The morning sun spilled its golden rays over the city, casting long shadows on the tall glass buildings that shimmered like crystal towers. Aarohi stood in front of her apartment's mirror, nervously adjusting her white blouse. Rhea peeked from behind her room door, arms folded, a sly smile on her face.
"Still thinking about the 'cold devil'?" Rhea teased, raising her eyebrows.
Aarohi blushed, clutching her purse. "Shut up, Rhea. It's just... he's confusing, that's all."
Rhea laughed as they locked the apartment door and hurried down the steps to catch their usual cab. Aarohi's thoughts, however, were still swirling with the deep voice she'd heard over the phone last night.
"Did you meet him?"
The memory sent a ripple of chills through her spine. She hadn't told Rhea the identity of the caller. Not yet.
---
At the Office
The day started as usual at Apex International. Employees bustled through the sleek marble-floored hallways, voices murmuring, printers whirring. Aarohi and Rhea stepped into the elevator, joining a few other coworkers. The moment they entered their department floor, they were greeted by an unusual buzz.
Pim, the ever-smiling team manager, walked toward them, her heels clicking against the tiled floor. "Good morning, girls!"
"Morning, Pim," they said in unison.
"There are two people I want you to meet today. They'll be important in your team dynamics going forward."
Pim turned toward two figures standing near the conference room entrance. Aarohi and Rhea instinctively straightened their postures.
The first was a tall man in his early 30s, exuding warmth like the sun on a cold morning. He had dusky skin, thick jet-black hair slicked neatly, and wore a crisp navy suit that emphasized his broad shoulders. A clean, sharp jawline framed his soft smile, and his deep brown eyes radiated sincerity.
"This is Mr. Aarav Devakul, our Senior Manager of International Communications," Pim announced. "He recently returned from our Singapore branch and will be overseeing global coordination. You'll be interacting with him during certain project briefings."
Aarav extended his hand first to Rhea, then to Aarohi. "Nice to meet both of you. I've heard a lot about the new recruits—especially the brave one who faced Mr. Rithvik alone on the first day."
Aarohi flushed, her grip tentative. "I-I just asked a question."
He chuckled softly. "Not many survive that battlefield unscathed. You've got guts."
The next woman stepped forward. She was shorter, petite but sharp-eyed. Her hair was tied into a sleek bun, and she wore a pale beige blazer and black pencil skirt. Everything about her screamed precision. Her lips were painted a deep maroon, and her black stilettos echoed with authority.
"This is Ms. Thanchanok Niran—but everyone calls her Ms. Nok," Pim said. "She's the Senior Team Leader for Department B, which includes you, Aarohi. She'll be your direct reporting head."
Ms. Nok gave a nod, not offering her hand but appraising Aarohi with a calculating look. "Punctuality and precision are non-negotiable. I expect results, not excuses."
"Yes, Ma'am," Aarohi responded quickly, sensing the intensity.
But before Pim could move on, Rhea whispered, "She's terrifying."
Pim laughed nervously. "She's strict but fair. You'll get used to her."
However, something strange occurred as Ms. Nok's eyes flickered toward the main glass office—the CEO's chamber. Her hardened expression softened for a split second, and a subtle blush touched her cheeks before she turned away sharply.
Rhea leaned toward Aarohi, whispering again. "Wait… she has a crush on Rithvik?"
Aarohi blinked. "No way."
They both tried not to giggle.
---
Throughout the Day
The presence of Aarav made the office feel lighter. He had an effortless charm—chatting with juniors during lunch, giving useful tips, and offering gentle encouragement. Whenever he crossed Aarohi's desk, he paused with a smile.
"You settling in okay?" he asked during lunch break.
"Yes, thank you," Aarohi replied, feeling strangely at ease with him.
"You seem like someone who doesn't back down easily. I like that."
From her corner, Rhea raised an eyebrow.
"Did Mr. Soft Smile just flirt with you?"
"Stop it, he's just nice," Aarohi muttered, cheeks warm.
Ms. Nok, however, remained a force of nature. She ran meetings like a military drill. Every document had to be formatted precisely. Every word had to be chosen with care. But she never missed a chance to pause when Mr. Rithvik walked past the open corridor.
The way she straightened her blazer. The way she adjusted her collar. It was subtle—but Rhea noticed.
"She's totally into him. I bet she's had a thing for years."
Aarohi nodded slowly. "Maybe that's why she's glaring at me since yesterday."
"Because you talked to him?"
"Yeah. I don't think she liked that."
---
Evening – Cafeteria
The final meeting of the day had wrapped up. Aarohi and Rhea sat in the cafeteria, nibbling on spring rolls. Aarav happened to pass by with a tray and gestured politely.
"Mind if I join?"
"Sure," Aarohi said, trying not to appear too excited.
As they chatted, Rhea excused herself to get another drink, giving them space.
"I meant what I said earlier," Aarav continued. "You have potential. Don't let strict voices scare you."
Aarohi smiled. "Thanks, sir."
"Call me Aarav. We're not that formal here."
Meanwhile, across the hall, Rithvik walked by, expression unreadable. But his eyes lingered briefly on the sight of Aarav and Aarohi talking.
Ms. Nok followed behind him like a shadow, carrying a folder. Her eyes darted toward Aarohi. Her jaw clenched.
The tension was beginning to brew.
---
(The Warmth Beneath the Ice)
As the long day drew to a close and the sun dipped below the city skyline, casting soft golden hues over the glass windows of the office, a light buzz of excitement stirred near the HR desk.
Pim clapped her hands once, drawing attention. "Alright, everyone! Since it's Aarohi and Rhea's first official week and they survived their first full day," she grinned, "we've planned a casual dinner outing tonight."
Cheers followed, especially from the younger staff, clearly welcoming the change of pace from the usual grind. Aarav, ever the composed Senior Manager, added with a warm chuckle, "And it's also an excuse to make all of you take a break from instant noodles and sad desk meals."
Everyone laughed.
"Where are we going?" Rhea asked, her eyes lighting up.
"'Kaew Sook Dining House,'" Pim replied, "It's a cozy Thai-fusion place near the office. I've already reserved a private space."
Rhea turned to Aarohi, who gave a small nod of approval. "That sounds perfect!"
But Aarohi, feeling a little mischievous, glanced at Pim and asked in a quieter voice, "Umm… Will the CEO be joining us too?"
The question silenced the group for a few seconds. Some jaws dropped. Even Rhea elbowed Aarohi lightly. Pim blinked rapidly, clearly not expecting that.
"W-What?" Pim managed, her voice nearly a whisper, like the very mention of him might summon him from the shadows. "The CEO? Rithvik Veerayut?"
Aarohi gave an innocent shrug, "Well… He is technically our boss."
Aarav chuckled, looking both amused and impressed by her boldness. "Miss Aarohi, you're either brave or new."
"I'll take both," she said with a smile.
Pim exhaled with a dramatic shake of her head. "He doesn't… attend things like this. The last time he joined a staff event, the entire room froze—literally and emotionally. People couldn't eat in peace with him watching like that. It was three years ago. Never again."
The group laughed again, relaxing into the playful teasing. Aarohi still felt the lingering curiosity. There was something so magnetic about the man, even in his absence. She wondered what he was like outside of that glassy office.
---
Later That Evening: Kaew Sook Dining House
The restaurant was softly lit with lanterns and floral table runners. The warm ambiance contrasted beautifully with the cool night air of the city. Their group of a dozen or so staff members filled a long table in a semi-private area, decorated with bamboo walls and hanging orchids.
As the waiters began bringing in steaming dishes—Pad Thai with tamarind glaze, green curry chicken, crispy tofu bites, mango sticky rice, and lemongrass mocktails—the atmosphere grew lively.
Laughter rang across the table as Rhea and a designer named Fon played a mini charades game. Someone had brought a silly spinning game app that dared people to do funny challenges or answer truth questions.
Aarav, surprisingly relaxed, joined in the games with surprising good humor, teasing Rhea and even Pim at times. His laughter was deep, kind, never mocking. Aarohi watched him and thought: So this is what leadership with warmth looks like.
Midway through the evening, while everyone was finishing their first round of desserts, Aarav turned to Aarohi.
"So, Aarohi," he began, "we've been doing all the talking about Thailand. Why don't you tell us a little about India? What's it like? I've always wanted to visit."
Rhea immediately leaned closer with curiosity. "Yes! And don't leave out the food part!"
Aarohi smiled, setting her spoon down. "Where do I start? India is like… a living mosaic. Every corner feels like a different world. The languages, the dresses, the festivals—it's all so vibrant."
She paused and continued with more emotion. "Where I'm from, we celebrate every moment—big or small. You'll hear temple bells in the morning and wedding drums in the evening. And the colors—oh, especially during Holi and Diwali. It feels like even the sky dances."
"Wow," Pim whispered, her eyes wide.
"And the food?" Aarav asked with a grin.
"Oh, food is… sacred," Aarohi chuckled. "There's butter chicken, paneer tikka, spicy street chaat, biryani that makes you cry with joy. And sweets—gulab jamun, rasgulla, jalebi—it's basically sugar heaven."
"Okay, I'm officially hungry again," Rhea groaned.
Fon giggled. "We should do an Indian day at the office!"
Aarav nodded thoughtfully. "That's actually not a bad idea. Cultural exchange events are always good for morale."
Aarohi's heart warmed. She hadn't expected to feel so welcomed so soon.
As the evening continued, games like "Guess the Dish," "Who's Most Likely To," and even a karaoke challenge followed. Pim, to everyone's surprise, sang a surprisingly sweet ballad and made the room cheer.
Even Ms. Nok, the strict senior team leader, who had joined later and sat stiffly at the far end of the table, cracked a rare smile during the games—though she kept glancing toward the door, as if half-hoping the CEO might walk in.
Aarohi noticed and nudged Rhea. "She's got it bad."
Rhea giggled. "She acts like a strict monitor but turns to mush when the CEO is mentioned."
They laughed together, but in Aarohi's heart, there was still that odd twinge. Why am I still thinking about him even now…? she wondered, despite all the laughter.
--
(Back to the apartment)
As the apartment lights dimmed and silence settled over the city, Aarohi stood near the window, the moonlight casting a silvery glow on her face.
Behind her, Rhea was already tucked into bed, softly snoring with one hand thrown over her head in typical dramatic flair.
But Aarohi couldn't sleep.
Her thoughts circled around Rithvik—the man who barely spoke but left echoes. The man who hadn't smiled once but lingered in her mind more than anyone else.
Not because he was the CEO.
But because something about him... felt familiar.
Like a puzzle she was born to solve.
Her hand gently traced the edge of her pendant—an old, worn charm she never removed. Its surface was etched with a symbol not even she fully understood. She closed her eyes, the cold of his voice still whispering in her mind.
Aarohi whispered to herself:
"I wasn't sent here just for an internship."
She looked up at the stars.
"It's time to remember why I'm really here."
---