Chapter 25 - His Wife, His New Employee
The grand Malhotra mansion was bathed in the golden hues of the morning sun, but today, the warmth felt different. There was an air of anticipation, an unspoken shift in the atmosphere.
Ira sat beside Aarav at the breakfast table, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her dupatta. Today, she wasn’t just his wife—she was about to become an official part of his world.
Aarav, ever the composed man, sipped his black coffee with an unreadable expression. But the moment his grandfather, Virendra Malhotra, placed his cup down, everyone knew something was coming.
Telling the Family
“Ira will be joining Malhotra Industries from today,” Aarav announced casually, as if he were discussing the weather.
Silence.
Then, Sunita, Ira’s mother-in-law, gasped, her eyes shining with emotion. “You mean… she’ll be working?”
Aarav gave a firm nod. “Yes. As my employee.”
“I knew it!” Kabir, Aarav’s younger cousin, smirked. “Our CEO is already under Bhabhi’s spell. First marriage, now bringing her to the office? What’s next? Love?”
Aarav shot him a cold glare, silencing the teasing immediately.
Meanwhile, Anika, Kabir’s sister, beamed. “Bhabhi, you’re going to rock it! I can’t wait to see the faces of those employees when they realize the new employee is actually their boss’s wife.”
Virendra Malhotra, the head of the family, smiled in approval. “Ira, this is a great step. You have my blessings.”
Sunita gently held Ira’s hand. “Beta, take care of yourself. The office world is different, but I know you’ll make us proud.” She removed a golden bracelet from her wrist and slid it onto Ira’s. “For luck.”
Ira’s throat tightened with emotion, but she managed to nod.
Vihan, Aarav’s younger brother, who rarely spoke much, only said, “Good luck.” His tone was neutral, unreadable.
Bahu if this useless shit his father pointed towards aarav gives you so much work or shout out on you just let me know I'll handle it.
The black Rolls Royce Phantom pulled up outside the massive glass building of Malhotra Industries. Employees were already bustling in, unaware that today their lives were about to change.
Aarav stepped out first, radiating his usual aura of power and authority.
Then came Ira.
The moment she stepped out, the air shifted. Heads turned, conversations paused, and eyes widened.
She wasn’t wearing a formal western outfit like most expected. Instead, she walked in wearing a simple yet elegant saree—cream with delicate golden embroidery. The fabric clung to her curves gracefully, her pallu draped over her shoulder, her bangles softly jingling as she moved.
There was something about her presence—graceful, poised, but carrying an unknown strength.
The employees had never seen a woman walk beside Aarav Malhotra in such a way—as if she belonged there.
Aarav didn’t offer his arm. He didn’t have to. Their synchronized steps, their unspoken understanding, said it all.
They were walking in as a power couple.
Inside the Office – Shock and Speculation
The whispers began the moment they entered.
“Who is she?”
“Wait… is that his wife?”
“She’s gorgeous. But why is she here?”
Aarav ignored them all and led Ira straight to the HR department. He didn’t introduce her as his wife. He kept it strictly professional.
“This is Ira Sharma,” his voice was firm, commanding. “She will be joining as an employee. Treat her like one.”
Ira noticed the mixed reactions. Some employees looked curious, some jealous, some intimidated.
Especially one woman.
Ritika joshi.
The tall, stylish woman in a fitted black dress, Aarav’s long-time secretary. She had always been possessive over her position in his life. Her eyes flickered with something dark—jealousy? Annoyance?
“Oh,” Ritika smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “So, Mrs. Malhotra will be working with us now? That’s… unexpected.”
Ira met her gaze calmly. “Yes. I hope we work well together.”
She didn’t react to the subtle taunt. But Ritika’s smirk only grew.
The game had begun.
As the day progressed, Aarav found himself watching Ira more than he intended to.
She had handled the HR team professionally, not once using his name for favoritism. She worked through her tasks diligently, without needing his help.
And then, there was the male attention.
A few employees, particularly one junior manager, Rohan, had been way too eager to assist her.
At lunch, when Aarav glanced down from his office window, he saw Rohan laughing with Ira.
Something dark and territorial coiled inside him.
He didn’t like that. Not at all.
His fingers drummed against the desk.
“Sir?” Ritika’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Shall I schedule your next meeting?”
Aarav didn’t answer. His eyes were still on Ira.
What the hell was she doing to him?
Aarav clenched his jaw as he watched Ira from his office window. She was laughing—actually laughing—with Rohan, the junior manager.
The sound of it, the sight of her smiling so effortlessly at another man, made something snap inside him.
With a sharp exhale, he stood up, buttoning his blazer.
“Cancel the meeting,” he said to Ritika without looking at her.
She blinked. “But sir—”
“I said, cancel it.” His tone left no room for argument.
Then, without another word, he strode out of his office.
The entire office cafeteria fell into a hushed silence the moment Aarav Malhotra entered.
He never came here. Never.
Employees quickly sat up straighter, adjusting their postures, whispering behind their hands.
Ira, who had been in mid-laughter with Rohan, stopped immediately when she felt the intense shift in the air.
Then she saw him.
Aarav walked towards her table, his sharp gaze locked onto her. Not a single flicker of emotion on his face, yet the air felt suffocating.
Rohan, sensing something was off, nervously cleared his throat. “Sir, do you need something?”
Aarav didn’t even glance at him.
Instead, he pulled out the chair beside Ira and sat down.
Ira stiffened. She had expected him to be distant in the office, to keep things professional. But this… this was anything but.
Aarav leaned back, his long fingers tapping against the table in a slow, deliberate rhythm. His presence was overwhelming.
“You seem to be enjoying your first day,” he finally spoke, his voice deceptively calm.
Ira swallowed. “Yes. Everyone has been welcoming.”
Aarav’s gaze flickered briefly toward Rohan. His expression remained unreadable, but something dangerous lurked beneath.
“That’s good,” he said smoothly. Then, in a tone so casual it sent chills down spines, he added, “I hope they remember that boundaries exist.”
Rohan visibly gulped. “Of course, sir! We—um—we were just talking about the project.”
Aarav finally looked at him. “Were you?”
Rohan nodded so quickly it almost looked comical. “Yes, sir. Only work-related.”
Aarav held his gaze for a second longer before turning his attention back to Ira.
“I’ll be taking my lunch here from now on,” he stated, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Ira’s eyes widened slightly. “But you always eat in your office—”
“Not anymore.”
His tone left no room for argument.
And just like that, the entire power dynamic in the room shifted.
From a distance, Ritika stood watching, her nails digging into her palm.
This was new. This was different.
Aarav Malhotra never cared about anyone. He never noticed the women who threw themselves at him. He never looked twice when employees interacted.
But today?
Today, he had staked a claim without even saying the words.
Ritika’s lips curled into a smirk.
Interesting.
If Aarav Malhotra thought he could just change the rules so easily, he had another thing coming.
Back in the CEO’s Office
Ira stood in front of Aarav’s desk, arms crossed.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said, her voice quiet but firm.
Aarav looked up from his laptop. “Do what?”
“Make that scene in the cafeteria.”
His lips curled slightly. “Did I make a scene?”
Ira huffed in frustration. “You know exactly what you did, Aarav. You were… intimidating.”
Aarav leaned back in his chair, watching her carefully. “And that bothers you?”
“It’s unprofessional,” she insisted.
Something dark flashed in his eyes, something possessive. “Unprofessional…” he repeated, as if testing the word.
Then, suddenly, he stood up and walked toward her.
Ira instinctively stepped back, but the desk was right behind her. She was trapped.
Aarav placed his hands on either side of the desk, caging her in. His presence was overpowering, suffocating.
“Let me make one thing clear, Ira.” His voice was dangerously low. “You’re my employee in this office, yes. But you’re also my wife. And I will not tolerate any man getting too comfortable around you.”
Ira’s breath hitched. “That’s—That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?” Aarav’s fingers lightly brushed against her wrist, where she still wore the golden bracelet Sunita had given her.
She shivered.
Aarav’s gaze dropped to her lips for just a fraction of a second before he stepped back, as if giving her space.
“Get back to work,” he said, voice once again cold, composed.
And just like that, the moment was gone.
Ira, still struggling to catch her breath, turned on her heel and walked out of his office.
But as she left, she knew one thing for certain—
This job was going to be more difficult than she had expected.
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