Aurous Charms

23| Designs and Dilemmas

Published on 22nd October 2024.
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Hello beautiful people!
Another chapter is here.

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Have a happy read!

♡ (I mean, if you want to)
Can we go where no one else goes?
Can I know what no one else knows?
Can we fall in love in the moonlight? ♡

– A K R I T I –

The day had started off like any other, with the morning sun pouring through the window and the usual chatter of construction workers filtering into my thoughts.

The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with the sounds of machinery and voices mingling together. Little did I know that this day would soon spiral into something much more chaotic.

As I was about to pack up my laptop, a notification pinged on my phone. I opened it on a whim, expecting a mundane update or maybe a report from one of my team members. But the moment my eyes scanned the content, my heart dropped like a stone.

A new competitor.

Not just any competitor— a foreign company, boasting a sleek portfolio and a list of international clients that could make anyone in the industry sweat. And now, they were gunning for the same project that Shlok had been working on for months.

To make matters worse, they were rumored to be in talks with Mr Oberoi.

Securing a deal with him was a golden ticket, a career— defining achievement that could propel Shlok to new heights. Shlok had poured every ounce of his energy into this project, sacrificing countless hours and resources.

He had built not just a plan, but a vision for what the hotel could be, and I knew how much it meant to him. This was more than just a job; it was his dream, and now it felt like it was slipping away.

Our entire pact of fake relationship was to win this deal!

I felt my pulse quicken. Shlok needed to know immediately, and I wasn't about to send a casual text about something this serious.

Jumping into my car, I sped through the city's afternoon traffic, trying to stay focused despite the growing anxiety in my chest. The bustling streets blurred past me, but my mind was entirely on what I had to tell Shlok.

It was one thing to have competition; it was another entirely to face a threat of this magnitude from an international company. My mind raced with questions.

Could we really keep up?

Did we stand a chance?

By the time I reached his office, my hands were shaking. I didn't even have time to fully process my own nerves before the receptionist ushered me straight in, no questions asked. He must have sensed the urgency from my expression.

The second I stepped in, I felt his presence— confident, in control, but unaware of the bombshell I was about to drop. He worked behind his desk, barely glancing up as I walked in.

"Akriti." He greeted, looking up from his laptop. His sharp eyes softened for a second, but that familiar business tone returned as soon as he noticed my expression. "You look serious. What's up?"

I exhaled slowly, gripping the back of the chair in front of his desk. "We've got a serious problem." I didn't waste time. I handed him my phone, letting him see the news that had just disrupted our entire plan.