The next morning, Kalpana stood outside "S.S. Enterprises."

She took a deep breath.

"Okay, Kalpana. This is just an interview. Be confident."

But the moment she stepped into the grand office building, a strange sense of familiarity washed over her.

Why did this place feel... oddly connected to her past?

She shook off the feeling and walked into the interview room.

There, behind a sleek black desk, sat the man who saved her last night.

Kalpana’s eyes widened.

Him?!

The man who had helped her escape from Kamal’s grip...

She hadn’t even gotten the chance to thank him properly!

And now—he was sitting in front of her, exuding an icy and intimidating aura.

His sharp gaze landed on her, piercing and unreadable.

She quickly pretended not to recognize him and sat down.

"Just act normal, Kalpana. Don’t let his cold aura turn you into a scared little cat."

But the way he looked at her—so intense—made her confidence shrink to the size of a peanut.

CEO (calm, but firm): "Name?"

Kalpana straightened her back. "Kalpana."

CEO: "Experience?"

Kalpana blinked. "Um… I… I just completed my studies, so I don't have experience yet, but—"

CEO (interrupting): "Then why should I hire you?"

Kalpana gulped.

Okay, this man was ruthless.

But she wasn’t going to let him intimidate her.

She quickly gathered her courage. "Because I’m a fast learner and hardworking. I may not have experience, but I can prove my capability if given a chance."

Silence.

The CEO simply stared at her, his face unreadable.

For a long moment, she thought he was going to reject her.

Then—

CEO (leaning back): "You’re hired."

Kalpana: "Huh?"

Did she hear that right?

She thought he'd reject her right away.

CEO (coolly): "You are now my personal secretary."

Kalpana blinked again.

What?!

This cold-hearted man wanted her as his personal secretary?

CEO (without looking up): "Be on time. I hate latecomers."

Kalpana: "..."

Was this really happening?

She just came for a normal job interview…

And now she was working directly under this cold and mysterious CEO?!

"Wait... what’s his name again?"

She glanced at the nameplate on his desk.

"SHIVA S. RAJAN."

Her breath hitched.

Shiva...?

Her mind raced back to her childhood.

A teenage boy, serious and cold, who once stayed at her house for four days…

"No way… It can't be him..."

But as she looked at him again, something in his eyes felt familiar.

Could it really be… the same Shiva she had once known?

______

Days turned into weeks, and Kalpana slowly started seeing a different side of Shiva.

Yes, he was cold. Yes, he was strict. Yes, his stare could freeze a volcano.

But… he wasn’t a bad person.

He never raised his voice unnecessarily. He never humiliated his employees. And despite his intimidating aura, he always noticed the small details.

Like when she skipped lunch—he’d casually assign her a task right near the cafeteria. Or when she looked tired—he’d suddenly let her leave work a little early.

He wasn’t heartless.

And that realization scared her.

Because somewhere deep inside… she didn’t want to admit that she was starting to respect him.

But all of that shattered one morning.

The Misunderstanding

Kalpana walked into the office as usual, balancing a cup of coffee in one hand and files in the other.

But the moment she stepped into Shiva’s cabin, she froze.

Soniya.

She was standing way too close to Shiva.

And he wasn’t pushing her away.

Kalpana’s heart dropped.

"Of course. Why am I even surprised?"

Soniya always had a habit of taking whatever she wanted. When they were kids, she had taken her mother’s love. And now, she had taken this too.

Kalpana didn’t wait.

She turned on her heels and stormed out.

But just as she was about to leave—

A strong hand grabbed her wrist.

Shiva’s Anger

Shiva yanked her back, his sharp eyes burning with irritation.

Shiva: "Where do you think you’re going?"

Kalpana glared at him. "Away. Since you're busy with your special guest."

Shiva’s brows furrowed. "What?"

Kalpana snatched her wrist away. "I don’t work for people who can’t maintain professionalism."

Shiva’s patience snapped.

Shiva: "You’re angry because you saw me with Soniya?"

Kalpana crossed her arms. "I don’t care what you do in your personal life. But I refuse to work in an office where—"

Shiva (cutting her off): "Don’t. Jump. To. Conclusions."

Kalpana huffed. "I’m not jumping to anything. I’m leaving."

And then—

"I Resign!"

She pulled out a piece of paper and slammed it on his desk.

Kalpana: "I RESIGN!"

Silence.

Shiva’s face darkened. His jaw tightened.

And then, he stepped closer.

Dangerously close.

His voice dropped to a cold whisper.

Shiva: "I. Don't. Accept. It."

Kalpana’s eyes widened.

"What?!"

Kalpana's eyes widened.

"Did he just—"

She shook her head, crossing her arms. "You don't accept it? Well, too bad! Because I already resigned."

Shiva exhaled slowly, like he was controlling the urge to strangle her.

Shiva: "You can’t resign over a misunderstanding."

Kalpana scoffed. "Misunderstanding? I saw Soniya practically glued to you!"

Shiva: "And did you wait to hear what she was saying?"

Kalpana: "Why would I? It was obvious!"

Shiva let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "You're impossible."

Kalpana turned to leave, but once again—

He grabbed her wrist.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Shiva's grip was firm but not harsh. His eyes locked onto hers, dangerously intense.

Shiva: "Listen carefully, Kalpana. Soniya is here for business. Not for me. And definitely not for what you're assuming."

Kalpana opened her mouth to argue—

Shiva (coldly): "She was discussing a project. And for your information, she’s engaged."

Kalpana froze.

"Engaged?"

She blinked, her mind trying to process his words.

A long silence stretched between them.

Kalpana felt her face heat up. She had misunderstood.

Badly.

She swallowed her pride. "I… I didn’t know that."

Shiva (flatly): "Because you jumped to conclusions."

Kalpana bit her lip. He was right. She didn’t give him a chance to explain.

But she still had one last defense.

Kalpana: "Fine! Maybe I misunderstood. But I still want to resign."

Shiva tilted his head.

And then, with a completely unbothered tone—

Shiva: "Denied."

Kalpana's mouth fell open.

Kalpana: "What do you mean denied? I submitted my resignation!"

Shiva leaned back against his desk, completely calm.

Shiva: "You signed a contract. Personal secretaries can't quit before six months."

Kalpana's brain short-circuited.

She didn’t remember that!

She snatched the contract from his desk and scanned it quickly.

And there it was—

"Minimum employment: 6 months. No early resignation unless approved by the CEO."

She felt like screaming.

Kalpana: "This is blackmail!"

Shiva (smirking slightly): "This is business."

Kalpana groaned, dropping into the chair.

Shiva crossed his arms, watching her struggle. "Now that we’ve settled this, get back to work."

Kalpana glared.

"I hate this man."

But deep down…

She knew she didn’t.

And that realization was even scarier.