Aarohi's heart skipped a beat as his voice, cold and commanding, sliced through the tension in the office. "Aarohi, come with me," Rithvik Veerayut said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. His piercing gaze didn't waver, and in that moment, the rest of the office seemed to freeze around her.
The words hung in the air, thick with authority. Aarohi stood frozen for a moment, her mind racing. She could feel the weight of every pair of eyes on her—some curious, others apprehensive. But none more intense than his.
As she slowly stood, her body was moving, but her mind was still trying to process everything that had just happened. The chill of his voice still lingered, sending a shiver down her spine. She had heard rumors, of course. Everyone had. The CEO, Rithvik Veerayut, was a man of few words, and even fewer smiles. His reputation for being ruthless, cold, and utterly uninterested in anything remotely personal had been the subject of office gossip for months. But hearing it from him, from that voice, sent a rush of something she couldn't quite place.
Her feet moved on their own, almost as if her body was obeying a command it had no choice but to follow. She grabbed her notebook from the desk, her hands trembling slightly, and walked towards him. His cold eyes didn't leave her, his posture impeccable, towering over everyone in the room. The air around him felt charged, like a storm waiting to strike.
As she approached him, she tried to maintain some semblance of composure, but the closer she got, the more overwhelming his presence became. Every step she took seemed to echo in her ears, making her painfully aware of how silent the office had become.
Rithvik didn't speak again, simply turning and walking towards the glass doors of his office without a second glance, expecting her to follow. Aarohi's heart raced in her chest. The others in the office were still watching, their gazes ranging from curious to pitying. Rhea's whisper was barely audible but still loud enough to carry across the silence.
"Aarohi… be careful," she warned, concern clear in her voice. "He's not like the others. He's… different. Cold. Heartless."
But Aarohi barely heard her, her focus solely on the figure ahead of her. She had to admit, there was something about him that was magnetic. Something that drew her in, despite the icy coldness that radiated off of him.
His office was just a few steps away, the sharp clink of his shoes on the polished floor echoing in the silence. She followed, trying to steady her breathing, though it felt as if her entire body was in a state of heightened awareness. She could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on her, a mix of fear and excitement stirring inside her.
They entered the office, and the doors closed behind them with a soft thud, cutting off the rest of the world. The room was vast, with sleek, modern furniture and a breathtaking view of the city below. Everything about the space screamed power and authority. From the cold, minimalist design to the towering glass windows that allowed no hint of warmth, it was a reflection of the man himself.
Rithvik stood by the window, his back to her. He didn't acknowledge her presence immediately, his eyes locked on the skyline. The silence between them stretched for what felt like an eternity, but Aarohi didn't dare break it. She stood there, unsure of what to do or say. The intensity of the situation made her feel small, insignificant. And yet, there was something about him—something dark and alluring—that kept her rooted to the spot.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke.
"Sit," he ordered, his voice cool and unbothered.
Aarohi nodded, her throat tight. She walked towards the chair across from his desk and sat down, trying to maintain some semblance of poise. Her hands were folded on her lap, her eyes nervously darting around the room.
Rithvik finally turned to face her, his eyes locking onto hers with a piercing intensity. His gaze was cold, calculating—unreadable.
"You're Aarohi, right?" he asked, his voice flat, devoid of any warmth.
"Yes," she replied, her voice small but steady.
He gave a short nod, as if he hadn't expected a response any different. The silence stretched again, but this time, it was heavier, more suffocating. His gaze seemed to pierce right through her, making her feel exposed, vulnerable.
"You're here to work. Not to make friends, not to socialize," he said, his words coming out with an icy finality. "I don't tolerate distractions."
Aarohi's heart beat faster at his words, but she kept her gaze steady. She had heard this about him—that he was ruthless, that he didn't believe in pleasantries or human connection. But hearing it from him directly felt like a punch to the gut.
"I understand," she replied, her voice more confident than she felt.
Rithvik didn't acknowledge her response. Instead, he walked to his desk, moving with a kind of controlled precision. His every movement exuded an aura of power, of dominance. He sat down in the chair behind his desk and glanced up at her, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if assessing her every reaction.
"You're not like the others," he said, his tone hard to read. "You're not here to just fill a position. I want results. And I don't care how you get them."
Aarohi's breath caught in her throat. She had prepared herself for this moment, but hearing it from him, hearing the coldness in his voice, made everything feel real.
"Understood," she said, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her chest.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was suffocating, a heavy weight that seemed to press down on her chest. The tension between them was palpable, thick in the air.
Finally, Rithvik broke the silence. "You can go now."
Aarohi stood up, the sudden movement jolting her back to reality. She gave a quick nod before turning to leave. But as she reached the door, she paused, her hand on the handle.
She turned back to him, her gaze meeting his for a brief second. There was something in his eyes, something that flickered just for a moment—a glimmer of something more beneath the cold exterior. But before she could decipher it, he spoke again.
"Don't make a habit of lingering."
The words, harsh as they were, seemed to push her forward. She quickly exited the office, the door shutting behind her with a finality that left her breathless.
---
As she walked back to her desk, her mind raced. The encounter had been… intense, to say the least. Everything about him screamed power, control, and ruthlessness. And yet, despite his coldness, there was something about him that kept pulling her in. Something that made her heart race and her breath catch in her throat.
She couldn't put her finger on it, but she knew one thing for certain: she was intrigued.
---