Chapter Thirty Two.
Ira was walking toward the mansion when the small breeze hit her again. She looked up at the sky and let out a soft sigh.
The sun didn’t look like it was coming out anytime soon. Clouds hung heavy, like they were holding back rain. Yet…she liked the chill. Chilling in that weirdly calming way.
She stepped into the mansion, On her way to the stairs, a sudden chill ran down her spine, and she trembled a little. Paused mid-step.
Why do I feel…unease all of a sudden?
“Ira.”
Her eyes snapped up.
Mrs. Rathore was coming down the stairs smiling warmly, two maids behind her.
“Good morning, Mrs. Rathore.”
“Good morning, Ira. How are you?” Mrs. Rathore stopped mid-step, her eyes soft and kind.
“I’m fine, Mrs. Rathore. And…thank you very much for dinner yesterday.” Ira smiled, though a tiny tug of unease still lingered in her chest.
Mrs. Rathore sighed softly. “I’m so sorry about yesterday. I don’t know what got into Devraj…he just… But I’m glad you stayed. I’m really glad you were there.” Her smile was gentle, almost like she wanted to soothe Ira’s nerves.
Ira nodded. “No need to be sorry, Mrs. Rathore.”
“By the way…Devraj isn’t home.”
Ira blinked.
“What? H-he isn’t?”
“No, he went to work this morning. Said something came up…” Mrs. Rathore said casually.
Ira frowned.
He went to work? How hard was it to send a quick message? “Don’t come today” would’ve been nice…
“Listen, he told me to tell you to come to the company.” Mrs. Rathore said, but Ira’s stomach twisted.
“What? Company?” Ira blinked, startled.
“Yes…” Mrs. Rathore nodded.
“You do know the Company, right?” she added, and Ira nodded, her lips pressed tight in a forced smile.
“Good. Now be careful. The driver outside will take you. Oh, and here…” Mrs. Rathore stretched her hand toward one of the maids, who handed her a file.
“He told you to bring this..” Mrs. Rathore said. Ira hesitated, fingers brushing the smooth cover before she took it.
“Stay safe, okay?” Mrs. Rathore’s eyes lingered on hers
Ira nodded, tight-lipped. “Thank you, Mrs. Rathore.”
She watched her walk away, the soft click of her heels fading into the mansion.
Ira stared at the file in her hands, frowning. The papers felt heavier than they should.
She stepped back out of the mansion. The car waited.
Her eyes flicked up to the sky, still smothered in clouds.
“This is going to be a long day,” she murmured, voice barely audible, and she walked toward the car.
Every step felt heavier than the last, her heart hammering in a way that wasn’t just from the walk.
Something about today… it was off.
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The car rolled to a stop. Ira stepped out, and her eyes went wide.
Before her stretched… not just a company, not just a building… an empire.. its glass and steel glinting coldly under the muted sky. The space around it was ridiculous...wide, open, intimidating.
“Sometimes I forget.” she murmured to herself, voice tight in her chest, “that I work for a trillionaire… a dangerous man… whose whispers still ripple far and wide.”
A few people walked past, briefcases in hand, their glances were assessing. Ira swallowed hard and straightened her shoulders, forcing herself forward.
She cleared her throat and stepped toward the entrance.
Two massive glass doors...transparent, pristine..loomed in front of her.
When she entered, the lobby hit her like ice water. Cold, and minimalist, yet every detail screamed power. Every corner of the space radiated control.
Curious eyes flicked toward her, subtle, careful, but unmistakable. Ira smiled faintly, her fingers tightening on the strap of her tote bag.
Focus. Don’t get distracted.
She walked toward the receptionist’s desk. The woman behind it was typing, her fingers clicking against the keys, but her eyes lifted and they pinched with immediate disapproval.
“Hi,” Ira said, keeping her voice polite. “I’m here to see Mr. Singh Rathore.”
The receptionist looked her up and down, slowly and a flicker of disgust crossing her face.
Ira blinked, stomach twisting.
Huh… did I say something wrong?
“And you are?” the receptionist asked, bored.
“My name is Ira… Ira Verma. I’m here to see Mr. Singh Rathore,” Ira repeated.
The receptionist’s lips twitched. “Ah… not one of those whores again..” she muttered under her breath..but loud enough for Ira to hear.
Ira’s brow furrowed, her hands gripping her tote tighter. “Excuse me, what did you just say?”
The woman raised a single, perfectly shaped eyebrow, the tiniest smirk playing on her lips.
“Oh, I said, you got an appointment with him?” the receptionist asked, voice dripping with fake curiosity.
“No. I’m his Caregiver,” Ira said, She held up the file. “I was told to give him this by Mrs. Rathore.”
The receptionist suddenly laughed..loud and full of scorn. A few nearby people glanced over, curious, and Ira felt her cheeks heat up, embarrassment mixing with rising anger.
“Right… and I’m Priyanka Chopra’s daughter.” the receptionist sneered, tilting her head like it was the funniest thing she’d heard all day.
“Get out. Or I’ll call security.” the receptionist added, voice authoritative, but it only made Ira’s temper flare.
“How about you put a call through first before giving orders you aren’t supposed to?” Ira shot back, words steady but biting.
The receptionist rolled her eyes, lips curling. “Listen here, Bambi. I won’t want to get a pretty lady like you dragged out like a ragged doll. So get out..before I call–”
“Ira?”
The voice interrupted the tension. Both women turned, and there he was..Advik. Walking toward them, eyes narrowed, face dark with concern.
“What’s going on here?” His voice was calm, but the weight behind it made the receptionist straighten immediately.
“Oh, sir…” she began, sweetly now, the change of tone almost theatrical. “This woman here… was causing chaos. She lied, saying Mrs. Rathore told her to bring in a file, claiming she’s Mr. Rathore’s Caregiver… and then she went on demanding to see him.”
Ira froze, shocked, not at the lie she hadn’t told, but at how venomous the switch in receptionist’s tone was. Sweet and deadly all at once.
Advik’s eyes darted between them, scanning the tension.
Ira’s heartbeat hammered in her ears, but she forced herself to stand straight, unwavering, her glare meeting the receptionist with silent defiance.
“But don’t worry, sir. I’m about to call security,” the receptionist said, smirking, clearly thinking she still had control.
Ira let out a small, tired sigh.
“If you do that, it will be your last day here. And yes… she is expected to be here. And to bring the file.” Advik said, carrying that authority that made the air feel heavier.
“W-what… I… I didn’t know, sir,” the receptionist stammered, her smirk gone, replaced with fear.
Advik ignored her completely. His eyes locked on Ira as he gestured. “Come. Let’s go.”
Ira nodded. They walked in silence toward the elevators, the soft patting of her sandals barely keeping pace with his measured steps.
“Thank you for bringing the file.” Advik said as they reached the elevator, voice almost casual.
Ira smiled faintly, just a nod, keeping her composure.
Advik shook his head, amusement flickering at the corner of his mouth, he was enjoying how she held herself.
She stepped toward the public elevator, where people jostled and moved in, but before she could enter, Advik’s hand wrapped around hers, firmly.
“No. You can’t take that one.” he said.
She froze, staring at him, a frown forming.
“Why not?” she asked quietly, noticing the number of people disappearing into the other elevator.
He pressed the button for the private lift, pulling her inside.
The door closed with a soft, definitive thud, shutting out the crowd. The hum of the cabin was quiet.
He looked down at her then, that faint smile curling at the edge of his lips. “It’ll be too crowded for you.”
Ira blinked, caught off guard. She looked up at him, then nodded and looked away, choosing silence over words.
Advik’s smile widened, “You don’t talk much.” he said.
She stayed quiet.
And that silence, Ira realized, was loud enough.
"Got it. No wonder Devraj prefers you.." Advik said, a teasing lilt in his voice. Ira’s fingers tightened around the files, her jaw stiffening.
"Relax," he chuckled, eyes glinting. "I’m not going to eat you up."
Ira let out a dry little sound, rolling her eyes, though a tiny part of her was relieved he wasn’t intimidating like Devraj.
"The last time we met, we didn’t really… talk properly. You still remember my name?" His tone had that hard edge, curious, almost probing.
Gosh. He really wants me to talk, huh?
"You’re Advik." she said, keeping her voice flat. "And according to you, you’re Sir’s… best friend."
A slow smile curved his lips. "Interesting. Very interesting. Can we be… friends?"
Ira finally looked at him, really looked. He was tall and very Handsome.
The same faintly dangerous aura she had noticed before..but somehow, this time, it didn’t make her stomach churn like Devraj.
It just… intrigued her. She lifted an eyebrow. "No."
"Ouch.." he said, mock offense lacing his tone. "At least for helping you get out of that receptionist mess downstairs?"
"I don’t give friendship out," she replied, meeting his gaze evenly. "People earn it."
He laughed, low and amused, he didn't expected that. "Damn. Tough nut to crack. Very clear on boundaries. Respectful, too… nice."
Ira smiled faintly, letting the files drop a little in her hands.
The elevator pinged open, smooth and private. Advik’s eyes flicked to her, playful but observing, he was enjoying the little challenge she was giving him.
"Come on," he said..
Advik stepped out first. Ira followed..
He led the way, confident and effortlessly
"How do I earn it?" he asked suddenly, pressing just enough to make her frown.
"Earn… what?" Ira raised an eyebrow, clenching the file tight on her chest.
"Friendship," he said, voice low, teasing. "You said people earn it, right?"
Ira scoffed lightly. "Why bother? I mean… we probably won’t even meet again."
"Who knows," Advik said with that faint smile, "we might. In the future."
She wanted rolling her eyes, muttering under her breath, "Sure…"
"Don’t hold back," he pressed, walking beside her. "You can be sassy. I like that."
Ira blinked, caught off guard. "Sassy?"
He leaned slightly closer, "Trust me… girls are cute when sassy."
For a second, Ira’s mind flicked to Ritika. She chuckled softly, shaking her head.
"I guess so." she admitted.
Advik chuckled, like he knew something she didn’t, or maybe just liked the sight of her laugh.
She acts tough, but she's quite an interesting woman.
They approached a silver door, the name Devraj Singh Rathore..gleaming in gold on it.
Ira paused, her hand hovering over the handle, feeling a flicker of unease.
But Advik pushed it open smoothly, holding the door.
They stepped inside..and froze.
Inside, the office felt charged, Alia was there, draped over Devraj.
Her hand rested lightly on his chest, fingers teasing the fabric of his shirt, her gaze fixed on him like she had him in her orbit.
Devraj, however, didn’t return the intimacy. He sat rigid, jaw tight, eyes dark and stormy, every line of his body tense.
Then Devraj’s eyes shifted. And just like that… they locked onto Ira.
His hand moved almost on instinct, pushing Alia back with precision, almost violently.
“Ahh..” she stumbled, then caught herself. She was about to say something but her eyes flicked to Ira and Advik, and suddenly she smirked, Adjusting her short dress, she straightened, pretending she had some claim on Devraj.
Ira raised an eyebrow.
Advik stepped forward, “What are you doing here? How did you even get in?” His eyes were fixed on Alia, and there was a cold edge now, one that hadn’t been there before. Ira glanced at him..he looked… different. he was angry.
Advik didn’t like her either?. Maybe… maybe the friendship thing isn’t that crazy… Ira thought, She almost laughed at that.
“I don’t need permission to be here.” Alia purred.
Her eyes darted to Devraj, trying to bait him, but he wasn’t looking at her. Not really. Every ounce of his focus burned into Ira.
Alia’s eyes darted between Devraj and Ira, and when she saw Devraj’s gaze locked fully on Ira, the smirk faltered, replaced by a flicker of irritation, then anger.
“Hi, sir..” she said casually, stepping forward, file in hand. “Um… I was told to bring this to you. Sorry for interrupting whatever that was going on here.”
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?????????? Okay byeee