Chapter 39
Amyra
“I am truly grateful to all the staff of B&T Corp, especially our fathers and the heads of the company, my dad and Surya Uncle, and my mentor, Ms. Shanaya ma’am, who guided me through the toughest learning phases and yet made the journey feel easy and comforting with their presence.
Though we are leaving temporarily due to the completion of our internship, I hope we cross paths again very soon.
Thank you once again for supporting us.”
I finish my brief speech, facing the audience, mostly the core staff of the company, and step back, nudging Reyansh to move forward and take my place.
Today marks the final day of our internship. Twelve months have come to an end, and I feel genuinely proud of both Reyansh and myself for how far we’ve come, collecting not just professional knowledge but meaningful life lessons along the way.
I’m looking forward to a short break with my boyfriend, and just as eager to see what life has in store for us next.
My attention shifts fully to Reyansh’s speech because, honestly, he has a natural flair for engaging an audience.
Many here have clearly fallen for his charm and that effortless smile he carries while speaking.
My boyfriend is simply irresistible, and I’m glad he’s mine.
“Good evening to all the officials and core staff gathered here,” he begins.
“These twelve months of internship have not only equipped me with the skills to join this company on a larger scale in the future, but also taught me invaluable life lessons and experiences. From the bottom of my heart, I thank the heads of the company and my mentor, Mr. Raghav Sinha, for their unwavering support and genuine patience. And I must also mention how this workplace and this phase of my life played a major role in aligning me with my lover and my girlfriend, Ms. Amyra Bajaj. For that, I will always be grateful.”
He ends with a cheeky grin, and the hall erupts into loud applause the moment he takes my name. Heat rushes to my face as I lower my head, covering it with my hand in embarrassment, while laughter ripples through the room, clearly at my expense.
God, Reyansh is absolutely unhinged when it comes to flaunting me as his girlfriend.
Though the entire company has already noticed our closeness and the gossip has been circulating for a while, we never officially went public to avoid unnecessary attention. But it seems Reyansh decided to break that boundary today and announce us, loud and proud.
Gosh, why is my boyfriend so hot?
With the officials’ speeches already done earlier, the meeting wraps up, and people begin dispersing back to work. Reyansh immediately hops over to my side, pulling me into his arms.
“Rey! Are you crazy? Why would you mention me in your speech?” I scold him, though I’m already melting into his embrace, unconcerned about spectators since only our fathers remain in the hall.
“Yes, baby,” he grins. “Crazily in love with you and ready to show it off to the world.”
“And what about the media flashing cameras everywhere?”
“Don’t worry. Our PR team will handle it.”
“But you seriously need to stop showing off your affection, young man!” I pull back instantly at Surya Uncle’s stern tone.
“Come on, Dad! It’s not a secret anymore. And honestly, I want it out there so people stop linking us with random people.”
He’s not wrong. Lately, the media has been obsessed with us as the future heirs of B&T Corp, wildly pairing us with random celebrities whenever we attend business events.
It drives Reyansh crazy, especially when tabloids spin stories about me dating anyone except him.
That’s why we’ve been extra cautious for the past four months, successfully keeping ourselves away from gossip.
“Let it be, Surya,” my dad intervenes calmly. “Sooner or later, they’re getting married anyway.” Surya Uncle sighs, still annoyed, shaking his head.
“But evil eyes are real. Unnecessary attention only brings trouble. Until the wedding, I expect both of you to be careful.” Reyansh rolls his eyes but nods, and I follow suit.
“Coming to your next step,” my dad adds gently, a soft smile lifting his face, “we’re allowing you a short break while we finalise your positions in the company.” Relief washes over both of us.
Finally, a break. Some peace.
“Thanks, Dad. Thanks, Uncle,” we say together, before leaving the hall, collecting our belongings from the cubicles, and heading toward the elevator, eventually stepping out of the building.
“We had to skip your evening coffee today,” Reyansh says. “Shall we go to a café?” I love how he notices and remembers the smallest details about me. Sometimes it feels like he genuinely enjoys spoiling me with his princess treatment.
“No, Rey. Let’s just go home.”
“What? Come on. We can go somewhere else then. Don’t we need to celebrate today?”
“Exactly. That’s why I want us to go there. I have a place in mind.”
“Which place?”
“Can we get into the car first?”
“Alright. One minute.” He rushes off to bring the car from the parking lot, and I slide into the passenger seat.
“Let me buckle your seatbelt,” he says, leaning in. I stop him instantly, raising my hand.
“Dude, I have hands. And don’t you dare use this as an excuse to get closer and start a kissing session.
” Honestly, he’s a clingy boyfriend who always wants me close, always craving physical touch, and never missing a chance for surprise kisses.
Though I’m a complete sucker for all of that, sometimes I need a little distance like every other woman out there.
“God, baby! Why do you get such a bore sometimes?” He exclaims with exaggerated dramatic expression, making me roll my eyes.
“Because you’re always in the mood for romance, and that’s not acceptable all the time.”
“Oh really, baby?” He sends me a playful wink. “Then how are you going to manage my high-level romance once we’re married?”
I grit my teeth at him. “You are so shameless. Now, please start driving.” Our relationship feels alive in these little banters we’ve carried forward from our friendship days. They always end up leading to heartwarming gestures and emotional conversations, the parts I cherish the most.
“You know, Aditi called us yesterday,” he says. “She has exams coming up, so she won’t be able to talk regularly for over a month. She wants to focus completely on her preparation.”
“That’s good,” I reply. “She’s giving her all to earn that postgraduate degree in Artificial Intelligence.”
“True. I’ve never seen someone so dedicated.”
“Well,” I smirk, “I’ve seen one person before her.”
“Who?”
“Oh, baby, it’s you, the queen of dedication and hard work. So dedicated that you forget about me while drowning yourself in work.”
“God, Rey! You can’t demand my presence during working hours.”
“Alright, princess. We’re almost near our houses. Where do you want to go?”
“Pull over near the space beside the Thakur Estate.”
“Okay.” He does exactly that, and I ask him to step out of the car. He obeys without question.
“Where are we going?”
“Let’s take a walk.”
“Our jogging street?”
“Yes. But beyond our usual route.”
“Alright, baby. Let me give you my jacket, you might catch a cold.” Before I can protest, he unzips his jacket and gently drapes it over my shoulders, guiding my arms into the sleeves and zipping it up snugly.
“Let’s go.” He laces his fingers with mine, and I interlock them instinctively.
Having your best friend as your boyfriend already feels like a win.
Having him be this considerate, caring, loving, and a complete green flag feels like a blessing.
I try to match his efforts, but he’s always one step ahead, something I secretly enjoy.
We walk forward with light conversations and shared smiles, my head occasionally resting against his shoulder while his arm settles comfortably around me. Cozy. Safe. Us.
“Okay. Stop here.” We halt at a familiar spot. Reyansh looks around, visibly struggling to recognize it.
“Do you remember this place?”
“It feels familiar, but I can’t recall when or how.”
“But I can never forget it.”
“Help me remember?”
“This is where I lived through one of the worst moments of my life, one of my biggest nightmares.” His eyebrows straighten with realization, and a soft, vulnerable look crosses his face.
“This is where I found you that night,” he murmurs, exhaling heavily.
“Yes, Rey. This is where I broke down for the first time in my life, right after your announcement about having feelings for Aditi. I regretted not seeing the signs, not realizing how sidelined I had been in your heart. I cried endlessly, not caring about the heavy rain pouring down. But do you know what’s magical about it? ” He waits, eyes fixed on me.
“The man who caused my heartbreak came running behind me, drenched to the bone. He didn’t realize it then, but he chose me over the newly announced feelings, in front of the whole family.” Reyansh lets out a soft laugh, his face glowing with a bittersweet mix of happiness and regret.
“That should’ve been my biggest realization,” he admits. “But I brushed it off, calling it an old habit of looking after you.”
“You really are dumb and clueless sometimes,” I tease. “But do you know the worst part of that night?”
“I thought we already covered it.”
“No. It's way worse.”
“God, what did I do now?” Fear flashes across his face. I gently pull his cheeks, a habit I slip into when I feel endeared by him.
“You said ‘I love you, Ames’ but only as a friend. Your silly platonic love confession.”
He groans. “That’s awful. I confessed my feelings, but in the worst way possible. I’m really sorry for hurting you back then.”
“It’s okay, Rey. That’s why I wanted to come here with you.
I needed to return to this place and feel happy, knowing how my worst nightmare turned into a surreal dream.
I’m grateful for everything that unfolded four months ago.
” I wrap my arms around his torso, and he hugs me tightly, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead.
“I’m grateful too,” he whispers. “Everything turned out so beautifully that every day with you feels like a destined blessing. I’m so fortunate to have you in my life.” He pecks my lips, and I smile widely, replaying our journey in my mind.
Once, I grieved over being trapped in unrequited love. Now, I wake up every day knowing I have someone who treats me like I’m their entire world.
And that’s how everything changed. From being his best friend to becoming his girlfriend, I’ve stepped into the best phase of my life.