Dharini’s POV

I came back to my desk and slammed the file onto it before dropping into my chair.

Resting my head on one hand, I stared blankly at the table. My frustration level was officially beyond recovery. Netra and Nishant looked at me. Then at the file.

Then at me again. Netra narrowed her eyes. “Are you having a headache, Dharini?” I looked at her and shook my head.

“No. It's just my mood swings. I'm feeling extremely frustrated.”

Both of them immediately became interested. That was a mistake.

“You know,” I continued, “I barked at two men who entered Mr. CEO's cabin without permission.”

“What?” Nishant asked. I rubbed my forehead.

“Exactly! That wasn't even my cabin. I had absolutely no right to shout at them, but I still did.”

“Why?” Netra asked curiously. I looked at both of them.

“Because they entered without knocking, and by that point my anger was already at its peak. Plus, that CEO was irritating me.”

Just remembering him increased my irritation.

“And you know what? Now he wants me to attend another project's meeting as well. Not only that, he wants me to accompany him to a client meeting.”

“Really?” Nishant asked.

Before I could answer, Netra dramatically clasped her hands together.

“If I were in your place, I would have gone with him happily.”

I sighed. “Of course you would.”

“After all,” she continued dreamily, “who wouldn't want to go with that Greek God?”

The second those words left her mouth, Nishant's expression changed.

Very subtly. But I noticed. I always noticed.

“Greek God?” he repeated. “What do you even mean by that?”

Netra blinked.

“What do you mean what do I mean?” Nishant rolled his eyes. “He's literally a walking monster.” I almost laughed. Then he added casually,

“And if you want to see a Greek God, maybe you don't have to search very far.”

The moment he said that, he suddenly became interested in his computer screen.

Very interested.

Almost suspiciously interested. A smile tugged at my lips. I knew from the very beginning that Nishant liked Netra.

The problem was— he hadn't realized it himself yet.

Or maybe he had realized it and was simply refusing to accept it.

Every time some guy talked to Netra... Every time Netra praised someone...Every time another man's name came up.. his expressions changed. Not dramatically. Not obviously. But enough for me to notice.

And despite all his arguments and teasing, he cared about her more than anyone else. And then there was our dumbo Netra.

She talked about Nishant almost twenty-four hours a day. How he argued with her. How he annoyed her. How he teased her.

What ridiculous nickname he gave her this week.

Yet somehow... she also hadn't realized her feelings.

Honestly, I had no idea what the future held for them. But one thing was certain.

They would make a very good match.

My thoughts were interrupted when their argument started again.

Now they were debating who actually looked more like a Greek God.

I shook my head. Hopeless. Both of them. Completely hopeless. Ignoring their nonsense, I returned to my work.

---

At exactly 3:45 p.m., Shesh appeared beside my desk.

“Ma'am, sir is calling you.” I immediately glanced at the time. Right. The meeting.

For a brief moment, I considered pretending I had forgotten.

Unfortunately, life never supported my ideas.

I had already packed my bag earlier, so there was no escaping now.

Letting out a deep breath, I got up from my chair.

“Okay.”

And with that, I made my way toward the CEO's cabin, mentally preparing myself for whatever fresh headache awaited me there.

As I entered the cabin, he stood up and picked up a file. "Take this file, Dhani, and follow me," he said. I silently took the file from his hand and, the moment he turned around, I mimicked him under my breath. "Follow me..."

The man really thought he owned the entire world. As I followed him outside, he entered his private lift. Naturally, I turned toward the employees' lift. "Where are you going?" he asked. I looked back at him in confusion. "To the parking lot... using the other lift." He raised one eyebrow. "Didn't I tell you to follow me?"

I stopped. I was about to explain when he instinctively stepped toward me and almost reached for my hand. But just before his fingers could touch me, his hand froze a few inches away. His eyes shifted to my hand. For a brief second, something crossed his mind. Without saying anything, he slowly withdrew his hand. "Get into the lift. We're getting late." His sudden hesitation didn't escape my notice.

Without arguing, I quietly stepped into the lift. His office was on the 38th floor, so the lift ride to the parking area took a while. During those few silent moments, my mind replayed his reaction. A small smirk appeared on my lips. Maybe he remembered that I almost slapped him that day.

Good. At least now he'll think twice before touching anyone without their permission. The thought strangely satisfied me. Finally, the lift reached the parking floor. WI followed him at a slow pace, still having absolutely no idea where he was taking me.

After walking a short distance, he stopped beside an expensive luxury car that practically screamed wealth and power. The driver immediately noticed us and hurried forward to open the rear door for him. Mr. CEO got inside without saying a word. Meanwhile... I remained standing outside the car, completely confused. Now what am I supposed to do? Should I sit beside him? No way.

How could a rich CEO possibly be comfortable with that? Maybe I should sit in the front passenger seat. Yeah... that sounds much more appropriate.Even the driver looked confused.

He kept glancing between me and his boss, clearly unsure whether he should close the rear door or wait. .The moment I started walking toward the front passenger seat, the driver seemed to understand what I was planning.

He quietly closed the rear door and walked around to open the passenger-side door for me.

Just as he pulled it open—

"What are you doing?" A deep, commanding voice echoed from behind.

I froze instantly. Slowly turning around, I looked toward the back seat.

Of course.

Mr. CEO.

He was looking straight at me with one eyebrow raised, silently waiting for an explanation.

"I... I was just going to sit," I replied in a small voice. Maybe I shouldn't sit in his car.

Yeah... maybe I should come separately in another vehicle. That would be much better.

I was so stupid. How could I even think that Mr. Richy Vibe would be comfortable with me sitting in his car? Aahhh... I shouldn't have done that. That was the highest level of embarrassment.

While I was drowning in my own thoughts, he spoke. "Do you know everything about the project? Don't you have any doubts?" he asked calmly.

I looked at him. I had read the project file. But honestly... I had understood only half of it. The remaining half had filled my mind with countless questions.

I nodded honestly. "I actually have a lot of doubts." He looked at me as if the answer was obvious.

"Then why are you sitting in the passenger seat? Sit beside me. I'll clear all your doubts on the way."

My eyes widened in disbelief. "Sit... beside you?" I repeated slowly. He noticed my shocked expression. A soft, masculine chuckle escaped his lips.

"Relax," he said. "I won't eat you if you sit beside me." His tone sounded light, but I could clearly see his hands clenched into fists.

Maybe he was trying to control his irritation. Or maybe... I was simply overthinking.

Those deep brown eyes remained fixed on me, silently waiting. Without wasting another second, I quickly walked to the back seat and sat beside him, leaving a long and safe distance between us.

The driver quietly closed the door before starting the car. The journey began.

For the first few minutes, silence filled the car. The city passed by outside the window while neither of us spoke.

Finally, he broke the silence. "Don't you have doubts?".

"Oh... yes." I immediately opened the file resting on my lap. One by one, I started asking every question that had confused me while reading it. To my surprise... He answered every single doubt patiently.

Not once did he show irritation. Not once did he dismiss my questions. Instead, he explained everything calmly, making even the complicated concepts easy to understand.

By the time we reached our destination, almost all of my doubts had disappeared.

The driver stopped outside a luxurious restaurant. We stepped out and entered through the VIP entrance.

It was my first time visiting such a place. Everything around me screamed luxury.

The elegant interiors, the soft lighting, the expensive décor.. It felt like a completely different world.

When we entered the private dining room, the client and another man were already seated, waiting for us.

The meeting began. Most of the technical discussion answered several of the questions I had prepared earlier.

Everything was progressing smoothly. Then suddenly, the client folded his hands on the table. His tone sounded casual... Almost too casual.

"So, if at some point our digital footprint grows... whether organically or otherwise... I assume your security coverage simply grows with it. After all, it's still the same organization on paper."

Mr. CEO remained completely composed. "Our services are delivered according to the scope defined in the agreement." The client smiled faintly.

"Exactly. And organizations evolve. Sometimes new business units appear overnight. Sometimes entire infrastructures become part of the company. I'd imagine your team wouldn't stop to redraw boundaries every time the organization expands. Continuous protection should mean continuous coverage... wouldn't you agree?"

His wording sounded simple. But something about it bothered me. He never directly mentioned an acquisition... Yet the implication behind his words was unmistakable.

For a few seconds, I remained silent, trying to organize my thoughts. Then I cautiously looked toward Mr. CEO.

"Sir... may I clarify one thing? I think I might be misunderstanding something."

He looked at me. Without saying a word, he gave me a small nod. It was enough. He was silently telling me to continue. I took a slow breath.

"If... hypothetically... a client's environment expands because an entirely different infrastructure becomes part of the organization after the agreement is signed..."

I paused briefly.

"...would that still be considered within the original scope simply because the legal entity remains the same?"

The room fell completely silent. I continued carefully.

"I was under the impression that our proposal is prepared based on the assets, endpoints, network architecture, and risk profile assessed before the contract is executed. If a completely new environment is introduced later, wouldn't we first need a fresh assessment and a revised scope before accepting responsibility for securing it?"

Silence settled over the room. The client slowly leaned back in his chair, a knowing smile appearing on his face.

"So... that's how your team reads between the lines."

Before answering him, Mr. CEO looked at me. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

There was unmistakable approval in his eyes—not because I had spoken, but because I had understood the contract beyond its written words.

He gave me a small, almost imperceptible nod before turning back to the client.

"My assistant is absolutely correct." His voice remained calm, yet it carried quiet authority.

"One of the reasons she's in these meetings is because she asks the questions that prevent assumptions from becoming obligations."

For the first time since the meeting had begun, the client's confident expression faltered. Mr. CEO continued,

"Our commitment follows the agreed scope—not implied interpretations. If the client's security landscape changes significantly, whether through expansion, acquisition, or integration of a separate infrastructure, we conduct a fresh assessment, redefine the scope, and amend the commercial terms accordingly. That's how responsible cybersecurity works."

The client let out a quiet laugh.

"I was hoping the wording left enough room for interpretation."

Mr. CEO calmly closed the contract folder with a soft click. "Perhaps." He glanced at me once again. That faint look of pride was still visible in his eyes.

"But she caught the implication before it became a misunderstanding." The client smiled and slowly shook his head.

"I'll admit... that's impressive. Most people hear what's said. She paid attention to what wasn't."

Mr. CEO looked at him and replied confidently, "Yeah... that's one of her best qualities."

A small smile unconsciously appeared on my lips. Honestly, I had thought that interrupting the discussion would only create problems.

Instead... He was actually proud of me. The realization warmed my heart for a brief second.

But I quickly composed myself before anyone noticed. After a few more discussions, the meeting finally came to an end.

The client stood up and shook hands with Mr. CEO before leaving the room. I looked toward Mr. CEO.

The meeting was already over... Then why was he still sitting there? I quietly stood near the chair for almost five minutes.

Just as I gathered the courage to ask, Mr. Shesh entered the room carrying another file.

Without saying a word, he placed it on the table in front of Mr. CEO and silently walked away.

I sighed. Great... maybe there's another meeting. And if there is, I haven't prepared anything for it. I was about to ask when Mr. CEO suddenly spoke. "Come and sit."

I frowned. I looked around the room.

He was looking at his phone while speaking. Maybe he's talking to someone through Bluetooth. I discreetly glanced at his ears. No Bluetooth.

Then he turned completely toward me. "I said... come and sit on the chair in front of me."

My eyes widened. I pointed toward myself. "Me?"

He simply raised one eyebrow. "Yes. You."

Feeling awkward, I slowly walked toward the table. I placed my tablet on it and quietly sat on the chair opposite him. The silence between us instantly became uncomfortable. This was my first spot meeting.

If anyone else from the office had been here, I would've felt a little relieved. But no... It was just me. And him.

He wasn't merely looking at me. He was practically boring holes into my eyes with his intense stare, as if I had committed some unforgivable crime.

Unable to bear the silence anymore, I cleared my throat. His gaze finally shifted.

"I'm sorry, sir," I said softly. "I interrupted your discussion." Instead of getting angry... He smirked.

"If you hadn't interrupted, you wouldn't be sitting here right now." He leaned back comfortably.

"And relax. You had doubts, so you asked them." He shrugged casually.

"I'm not going to hang you for that." I lowered my head and muttered under my breath,

"Ha ha... jis tarike se ghoor rahe the, uss tarike se toh yahi lag raha tha ki abhi sooli pe latka denge."

(Ha ha... The way you were staring at me, it really felt like you were about to hang me on the gallows.)

"Did you say something?" he asked. I immediately shook my head. "No, sir."

Just then, a waiter arrived and placed a menu card in the middle of the table before quietly leaving. I looked at the menu. Then at Mr. CEO. Then back at the menu. Finally, I checked the time.

It was already 6:15 p.m. Without saying anything, he pushed the menu card toward me.

"Order something for yourself." I immediately shook my head. "No, sir. I'm full. I don't want to eat anything right now." That was a complete lie.

Mujhe itni zor ki bhook lagi thi ki kya bataun.

(I was so hungry that I can't even describe it.)

He folded his arms like a strict teacher. "I'm not asking you."

There was a brief pause. "I'm ordering you to order something."

Well... There was no point arguing with this man. I quietly picked up the menu card.

The moment I opened it... My confidence disappeared. What on earth were these dish names?

Italian.

Continental.

Seafood.

Half the names looked like chemistry formulas instead of food.

What the hell is even written here?

Without wasting another second, I immediately searched for the Indian section.

Finally... Something familiar.

Well... Almost familiar.

I stopped at one dish.

Emerald Herb Galettes.

"What the hell is this?"

Then my eyes landed on another dish.

Golden Hung Curd Croquettes.

Okay... this sounds a little better.

"Yeh dahi se kuch bana ho sakta hai."

(This must be something made from curd.)

I continued searching through the entire menu, but every second dish sounded more confusing than the previous one.

Finally, giving up, I ordered,

"Royal Stuffed Puffed Pastry... and an Imperial Masala Chai."

The waiter noted my order before turning toward Mr. CEO.

"Royal Espresso... and a Mini Margherita Flatbread," he ordered without even looking at the menu.

The waiter politely nodded and walked away.

As soon as he left, Mr. CEO looked at me again.

"If you don't mind... may I ask you something?"

I looked at him.

If it's one of those weird questions, then yes... I absolutely mind. So please don't ask. That's what I wanted to say.

Instead, I forced a polite smile. "Yes, sir. Please." He leaned slightly forward. "Is this your first time coming to a place like this?" For a moment, my eyes widened. Did it really show that clearly?

I quickly composed myself and gave a small nod.

"Yes."

He simply nodded in return.

There wasn't even the slightest hint of mockery on his face. No judgment. No sarcasm.

Just a simple acknowledgment.

Before the silence became awkward again, the waiter returned with our order.

The plates were carefully placed on the table.

I looked at the knife... Then the fork... Then the spoon.

Great.

"Ameeron ke chochle."

(The fancy habits of rich people.)

At that moment, I silently thanked Mihika from the bottom of my heart.

If she hadn't forced me to learn basic dining etiquette "just in case," I would've embarrassed myself beyond repair today.

Trying my best to look confident, I carefully picked up the cutlery exactly the way she had taught me.

Every few seconds, I secretly glanced at Mr. CEO to make sure I wasn't doing anything wrong.

Thankfully... I survived.

After finishing almost half of my food, I finally relaxed a little.

Just then, Mr. CEO calmly placed his cup down.

"I have a proposal for you."

I frowned slightly.

A proposal?

I looked at him questioningly before giving him a small nod, silently asking him to continue.

He understood.

His expression turned unusually serious.

Looking directly into my eyes, he spoke in a calm, steady voice

"I want you to marry me."

...

For a second...

No. For several long seconds...

My brain completely stopped working.

The fork slipped from my fingers and landed on the plate with a soft clink.

I simply stared at him.

Blankly.

Did...

Did I just hear him correctly?

Or had the Imperial Masala Chai somehow reached my brain instead of my stomach?