everyone has their own battles, Dhwani."

We glared at each other, the tension palpable. This wasn't how I imagined this meeting would go. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Look, if this is how you're going to be, then maybe it's better if we just stick to professional boundaries."

Reyansh's expression softened slightly, but there was still a stubborn set to his jaw. "Maybe you're right. But I still believe we can achieve something great together."

I stood up, my patience wearing thin. "You know what, Reyansh? I think you're just a control freak who likes to play games. Well, I'm not interested."

He stood up as well, his eyes flashing with anger. "And I think you're too afraid to step out of your safe little world."

We stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills, until I finally turned on my heel and walked out of the café, my heart pounding. As I stepped outside, I muttered to myself, "What a bastard."

I headed back to my car, fuming. This was not how I wanted to start my day. Reyansh Kapoor might be brilliant, but he was also infuriating. I drove back to the office, replaying our conversation in my head. Part of me was still angry, but another part couldn't deny the strange thrill of our clash. He challenged me in a way no one else had, and as much as I hated to admit it, there was a small part of me that found it exciting.

Back at my desk, Radhika noticed my sour mood immediately. "What happened? You look like you want to punch someone," she said, half-jokingly.

"I just had the most irritating meeting of my life," I grumbled, sinking into my chair.

"With Reyansh Kapoor?" she guessed, and I nodded.

"What did he do?"

"He's just... impossible," I said, throwing up my hands in frustration. "He thinks he knows everything and that he can just control everyone around him."

Radhika raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like you met your match."

I shot her a glare, but she just laughed. "Come on, Dhwani. Don't let him get under your skin. Focus on your work and show him what you're capable of."

She was right, of course. I needed to keep my head down and prove myself through my work. But something told me that this was just the beginning of a complicated and tumultuous relationship with Reyansh Kapoor.

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