VAANI - His Deadliest Desire

CHAPTER 19

Ummm.... Hi? 😬

The design studio was unusually silent. Normally, discussions would be buzzing, people debating over drafts, and designers pitching their ideas. But today, the room was filled with nothing but quiet admiration.

Vani stood in front of the presentation screen, flipping through her architectural layouts with ease. She had spent days perfecting every detail, and now, as she explained her vision, she could feel the weight of every gaze in the room.

Vikram Singhania sat at the head of the table, arms crossed, fingers resting against his chin. He had seen hundreds of presentations before—most of them forgettable, some impressive, but this?

This was something else. He had seen impressive work before, but nothing had ever made him sit in stunned silence like this.

The intricacy of her work, the effortless blend of modern aesthetics with classical charm—it was something even seasoned designers struggled to pull off. But she had done it with a confidence that made it look easy.

"Your structure maximizes space without compromising on aesthetics," one of the senior architects noted.

"The flow of the layout is seamless," another added.

But Vikram said nothing. He simply studied the screens, the designs, her.

Vani, sensing his silence, turned to him. "Mr. Singhania, do you have any feedback?"

Vikram exhaled, leaning back slightly. His sharp eyes stayed locked on hers. "Where did you learn to design like this?"

Vani hesitated, then shrugged lightly. "It just made sense to me."

That wasn't an answer.

But the way she said it—with pure, quiet confidence—made something stir in him.

"Looks like our intern is making the rest of us look bad," one of the designers joked, lightening the tension.

Vikram finally smirked, shaking his head. "Forget being an intern. If you keep this up, Ms. Sharma, I might have to reconsider your position in this company."

Vani raised a brow. "Does that mean you approve?"

"Approve? I'm impressed. And that doesn't happen often. I welcome you as a full-time employee in my company, Ms. Sharma. Congratulations."

Vani blinked. Once. Twice.

She had expected sarcasm, maybe a smug remark about how she didn't deserve it, or worse—some backhanded comment designed to remind her that he was still the boss.

But instead, he appreciated her. Genuinely.

Vikram wasn't a man with a fragile ego. He didn't need to belittle others to feel powerful. He was sharp, calculative, and ruthless in business—but he also knew how to recognize talent when he saw it.

And Vani Sharma was brilliant.

He could see it in her designs—the vision, the attention to detail, the way she weaved her ideas into something spectacular. There was no hesitation in her work, no uncertainty. She didn't play safe.

That was rare.

So, no, he wasn't stupid enough to let a gem like her slip away.

Vikram watched her, amusement flickering in his dark eyes.

For a moment, she thought she had misheard him. After everything—the banter, the silent war between them, and what she did to his car—she had been bracing herself for insults, sarcasm, maybe even an attempt to humiliate her.