[FEATURED IN WATTPAD INDIA PROFILE]
❝Pioneering the art of constructing love, my Kanmani.❞
Xavier teased her skin, slowly caressing her cheeks and her lips trembled.
❝You don't dare!❞
And he kissed her.
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When he had compromised his dreams and...
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Year- 2023
Krithika was over the moon; finally, all her hard work had paid off.
A month ago, she'd signed her permanent contract. This dream job she'd once fantasized about was now a very real thing she could hold in her hands.
She grinned as her salary receipt popped up on her laptop screen. It was a modest start, sure, but she knew she had the potential to climb the ladder fast if she poured her energy into Xhasis's growth.
Two months ago, she'd won the Star Achiever award, and from that moment, she'd started daydreaming about the day she'd officially be an executive—a permanent position under Satya, not just a "trainee." And today was that day. After all the late nights, stress, and endless hustle, she'd finally made it. And wow, did that victory taste sweet!
And as if the universe wanted to reward her even more, she'd been invited to Satya's birthday party tonight. Rumor had it that this was a private gathering. She was thrilled to be among the chosen few.
She couldn't stop smiling. Satya was more than just a boss to her; she'd become like an older sister. At work, Satya was a powerhouse, fierce and demanding, calling the shots and commanding respect. But outside the office? She was soft, a big-hearted support system for anyone who needed her.
Case in point: When Satya found out about Krithika's family drama—particularly her father's outdated, sexist nonsense—she'd taken it upon herself to go and talk to him. She hadn't even told Krithika. Krithika only found out when her mother texted her a week later, thrilled with how the conversation had gone.
No one had ever cared about Krithika's ambitions like that before. Satya, who could have replaced her with a snap of her fingers, had actually taken the time to fight her corner. Who does that? What boss goes to such lengths? Absolutely no one.
Satya had become her superhero. Her ultimate support system.
And it wasn't just for her—Satya was like that for the whole team. She knew everyone's family, met with them, and took the time to understand who they were. She was the heart and soul of Xhasis, and everyone adored her.
And then... there was Xavier.
The thought alone made her wrinkle her nose like she'd caught a whiff of spoiled dal. Sure, she believed everyone had some redeeming qualities—even monsters probably had a soft side. But Xavier? He seemed determined to prove her wrong.
Working with him was an Olympic sport in patience. She'd always prided herself on her professionalism, but he tested her limits. "Difficult" didn't even cover it. The man seemed born to create a toxic work environment. Just thinking about the tense atmosphere he created made her grind her teeth. He expected absolute perfection—and heaven help you if you delivered anything less.
She shivered, remembering the infamous Xavier glare he'd thrown her way once. He'd nearly incinerated her on the spot, all because she'd made one tiny mistake. And she'd been a trainee, for crying out loud. But did that matter to him? Nope. It was like he didn't even see people, only errors to be eradicated.
Emotion never cracked that stone-cold face of his. When he was furious—throwing things, shouting over trivial mistakes—his face stayed blank, his mouth pressed into a tight line like he was some kind of malfunctioning robot. She couldn't understand it.
Is that even humanly possible? she'd often wondered.
She'd only seen him smile once, a little over a month after she'd joined. Some tall, striking woman had come to visit him, and just before he ducked back into his office, she'd caught a glimpse of it—a real, honest-to-god smile, dimples and all. He looked like an entirely different person, soft and almost... kind. She'd been momentarily stunned, thinking she'd seen some hidden, human side of the man. She hadn't even known he was capable of smiling like that, or that his lips were... well, so full and—
She felt her cheeks heat up and shook her head to clear it. When did I start noticing his lips? And really, how could a guy have lips so plump and pink that they'd make half the women she knew envious?
She'd been in relationships before—a couple, at least, if those even counted—and they were perfectly nice guys. Friendly, reliable, but not exactly heart-racing. She'd kissed them, sure, but it never stirred anything beyond a polite interest. She'd come to think that attraction was just a myth, that "romance" was something made up for movies and books.
And yet, somehow, whenever she thought about those lips, a faint spark ran through her. Unbelievable.
Sure, she knew Xavier was older—probably at least a decade older—and she was well aware he was divorced, likely still nursing his broken heart. Why was she even thinking about all that? Ah, yes, she felt an unexplainable pull towards him, as strange as it sounded.
But all those weird thoughts flew out the window as soon as he opened his mouth. Attraction or not, she couldn't stand him. In a heartbeat, her mind went from wondering about those lips to grumbling about his existence. Just like that, her hormones went on strike, and the heat that had crept up the back of her neck fizzled out.
She glanced down at the invitation in her hand and sighed. She was genuinely looking forward to the party, eager to meet more people, and maybe even make a few friends.
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Do tell me what you feel about this and the upcoming chapters, always open to positive criticism.
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