Devika sharma spent the whole day at her desk, typing, thinking faster and handling her marketing tasks like it was nothing for her. Peole around her often panicked when they saw so much work. But devika stayed calm and focused.
"Done" , she whispered, After hitting submit.
Arshi (devika bestf) sitting beside her, pushed her chair back." I swear, devika. You work so fast, teach me your ways.
Devika laughed softly." I just like finishing things on time"
Arshi muttered "show off"
Before Devika could reply, ishaan and karan walked in, with coffees in their hands.
"For our marketing Champs", karan said and place cups of coffee near Devika and Arshi.
Ishaan leans closer to devika." You didn't skip breakfast, right?
Devika pout. " Why do you always think i don't eat?
Ishaan said " because you don't,
Karan laughs. " Here we go again"
But Devika smiled, she liked this daily routine. After moving to banglore, the four of them had become each others support system.
Arshi is her roommate on the seond floor, ishaan and karan lived on the fourth floor. Same building.
Same chaos.
Same comfort.
By evening, Devika finished her all work. Her team appreciated her ideas, and the manager smiled at her proudly.
Manager said, " you are doing great, devika"
She nodded, hiding a warm smile.
AFTER OFFICE.
They reached the building.
Arshi suddenly announced " we are going clubbing tonight. No excuse"
Karan clapped " finally, A break"
Ishaan shifted his bag." Devika...you are coming?
She nodded. " Yes, i want to relax"
"Relax, not faint" ishaan muttered.
Devika rolled her eye
Getting ready.
Devika wore a simple black dress. Nothing fancy, but it suited her. She just curled the end of her hairs and added a little lip gloss.
When she stepped out,
Ishaan was waiting in the corridor.
He saw her, and stood frozen.
Ishaan said awkardly, " you look..nice"
Devika smiled. " Thankyou"
Arshi came out in red dress.
Karan whistled dramatically.
Then all of them left for club.
Inside club.
The moment they entered, there were loud music, lights flashing everywhere. People were dancing and laughing.
Karan dragged Arshi to the dance floor instantly.
Ishaan stayed with devika, keep her close.
"Don't drink too much" he warned.
Devika grinned " just one"
Its wasn't just one.
She had two.
Then three
Then four.
Soon she was laughing at everything and everyone, her cheeks warm and her steps become little unsteady.
"Devika, stop drinking now" ishaan said, trying to take her glass.
She held glass tighter " Let me enjoy, please. I am fine"
Before ishaan could say, she slipped away from him and walked towards Arshi, laughing and dancing with her
For the first time in the week, her body felt light.
No deadlines, no pressure, no morning meetings.
Just music
Just friends
Ishaan kept eyes on her from the bar corner, his protective loom never leaving her. Not even once. Karan tried to drag him to dance, but ishaan refused.
" I am not leaving, devika alone". Ishaan muttered.
Karan rolled his eyes. " Bro, she is dancing, not fighting a war".
Devika noticed him watching and stuck her tongue at him.
Ishaan shook his head but smiled softly.
Arshi leaned towards Devika and shouted over the music, " tonight, you are glowing, yaar!"
Devila laughed." Tonight, i am free"
But the freedom has a way to ending too fast.
Because the moment she turned to grab drink, she collided into something.
No
Not something.
Someone.
Tall
Solid
Unmoving like wall.
VIKRAM OBEROI. (Male lead)
Black shirt, sleeves rolled slightly, eyes darker under the lights.
He stared down at her as if she was the last person he expected to see.
"You", he said, cold voice
Devika blinked. "Yes, me. And you standing in my way"
His jaw tightened.
She didn't know him.
She didn't know his name.
She didn't know he was the CEO of the company she work for.
But he knew her.
He knew exactly who she was.
Vikram had seen her file.
Seen her work.
Seen her photos.
He knew her name before she ever spoke it.
And yet, she didn't even know she was arguing with the most powerful man in the world.
He took small step closer.
Not touching.
Just enough to make her heartbeat stumble.
"You should be careful" he said, cold voice.
Devika frown."of what? Walking? Because you blocked the way.
No one talked him like that
No one dared.
But she didn't know that.
She didn't even care.
The alcohol in her system made her bold, sharp and unpredictable.
" I am talking about your drink" he said, cold voice.
Devika looked down, her drink was titled dangerously close to spilling on his shirt.
"Oh" she looks at him " well, maybe don't appear like wall.
His brow lifted slightly, like she was...entertaining.
That irritated her even more.
She pushed past him, annoyed.
But he followed her with his eyes.
Then.
Vikram saw something that froze his blood.
A man across club watching devika too closely,
With too much interest.
With look virkam recognized too well.
A look that spelled trouble.
Vikram heartbeat fasten.
No.
Not tonight.
Not this girl.
He moved.
On the other side.
ishaan returned with water bottles and stopped in his way, when he saw Devika aruging with the tall stranger.
The man had strange presence,
Too calm
Too dangerous
Too dangerous.
"I am going there" ishaan said, instantly.
Karan grabbed his arm. "Stop, she is fine"
"She is drunk" ishaan said, "she argues when she drunk"
" And you fight when you are angry" karan said " let's oberserve first"
But ishaan's eyes didn't leave Devika.
Back to the Devika and stranger.
She found a spot near the bar and leaned her elbows on the counter, trying to steady her head.
The stranger, stood behind her, not touching , not speaking but there.
His presence pressed against her back like a shadow.
Devika turned slightly, " are you following me?"
"No" he took sip of his drink."i am watching"
"Watching what" devika said.
"You" he said simply.
Her breath stilled.
"What--why--?"
Before she finished, a man near by brush too close too her back, his hand almost touching her waist.
Vikram's eyes narrowed instantly.