Atharv tried to focus, tried to bury his thoughts under the mountains of work.
But no matter how much he tried, his mind kept drifting back to her.
Even the smallest, most insignificant things seemed to have traces of her—her laughter in the echo of a room, the floral scent of her dupatta that seemed to linger in the corners of his thoughts.
He gritted his teeth, mentally scolding himself for these distractions.
He couldn't let this continue. He couldn’t afford to lose this deal.
He sat in his penthouse suite, reviewing documents, the buzz of his phone breaking his concentration. He glanced at the screen.
Inaara.
His heart stilled. For a moment, he couldn’t breathe. It was the first time she had called him since he’d left.
He wanted to pick up, wanted to hear her voice, to feel that strange warmth that had been missing in the silence of his hotel room.
But his mind screamed at him to focus. This call could wait.
The phone rang on, and he debated, his chest tight with the effort.
She must have thought he was too busy to pick up, but then it stopped.
He let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding.
The moment it ended, though, his fingers itched to reach for the phone.
He cursed himself, told himself to stop being a fool.
His resolve was fading, slipping away like sand through his fingers.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally pressed her number.
His pulse quickened as he heard the soft hum of the connection.
“Hello?”
Her voice was soft, warm, but laced with something he couldn’t quite place.
“Atharv?” Her voice held a question. A slight confusion, like she hadn’t expected him to call back.
“Hm,” he replied, his voice low and controlled, almost detached.
The sound of her name on his lips felt foreign, like a gentle reminder of something he had long buried.
She didn’t speak for a moment, as if waiting for him to say more.
He resisted the urge to soften, to indulge in that ache he felt whenever he thought about her.
He was here, working, focused. This was just another call—nothing more, nothing less.
“How are you?” Inaara asked gently, concern edging her words.
“I’m fine,” he replied curtly, pushing down the wave of emotion that threatened to rise.
He couldn’t afford to let this be about anything other than business.
YOU ARE READING
Beneath The Storm (Completed)
RomanceIn the opulent world where wealth and power reign supreme, Atharv Rajvansh stands as an untouchable force, his cold perfection masking a storm of hidden vulnerabilities. Enter Inaara Sharma, a kind-hearted soul whose old-fashioned charm and quiet s...
