The next morning, Aarohi was up early, her mind replaying last night's teasing from Rhea and the phone call that left her blushing even under her blanket. With determination written all over her face, she dressed formally, gathered her things, and made her way to the office ahead of time.
She entered Rithvik Veerayut's office chamber—silent and vast. Taking a deep breath, she began organizing everything. Files were placed neatly on the desk, important documents were sorted by priority, and his favorite coffee blend was brewed and placed gently at the corner of his table—exactly the way he preferred it.
When Rithvik arrived, his footsteps firm and calculated, he opened the chamber door and paused for a moment. His sharp eyes scanned the space—immaculately arranged. The subtle scent of his preferred coffee greeted him. He walked towards his desk, picked up the cup, and took a sip.
His eyes lifted slowly to Aarohi, who stood at attention near the side.
"How did you know my office preferences?" he asked, his tone curious but guarded.
Aarohi smiled softly, her heart fluttering. "I was observing you these past two weeks, of course I'd know…" she whispered in her mind.
Out loud, she replied, "Aarav mentioned a few things. I took notes and did my best."
Rithvik nodded. "Good. Continue doing your job well." Then he moved to his seat.
Later that morning, curious coworkers began to swarm around Aarohi.
"Did he scold you?" one asked.
"Are you okay? Still alive?" teased another.
Aarohi blinked, then replied with a small smile, "He said 'Good. Keep it up.'"
Everyone went silent, exchanging stunned looks.
"Wait—he praised you?"
"Who are you and what have you done to our cold CEO?"
"Did you chant some mantras to calm the demon down?"
"Or is this a romantic K-drama where the cold boss secretly falls for his assistant?"
Amid laughter, Rhea came over, nudging Aarohi playfully.
"I think we need to protect him from you. Honestly, Aarohi, you might just eat him alive," she whispered, making Aarohi's cheeks flush crimson.
As the day passed, they all returned to their seats.
During lunch, Rithvik stepped out of his office. "Aarohi."
She stood immediately. "Yes, sir?"
"I have a lot to complete today. I may work late. Stay with me. You'll assist."
He returned to his chamber without another word. Aarohi froze.
Her coworkers huddled.
"You're staying alone with him?"
"Be careful, Aarohi. That man eats people alive when he's grumpy."
"Make sure your life insurance is up to date!"
Giggling, they dispersed. Rhea leaned in again.
"Honestly, I think it's him who needs protection. You're going to melt that ice heart, girl."
Aarohi turned red all over again.
—
Later in the evening, as the office emptied and lights dimmed in other departments, Aarohi walked toward Rithvik's chamber. Peeking inside, she saw him buried in work, face stern, fingers flying over his keyboard.
"Does he ever smile?" she wondered. "I'll teach him one day."
She knocked softly. "Sir, may I come in?"
Without looking up, he answered, "Yes."
She stepped inside, holding a stack of checked documents. "I've gone through the files. Would you like me to place them here?" she asked, pointing to the table near him.
He gestured. "Yes, there."
As she walked toward the table, her heel caught on the rug.
"Ah!" she gasped as she stumbled forward.
In the blink of an eye, Rithvik stood and caught her by the waist, pulling her toward him. The momentum brought her closer than expected. She collided gently into his chest—strong, warm.
For a heartbeat, everything paused.
Their faces were just inches apart. Her breath hitched. His hands held her waist firmly. Her fingers clutched the files, now bent between them.
Their eyes met.
Time froze.
The tension in the air turned electric. His deep brown eyes were locked onto her startled ones. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. His breath fanned her cheek. Their lips—just a whisper apart.
Neither moved.
Neither could.
Unspoken thoughts danced between them, in a silence louder than words.
Aarohi's heart fluttered wildly. Is this happening? she thought.
Just then—
Rrrringgg.
Her phone buzzed loudly in her pocket.
The spell shattered.
They both blinked, stepping back quickly. Aarohi adjusted her dupatta, cheeks flushed. Rithvik turned his face, clearing his throat.
"Excuse me, sir," she said softly, her voice slightly breathless, and rushed out of the chamber.
Once outside, she answered the call. "Hello?"
"Just from your voice… something happened, didn't it?"
She recognized the voice immediately. That familiar warmth.
"It's your fault! You called at the worst time!" she snapped.
"Whoa whoa, calm down! What happened?"
She exhaled sharply. "I tripped and… fell on him. He caught me. Our lips were… about to touch."
There was a pause.
"What the hell… You're way too fast!" he teased.
"Nothing happened! You called and ruined it!"
He laughed, a deep chuckle that made her cheeks warm.
"Romantic CEO and assistant drama. I told you! Don't forget to update me on this sizzling office romance."
"You're impossible," she grumbled.
"Be careful, Aarohi. Don't get hurt in this love."
She paused, her voice softening. "I won't. In fact… I'll make him smile again. I'll turn him back into the man he once was. And yes—I'll make him fall for me."
There was a silence, then a proud voice.
"That's my girl. Go ahead. I'm always here, no matter what."
The call ended.
Aarohi looked at the dark hallway, her heart still racing—not just from the fall, but from something far deeper.
She whispered to herself, "Let the real story begin."
....
(Continuation): A Ride Home, A Racing Heart
The night sky sparkled over the city as most employees had left the office. Only a few lights remained, and one of them illuminated Rithvik Veerayut's office chamber. Aarohi had just finished organizing the documents he asked her to check. The earlier incident—the almost kiss—still lingered in her mind. Her heart hadn't stopped pounding since. She tried hard to focus, to behave professionally, but her mind was elsewhere.
Just as she was about to pack up her things to leave, she heard his deep voice.
> "It's late. Come, I'll drop you to your apartment."
Aarohi blinked, unsure if she heard him right.
> "S-sir… really?" she asked, her voice almost trembling from surprise and excitement.
> "Yes. You're my assistant now. It's my responsibility to ensure your safety if you're working late," he said coolly, already grabbing his coat.
> "Yes!!" she said aloud, then quickly corrected herself. "I-I mean… okay, sir."
In her mind:
> Ohh Prabhu... Lord Shiva… Am I dreaming? I'm going to sit next to my love in the same car! Thank you so much. This must be your miracle!
They both stepped into the elevator in silence. Aarohi clasped her hands tightly in front of her, her heart fluttering as they reached the ground floor.
Rithvik's car, a sleek black luxury sedan, was waiting at the entrance. The driver got out and opened the back door respectfully.
Both Aarohi and Rithvik slipped into the back seat. A soft instrumental song was playing in the background, adding to the awkward yet strangely comfortable silence between them.
Aarohi stared at the window, but in her mind, it was chaos.
> What should I do? Should I start a conversation? But what if he thinks I'm too talkative? Hmm… Should I pretend to fall asleep and lean on his shoulder? That sounds like a K-drama scene! Maybe that will work... Yes! Lean and pretend… but… what if he gets annoyed? Ayyoo Lord, help me decide.
A small smile escaped her lips as she imagined herself dozing off and landing on Rithvik's shoulder.
But suddenly—
SCREECH!
The driver hit the brakes hard. The car jerked forward.
Aarohi yelped softly and lost balance—almost falling toward the front seat—but strong arms caught her by the wrist, pulling her back.
She gasped. Her face was inches away from Rithvik's. Their eyes locked. Her breath hitched. His hand was firm on hers, and she could feel the warmth radiating from his skin.
Time seemed to freeze.
His dark eyes stared into hers. Their faces were so close, their lips just a breath apart. The air was thick with unspoken feelings. Her heartbeat roared in her ears. His gaze—steady, unreadable—sent electric waves down her spine.
> "Driver, slow down," Rithvik said sharply without taking his eyes off Aarohi.
The driver apologized and nodded.
But inside the car... there was silence.
Aarohi swallowed hard, trying not to blush harder than she already was. She immediately looked away and adjusted her seatbelt, clutching her bag tight to her chest. Rithvik released her hand gently, but his fingers lingered just a second longer than necessary.
The rest of the ride continued in silence, but the air between them sizzled with tension neither dared address.
They reached Aarohi's apartment building.
> "Thank you, sir," she said in her usual cheerful tone, trying to mask her flustered heart. "Take care!"
He simply nodded.
As the car slowly rolled away, Aarohi stood watching until it vanished down the road. She placed a hand over her wildly beating heart and grinned.
> "Hmm… Is it that hard to smile, Mr. Ice King?" she whispered to herself. "It's okay. After marrying you, I'll make sure you smile every day."
She giggled at her own thoughts and walked toward the entrance.
Back inside the car, Rithvik watched her from the rearview mirror as she walked inside the building.
For the first time in a long while, a small, genuine smile formed on his lips.
> "Sir…" the driver said, glancing at the rearview mirror in astonishment. "Did you just smile? It's my first time seeing that…"
Rithvik blinked, immediately wiping the smile from his face and turned his head to look outside the window.
> "Did I? No way…" he mumbled.
But somewhere deep inside, he knew—he had smiled.
He leaned his head back, his fingers resting lightly on the wrist that had held hers just moments ago.
And for a brief moment, the cold CEO's heart felt just a little warmer.
....