[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.
------
When he had compromised his dreams and...
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Xavier glanced at his wristwatch, waiting for the knock on his cabin door. He was expecting Satya's prized disciple—the one who never failed to remind him how irresponsibility could come wrapped in talent.
After their last blowout, he had toyed with the idea of firing her. It would've been easy—a clean cut. But no, that wasn't his style. Besides, while her actions had been undeniably careless, he wasn't blameless. He'd pushed her buttons, goaded her into snapping, and damn, the fire she'd shown was... exhilarating.
Still, he wasn't about to let Satya—queen of coddling proteges—meddle in this mess. She'd rush to defend her precious "baby genius," and Xavier didn't have the patience to deal with her nonsense.
She's young.
That excuse made him snort. When he was young, he'd fought tooth and nail for every damn thing in his life—education, love, success. He'd stood toe-to-toe with Subhadra's parents, convincing them to accept their relationship. He'd groveled before skeptical investors, selling them his dreams. And when his wife broke his heart, he didn't crumble. Being young was no excuse for idiocy.
A knock at the door shattered his thoughts. He straightened in his chair, his lips curling into a grin that wasn't entirely kind. "Come in."
There she was, the girl who had dared to challenge him. She wore a loose-fitting dress, much like the last time, her hair pulled back into the same tight high bun. Her face was calm yet expectant as she stood silently by the door, a file clutched in her hand.
Too shy to speak now?
"You wanted to discuss that day, didn't you?" He leaned back, motioning lazily toward the chair opposite him. "Go ahead."
She hesitated for a heartbeat, her lips pressing into a thin line before she walked in, closing the door behind her. With measured steps, she crossed the room, placing the file she carried on his desk.
"Tsk, you already slammed this on my desk the other day." He slid his palm over the corner of the desk, raising an eyebrow. "Memory slipping, Miss Ashok?"
Her eyes narrowed. "No, sir."
Ah, so you do respect me. Sir, huh?
If anything, he was enjoying this moment. He rarely found himself teasing his subordinates, but this girl—this haughty, fiery girl—brought out a side of him he hadn't seen in years. He couldn't help but poke and prod, eager to test her patience.
"Should I start, sir?" she asked, her voice laced with venom as she hissed the last word.
He suppressed a grin. The thinly veiled loathing dripping from her tone was oddly entertaining.
"By all means, do the deed," he said casually, watching as her lips moved to mutter something inaudible. It was the first time he noticed them—full, pink, and slightly pouty. They tugged in irritation, and to his shock, the thought popped into his mind: they are so kissable.
What the fuck? He blinked rapidly and cleared his throat, trying to mask the sudden rush of heat in his chest. "Sorry, you were saying?"
It was unfathomable how his mind had leaped from something so mundane to something so utterly inappropriate. Xavier had always prided himself on his composure, but now he felt insulted by his own lack of restraint—like a block of butter sliding helplessly across a hot pan.
The discussion carried on for nearly an hour. Thankfully, his mind behaved itself after that slip. He listened, noting the spark and confidence she exuded. In such a short time, she had compiled an impressive amount of information. He could see why Satya valued her so highly. She's good, he admitted inwardly. But of course, he wasn't about to let her know that.
"Thank you, sir, for this opportunity," she said finally, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
For a moment, his eyes lingered on her. Her cheeks glowed under the bright lights, rich and warm, like melted dark chocolate. His fingers twitched with the absurd urge to reach out, touch her skin, and glide his tongue over to get a taste of it.
Get a fucking grip, Xavier!
He inhaled sharply, exhaling slowly through his nose. His hands gripped the armrests of his chair as he worked to steady himself. She had no idea how close he was to losing his composure, and he wasn't about to let her see it.
"It was better than I expected," he said finally, flashing her a grin that was half amusement, half challenge.
Really? You just had to mock her, didn't you?
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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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