Chapter 14 CEO
As I stood outside the sleek glass tower that housed my dream office, I felt a mix of emotions swirling inside me. Five years had passed since I'd last seen Vihaan, and now, here I was, about to start my new job in his company. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.
Raj, my closest friend, had been a rock for me throughout the years. We'd stayed in touch despite the distance, and I was grateful to have him in Mumbai too. He'd been my confidant, my partner in crime, and my biggest supporter. But even Raj didn't know about the extent of my past with Vihaan.
As I stepped into the office, I was greeted by the friendly face of the receptionist, who handed me a warm smile and a security badge. The elevator ride to the 23rd floor was a blur of anticipation and anxiety.
When the doors slid open, I saw him standing tall, with an air of confidence and authority that made my heart skip a beat. Vihaan. The man I'd thought I'd never see again. He was talking to a group of people, his eyes locked onto mine for a brief moment before darting back to the discussion.
I felt a sense of unease wash over me. How was I supposed to work under Vihaan's leadership after everything we'd been through? I thought I'd left him and the drama behind, but it seemed like fate had other plans.
As I made my way to my workstation, Vihaan's eyes met mine again, and this time, they held a hint of surprise and curiosity. I wondered what he was thinking, what he was feeling. Was he still hurt? Did he still care?
The questions swirled in my mind as I tried to focus on my new role. But one thing was certain - this was going to be a challenging journey, one that would test my strength, my resolve, and my heart.As I settled into my new workstation, trying to shake off the unease that lingered within me, Vihaan's assistant walked over to me. "Janvi, the CEO would like to see you in his office," she said with a professional smile.
My heart sank. So, it was going to be like that, was it? Vihaan wanted to assert his authority, make it clear that he was the boss. Well, I could play it cool too.
I nodded, taking a deep breath as I stood up. "Thank you, I'll head over right away," I said, trying to sound composed.
As I walked towards Vihaan's office, memories flooded my mind. The late-night conversations, the laughter, the fights, the tears... everything came rushing back. I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the present.
I knocked on the door, and Vihaan's deep voice bid me enter. I took a deep breath and stepped into his office, my eyes locking onto his. The familiar spark was still there, but it was tempered by the professionalism that seemed to radiate from him.
"Janvi," he said, his voice firm but with a hint of warmth. "Welcome to the company. I trust you're settling in well?"
I nodded, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Yes, thank you, Vihaan. The team seems great."
He nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'm glad to hear that. I think we'll have a lot to discuss, Janvi. About the company, about your role... about the past."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. What did he want to talk about? And what did he mean by "the past"? Was this going to be a trip down memory lane, or a discussion about our professional relationship? I leaned forward slightly, my curiosity piqued. "I'm looking forward to it," I said, my voice neutral.Vihaan's eyes seemed to bore into mine, as if searching for any hint of insincerity. But I kept my expression neutral, waiting for him to continue. He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together.
"Good," he said finally. "Let's get down to business then. I want to discuss your role in the company. You're joining as a marketing strategist, but I think there's potential for growth. I'd like to schedule regular meetings with you to discuss your progress and see how we can utilize your skills better."
I nodded, intrigued by the prospect of working closely with him. "That sounds great. I'm looking forward to it."
Vihaan's eyes lingered on mine for a moment before he nodded. "Good. I'll have my assistant schedule the meetings. In the meantime, I'd like you to familiarize yourself with the company's current projects and brainstorm some ideas for our upcoming campaign."
I nodded, taking mental notes. "I'll get started on that right away."
As I stood up to leave, Vihaan's voice stopped me. "Janvi?"
I turned back to him, my heart skipping a beat. "Yes?"
"I meant what I said," he said, his voice low and sincere. "I'm glad you're here."
I smiled, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Thanks, Vihaan. I'm glad to be here too." But as I left his office, I couldn't shake off the feeling that this was just the beginning of a complicated dance between us.As I left Vihaan's office, I felt a sense of determination wash over me. I was going to keep things professional between us, no matter what. I focused on familiarizing myself with the company's current projects and brainstorming ideas for the upcoming campaign.
Just as I was getting into the zone, I heard a knock on my desk. I looked up to see Raj standing there, a huge smile on his face. "Hey, Janvi! Long time no see!" he exclaimed, holding out a bouquet of flowers.
I was taken aback by the surprise gift, but I couldn't help smiling. "Raj! What are you doing here?"
Raj's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I heard you joined the company, and I just had to come say hi. But... wow." His expression changed to shock as he glanced at the company logo on my ID badge. "You're working for Vihaan?"
I nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. "Yeah, he's the CEO here."
Raj's eyes widened in surprise. "No way! I had no idea. What are the chances, right?"
Before I could respond, Vihaan's voice boomed from across the office. "Janvi, what's going on here?"
I turned to see Vihaan standing in the doorway of his office, his eyes blazing with anger. "Raj, what are you doing here?" he demanded, his voice cold.
Raj's smile faltered, and he took a step back. "I was just dropping by to welcome Janvi to the team, Vihaan."
Vihaan's eyes narrowed. "I don't pay Janvi to socialize with her friends. I pay her to work. And speaking of which, Janvi, I need to see you in my office. Now."
I felt a surge of frustration at his tone, but I stood up, trying to keep my cool. "I'll be right there, Vihaan."
As I followed Vihaan into his office, he handed me a massive stack of files. "I want these reports done by the end of the day, and I want to see a draft of the campaign presentation by tomorrow morning. Do you think you can handle that?"
I felt my eyes widen at the workload, but I nodded, determination burning within me. "I'll get it done, Vihaan."
Vihaan's eyes lingered on mine, a challenge flashing in their depths. "Good. I expect nothing but perfection from you, Janvi."