[Kartikey's POV | 8:11 AM | Apartment Rooftop, Seoul]
He looked up at the slow-moving clouds.A cool morning breeze played with his shirt. The city was alive down below.
And yet... he felt invisible.
Birthdays were always quiet for him.
He hadn't told anyone. No real friends here except one. His parents would probably send a short message from India, and that'd be it.
He didn't expect anything else.
So when Nancy texted:
Nancy💬: "Can you keep your evening free? I'm picking you up. Wear something you can ride in—comfortably." 🏍️
His brows raised.
Did she know?No way.He never told her.
[Nancy's POV | Earlier That Morning | Her Private Office Suite]
Nancy sipped black coffee while scanning her dual-screen monitors.
One screen showed company reports.
The other?
Kartikey's digital footprint.
College records.Visa entry date.Birthday—Today.
She smiled.
"Of course you wouldn't tell me. You're humble to the point of stupid sometimes," she whispered, shaking her head.
Nancy had done this background check weeks ago back when they'd only met twice. She didn't run a global empire by trusting blindly.
But now?Now, she didn't need the files anymore.
Now, she just wanted to make him smile.
[6:00 PM | A Quiet Hillside Road, Outside Seoul]
Nancy's black Porsche Taycan stopped on the edge of a small cliff overlooking the city.
Golden hour had arrived. The sky wore pinks and fire-orange streaks.
She had blindfolded Kartikey.
"Where... are we?" he asked, cautious but curious.
"Stop asking questions," she grinned, opening the passenger door for him. "Come with me."
She walked him about twenty steps, then whispered, "You ready?"
"No."
"Too bad."
She took off the blindfold.
There it was.
A black-and-silver BMW M1000 RR.
Sleek. Dangerous. Beautiful. Just like the first time she saw his eyes light up for it.
Kartikey froze.
"This... is not real."
Nancy slipped a key into his palm.
"You're right. It's better than real."
He looked at her, stunned. "How do you even"
"I know today's your birthday," she interrupted gently.
"But I didn't"
"You didn't have to. I wanted to know. So I did."
A gust of wind swept between them.
He looked at the bike again, then her.
"You're insane," he whispered.
"I know."
"And amazing."
"I also know."
He laughed, but there was a glimmer of wetness in his eyes.
No one had ever done something like this for him. Ever.
[The Romantic Moment | 6:17 PM]
They sat together on the grass beside the parked bike.
Nancy leaned her head against his shoulder. He hesitated... and then slowly wrapped an arm around her waist.
The breeze grew colder. The skyline sparkled ahead of them.
"I didn't know birthdays could feel this... warm," Kartikey murmured.
Nancy looked up. "You sure, you are not feeling warm because you are touching my waist and right now you are hell nervous."
He turned toward her, meeting her eyes.
And then they kissed.
Not rushed. Not burning.
It was slow tender like a soft promise written across the wind.
[Nancy's POV | 7:32 PM | Grand HwaYang Hotel Ballroom]
Camera flashes. Laughter. Expensive suits and designer gowns.
The birthday celebration of Mr. Siddharth Singhania—Vansh's father—was a major social event.
Nancy entered late, wearing a pale champagne gown that sparkled just enough to show presence, not arrogance.
She greeted Siddharth briefly.
"Ah, Nancy beta! I was wondering if you'd make it!"
"Wouldn't miss it, Uncle," she lied with a flawless smile.
Vansh approached seconds later, beaming.
"You look... incredible."
She didn't respond.
They stood together for barely fifteen minutes.
She clapped for the speech. She stood beside Siddharth during the cake-cutting.
As soon as the knife sliced through the last layer of fondant, Nancy leaned toward Vansh.
"I have to leave. Emergency meeting."
"But"
"Duty calls," she smiled politely.
And just like that, she was gone.
[Back to Kartikey | 9:44 PM | Rooftop Again]
He was still up there.
Sitting beside his new bike, the helmet resting on his lap.
Then headlights flashed below.
He leaned over the railing and saw the nancy car.
She came up moments later, her heels clicking, dress shimmering beneath a black coat.
He blinked. "Wait, weren't you—?"
"I was."
"You left?"
"I chose," she said simply.
Kartikey looked at her, mouth parted. "You chose... me?"
Nancy stepped forward, standing toe to toe with him.
"I didn't spend all day choosing the perfect damn bike just to leave you sitting alone on your own birthday."
Silence.
Then he smiled soft and overwhelmed.
"You're unreal."
"I'm yours," she whispered.
He grabbed her hand, held it against his chest.
And for once, Kartikey forgot about the differences. About the class gap. The mystery.
Because right now, the only thing real was her heartbeat syncing with his.