Just A Friend?

Chapter Fifteen

"Sweety?" Prabhas's voice quivered with disbelief, his usually composed demeanor shattering as her name left his lips, tinged with a mix of surprise, joy, and curiosity.

"Prabhas?" Sweety echoed, her eyes widening in the same shock. Her usually confident stance wavered as she tried to process the unexpected sight before her.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The air between them was thick with unspoken emotions, memories of the past mingling with the uncertainties of the present. Neither knew how to react—whether to embrace the joy of seeing a long-lost friend or to be cautious about the unknown paths that had brought them together again.

Prabhas was the first to break the silence, his voice warm but tinged with a lingering curiosity. "What an utterly unexpected delight! Tell me, what brings you here?" His face was alight with a glow that hadn't been there in years, a curious mix of happiness and intrigue reflected in his eyes.

Sweety, still trying to regain her composure, managed a faint smile. "I'm here to meet the CEO of this company. We're supposed to discuss my contract for the new lipstick advertisement. But...what about you? What on earth are you doing here?" Her tone was a blend of confusion and incredulity, as if the universe itself had played a trick on her.

Prabhas, with a soft chuckle that resonated deep from within, looked at her, his gaze steady and affectionate. "Sweety," he began, with a hint of amusement, "I am the CEO of this company."

Her reaction was priceless. A sharp intake of breath, followed by a stunned silence. Her voice trembled as she tried to wrap her mind around this revelation. "Wh...what? You...you're the CEO?" she stammered, her shock evident as she struggled to reconcile the Prabhas she knew with the powerful figure before her.

Prabhas watched her with a mix of satisfaction and affection, his face glowing like a hundred-watt bulb as he realized how fate had brought them back together. "So, you're the model for the lipstick ad campaign?" His voice held a note of disbelief, as if he were savoring the surprise of it all.

"Yes," she confirmed, her voice steadying as she adjusted to this new reality. "It's me."

There was a moment of silence, where Prabhas's smile deepened, but a flicker of curiosity darkened his gaze. "But I was told the model's name was Anushka. How does that fit in?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow in mild confusion.

Sweety's eyes twinkled with a playful light as she explained, "Anushka is my professional name in the modeling industry."

Prabhas couldn't help but be charmed by the revelation. It felt like he was rediscovering her all over again, in a new light that made her even more intriguing.

Sweety's voice trembled slightly as she hesitated, "Ca... Can I sit?"

Prabhas, momentarily flustered, snapped out of his reverie, "Huh? Oh, yes, of course! Please, do take a seat. I apologize for my lapse."

He quickly returned to his own chair, gesturing with a touch of awkwardness as she gracefully settled into the chair opposite him. There was a palpable tension in the air, a blend of nostalgia, surprise, and something else unspoken.

Sweety began rummaging through her bag, her delicate fingers searching for something among the contents. Prabhas couldn't help but gaze at her, utterly captivated by the transformation before him. The sight of her sent his mind spinning back to the past, to the girl he once knew—his little butterball, round and rosy-cheeked, with a smile that could light up even the darkest day.

But the woman before him now? She was something entirely different. Gone was the soft, round face he remembered so well. In its place was a striking visage—elegantly sculpted, with high cheekbones, a delicate nose, and lips that now curved into a perfect, polished smile. Her body, too, had undergone an extraordinary transformation; she was now the epitome of an hourglass figure, every curve in harmony, exuding a quiet confidence that made it impossible to look away.