THE IInd DECISION

20. Gift?

On Tuesday, we all received the official invitations to Ayan's welcome party, and my colleagues couldn't stop talking about it. The office buzzed with chatter about the dresses they would wear, and of course, about Ayan-how charming he was, how successful, polite, and generous. Polite and generous, my foot! I thought bitterly. Sure, he didn't let me sleep on the sofa, but I couldn't ignore the shoes, the Hello Kitty bandage, and the duvet he covered me with. He's a puzzle, that's for sure, but charming? Handsome? My mind immediately flashed back to that morning when he walked out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel-broad shoulders, biceps flexing, wet hair dripping onto his chest, the scent of his cologne filling the air, and those veins... I shook my head, trying to dispel the image, and headed to the hall to check on the preparations.

I had been working late into the night for three days straight to ensure everything was perfect, and that night, I arrived home exhausted, expecting Ayan to be asleep. But when I entered the room, I found him on the couch, working on his laptop.

"You've been working late," he remarked, his voice low and slightly concerned.

"Hmm, got a lot on my plate," I replied, trying to sound casual as I headed downstairs for dinner.

The next day, I left the office early, around 4 p.m., to get ready for the party, which was starting at 6. I was still not dressed, and panic was starting to set in. As I entered my room, I noticed a bag sitting on my bed. I made a beeline for my wardrobe to pick out a dress, but then I spotted a note on the bag. The sight of Ayan's familiar handwriting made my heart skip a beat. The note simply read, "Wear it today!"

No way. No hell-fucking-way. I hesitated for a moment before opening the bag, and my breath caught in my throat. It was the same dress I'd been eyeing at the mall. He bought it. My stomach flipped, and I couldn't hold back the surge of emotion. I hugged the dress tightly and flopped onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. I shouldn't feel this way, but this... this was so incredibly thoughtful. I'm terrified because I might actually be falling for him. The exhaustion that had been weighing me down these past few days evaporated, replaced by a giddy happiness.

I quickly changed into the dress, feeling a thrill rush through me as I saw how perfectly it fit. I snapped a picture and sent it to Ruhi.

"Hot, baby!" she texted back almost instantly, making me grin. I combed my hair, slipped on a pair of heels, and just as I was about to leave, I got a text from my team. Everyone had already arrived.

"On my way," I texted back, grabbing my things. As I opened the door to leave, I bumped into someone. I looked up and my breath hitched-it was Ayan. His eyes swept over me, and I felt my cheeks flush red.

His hands moved slightly, as if to gesture me forward, and he said, "You look... pretty." He thought I didn't hear him, but I did. And God knows what I was feeling at that moment-my heart was pounding, and I couldn't make sense of the whirlwind of emotions rushing through me.

I quickly moved past him, heading downstairs, but as I reached the bottom, I suddenly realized I had forgotten something...

Ashi dress:-

Ayan Pov:-

I was about to enter the room when I heard a soft giggle from inside. I opened the door, and she nearly bumped into me. The moment I laid eyes on her, my breath caught in my throat. I couldn't help but take in every detail-she looked ethereal, absolutely stunning. The words slipped out before I could stop them. "You look... pretty."

Pretty? What a pathetic understatement. She looked like a goddess. I prayed she didn't hear the slight tremor in my voice, or the truth behind the words.

As I headed back to my room, I pulled out a black suit for the evening. But then, I hesitated. I realized we were twinning-her in that breathtaking black dress, and me in this suit. It's just a coincidence, I assured myself. But deep down, I knew I was lying.

I caught my reflection in the mirror, and my gaze drifted to the mess of belongings scattered around the room. On the dressing table, her nuptial chain lay there, gleaming in the dim light. My chest tightened as I stared at it. She never took it off... So why now? I reached out, fingers brushing against the delicate chain, lost in thought.

Just then, Riya burst into the room, breaking my reverie. "Bhai, there's a nuptial chain on the dressing table. Bhabhi was running late and asked if you could bring it for her."

A small, involuntary smile tugged at my lips. But Riya wasn't finished. She raised an eyebrow and grinned. "By the way, did you see her? She looked hot, Bhai! I'm worried your office colleagues won't be able to take their eyes off her."

My smile faltered as jealousy flared up inside me. Without another word, I picked up the chain and made my way out, the weight of it in my hand feeling heavier than it should.

As I entered the party, the room erupted with flashes from the media cameras. Everyone wanted a piece of the new CEO. There were speeches, drinks, and introductions, but my mind was elsewhere. My eyes kept scanning the crowd, searching for her.

Finally, I spotted her in the hall, talking to someone. She looked over, and in that moment, she realized we were matching. Her eyes widened in surprise, and I couldn't help the small, satisfied smile that formed on my lips. I walked past her, making it look as casual as possible, and discreetly slipped the nuptial chain into her hand, making sure no one noticed. Her fingers brushed against mine, sending a jolt of electricity through me.

From a distance, I watched as she fastened the chain around her neck. Now she looked perfect. She looked... mine.

A surge of possessiveness and something dangerously close to love washed over me, and I couldn't tear my eyes away from her. But as I stood there, I knew I was walking a fine line between protecting her and falling for her completely. The thought terrified me as much as it thrilled me.

Ayan dress:-

Ashi Pov:-

I felt his gaze on me, intense and unyielding, as I fastened the nuptial chain from afar. The announcer's voice echoed through the venue, calling for music and dance. I found myself near the bar, standing with Piyush, watching our colleagues sway to the rhythm. Yet, I couldn't stop my eyes from drifting back to him. Among the crowd, his presence was palpable. Every time our eyes met, a current of unspoken tension passed between us.

One of the colleagues approached him, asking for a dance. He declined with a polite smile, and I was shocked to find a flicker of happiness rising within me. Why was I relieved he refused? I shook off the thought, trying to clear my mind, when I noticed Piyush extending his hand toward me with a charming smile.

"Care to dance?" he asked.

I accepted, smiling back, and we moved to the dance floor. But even as I danced with Piyush, I felt someone's gaze on me, unrelenting and fierce. I turned slightly, and our eyes met again-Ayan's. He stood there, holding a glass of wine, his eyes locked on me. Then, with deliberate steps, he approached us.

"Do give me the pleasure of dancing with my wife," Ayan said, his voice low and commanding, meant for our ears only.

*------------------------*----------------------*--------------------------