Beneath The Storm (Completed)

Chapter 15: Cloaked Intentions

Double Update

Inaara sat in her office, immersed in her designs, letting the intricate patterns and lines occupy her mind, an attempt to keep thoughts of Atharv at bay.

It had been two days since the dinner, and in that time, she'd successfully avoided him-no glances exchanged, no accidental run-ins.

A forced calm had settled over her, though deep down, an ache lingered, a mixture of unresolved anger and something she couldn't fully understand.

The sudden ring of her phone startled her, and she blinked as if coming back to reality. Seeing Vihaan's name on the screen, she smiled and answered.

"Vihaan?" she greeted, her voice steady.

"Inaara!" His enthusiasm was unmistakable. "Atharv got the deal!"

Inaara's face lit up, even if just a little. "Wow, that's amazing news, Viaan. Congratulations to you too; you're a partner in this."

"Thank you! But, honestly, it's all because of you," he replied, his tone holding an undeniable warmth.

Inaara frowned slightly, confused. "Me? No, Vihaan, this is all your team's hard work. I didn't do anything."

Vihaan chuckled. "Just because I wasn't there doesn't mean I don't know what went down. Mr. Fahad was incredibly impressed by you and that dessert you made. Sure, we worked hard, but your influence really cleared up any doubts."

A mix of emotions washed over her-pride, gratitude, and a lingering sadness.

"Thank you, Vihaan," she said softly, her voice carrying an undertone of reluctance. "Can I call you later, though? I'm still at the office."

"Oh! I'm so sorry for disturbing you," he replied, laughing at his own excitement. "I got too carried away. We'll talk later. Bye, Inaara."

As she hung up, she found herself staring at the wall, lost in thought.

Vihaan's words had brought back a memory she'd been trying to push aside-the biting remarks Atharv had thrown at her that night.

She could still feel the sting of his accusations, his dismissive tone, as if she were no more than an inconvenience.

A tear escaped, sliding down her cheek before she quickly wiped it away, shaking her head not to think about this now.

She took a deep breath, grounding herself, and forced her attention back to her work, willing herself to forget his words-at least for now.

-----

Vihaan entered Atharv's cabin with an energetic bounce in his step. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around Atharv in a quick embrace, grinning widely.

"Congratulations, buddy! We finally got the deal! We should celebrate this!"

Atharv's expression remained neutral, though a hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Yeah, I thought about treating everyone involved. A lunch to show appreciation, after all," he replied, his tone measured.

"Exactly! And don't forget Inaara-she deserves a treat too," Vihaan added, his enthusiasm unwavering.