CHAPTER 13
Rudra wasn’t someone who needed to control everything, but he certainly preferred it. Precision, focus, and an iron grip over the details—these were his strengths. Unpredictability was his trait, and he always gave his complete attention to anything that mattered to him. But today, none of that was working. Sitting in the most important meeting with his key client, he was strangely quiet, unfocused, barely glancing at the screen where Shekhar and others led the presentation. His mind kept circling back to last night’s conversation. Did he reveal too much to her? What if she deciphers the deep meaning behind his words?
The conversation had ended abruptly, leaving him exposed, vulnerable—something he had never intended. If she realized what he meant, she would use it against him, he was sure of it. This wasn’t the kind of mess he ever thought he’d find himself in.
The lights in the conference room flicked on as the meeting concluded. People began to gather their belongings, but Rudra remained seated, lost in thought. Shekhar had noticed his behavior throughout the entire meeting again and wasn’t going to let it slide. After the room had emptied, Shekhar walked over and shook his brother’s shoulder.
“You need rest, Rudra,” Shekhar said, concerned.
Rudra blinked, pulling himself out of his haze, and stood up. “I slept well last night, thank you.”
“When are you going to stop lying to me?” Shekhar asked, exasperation creeping into his voice.
Rudra sighed; a weight heavy in his chest. “Look, Bhai. I know we used to share everything once, but I don’t see that happening now. I don’t need people digging into my head, analyzing my thoughts, and lecturing me about it. I prefer to avoid unnecessary pain. I don’t enjoy lying, but if you keep prying, I’ll have no choice. So, please stop caring so much.”
Shekhar winced at the bluntness, but Rudra was still his brother, and he would be there for him no matter how much Rudra pushed him away. As Rudra started to leave the room, he suddenly halted and turned back.
“I want the entire team working on Tanuja’s project in my office,” he said, glancing at his watch. “In ten minutes.”
Without waiting for a response, Rudra left. Shekhar stood there, bewildered. Something was eating at him, something deeper than work. But what?
Meanwhile, in her cabin, Kashish fidgeted nervously with her pencil. For three hours, she had been staring at the blank sheets of paper in front of her, unable to draw a single line. That conversation with him had been haunting her mind ever since last night. He wanted her apology, that much was clear. But why had he said he wanted her and her forgiveness ? Was there more to it than she was letting herself believe?
Frustrated, she slammed her fist on the desk and stood up. She couldn’t afford to lose focus. Not over him. Not now. She tried to dismiss the swirling thoughts, convincing herself that not every word he said carried a deeper meaning—especially coming from him. Yet, her mind kept returning to those words. How could she waste so much time on him?
Kashish forced herself to look back at the blank pages, which suddenly reminded her of her own life, 11 years ago—void of direction, stripped of hope. After her father’s accident, her world had collapsed. She had no future, no family willing to take her in, and the court had placed her in the care of the Rahejas—the very people she blamed for her loss. For months, her life had been aimless until she decided to take control, sketching her own path, piece by piece. This opportunity to build her career was a hard-earned one, and she wouldn’t let confusion cloud her now.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Pallavi, one of her team members, stepped in to inform her about an impromptu meeting with none other than him —Rudra Raheja. Though surprised, Kashish knew better than to break office protocol. She had just resolved not to waste her energy thinking about him, and now she would have to face him head-on.
Grabbing her phone, she followed Pallavi to his office. It was the first time she would be entering his space. A few of her colleagues had already gathered around his desk, but Kashish opted to stand at the back, hoping to remain unnoticed. But things rarely went as planned.
Rudra’s commanding voice cut through the room. His next words were directed at her.
“I want the lead designer of the project to step forward.”
Grinding her teeth, Kashish stepped ahead, meeting his intense gaze. The simmering anger inside her was unmistakable, and Rudra, of all people, noticed it immediately.
“Is everyone here?” he asked, glancing around.
Pallavi quickly responded, “Yes, Sir.”
“Good,” he said, his tone sharp. “Our client, Tanuja, has a reputation for being unforgiving when it comes to deadlines. To meet her demands, we’ll need to expedite the work while maintaining the highest quality of design. I want every single sketch personally approved by me before it goes to production.”
The team nodded in agreement, all except Kashish. Rudra, of course, didn’t miss that detail.
“Miss Bedi seems to disagree,” he remarked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Kashish hated having to speak to him, but this was business. Still, the thought of having to interact with him on a daily basis just to get her work approved was a nightmare.
“This is a waste of time,” she said, controlling her frustration. “With deadlines this tight, running every sketch by you will only delay the process. Considering your schedule, if you don’t approve a design, we’ll waste even more time reworking it.”
Rudra’s gaze didn’t waver.
“You’re the lead designer, Miss Bedi. No one else needs to ‘run behind’ me—just you .”
Her blood boiled. If only she had a knife. The way he emphasized “you” felt deliberate, as if he was toying with her, exerting control in the one place where she had to listen to him—here, in his professional domain. He couldn’t dominate her at home, where he was the cause of all her hatred, but here, in the office, he was her boss. And he was clearly enjoying it.
“Did I make myself clear, Miss Bedi?”
“Yes, Sir,” she replied, though the word “Sir” tasted bitter on her tongue.
“Good. You’re all dismissed.”
As the group exited his office, Sanjay, one of Kashish’s team members, let out a deep breath.
“I always get so nervous around him. He has this aura that just makes people feel... intimidated.”
Kashish clenched her phone in her hand, trying to hold back her fury. Pallavi, on the other hand, was far more interested in their boss’s appearance than his demeanor.
“But he’s so dashing,” she giggled. “Did you see that scar above his eye? So intense.”
Kashish knew exactly which scar Pallavi was talking about. She had given it to him 11 years ago. It should have stung when she hit him with that stone, but the scar was a permanent reminder of the pain he deserved for what he did to her father. The pain might have faded, but that scar would always remind him.
“You find scars sexy? Really?” Sanjay looked incredulous.
“I’m sure there’s a story behind it,” Pallavi mused. “It’s definitely not a birthmark.”
Kashish saw Rudra leaving his office, unnoticed by her colleagues. She seized the moment to twist the knife a little deeper.
“I heard a girl hit him during his childhood. That’s where he got the scar.” Her voice was just loud enough to ensure he heard.
Rudra stopped in his tracks, his eyes darkening. So, she was starting again.
“A girl?” Pallavi gasped. “Why? Who would want to hurt that handsome face?”
Kashish’s jaw tightened. “Because there’s a devil behind that handsome face, one not everyone can see.”
Rudra’s fists clenched at her words. Devil . She still saw him as nothing more than a demon. He wasted no time storming over to them.
“This company doesn’t tolerate gossiping. Either hand in your resignation letters, or get back to work,” he barked.
Pallavi jumped and scurried away, with Sanjay close behind. Kashish knew she had struck a nerve. She loved the wounded look in his eyes.
“And the demon resurfaces,” Kashish muttered mockingly.
Rudra glared at her. Grabbing her by the elbow, he dragged her into the adjacent room and released her roughly once inside.
“This little stunt of yours is unacceptable,” he growled. “You need to learn the proper way to conduct yourself at work. And that’s why I chose you to report to me directly. I’m strict with my staff, and you’ll get no leeway. Consider this your final warning—keep your petty remarks to yourself, or I won’t hesitate to deal with it. You’ve been given a job. Focus on that and stop dredging up the past.”
Kashish’s throat tightened, but she wasn’t backing down.
“The past?” she hissed. “That past destroyed my future.”
Rudra’s gaze hardened. “It destroyed mine too.”
The air between them grew heavier as they realized they were once again treading the same dangerous path they had the night before. Rudra straightened, determined to shift the conversation.
“I don’t discuss personal matters at work. If you want to keep dragging this out, we’ll continue at home. For now, get back to your work.”
She glared as he left the room, her body tense with rage. Kashish sat down but pushed the chair away from the desk in frustration. Every time he was near, she lost control. She needed to get a grip—if she didn’t, she might lose the one thing she had worked so hard for: her career.
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Kashish and Shekhar drove home together. Throughout the drive, she had been uncharacteristically quiet, clearly distressed. He gave her space, expecting she would eventually open up, but when she remained silent, his curiosity got the better of him. When he finally asked what was wrong, she couldn’t hold back any longer. She vented, recounting her confrontations with Rudra—the one from last night and the clash earlier that morning at the office.
“He wants me to chase after him?” Kashish spat, her anger boiling over. She looked at Shekhar, who appeared just as displeased by the situation. “I thought he’d at least have the decency to avoid me after everything, but no, that man has the audacity to challenge me at every turn.”
Shekhar’s expression darkened. “And you don’t challenge him?”
Her mouth snapped shut. He had a point. She always initiated these confrontations.
“Fine, I do,” she admitted reluctantly. “But—”
Before she could finish, Shekhar gripped her arms firmly, his voice low and serious. “Kashish, listen to me. I’ve known Rudra since childhood. He was always drawn to anything that tested his limits, anything that challenged his mind. But over the years, he’s changed. He’s learned patience. Trust me, you don’t want to push him too far. That old spark, that hyperactive strategist in him, could come back. And if it does, it won’t end well for you. He’s here for four months. Let it pass in peace—for both of your sakes.”
For a few moments, Kashish fell silent, her fury gradually softening. She could see the concern in Shekhar’s eyes, and it made her rethink her approach.
“I’m not afraid of him, Shekhar,” she finally said, her voice quieter now. “He’s already taken my father from me. There’s nothing worse he can do. But... I’ll consider your advice. I’ll try to be patient.”
Shekhar gave a nod, relieved. “Good. Now, let me see if Anjali’s finished cooking—I’m starving.”
Kashish sighed. “I’m not coming down for dinner. I couldn’t focus today, and my work’s piled up.”
“Health comes first, Kashish. I want you at the table. No arguments.”
His insistence left her without a choice. She could only nod in agreement. Dinner with the family meant one thing—she’d have to face him again. And she wasn’t sure she was ready for that.