In the Wake of Us

Chapter 7: The Mel-Rose Encounter

Okay, firstly sorry, I was MIA for too damn long, Reason?- Dodging an Arranged Marriage, why aren't these as dreamy as the ones I read about * whines animatedly *

*Sigh...

Here's the update you beauties! 

Virat's POV

The chill hit me as I stepped out into the brisk evening air. Sliding into the backseat of the chauffeur-driven Audi, I caught Varun giving me a side-eye from the open door. His face was far too amused for my liking.

"You've been promoted to princess, boss," he quipped, struggling to keep a straight face. "Not out of obligation, of course—just respect for royalty."

I rolled my eyes. "Varun, you've got exactly three seconds before I—"

He didn't wait for the countdown. Laughing, he darted to the passenger seat like his life depended on it. I shook my head, biting back a grin as I sank into the leather seat.

As the car pulled away, something outside caught my attention.

It was her.

The girl from earlier, standing by the curb. Her hair was even messier now, thanks to the wind, and the tip of her nose was a faint red. She must've been freezing earlier without a jacket because now she had one on—oversized and ill-fitted, making her look smaller than she already was.

She was wrestling with a laptop bag and two suitcases, both of which were comically oversized for someone her height. The cab she'd hailed had just arrived, but she was having an animated debate with the driver, likely over fitting all her luggage.

"Let me guess," Varun piped up, following my gaze. "You're plotting to rescue the damsel in distress? , wait that's not right you'd be the damsel here!"

I shot him a withering look. "Drive."

As the car rolled forward, I leaned back and let my thoughts drift.

The office project was a significant one, a flagship location in Mumbai that needed to embody the Khanna legacy while keeping pace with modern sensibilities. The company I had entrusted with this project had shown promise—especially under Srishti, the lead architect. But now, with her sudden departure, the situation was unraveling.

Varun cleared his throat, breaking my reverie. "Boss, small problem—well, maybe big. My sources say Srishti resigned last week, and someone else is presenting tomorrow."

My jaw tightened. "She resigned?"

"Yes, and apparently, this wasn't communicated to our team. Someone else is handling the project now."

To say I was angry would be an understatement. This wasn't just unprofessional—it was unacceptable. Small firms often lacked the discipline for large-scale projects, but I had taken a calculated risk with this one because of Srishti's reputation. For her to leave midway, without ensuring a proper handover, was a breach of trust.

"Do we know who's taking over?" I asked, my tone clipped.

"Not yet. All I know is that it's someone new, and they're flying in for the meeting."

I exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Alright. We'll deal with it tomorrow."

Truth be told, I wasn't worried. I always had contingency plans. Another firm had already been working on a parallel design as a backup. The game of business was about control, and I didn't play without having an edge.

Tara's POV

The cab driver stared at me like I was speaking gibberish.

"No, no—Mel-ro-se Aven-yoo," I repeated, trying to mimic his accent.