Aarohi tightened her grip on the file in her hands.
"Relax. It's just an interview," she whispered to herself.
But her heart refused to listen.
It had been three months.
Three months since that night.
The hotel.
The silence.
The mistake.
She inhaled sharply and pushed the memories away.
She needed this job.
Arora Global Headquarters
The building towered above the city like a monument of power and wealth. Glass walls. Polished floors. Cold elegance.
"Mr. Arora will see you now," the receptionist said politely.
Aarohi swallowed.
Mr. Arora.
She stepped inside the private elevator that led directly to the CEO's floor.
The doors opened.
And her world shifted.
CEO Office
The office was vast. Minimalist. Powerful. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city skyline.
A deep voice broke the silence.
"Come in."
Her breath stopped.
That voice.
Slowly, she looked up.
And there he was.
Kabir Arora.
Sharp features. Controlled expression. Dark eyes that missed nothing.
The same man from that night.
His gaze froze on her face.
"You?"
Just one word.
But it carried shock. Recognition. Calculation.
Aarohi lowered her eyes immediately.
"Yes… sir."
Sir.
As if they were strangers.
Kabir stood up from his chair and walked toward her. Each step deliberate. Controlled. Dangerous.
"I don't forget faces," he said quietly.
Aarohi instinctively placed a hand over her stomach.
Kabir noticed.
His eyes followed the movement.
And then—
They widened.
"Are you… pregnant?"
The air grew heavy.
"Yes."
Her voice was steady. Her heart was not.
Kabir's jaw tightened.
"How far along?"
"Three months."
Exactly three months.
The night flashed in his mind.
The hotel suite.
No protection.
No names exchanged.
No promises made.
His eyes darkened.
"Is it mine?"
The question was cold. Direct. Brutal.
Aarohi looked at him, hurt flickering in her eyes.
"You were the only one."
Silence filled the room.
Kabir studied her carefully. She wasn't lying. He could tell.
He ran a hand through his hair.
"This changes things."
Aarohi frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You're not here for an interview anymore."
Her eyes widened. "Excuse me?"
"You're moving into my penthouse."
Shock crashed into her.
"What?"
Kabir's voice turned firm, authoritative.
"If that child is mine, my heir will not grow up without my name."
Anger flared inside her.
"I don't need your money."
He stepped closer.
"I'm not offering money."
Pause.
"I'm offering a contract."
Her heart pounded.
"What kind of contract?"
"Marriage."
The word fell between them like a bomb.
"You can't be serious."
"I don't joke about my legacy."
"You don't even know me," she shot back.
"I know enough," he replied calmly. "You're carrying my child."
There was something possessive in his tone. Something territorial.
"And if I refuse?"
Kabir's lips curved slightly—not in humor, but in warning.
"Then I'll fight for custody."
Her breath caught.
"You wouldn't."
"I always win."
The confidence in his voice sent a chill down her spine.
Aarohi turned toward the window, trying to think.
She needed stability.
She needed security.
She needed protection—for her baby.
But marrying a man who treated relationships like business deals?
Kabir's voice broke her thoughts.
"By tonight, I want your answer, Ms…?"
"Aarohi."
"Aarohi," he repeated, tasting the name slowly.
"Don't make me wait."
She walked out of the office, her legs weak.
Three months ago, it was one reckless night.
Now, it was a lifetime decision.
And Kabir Arora was not a man who took no for an answer.