"Sometimes the people who appear coldest are the ones hiding the deepest scars."

Rain poured over Mumbai, turning the city lights into blurred streaks across the glass walls of Malhotra Group Headquarters.

Inside the forty-second floor boardroom, silence ruled.

Every employee sat perfectly still.

Nobody dared speak before Arjun Malhotra.

He stood near the massive window in a charcoal-black three-piece suit, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a file.

Without turning around, he spoke.

"Who approved this presentation?"

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

A young manager nervously raised his hand.

"S-Sir... I..."

Arjun slowly turned.

His sharp grey eyes stopped on him.

"You're fired."

The room froze.

"B-but sir... one mistake—"

"I don't repeat myself."

Security quietly entered.

The manager left with tears in his eyes.

No one looked up.

No one breathed.

Arjun adjusted his cufflinks.

"I pay for perfection."

Then he walked out.

____________________________________________________________

Across the hallway...

Aradhya clutched her appointment letter tightly.

She had watched everything.

Her heartbeat raced.

People weren't exaggerating.

The CEO really had no heart.

"Ms. Sharma?"

The receptionist smiled politely.

"Mr. Malhotra is waiting."

Waiting?

She swallowed hard.

His office looked more like a luxury penthouse than a workplace.

Floor-to-ceiling windows , Black marble flooring, Dark wooden walls. A single bookshelf.

Everything expensive ,Everything cold.

Just like him.

Arjun didn't look up from the documents.

"Sit."

She sat quietly.

He continued writing.

Five long minutes passed.

Finally...

"What makes you think you're qualified to work for me?"

His eyes finally met hers.

They were beautiful...

and terrifying.

Aradhya took a deep breath.

"I don't think I'm qualified, sir."

One eyebrow lifted.

"I know I am."

For the first time...

Someone had answered him without fear.

A faint smile almost appeared on his lips.

Almost.

Arjun closed the file.

"People either fear me..."

"...or flatter me."

He leaned forward.

"You did neither."

Aradhya smiled softly.

"I don't like pretending."

Their eyes locked.

Something unfamiliar stirred inside him.

He looked away first.

Just then...

His phone rang.

The screen flashed one name.

Mother

He immediately declined the call.

Again.

Aradhya noticed.

"You should answer."

His expression turned ice cold.

"I don't take advice from employees."

Silence.

She lowered her eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"You should be."

____________________________________________________________

As she stood to leave...

Her notebook slipped.

Pages scattered across the floor.

Arjun bent down first.

A sketch caught his attention.

It was...

a lonely little boy standing alone in the rain.

No face , Only sadness.

"Did you draw this?"

She nodded nervously.

"When people are hurting...

I draw what they can't say."

For a second...

His fingers froze.

Because...

That drawing looked exactly like his childhood.

He quietly handed it back.

"Your first assignment starts tomorrow."

She smiled.

"Thank you, sir."

After she left...

Arjun looked at the closed door for several seconds.

Then whispered something he hadn't said in years.

"Interesting..."

____________________________________________________________

🖤 To Be Continued...

✨ End of Chapter 2✨

Thank you so much for reading! ❤️

If you enjoyed this chapter, please vote ⭐, leave a comment 💬, and add this story to your library 📚. Every vote and comment means the world to me and inspires me to keep writing.

What do you think will happen next between Arjun and Aradhya ? Let me know in the comments!

See you in Chapter 3... 🖤✨

— Whisper Noir

____________________________________________________________

Cliffhanger:

Outside the office, Aradhya accidentally overhears two senior executives whispering:

"She has no idea who Arjun Malhotra really is... If she discovers what happened five years ago, she'll run away like everyone else."

Aradhya freezes.

What secret is everyone hiding?