The morning sun filtered through the towering glass windows of the office building, casting soft, golden streaks on the pristine marble floors. The air was tinged with the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee, mixed with the subtle hum of early conversations and the occasional ring of a phone. Aarohi stepped into the building, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder, feeling the familiar knot of nerves tightening in her stomach.
Her first day had been a blur of paperwork, introductions, and attempting to remember which corridor led where. But today, she promised herself, she would try to be a little braver. A little more open. At least, she'd have Mia by her side — the one constant in her life that had never wavered.
As she stepped into the main office floor, her gaze immediately landed on a small group gathered by the coffee machine. And there, right at the center of it, was Mia.
Aarohi smiled despite herself. There she was — laughing brightly, one hand animatedly gesturing mid-air as she recounted something to the small circle of new faces around her. That was Mia, always the center of attention, always effortlessly weaving herself into people's lives.
It had been this way since college. Aarohi's mind flickered to a memory, the kind that surfaced on its own when least expected.
Flashback
She was seventeen, standing awkwardly at the edge of the bustling college courtyard, clutching a book to her chest like a lifeline. The world around her had felt overwhelming — new faces, new expectations, the sheer weight of it all. And then Mia had come crashing into her world, quite literally, spilling her drink onto Aarohi's shoes in her hurry.
"Shit, I'm so sorry! God, you'd think I'd have learned how to walk straight by now," Mia had grinned, offering a napkin and an introduction in the same breath.
From that moment, it had been Mia who pulled her into conversations, dragged her to events, made sure she wasn't swallowed by the corners of the room. If not for Mia, Aarohi was certain her college life would have been spent buried in books and avoiding eye contact.
End of Flashback
Now, watching Mia, it was like nothing had changed.
Aarohi drew in a steadying breath and approached the group. Mia noticed her instantly, her face lighting up.
"There you are! Sleep through your alarm again, didn't you?" Mia teased, nudging her playfully.
Aarohi rolled her eyes, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "Maybe."
Mia turned to the group, gesturing between them. "Guys, this is Aarohi — my best friend and partner-in-crime since forever."
Aarohi gave a small, shy smile as the others turned their attention to her.
"This is Priya," Mia began, pointing to a tall girl with sharp features and sleek, straight hair that looked like it belonged in a magazine. She wore a deep red lipstick that somehow made her appear both intimidating and effortlessly elegant.
"Hey," Priya said with a small nod, her expression neutral but not unkind.
"That's Nikhil — our resident charmer, though don't let him near your coffee order, he'll get it wrong every time."
Aarohi's gaze shifted to the tall, lanky guy with unruly hair and a crooked grin. He raised an imaginary glass in greeting. "Guilty as charged."
"And this is Natasha — she's new too. Just joined last week."
The petite girl next to Priya gave a warm smile. "Nice to meet you."
"And over there," Mia added, pointing to a man probably in his mid-forties with graying temples and kind eyes, "is Mr. Kapoor — he's basically everyone's favorite person here. And no, I'm not just saying that because he brings donuts sometimes."
Mr. Kapoor chuckled, waving a hand. "Don't let her fool you. She only likes me for the chocolate ones."
The group laughed, and Aarohi felt some of the weight ease from her shoulders. It was easier than she expected, being around them. The conversation flowed effortlessly, with Mia steering it as she always did, dropping jokes and funny stories from their college days that left Aarohi both mortified and grateful.
As the minutes passed, more employees began to trickle in, and the once calm office started to fill with low chatter. Then, quite suddenly, a ripple of excitement spread through the room.
Someone whispered, "The CEO's coming today."
Another voice joined in, "Is he actually here? Damn, that's rare."
Aarohi frowned slightly, looking around as heads turned toward the main entrance.
"What's going on?" she asked, leaning toward Mia.
Mia's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Apparently, the CEO of the whole hotel chain is visiting today. He barely ever comes to this branch."
Before Aarohi could respond, Priya chimed in. "You haven't heard about him?"
Aarohi shook her head.
Priya leaned in, lowering her voice slightly as if sharing a secret. "Mr. Aryan Khanna. He built this entire hotel empire from scratch. Some people say he wasn't always… legitimate."
Nikhil jumped in, grinning. "There's this old rumor that he was a mafia don back in the day. Real underworld stuff. Scar and everything."
Natasha scoffed. "Come on, that's just office gossip."
"I don't know," Priya said thoughtfully. "You don't build an empire like this without getting your hands dirty."
Aarohi's brows furrowed. A mafia don? It sounded ridiculous. This was the twenty-first century, not some old gangster movie. Still, she couldn't deny the buzz of anticipation around the room. Even the more senior employees seemed unusually alert.
And then the room fell abruptly silent.
The tall glass doors swung open, and a man stepped in. He was tall, even in his older years, his presence commanding in a way that demanded attention. His silver hair was combed back neatly, a fine tailored suit clinging to his broad frame. But what drew Aarohi's eyes was the scar — a jagged, pale line cutting across his left eyebrow, disappearing into the hairline.
Her breath caught, though she wasn't sure why.
He was older, easily in his late sixties, but his face held a calm, unreadable expression, his eyes sharp beneath his composed exterior. There was something in the way he moved — a quiet authority that filled the room without him needing to say a word.
"That's him," Priya whispered.
Aarohi nodded mutely.
As he approached their side of the office, conversations ceased entirely. Even Mia straightened up, the playful grin wiped clean from her face.
Mr. Khanna stopped a few feet away, his gaze sweeping over them. Aarohi felt it — the weight of his eyes as they paused on her for a heartbeat longer than on anyone else. There was nothing inappropriate about it, but it sent a strange shiver down her spine.
When he spoke, his voice was nothing like the deep, menacing tones Aarohi would have expected of a man rumored to have a criminal past. It was soft, refined, carrying the warmth of an elder statesman rather than a cold-blooded crime lord.
"Good morning, everyone. I see we have some new faces."
His lips curved into a gentle smile. "I wanted to personally welcome you all. This company is built on people, not just walls. Each of you is important to our future."
Aarohi blinked, a bit thrown by how polite he was. There was an ease in his words, a natural charisma that felt... familiar in a way she couldn't place.
"I trust you'll enjoy working here," he continued, looking at Mia and Aarohi with particular kindness. "And if there's ever anything you need, my doors are always open."
With a few more parting words, he moved on to address another group, leaving a trail of murmurs in his wake.
"See?" Natasha whispered. "He's nothing like those mafia stories."
"Yeah," Mia breathed, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Though that scar makes him look kinda badass."
Aarohi chuckled softly, though her mind lingered on the moment when his gaze had met hers. There had been something in his eyes. A flicker of something unspoken under those polite words.
But she shook the thought off. It was probably just nerves. A trick of her overactive imagination.
She turned back to the group as the conversation picked up again, glad for the familiar banter and easy camaraderie. Whatever strange, fleeting feeling had passed between her and the CEO was soon forgotten in the laughter that followed.
Because, after all — this was just a job. Just another ordinary day.
Or so she thought.
The rest of the workday passed in a blur. Between the nervous excitement of meeting the CEO and Mia dragging Aarohi into random conversations with practically everyone, Aarohi barely had a moment to sit with her thoughts. By late evening, the office floor was quieter, the golden hues of sunset spilling through the windows.
"Okay, people!" Mia suddenly clapped her hands, startling both Aarohi and Natasha. "Dinner plan. Who's in?"
A collective groan rippled through the group.
"I'm too tired," Priya said, packing her bag.
"Come on, don't be old, Priya," Mia teased. "You're what, twenty-five? Live a little!"
"I have an early meeting tomorrow."
"You always have an early meeting."
Priya rolled her eyes but smiled. "Next time."
Natasha and Nikhil exchanged glances.
"I'm in," Nikhil shrugged. "As long as it's not another place with those vegan options Mia likes."
"I swear, one time," Mia grumbled, grabbing her bag.
"Count me in too," Natasha added, her lips curling into a grin. "I need a reason not to cook tonight."
Mia turned to Aarohi with raised eyebrows. "And you, Miss Shy?"
Aarohi laughed, feeling lighter than she had all day. "Fine, but I'm picking dessert."
"Deal."
An hour later, the group was crammed into a cozy booth at a nearby restaurant that Mia had picked purely because they served the biggest sundaes in town. The air was thick with the scent of spices and grilled meat, and conversations buzzed from every table.
Mia, naturally, was in her element.
"So," she said, leaning in conspiratorially, "what's the most embarrassing thing you've ever done on a first day?"
Aarohi groaned. "Please no."
"Too bad. I'll go first. I once tripped over a potted plant and knocked it onto my manager's lap."
Nikhil snorted. "God, of course you did."
"Your turn, Aarohi."
Aarohi hesitated, cheeks warming. "In college… I called a professor 'Dad' by accident."
The table erupted into laughter.
"Oh my god, I would have dropped out," Natasha wheezed.
"I wanted to," Aarohi muttered, covering her face.
It was stupid and silly, but she found herself laughing along with them, the tension from earlier melting away. The food arrived soon after — platters of butter chicken, garlic naan, and endless bowls of rice. Mia insisted on ordering a sundae 'as big as your future' and refused to let anyone say no to extra toppings.
Between bites, teasing, and half-serious arguments about who was paying, Aarohi felt a warmth she hadn't realized she'd missed. It had been a long time since she'd been part of something like this. Since she'd allowed herself to be.
But then, something shifted.
As she reached for a spoon, her gaze flickered toward the large glass window beside their table. Across the street, beneath the soft glow of a flickering streetlight, stood a man. Dressed in a dark coat, he was partially obscured by shadows, but Aarohi felt a cold jolt run down her spine as she noticed his gaze — fixed directly on her.
She blinked, startled.
He didn't move.
Just stood there. Watching.
"Aarohi?" Mia's voice pulled her back. "You okay?"
Aarohi quickly looked away, forcing a smile. "Yeah… yeah, just thought I saw someone I knew."
Mia frowned, sensing something but letting it go as Natasha shoved a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth and made a face.
"Ugh, brain freeze."
The moment passed, though Aarohi couldn't shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at her gut. When she finally dared another glance, the man was gone.
Later that night, after the group parted ways outside the restaurant, Mia hooked her arm through Aarohi's as they walked back toward their apartment building.
"Okay, spill it," Mia said quietly.
Aarohi sighed. "I… I think someone was watching me."
Mia stiffened. "At the restaurant?"
"Across the street. There was this man. I don't know, maybe I imagined it."
"Describe him."
"I didn't get a good look. Just… tall. Dark coat. It was probably nothing."
Mia was quiet for a beat before squeezing her arm. "We'll keep an eye out, okay? If you see him again, tell me."
Aarohi nodded, grateful for her friend's unwavering loyalty. "I probably sound crazy."
"You don't. I'd be paranoid too. Could be some random creep. Or maybe he liked your hair."
Aarohi snorted, and just like that, the tension eased again. But somewhere deep inside, a chill lingered.
They reached their apartment, exchanged goodnights, and Mia vanished into her room, mumbling something about skincare and early meetings.
Across the city, in the sprawling luxury of a penthouse suite, Aryan Khanna poured himself a glass of whiskey. The city lights reflected off the glass walls, painting the room in a kaleidoscope of gold and blue.
A figure stood by the window — tall, broad-shouldered, a shadow among shadows.
"She hasn't changed, has she?" the younger man spoke, his voice low, carrying a weight far older than his years.
Aryan turned, his gaze softening. "No, son. She's still the same sweet girl we met all those years ago. Still doesn't remember."
Vish's lips curved into something between a smile and a grimace.
"She will."
Aryan took a slow sip of his drink. "Be careful with her."
"I always am."
The city's glow reflected in Vish's eyes, a storm brewing quietly behind them, as if fate itself was patiently waiting for his next move.