Sunil Malhotra was known as the man who never smiled.
At twenty-eight, he was the youngest CEO in Pune corporate world. Cold eyes. Sharp jawline. Tailored suits worth more than most people's yearly salary. His name alone could make investors nervous.
But love?
He hated it.
Not because he didn't believe in it.
Because love had destroyed him.
Five years ago, the woman he trusted the most had chosen money over him. Since then, Sunil had built walls taller than his glass skyscraper.
"Emotions are weakness," he often said.
And weakness had no place in his empire.
The Girl From Nowhere. Chandni verma had nothing.
No rich family. No big surname. Just dreams and courage.
She had moved to Pune with one suitcase and a promise to herself — I will never give up.
After weeks of rejection, she finally got an interview at Malhotra Group of Industries.
People whispered in the lobby.
"His temper is dangerous."
"He fires people for breathing wrong."
Chandni swallowed her fear and stepped inside the CEO's cabin.
And for the first time in his life…
Sunil Malhotra was speechless.
Not because she was dressed in designer clothes.
But because her eyes held fire.
"Why should I hire you?" he asked coldly.
"Because I don't give up," she replied calmly. "And you need someone who won't run away from you."
Silence.
No one had ever spoken to him like that.
He hired her.
He didn't know why.
Fire and Ice
Working with Sunil was like walking on broken glass.
He was strict.
Demanding.
Unpredictable.
But Chandni didn't fear him.
When he shouted, she stayed calm.
When he ignored her, she worked harder.
When he tried to intimidate her, she looked straight into his eyes.
One evening, after a late meeting, the office was empty.
Rain poured outside.
Thunder cracked across the sky.
Sunil was finishing a report when suddenly the lights went out.
She gasped softly.
Darkness.
Footsteps.
Then a voice near her.
"Afraid?"
It was Sunil.
"No," she replied, even though her heart raced.
Lightning flashed through the window — illuminating them standing too close.
Closer than professional boundaries allowed.
For a second… something shifted.
But Sunil stepped back.
"This is a workplace. Don't misunderstand anything."
Sunil clenched her fists.
"I never do, sir."
But both of them knew something had begun.
The Secret
Days turned into weeks.
Sunil started noticing things.
How she skipped lunch to save money.
How she secretly sent half her salary to her mother.
How she helped the office peon with paperwork.
She wasn't pretending.
She was real.
And real scared him.
One night, he followed her.
He didn't know why.
She didn't go to a party.
She didn't meet a rich boyfriend.
She went to a small NGO and taught children for free.
Sunil stood outside, watching her laugh with kids.
Something inside his frozen heart cracked.
"Why?" he asked later when he confronted her.
"Why what?"
"Why do you do this? What do you gain?"
She smiled softly.
"Peace."
He had billions.
But no peace.Cm
The Past Returns
Just when Sunil began softening…
She returned.
Reena Kapoor.
His ex.
Now a successful model.
She walked into his office like she still owned him.
"I made a mistake, Sunil" she said dramatically. "Let's fix it."
Chandni saw them together.
Saw Rhea touching his arm.
Saw old memories flicker in his eyes.
Her heart hurt.
So this was reality.
Rich men always returned to their kind.
That night, Sunil submitted her resignation.
Sunil exploded.
"Why are you quitting?!"
"Because I don't belong here," she said quietly.
He grabbed her wrist.
"Don't decide what belongs to me."
Tears filled her eyes.
"I'm not your property."
Silence.
That sentence hit him hard.
He released her slowly.
For the first time, Sunil felt fear.
Not of losing money.
But of losing her.
Truth
Reena revealed her real motive soon enough.
She wanted business shares.
A merger through marriage.
A deal disguised as love.
Aarav finally saw the truth.
The past had blinded him.
But Chandni…
She had never asked for anything.
He rushed to her small rented apartment.
Rain poured again just like the night lights went out.
She opened the door, shocked.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm done running," he said.
From love.
From fear.
From himself.
"I don't know how to love properly," he admitted. "But I know this — when you're not near me, everything feels empty."
Chandni eyes softened.
"You're scared."
"Yes."
"Good," she whispered. "Because I am too."
And for the first time in years…
Sunil Malhotra smiled.
Not the CEO.
Not the billionaire.
Just a man in love.
Epilogue: The Man Who Learned to Feel
One year late.
Not a Fairytale
Their love wasn't perfect.
They fought.
They misunderstood.
They struggled.
The media called her a gold digger.
Board members questioned his decisions.
Society judged her background.
But every time she felt small…
He stood beside her.
And every time his old wounds resurfaced…
She held his hand.
Love didn't make them weak.
It made them brave
Malhotra Group launched a foundation for
underprivileged children.
Chandni was the head.
Sunil watched her from across the hall, pride in his eyes.
A reporter asked him, "Mr. Malhotra, what changed you?"
He looked at her.
And answered softly:
"Love didn't destroy me."
"It saved me."
THE END OR JUST THE BEGINNING?