Chapter 13
Amyra
“Didn’t we just meet last week? Why are you here?” I tease over the phone, earning a dramatic scoff from Sanchi.
“Girl, it’s been ten days since I last saw you. Now hurry up, I’m waiting.” I wipe a hand across my forehead, irritation simmering at the thought of stepping out mid-workday, even if only for a bit.
The receptionist greets me when I pass through the lobby; I give her a polite nod before stepping out, where Sanchi is casually leaning against the railing as if she owns the place.
“Hey, San!” I call, making her beam.
“Hey, Amy!”
“What’s with this surprise visit?” The tension in my chest eases the moment I see my best friend, and a genuine smile tugs at my lips.
“I was driving by and thought I’d say hi. Also, I have news.” She arches her brows mischievously.
“Don’t tell me you’re getting married next month.” I poke, knowing exactly how to rile her up. She immediately pinches my arm very hard. “Ow! San!” I hiss, rubbing the spot while she grins smugly.
“Think before you speak nonsense! And no, marriage isn’t happening for at least three years.”
“Then what happened?”
“I’m joining my dad’s company soon. He wants me in the IT department under the department head’s guidance, and I said yes.”
“Oh my God, Sanchi!” I squeeze her shoulders. “That’s amazing! You’re already stepping into real responsibilities. You’ll lead that department one day, I know it.”
“We’ll see. For now, I’m excited for what’s coming.”
“You should be!”
“And it applies to you, too. Today marks one month since you started your internship. I’m proud of you, Amy.” She clasps my hands, eyes shining.
“Thanks, San. I just want to give my best.”
“You already are. So stop worrying.”
Just then, my phone buzzes with a faint ringtone. I quickly pull it from my pocket to check the caller ID. Rey?
Before I can ignore the call and shove the phone back into my pocket, Sanchi snatches it, eyes widening at the screen.
“Reyansh Thakur?”
“He must have noticed my absence by now,” I reply, trying to sound indifferent.
“That’s insane! He’s clearly obsessed with your presence and already missing you,” she teases with a whiny laugh, handing back my phone while my face twists into a deep frown.
“I just can’t believe how he clings to me even when I’ve been purposely ignoring him ever since we joined the company.
” I think about all the ways I’ve tried to keep my distance, masking it with busyness.
Yet he still shows up, twice a day at least, just to check if I’m okay.
While I barely look his way, he shamelessly stands at my cubicle, forcing a conversation.
I refuse his canteen invites, but he still appears daily, collecting little pieces of my life like it’s his right to know.
Sometimes I feel like I’m being too harsh, dismissing his genuine effort to keep our friendship intact. But I can’t risk my heart, not when my love for him is still fresh, so strong it hurts.
Every time he stands close or flashes that ridiculously handsome smile or even brushes against me by accident, my heart threatens to collapse under the weight of affection I’ve buried.
One wrong move and I’ll fall right back into the emotional chaos I’m terrified of revisiting.
And that day when I pretended to be glued to my laptop, refusing to even glance at him, his voice had sharpened, his expression tight, almost demanding my attention as if he owned a part of me.
It was the first time I’d seen that look on him.
He felt new. Intense. Different. I sensed it in the way he looked at me…
but no. I can’t go down that road again.
Only to break apart whatever sanity I’ve been holding onto.
Even now, he’s probably searched every corner of the floor, asked the in-charge about me, and finally called after panicking.
“Back to earth, Miss Amyra!” Sanchi shakes me gently, snapping me out of the spiral.
“It’s impossible to ignore him when my heart literally aches to be near him, San.
It feels like torture. I thought distance at work would help…
but he still makes time for me despite everything.
Why won’t he let me breathe in peace?” My voice comes out strained, tired. Sanchi strokes my head softly.
“Amy, this is deeper than you think. He cares about you. Loves you as his best friend. So, of course, he’ll chase your attention.
But this is delicate; you can’t hurt him while fighting your own emotions.
You need balance… or you might lose him forever.
” Her words send a chill down my spine. The thought of a life without him, even just as a friend, is unbearable.
She’s right.
I need to control my emotions while still valuing his efforts. He doesn’t deserve punishment for something he never did. I can’t lose him.
“Thanks for talking sense into me, San. I’ll work on it. I love you, babes.” I lean in and peck her cheek, overwhelmed. She laughs, shaking her head.
“Alright, Amy. You'd better go back before Reyansh barges out here searching for you.”
She snickers behind her hand, and I roll my eyes at her.
“Actually, why are we standing here? We can grab a coffee in the canteen—”
I take her wrist to lead her, but she gently pulls back.
“My driver’s waiting. I only came for a quick chat. See you soon.” She waves once before disappearing, and I rush back inside, anticipation fluttering wildly in my chest. I just need to be my old self again, no matter what I feel for him.
My fingers tremble when I hit the seventh-floor button. The urge to see Reyansh is driving me insane, thinking maybe… maybe I can finally restore what we lost. It’s late, but not too late.
The doors slide open, and I sprint out, turning right toward our corner cubicles.
I freeze.
Reyansh stands at the end of the corridor, gaze already locked on me, shoulders tense, jaw tight. He looks like he was seconds away from storming off to find me.
“Rey!” I call, barely above a whisper, yet he hears.
“Where were you? Why didn’t you pick up my calls? I’ve searched for you everywhere.” His voice vibrates with bubbling anger as he steps closer. I stay rooted near the elevator, breath catching halfway.
“I’m sorry. My phone was on silent. Sanchi stopped by, so I went out to meet her.” I deliver the lie calmly, hoping it sounds effortless. His expression darkens, and he closes the distance.
“I’m done with this, Ames. What’s happening to us? Why do you avoid me? We don’t hang out. We barely talk. Yet you have time to meet others twice in ten days?” His frustration crashes into me, and my pulse stutters.
I can’t breathe.
“You’re answering me today.” His steps echo through the quiet corridor. “Why are you shutting me out? Why don’t you show interest in our friendship anymore?” He keeps advancing, and anxiety claws up my throat.
“First, you lock me out of your life, then you apologize, only to repeat the same distance. Just a few crumbs of conversation here and there is not what I desire, Ames. What did I do? Why am I being punished?” He stops inches from me, hurt blazing in his eyes.
I need to come up with something fast, or I’ll end up on the receiving end of his rare but terrifying anger.
“Rey, it’s—” I step forward, but the floor suddenly slides beneath me. His warning comes too late.
“The floor’s wet. Ames, stop!” My foot skids. The world tilts. I brace for impact…but strong hands catch my waist, steadying me before I hit the ground. A breath escapes me. His grip shifts, securing me upright, and when I lift my head to see who saved me, I stand frozen.
Karan Mahajan.
“Ka—” My voice dies as another one cuts in.
“Karan Mahajan!?” Reyansh blurts, stunned, anger tightening every line of his body.
Karan flashes a playful grin. “Glad you both still remember me.”
Reyansh storms closer, fury etched across his face. “What are you doing here?”
“That’s a lovely welcome towards a college-mate, you haven’t seen in two months.” Karan’s sarcasm only fuels the fire burning in Reyansh’s eyes.
“Cut the crap and answer me.”
“Relax.” Karan presses the elevator button, gaze flicking between us with smug amusement. “You’ll know soon. Uncle Surya asked me to bring you both, so let’s not keep the CEO waiting.”
Reyansh and I exchange a look of confusion. Why is Karan here? Why would Uncle ask him to bring us to his cabin? What exactly is happening?
The next few minutes pass in tense silence as we reach Uncle’s cabin. My dad is already inside, waiting.
“So, you’re here,” Uncle Surya greets warmly, while Reyansh and Karan stand on either side of me like opposing forces.
“First of all, congratulations to both of you for completing one month of internship,” Dad begins. “Secondly, we brought you here to meet your new fellow intern.” My eyes widened. I glance at Reyansh, and his face instantly drains of color.
“Meet Karan Mahajan,” Uncle continues. “Son of Rajiv Mahajan—respected industrialist, founder of Mahajan Industries, and a long-time investor in B&T Corp. He’ll be joining Strategic Partnerships as an intern on Rajiv’s request. He will work closely with both of you…
especially you, Amyra, as you may team up on certain projects. ”
The words sink in slowly, a jolt of realization hitting me. Karan will be here. With us. For months.
Oh God… this is going to be a disaster with the silent rivalry Reyansh and Karan share from their University days.
“Thank you for the warm welcome, Uncle,” Karan responds politely. “I’m sure Amyra and Reyansh will help me settle in and help me understand the company better.” His sweetness only fuels the heat radiating from Reyansh beside me.
“Alright, report to your mentor for further instructions,” Dad concludes. “Amyra, Reyansh...return to work.” We step out of the cabin, and tension instantly thickens.
“Just because you’re here doesn’t mean I’ll entertain you.” Reyansh’s outburst is cut short by his phone ringing.
“I’m coming, sir,” he snaps, before storming off, not before shooting Karan a deadly glare and giving me a long look that leaves my heart quivering.
“Amyra, I’m really happy to be here,” Karan says more softly now. “Especially since I’ll get to work with you.”
I return a small smile. “That’s great. I hope we work well together.” Maybe… This is a chance to rebuild a friendship after I rejected his proposal last year, something that still pricks my conscience.
And perhaps I’m overthinking the tension between the two boys. Reyansh has a girlfriend now. He should be less bothered. His protectiveness is always on account of me being the only girl close to him. Now he has someone else to focus on.
It feels logical. Reasonable. I want to believe it.
“Coffee?” Karan asks, pulling me away from my spiraling thoughts. I nod. Having someone new around might actually help me loosen the emotional knots I keep hiding.
As we walk into the elevator, my phone buzzes. I check the message notification.
Rey:
Don’t forget our meeting tonight with Aditi at the nightclub. Sharp 7 PM. And we need to finish our conversation.
My stomach drops. Not because he insists on continuing the confrontation…but because tonight I’ll see him with Aditi, together. I’ve avoided that sight ever since my heart broke, but Aditi insisted I come celebrate our first month at the company. And I gave in.
I silently pray I don’t end up shattering again… becoming the third wheel in their love story.