Roy Textiles
Adhvik ordered Adhya to come to his cabin and strode away without waiting.
Adhya followed… or at least, she tried to.
Outside Adhvik's Cabin
Adhvik had been waiting inside his cabin for five whole minutes.
Unbeknownst to him—or so she thought—Adhya had been standing right outside the door for the same time, frozen in place, whispering to herself:
Adhya (to herself):
"Why, Adhya? Why did you open your big mouth? Now this Dracula is going to drain my blood without a single blink. Oh God, please save me this time. I'll offer one kilo of laddoos at the temple. I swear. I know I didn't fulfill my last vow, but this time, all dues will be cleared. Please, God… SAVE me!"
Inside, Adhvik was watching her behavior through the cabin's side glass.
She kept raising her hand to knock, only to withdraw again. Her expressions? Comedy gold.
He smirked.
Then, with a click of the remote, the door swung open automatically.
Adhvik: "Miss, I think it's time you came in."
Adhya jumped, startled. She had no excuse left.
Adhya: "May I come in, sir?"
Adhvik (coolly): "Yeah. Come in."
As soon as she stepped in, the door closed behind her.
Adhvik: "Miss…?"
Adhya: "Adhya, sir."
Adhvik: "So, Miss Adhya, I believe you owe me both an apology and a thank you."
Adhya: "I'm sorry, sir. Honestly, I didn't know you were our CEO. If I had, I wouldn't have said a word."
Adhvik (raising an eyebrow): "So... if I were the CEO, you wouldn't have apologized?"
Adhya (nervous): "No, no, sir—I didn't mean it like that!"
Adhvik: "Either way, you made a mistake. And mistakes require punishment."
Adhya's breath hitched.
Her heart raced.
Was he going to fire her?
No, being fired from Roy Group was like a professional death sentence. No company would take her after that.
Adhya (anxious): "W-What kind of punishment, sir?"
Adhvik (calmly): "You'll find out. But first, why did you leave the club so suddenly last night?"
The color drained from Adhya's face.
Adhya (shocked): "You… Have you seen me there? How?"
Adhvik (mockingly): "Wrong answer."
Adhya: "I left due to… some personal reasons, sir."
Adhvik (nodding): "Alright. Now, your punishment…"
Adhya stiffened again.
Adhvik: "You have to become my girlfriend."
⚡ 440 volts. Direct hit.
Adhya (gaping): "W-What?! Are you serious, sir? Because if this is a joke, it's a horrible one."
Adhvik: "I've never been more serious."
Adhya: "How can you even say that? You barely know me!"
Adhvik: "Do people need years to know someone? Should I wear a badge saying I'm in love?"
Adhya: "You can't just walk up to someone and say 'be my girlfriend'."
Adhvik (offended): "So now I'm just some guy on the street to you?"
His voice hardened, that sharp edge returning.
Adhya: "Then why do you want me to be your girlfriend?"
Adhvik (bluntly): "Because I like you."
Silence.
Adhya stood frozen, stunned.
Adhya: "Sir… we've known each other for less than a day!"
Adhvik (checking his watch): "Correction—18 hours, 15 minutes, and 55 seconds."
Adhvik (softening):
"Ever since I saw you at the club, I've been... lost.
Adhvik Roy—who doesn't smile for anything—was smiling.
And you know why?"
He stepped closer.
Adhvik (gently): "Because of you."
Adhya's heartbeat thundered in her ears.
He was so close. His presence, intense. Magnetic.
Adhya (composing herself): "I'm sorry, but I don't feel the same way. I… I don't like you."
Something snapped in Adhvik.
He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her closer.
Adhvik (angrily): "Then who do you like? Raghav?"
Adhya, stunned for a second by his touch, suddenly flared up.
Adhya (furious): "WHO told you I like Raghav?! He's just a friend!"
That shut him up.
He felt… relieved.
But Adhya winced.
Adhya: "Please let go. You're hurting me."
Realizing his grip, Adhvik immediately released her and stepped back.
Adhvik (guilty): "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."
He helped her to the sofa and sat on his knees.
Adhvik: "I overreacted. Forgive me."
Adhya blinked in disbelief.
Was this the same Adhvik Roy that people feared?
Adhya (softly): "Sir… I still can't be your girlfriend. Please try to understand. I need time to know you, to think."
Adhvik: "How much time? One hour? Two? Five?"
Adhya (startled): "Sir, have you lost it?! This isn't a rapid-fire quiz. This is my life!"
Adhvik (smirking): "Then take all the time you want. But I want the answer to be 'yes'."
Adhya stared at him, baffled.
Adhya (thinking):
What is this man? Everyone says he's arrogant, bossy, ruthless… and here I am melting just because he said 'sorry.'
God… I know I still haven't offered the laddoos—but this is not how karma is supposed to work!
Adhvik (teasing): "What are you thinking?"
Adhya (startled): "N-Nothing, sir."
Adhvik (mock-annoyed): "Stop calling me sir."
Adhya: "Then what should I call you, sir?"
Adhvik: "Call me Adhvik. Or make up a nickname if you want."
Adhya: "Calling you by name at the office feels… awkward."
Adhvik: "Then at least call me Adhvik when we're alone."
Adhya: "Okay… Adhvik."
Adhvik (smiling): "That's my girl."
He gently flicked her nose, making her eyes widen.
Just then, a knock.
Rajat: "May I come in, sir?"
Adhvik stood up, voice back to business.
Adhvik: "Come in."
Rajat: "Sir, Mr. Singhania wants a word."
Adhya (standing quickly): "I think I should go now. You carry on."
She rushed out before either could stop her.
Outside the Cabin
Adhya took deep breaths to calm herself.
Adhya (muttering): "This Dracula has lost it. What was that? A proposal?! And he was at the club too? So those bodyguards were his?!"
Great. If I say no, I'm blacklisted. If I say yes, I'm insane. God, what do I do?!
Inside the Cabin
Rajat was frozen.
Was it his imagination—or did he just see Adhvik Roy… smile?
Adhvik: "Anything else?"
Rajat (snapping out): "N-No, sir. I'll leave."
As he walked out, Adhvik smiled again, thinking of Adhya.
But then shook himself and got back to work.
Though his lips still carried the ghost of that smile.