The morning rays of the bright sun hit the window, slipping through the curtains, only to fall upon the empty bed where the lovebirds once lay. It was fortunate that the rooms were soundproof; otherwise, the hoarse moans from the washroom would have escaped into the halls.
Aryan and Sanju were lost in their morning workout, a reunion of passion after a long time apart. They emerged from the washroom back-to-back, each wrapped in a bathrobe, the fresh scent of wash gel mixed with the undeniable fragrance of love lingering around them. Sanju’s cheeks were flushed crimson, her blush telling tales of their morning romance without her uttering a word.
“Aryan, are you crazy? Why don’t you be responsible?” Sanju huffed, adjusting her robe.
“What did I do, sweetheart?” Aryan asked, flashing a mischievous smile.
“Do you want me to wear a turtle neck hoodie for lunch?” she grumbled, pointing to her neck and shoulders.
“Of course not, lovey,” Aryan chuckled.
“Look at my neck, shoulder, and cheek,” Sanju said, glaring at him.
“Love, come on, let me help you conceal my pride,” Aryan teased, stepping closer.
“No, stay away for the rest of the day. I can do it on my own,” she retorted, pushing him back.
“And don’t forget to do the same for me. My scaredy cat turned wild some time back, so I badly need your concealer too,” Aryan smirked.
“Shut up, naughty monkey,” Sanju snapped, trying not to laugh.
“Better don’t tell me I’m naughty,” Aryan warned playfully, “else you may have to take a wash again.”
“Chandrasekar Sir has invited us for lunch,” she reminded him, calming herself. “Aren’t you scared about it?”
“I can’t keep fearing and waste my precious time with you, love,” Aryan said, pulling her closer. “I want to live every moment loving you.”
“I love you, Aryan,” Sanju whispered, melting into his embrace.
“I love you, Sanjana. I love you, my sweetheart,” Aryan whispered back.
“Fine, I’m hungry. Let me change and we shall go down for breakfast,” Sanju said, pulling away reluctantly.
“Okay,” Aryan agreed, smiling warmly.
They dressed quickly and made their way downstairs, where Ranjith was already waiting.
“Good morning, sir,” Ranjith greeted, bowing slightly.
“Good morning, Ranjith,” Aryan replied.
“Sir, shall I arrange for security to follow us? Should we do any backup plan?” Ranjith asked.
“No backup plans, Ranjith,” Aryan said firmly. “Let the guards follow us, but only we three will enter his residence. He won’t make any immediate move, so let’s not jump in.”
“Okay, sir. We shall start by 11:30 and reach there by 12:40.”
“Get a bouquet for him,” Aryan instructed.
“Already done, sir. Also, we received a call from the UK client regarding the project approval. They’re willing to sign the deal to promote our cosmetics across the UK. You’ll have to travel next week to finalize the contract and meet the CEO and marketing executives.”
“We’ll let them know by tomorrow, Ranjith,” Aryan said after a moment’s thought.
“Fine, sir.”
After finishing breakfast, Aryan and Sanju moved to the living room. Aryan turned to her with a serious expression.
“Sanju,” he called gently.
“Yeah, tell me,” she responded.
“Listen, today’s lunch meet is less about partnership discussions and more about offending and threatening you,” Aryan said carefully.
“I know,” Sanju replied calmly.
“You… know?” Aryan asked, surprised.
“I said I know. I have been called only for a discussion — maybe even to threaten me to leave you,” she said, her voice steady.
“So whatever you are told, just relax and don’t jump to any conclusions on the spot,” Aryan advised.
“Don’t worry, Aryan. I can handle it,” Sanju assured him with a determined look.
“Good. Fine, let’s get ready.”
Aryan dressed in a formal three-piece suit, while Sanju chose a knee-length floral skirt paired with a crisp white shirt. Her hair was half pinned back with a brooch, the rest cascading over her shoulders in soft waves.
They descended the stairs where Ranjith was already waiting. He led them to the car, and Aryan and Sanju settled inside. The drive to DC Residence was quiet, tension hanging in the air. Aryan noticed Sanju fidgeting with her fingers nervously.
He reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently in assurance. Sanju closed her eyes, taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart. When she opened them again, she smiled softly at him.
“Relax, I’m there for you,” Aryan whispered.
“I know,” Sanju whispered back.
“My girl is strong and is not going to give up that easily,” he added with a wink.
“Yes, I will never give up on you. You are mine and only mine,” Sanju said fiercely.
“I’m all yours,” Aryan promised.
Sanju leaned against his shoulder, and he wrapped an arm around her protectively. The rest of the drive was spent in comforting silence, their hands intertwined.
As the royal Lamborghini pulled into DC Residence, a grand five-story mansion surrounded by lush gardens, a sparkling swimming pool, and an attached bar Aryan felt Sanju stiffen slightly beside him. He gave her hand another reassuring squeeze.
They were welcomed by Chandrasekar’s PA at the entrance.
“Welcome, sir,” the PA greeted.
“Thank you,” Aryan replied politely.
“Boss is waiting for you at the garden. Please come.”
The PA led the way while Sanju and Ranjith followed closely behind Aryan. In the garden, Chandrasekar greeted them warmly, engulfing Aryan in a tight hug.
“Welcome, Aryan,” Chandrasekar said heartily.
“Thank you, sir,” Aryan replied with a smile.
“Hello, young miss. Come on, Ranjith,” Chandrasekar greeted the others as well.
Ranjith and Sanju exchanged polite greetings before taking their seats around the outdoor table. Just then, Maya appeared, fresh out of the pool, a towel wrapped around her waist over her swimsuit.
“Hi, Dad. Welcome, Aryan. Nice to see you at our home,” Maya said, her voice sweet and playful.
“Thank you, Ms. Maya,” Aryan responded formally.
“Just a few minutes, I’ll be back after changing,” Maya announced.
“Take your time, princess,” Chandrasekar said indulgently.
“No, Dad. I can’t be late when we have Aryan at our home,” she giggled before disappearing inside to change.
“Fine then, come fast,” Chandrasekar chuckled after her.
Aryan turned to Chandrasekar with a business-like tone. “Sir, where is Naren?”
“He’ll join us after our business talks, Aryan,” Chandrasekar replied.
“Fine,” Aryan nodded.
“So let’s get into business,” Chandrasekar said, leaning forward. “As I mentioned earlier, we will bind together in the cosmetics unit.”
“I’m okay with your choice,” Aryan replied coolly.
“I have two clauses that you need to include in the official papers of our partnership,” Chandrasekar said.
“You can let me know,” Aryan agreed, ready to negotiate.
“First,” Chandrasekar began, “the partners will work in the same place — either DC Groups, ARC Towers, or a new office altogether. The choice is yours.”
“Cosmetics isn’t the only business I run, sir,” Aryan said firmly. “I cannot stay out of ARC Towers. I have other businesses to manage, so I prefer the work location to be ARC Towers.”
“Agreed,” Chandrasekar said easily.
“And the second clause?” Aryan prompted.
“We will have employees from DC and ARC in equal numbers at the business level. That means every department will have one employee from ARC and one from DC,” Chandrasekar explained.
“Good, sir. Agreed,” Aryan said, pleased with the fairness.
“Fine then. You can get the papers ready for our next venture,” Chandrasekar said, smiling.
“You still have one clause left to reveal,” Aryan pointed out calmly.
“We’ll discuss that after lunch,” Chandrasekar said with a sly smile. “That will be a separate agreement before we sign the partnership deal.”
Sanju felt a knot form in her stomach at those words. She instinctively looked at Aryan, her eyes betraying her anxiety. Aryan, always attuned to her, turned to meet her gaze and offered her a warm, reassuring smile. She gave a small nod in return, gathering her courage for whatever was to come.
Naren and Maya returned to the garden shortly, joining them at the table.
“Hey man, sorry I couldn’t be on time,” Naren said, offering Aryan a casual smile.
“It’s okay,” Aryan replied, nodding politely.
“So, shall we start with lunch?” Maya asked brightly, looking around.
“Yes, princess,” Chandrasekar agreed with a fond smile.
Maya quickly instructed the maids to serve the food. She had clearly planned everything well in advance.
“Aryan, today’s lunch is all your favorites,” Maya said sweetly. “I personally took care of the menu.”
She leaned closer with a playful grin. “Surprise… I made this Chicken Biryani especially for you, Aryan.”
Before Aryan could respond, Ranjith spoke up politely, “Sorry, Ms. Maya, boss doesn’t eat non-veg anymore.”
Maya’s smile faltered slightly, but she pressed on. “Ranjith, I know he likes chicken biryani a lot, so if you don’t mind…”
Aryan gave a small, apologetic smile. “He is right, Ms. Maya. I recently switched to only vegetarian. I hope you don’t mind.”
Chandrasekar chuckled, trying to lighten the moment. “That’s okay, princess. Let him have the veg dishes. Daddy will taste your biryani.”
Maya’s face fell visibly, but she forced a smile and turned to her father.
“Maya, serve your biryani, let me judge your cooking,” Naren chimed in, trying to ease the tension.
Chandrasekar turned to Sanjana with a smile. “So, Ms. Sanjana, you’ve been quiet for a long time. Tell me, what would you like to have?”
“I prefer veg dishes, sir,” Sanju replied politely, keeping her tone measured.
“Good,” Chandrasekar nodded approvingly. “How is your work at ARC?”
“It’s good, sir,” Sanju said, sitting a little straighter. “I’m getting exposed to more aspects of business, and my knowledge is being nourished.”
“Smart girl,” Chandrasekar commented.
Sanju smiled politely but felt increasingly uncomfortable. She barely touched her food, nibbling at the minimal servings. When desserts were served, she didn’t even reach for a sweet.
Soon, as the plates were cleared, Chandrasekar spoke again.
“Naren, why don’t you take Sanjana for a garden tour? She will love our garden.”
Sanju instinctively looked at Aryan. He gave her a subtle nod, silently assuring her it was fine. Trusting him, she rose and followed Naren toward the garden.
As they left, Chandrasekar turned to Maya.
“Maya, how about getting us a drink?”
“Sure, Dad. Let me get one for you,” she said and then looked at Aryan. “Aryan, would you like to have a drink?”
“No, thanks, Ms. Maya,” Aryan replied with a small shake of his head.
Maya left to fetch a drink for her father, leaving Aryan and Ranjith alone with Chandrasekar.
“Shall we look to sign the new venture by next week?” Chandrasekar asked, getting straight to business.
“Yes, we can,” Aryan said smoothly. “But as we discussed, while the employees will be equal in number from both sides, the investment must also be equal. However, ARC already holds a standard in the market, so ARC will retain 60% of the business and profit.”
Chandrasekar listened intently, his face thoughtful as Aryan continued.
“The current shareholdings will remain unchanged for the next two years. After that, if you are interested, you may buy shares. We will work under one roof, but only one representative will travel for business purposes—not both simultaneously. For example, we are collaborating with a UK client currently. During such travels, either one will go, but not both.”
Chandrasekar sat back, frowning slightly as he considered Aryan’s words. After a pause, he nodded.
“Okay, I agree. Get your papers done and let my lawyer coordinate with yours to check everything.”
“I’m yet to hear your condition, sir,” Aryan said, a knowing glint in his eyes.
“You always impress me with your smartness, Aryan,” Chandrasekar chuckled. “Well, as I mentioned before, my third clause will be an agreement before we sign the venture.”
“And what is it?” Aryan asked calmly.
“Just something simple,” Chandrasekar said with a slight smile. “Sanjana will not be your PA or an employee of ARC anymore. Ranjith will continue to assist you.”
Aryan didn’t flinch. He simply turned his gaze toward Sanju, who was walking with Naren across the garden, her laughter floating faintly in the air.
“I would ask how Sanjana being my PA bothers this venture,” Aryan said, his voice composed, “but I won’t.”
“So just think over it and let me know,” Chandrasekar said, leaning back confidently.
“You have asked me for a partnership for the first time,” Aryan said, locking eyes with him. “And I will not think twice to accept your words. I agree to your condition.”
“You’re sure?” Chandrasekar asked, clearly surprised at his easy acceptance.
“Yes, I am,” Aryan said firmly.
Ranjith, standing quietly by Aryan’s side, couldn’t hide the tension flickering across his face at his boss’s decision.
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