Mira adjusted her blazer nervously as she stepped into the towering glass building. This was her first pitch to Arya Industries, one of the most powerful corporations in the country. She had prepared every slide, every statistic, every possible question — but nothing could prepare her for the man she was about to meet.
The office was sleek, minimalist, and intimidating. Mira's heels clicked against the polished marble as she approached the massive door marked Arya, CEO. With a deep breath, she knocked.
"Enter," a low, calm voice said.
Mira pushed the door open and froze. The man behind the desk didn't even glance up at her. His posture was perfect, his suit expensive, and his expression… cold. Arctic cold.
"I'm Mira Das," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I'm here for the pitch on the new design project."
He finally looked up. His dark eyes scanned her in a way that made her heart skip. Then he leaned back, arms crossed, and said, almost dismissively, "Three minutes. Convince me."
Mira blinked. Three minutes? She had rehearsed for thirty. But she squared her shoulders, ignoring the icy stare, and launched into her presentation.
Halfway through, she noticed his subtle reactions — a raised eyebrow here, a twitch of his jaw there. Maybe I'm not completely invisible, she thought, feeling a small surge of confidence.
Finally, she finished. Silence.
"Not bad," he said quietly. Then his tone sharpened. "But your projections are… ambitious. I don't make decisions based on ambition."
Mira's cheeks warmed, not with embarrassment but with defiance. "Then I suggest you try making a decision based on results, not your assumptions, Mr. Arya."
His eyes flicked up at her again, this time with something she couldn't read — interest? Surprise? He smiled faintly, a ghost of warmth that disappeared as quickly as it came.
"Interesting," he said, leaning back. "You're bold for someone so… inexperienced."
Mira straightened, refusing to be intimidated. "I believe confidence can make up for experience — sometimes even outperform it."
For a moment, the cold office seemed to warm with tension, unspoken and electric. Arya didn't respond, just studied her silently.
Then he stood. "Three minutes, huh?" His voice had a hint of amusement now. "I think we'll need more than three minutes to see if you're as capable as you say. Come back tomorrow. We'll continue."
Mira nodded, her pulse racing. As she turned to leave, she felt his gaze follow her — curious, calculating, and undeniably intense.
This is going to be… interesting, she thought..