The city moved.
Loud. Restless. Alive.

Cars rushed past, horns echoing through the streets, people lost in their own worlds. But inside the black Rolls-Royce

there was silence.Controlled. Calculated. Just the way he liked it.
Avyaan Khurana sat back, his posture relaxed yet commanding, tablet in hand as his eyes scanned through the endless flow of emails.

Meetings. Deals. Numbers. Power.
Everything exactly where it belonged.
Under his control.

The car slowed. Then stopped. A red signal. He didn't notice. Didn't care.
Until....

something felt... off. Not loud. Not visible. But enough. Enough to make his fingers pause mid-scroll.Enough to make his gaze lift.
And then

it happened.
His eyes landed on her.

A girl, barely 5'5. Dressed in a white kurti and denim jeans. Her long, hip-length jet-black wavy hair cascaded down like moving silk. Her face was partially hidden behind her open hair but it wasn't her face that caught his attention.

It was her actions. She was walking across the crossing, slower than the rest. Her focus was on her phone.
but not because she was busy.
Because right beside her, an old man was walking with his stick. Slow. Careful. Like the world wouldn't wait for him to cross the road.

Avyaan felt something unfamiliar stir within him.

Not softness. Something else. Something he couldn't quite name.

She was helping him. But not in a way that made it obvious. Not in a way that made him feel dependent.
Just... quietly ensuring he reached the other side.

After a few moments, they both crossed the road, and she silently walked away. as if it had meant nothing.

Avyaan's gaze followed her. He tried to get a proper look at her face. but before he could see her clearly, she turned in another direction.

His jaw tightened slightly. A faint flicker of irritation crossed his otherwise calm expression.

Not because she left. but because he didn't get to see her.

As the car rolled back into the rhythm of the city, Avyaan shifted his attention to his iPad. His fingers moved across the screen swift, precise. But his mind? Far from focused on the emails.

His thoughts lingered on a certain someone. With a kind of curiosity he couldn't quite explain.

He wanted to see her. Just once.
Properly. He didn't know the reason
and that was exactly what bothered him.

Avyaan Khurana didn't question things. He understood them. Controlled them. Owned them. But this? this was different.

With a deep sigh, he forced himself to shift his focus back to work. Back to the life he belonged to.The one built on control. Not distractions.

After a few minutes of a silent ride
and a mind that refused to stay where it was supposed to. the car finally came to a stop in front of the towering glass building of Khurana Industries.

One of Asia's biggest tech companies. Started by his grandfather. Turned into one of India's top companies by his father, Advik Khurana.

And now
he was taking it even further. Expanding it across 38 countries.

The car door opened. Avyaan stepped out. And just like that the man who had lost focus for a moment...
was gone. In his place stood the CEO.

Cold. Composed. Untouchable.
Employees straightened as he walked past them, his presence commanding attention without a single word. His polished shoes echoed against the marble floor, each step carrying authority.

No greetings. No unnecessary glances.
Just silent dominance. He stepped into the elevator.

The doors were just about to close
when a hand slipped in between, stopping them.

His assistant stepped inside, slightly out of breath but composed enough to maintain professionalism.

Good morning, sir.

Avyaan gave a faint nod.

Your 11 a.m. meeting with the Singapore investors has been preponed to 10:30. The legal team is waiting for your approval on the merger files, and there's a board discussion scheduled at noon, she spoke swiftly, her tone efficient and practiced.

Avyaan listened in silence, his expression unreadable.
Also, sir... the London dea-

Handle it, he cut in, voice calm but firm.

A brief pause.
Yes, sir.

The elevator continued its ascent
each passing floor bringing back the man the world knew. Focused. Controlled. Untouchable.

By the time the doors opened. there was no trace of distraction left on his face. The elevator opened directly into his private floor.

His cabin. Minimal. Luxurious. Powerful. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooking the city, a sleek black desk at the center, and everything arranged with precise intention.
Nothing out of place. Just like him.

He walked in, placing his iPad on the desk before shrugging off his coat and settling into his chair.

The assistant followed, placing a file neatly in front of him.
The merger documents, sir.

Avyaan gave a slight nod.
You may leave.

Of course, sir.

And just like that, she was gone.

For a moment just a moment his fingers paused.

What are you doing, Avyaan?
You didn't even see her face... and she's already occupying your mind.

His inner voice cut through.

And just like that....his thoughts drifted back to the mysterious girl.

The way she moved. The way she carried that calm aura. The way she helped that old man... without making it obvious.

And a faint smile spread across his face.

But the timing was Wrong.

Very very wrong.

Because just then the cabin door opened. And in walked Ruhan Singh Rajput.

Sharp features, a defined jawline dusted with light stubble, and piercing grey eyes that held a quiet kind of danger. The kind that didn't need to prove itself. because it already knew its worth.

Dressed in effortless perfection. an olive-green fitted tee hugging his well-built frame, black tailored trousers, a sleek watch resting on his wrist, and rings that added just the right edge. he looked calm, composed... and undeniably powerful. CEO of V-Tech.

Avyaan Khurana's only best friend.

The only man who could walk into his cabin without permission
and still walk out like he owned the place.

The only person apart from his family who knew the real man behind the cold, controlled exterior.

Well well... what Bollywood is this? Ruhan smirked, leaning against the door.

The great Avyaan Khurana... smiling? And that too alone?

His voice snapped Avyaan out of his thoughts. He looked up, his expression instantly returning to normal, and took a slow breath.

Tu knock karke nahi aa sakta kya?
(Can't you knock and come in?)

Kyun bhai? Knock kyun karun? Ruhan walked in casually.
(Why brother? Why should I knock?)

Mere best friend ka cabin hai. Jaise marzi aaun. Tujhe kya??

(It's my best friend's cabin. I can come and go as I please. What do you care?)

Avyaan rolled his eyes.
Ruhan dropped himself into the chair in front of him like he owned the place.

So... what's up, buddy? Kya chal raha hai aaj?
(What's going on today?)

Nothing special, Avyaan replied calmly.

By the way, woh Singhania wala case... kya hua? Any updates?
(By the way, woh Singhania wala case... kya hua? Any updates?)

They're coming next week for the final discussion, Ruhan said, crossing his legs.

Then our team will start the work.

Good.

A brief silence settled between them.
Then....

Ruhan leaned forward slightly, narrowing his eyes at him. Something's off.

Avyaan didn't react.

You don't smile for no reason, Ruhan continued, studying him.v

Especially not like that.

Like what? Avyaan asked, unfazed.

Like you just saw something... interesting.

A pause.

Avyaan looked back at him calm, unreadable. Overthinking is bad for health.

Ruhan chuckled.
Yeah? And ignoring things isn't your style either.

Another pause.
This one... slightly heavier.

Ruhan leaned back, a slow grin forming on his face.

Kaun thi?

Avyaan's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
Don't start.

Oh, I'm definitely starting, Ruhan smirked.
Because the day Avyaan Khurana gets distracted by someone...He let the sentence hang.

...I want full details.

Avyaan picked up the file in front of him, clearly dismissing the topic.
Get a life, Ruhan.

Ruhan laughed.
Already have one. Yours is just more entertaining.

But even as the conversation shifted
his eyes didn't miss it.

That one-second pause. That one flicker. And just like that.... Ruhan knew. Something had changed.

_________________________

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