Chapter 22
Reyansh
“Good morning, everyone.
B-Live Aura is an exquisite lifestyle line crafted for individuals who cherish the delicate harmony between their inner well-being and outward expression.
This collection seamlessly marries luxury wellness with sophisticated, daily essentials, tailored specifically for the contemporary urban professional.
Aura is guided by a clear and intentional growth strategy, grounded in robust fundamentals and an ambitious vision to expand from metropolitan launches to broader markets, reaching a global e-commerce audience.
At its essence, B-Live Aura embodies a singular and powerful belief, a luxury that harmonizes your body, mind, and presence. ”
As I conclude my brief speech and transition to the presentation, detailing the foundational financial framework for our new product line, B-Live Aura, I feel a quiet satisfaction surge within me.
The focused attention of the staff envelops me, bolstered by the steadfast presence of my teammates beside me.
Being the final speaker at the staff meeting, a flicker of nervousness still lingers within me, but I take solace in the fact that I navigated through my portion with a certain grace.
As I wrap up my presentation, the room erupts into applause, and I lower my gaze in modesty before making my way back to my seat, sinking down beside Amyra.
“You were incredible,” she whispers, her breath warm against my ear. I glance at her, finding her beaming with pride, the glimmer of admiration shining brightly in her eyes.
“Thank you,” I reply softly, reminding myself to concentrate on the continuing discourse from the remaining B-Live officials.
Yet, my thoughts wander back to the past two weeks, the trials and triumphs we experienced in sculpting this foundational blueprint for B-Live Aura’s launch.
The most daunting element wasn’t the tasks themselves but rather gaining alignment within our team, particularly between Karan and me.
In the beginning, we struggled to find common ground, each of us subtly vying for Amyra’s favor while a quiet competition simmered beneath the surface.
A week later, once we were posted to the B-Live branch, coordination became unavoidable.
To curate the launch plan, we learned to tolerate, then work with each other, and Amyra became the catalyst that restored peace during our group discussions.
After gathering a few suggestions and finalizing the preliminary work plan, we informed the branch head and requested a staff meeting to introduce the new product line. And now, here we are.
I must admit, Amyra carried the toughest role among the three of us.
She designed the entire product line and named it B-Live Aura, centering it around a philosophy of premium lifestyle blending luxury wellness with elevated fashion essentials.
Adaptogenic teas and elixirs, essential oil blends for stress, sleep, and focus, silk sleep accessories, minimalist aromatherapy candles, she shaped it all with clarity and vision.
Though she led the project initially, it was later taken over by Karan and me in our respective domains of strategic partnerships and finance.
I’m genuinely impressed by how Amyra volunteered to introduce the product line to the staff, it significantly eased the pressure on both our shoulders.
And as much as I dislike admitting it, I can’t ignore Karan’s contribution either.
His confidence, determination, and work ethic match ours.
If he weren’t in love with Amyra, we might have been good friends by now, but I know that’s not destined to happen in this lifetime. Friends, my foot!
“I thank the B-Live Aura project team—Ms. Amyra, Mr. Reyansh, and Mr. Karan for presenting such a powerful working plan. I look forward to seeing this project move toward its launch. The meeting ends here. Disperse.” Mr. Raghunath, the branch head, concludes the session.
We rise, shake hands with him, and step out of the hall.
“Guys! You were just amazing. I can’t believe I got the golden opportunity to work with two handsome, rising businessmen,” Amyra squeals the moment we’re outside, making both Karan and me break into wide smiles.
“Oh, Amyra, I still think you were the most phenomenal one,” Karan says, and I nod in agreement. It’s true. The effort she pours into her work is unbelievable, equal parts inspiring and admirable. B&T Corp’s marketing and brand strategy division will be in safe hands in the future.
“Exactly, Amyra. If you hadn’t initiated this project, giving it a name and a philosophy, we wouldn’t have stepped in to mark our territories. You’re the pioneer here,” I add, slipping an arm around her shoulder. She tilts her head up to look at me, her smile widening.
“Stop filling my head with praises, or I might turn arrogant,” she chuckles, her gaze flicking between Karan and me. Still, I don’t miss the deep frown settling on his face, his eyes fixed on our proximity.
I’ve decided not to hide my feelings for her anymore, to express them without hesitation. That probably explains how clingy and touchy I’ve become with Amyra lately. Each and every time, Karan’s face burns with obvious jealousy, I don’t care.
“It’s almost lunchtime. Shall we try a local restaurant nearby?” Karan says, tugging her hand and pulling her gently toward his side, forcing her out of my hold.
“Is it?” Amyra breaks free from his grip, much to my relief, and checks her designer wristwatch.
“I’ve already enquired about a nearby place that’s known for its food,” I add, and she pauses, thinking for a moment.
“Alright then. Let’s have a good meal and get back to work,” she agrees. With that, we head to our allotted cabins to drop our belongings before stepping out of the branch together.
“Ouch! It’s raining. Let me call our driver,” I say, pulling my phone out hastily.
“Wait, isn’t that the restaurant you both mentioned?” She points toward a building a few metres away, tucked into the corner of the road.
“Yes,” Karan and I reply in unison.
“It’s just a few steps away, and it’s not really raining but just a drizzle. We’ll be fine.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Let me at least grab an umbrella,” Karan insists, but Amyra shakes her head in refusal.
“Aren’t you guys overreacting? I’m leaving.” She steps out of the entrance, her body instantly exposed to the raindrops. I rush after her, lifting my palms to shield her head, only to realise Karan mirrors the same action, his hands brushing against mine.
“Guys, stop being crazy,” she taunts before breaking into a run toward the restaurant, finally rushing inside safely. I shoot Karan a sharp glare before hurrying after her. I reach the restaurant just as she does, with Karan following close behind.
“See? Our clothes aren’t even wet.” She looks us over, and we nod, moving further inside. Since the open area is divided into glass chambers, we’re spared unwanted attention. Moments later, the manager approaches and leads us into a private chamber.
We settle into a perpendicular L-shaped seating, Amyra opposite Karan and me on my right side.
She picks up the menu to scan through the dishes, but my gaze lingers on her instead.
Raindrops cling to her skin like glistening stars, a few strands of her ponytail plastered softly against her face.
My eyes drift to her slightly damp hair, then to her red-tinted lips, still kissed by droplets.
The urge to touch them clouds my mind. But sensing Karan’s eyes on me, I quickly grab a tissue and hand it to her, gesturing for her to wipe her face.
I seriously need to get a grip on these crazy thoughts.
“Your orders?” she asks, extending the menu toward us.
“Order for me,” I say, only to hear another male voice echo the same words. I glance at Karan, irritation flaring inside my chest.
“Okay,” she murmurs. This guy is clearly in line to snatch her away from me, and I need to untangle the mess I’ve created in my life very soon.
The food arrives shortly, and a brief silence settles over the table as we focus on tasting it.
“So, what are our upcoming plans?” Amyra finally asks, her gaze shifting between us.
“You mean for the project?” I clarify, and she nods.
“Didn’t we already discuss this? We need to focus on brand marketing strategy, finance, and strategic partnerships while using the staff to our advantage.”
“Right. It’s much clearer now compared to the confusion we had at the beginning,” Karan adds, and I remain unfazed.
“Yes, and we should remember we only have a month to wrap everything up.”
Another challenge, courtesy of the Chairperson and CEO of B&T Corp. The deadline weighs heavily on our minds, but we need to keep going.
“We’ll figure something out,” I reply, shoving a bite of food into my mouth.
“By the way, Reyansh, how’s your dating life with Aditi going?” My eyes narrow at Karan’s question. It sounds foreign coming from him.
Since when did he develop an interest in my relationship with Aditi? I glance at Amyra. She looks at me expectantly, silently urging me to answer, but I have no intention of entertaining his curiosity about my personal life.
“That’s none of your business, Karan,” I snap back. In my peripheral vision, I catch Amyra rubbing her forehead. That’s also when we finish lunch. Amyra excuses herself to use the washroom, and the moment she’s gone, my attention snaps to Karan, who is already staring at me.
“When did you start taking an interest in my relationship, Mr. Karan Mahajan?”
“Long ago, Mr. Reyansh Thakur, especially after watching your behaviour around Amyra. Be mindful of your relationship status and stay away from her. Don’t you feel it’s wrong to cling to her when you already have a girlfriend?”
Anger surges through my veins. I hate the way he dares to intrude into my personal life, especially by dragging Aditi and Amyra into the same sentence.
“Don’t you dare lecture me on how to behave with my best friend or my girlfriend, Mr. Mahajan. Trust me, I don’t take kindly to people invading my personal space.” My voice drops, dark and dangerous, more warning than words. A crooked smirk curves his lips.
“I’m the same, Mr. Thakur. So stop threatening the bond I’m building with Amyra.”
“Only in your dreams, Karan. You can’t even imagine what I’ve planned for the future,” I shoot back, my jaw clenching hard. Shock flickers across his face, quickly replaced by a sharp glare. He opens his mouth to respond, but Amyra’s voice cuts through the tension.
“Let’s leave, guys.” And just like that, everything clicks.
The reason behind my growing disinterest in Aditi.
The jealousy. The possessiveness.
The constant ache in my chest every time I have to step away from Amyra.
It was never just friendship, no matter how foolishly I convinced myself otherwise for years. The last two weeks have been an eye-opener, forcing me to finally name what I feel for Amyra. And I decided, right then, to stop fighting it.
Yes, I messed up. I forgot a crucial promise and rushed myself into a relationship with the wrong person. But I refuse to imprison myself in regret and ruin our lives for the future. I need to fix this because I can’t stay away from Amyra anymore.
Not when I’m deeply, passionately, unapologetically, and hopelessly in love with her.
For the first time, I knock some sense into myself and accept the truth I’ve been avoiding for years. This isn't a mere crush because this intense, consuming pull toward her can only be love. And if I have to move mountains, clean up the mess I created, and pay the price for my mistakes, I will.
Just to spend the rest of my life with Amyra.