But she was not in her usual confidence posture. Her fingers trembled, breathing was uneven.
She had already taken her medicines.
She had already washed her face twice.
Arshi leaned against wall, arms folded." You don't have to do this with him alone."
"Yes, i do." Devika replied, adjust her blazer
Ishaan was sitting on couch," just because he brought the file back, doesn't mean you owe him anything."
Devika, said" its not about that."
"Then what it is?" Arshi asked softly
Devika staring at her reflection
Pale cheeks.
Dark eyes.
Hair tied neatly.
She didn't look like worrior.
She looked like someone pretending to be one.
"Its my team," she whispered," my project, my deal and i won't hide behind you."
Truth was that she didn't trust vikram enough to let him be alone in negotiation.
Arshi touched her shoulder, "breathe. Just don't let him destroy you devika."
Devika noded.
Inside conference room.
Vikram entered first, black suit and sharp eyes.
Everyone fall silent, vikram didn't even ask to do. But still.
Devika also entered room behind him. Confident posture and calm.
Devika sat on right side of vikram seat, with her laptop and files, still calming her heart from that morning. She was still embarrassed when she remembered how she lost the project file. And how he found it before she did.
It stayed in her mind.
Now, the client entered, a tall man with white hair and a warm smile, Mr. Sharma. The kind of man people respected without fearing.
Behind him, there was someone devika didn't know.
A young man, maybe twenty four ir twenty five, tall, clean cut, dressed elegant but casual.
Light blue shirt, sleeves rolled up and confident smiles.
His eyes scanned the room and stopped on her.
Not on vikram.
Not on the team.
On her.
"Vikram!" Mr. Sharma laughed. Arms open wide.
Both men shook hands.
"Its been too long" the older man teased.
"And you still refuse to buy a new jet." Vikram replied. Calm voice.
Mr sharma laughs and patting vikram's shoulder like he was nephew.
Devika blinked.
She had never seen anyone treated Vikram Oberoi like that.
No one touched him.
No one teased him.
No one dared.
Then, Mr sharma turned to his son, "this is my boy, Rajat."
Rajat held out his hand to vikram first."finally meeting the ghost CEO" he joked."i thought you were a hologram."
Vikram didn't smile.
He only shook his hand once and let go.
Rajat smirks, he was used to the cold friends.
Then the young man turned to devika." And who is this?" He asked. Politely.
Before she could answer,
"Marketing lead" he said," Miss Devika."
Rajat stepped closer, slow enough to make it obvious he was studying her.
"Beautiful name" he said, offering his hand.
Devika shook it and she was shy.
Vikram watched the handshake.
His jaw clenched.
He looked away as if it didn't matter.
But it mattered.
The meeting started.
Devika clicked through slides. Steady voice and professional. She spoke about the sales strategies, partnership expansion, influencer funnels, regional demand. She forget the world completely when she talked about work.
Rajat didn't stop himself for staring at her.
He watched her with soft eyes, elbows on the table, and chin was on his hand. And he didn't even pretending to focus on the graphs.
Vikram saw it. He kept his face serious and still, tapping his pen once on the table.
Rishi, was sitting beside him, glanced at his boss. He could tell Vikram was irriatated, he knows him from past 7-8 years and nobody else would notice.
"She already predicted Q3 dip before the client did" rishi whispers.
Mr sharma leaned forward, truly impressed by her." Smart girl, why did you hide her from me?" He joked.
"We didn't" vikram replied calmly" she was working"
Rajat chuckled." And she is working with me now, right?"
Vikram didn't look at him. His fist clenched under table. "Yes, you will be assigned to collaborate with the marketing team."
Rajat smiles brightly," perfect, i will take Devika personally."
Devika stiffened. Then she glance at vikram for help, instinct not intention.
Vikram didn't move.
He didn't say yes.
He didn't say no.
He just stared at her for few seconds and then looks away.
She thought that meant he didn't care.
But it was the opposite.
As the meeting end.
Papers exchanged, signatures made, schedules discussed. Devika began packing her laptop and files.
Rajat came to her side.
"You explained everything so clearly," he said softly. " I did like to learn your style of work."
She gave him a small smile."thankyou, but its just experience. I am still learning."
"You don't look like someone who is 'still learning' " he teased.
But his compliment wasn't cheap or dirty.
It was gentle.
Respectful.