CHAPTER ONE

“Sometimes, the best things in life are not planned. Like biryani leftovers or mistaken job offers.” – chaavi mehra

Mumbai, 9:45 AM

“Excuse me, ma’am. You’re not allowed to park your scooty on the red carpet,” the security guard said, horrified.

chaavi mehra looked up from her half-crushed bag of mint candy. “Red carpet? I thought it was just a dirty maroon mat.”

Behind her, her battered lavender scooty leaned dangerously close to the rotating glass doors of Kapoor & Co.—one of India’s biggest fashion empires. Ahead of her, a line of glossy interns in stilettos stared like she’d walked in from another planet. Probably because she had.

Because chaavi was not supposed to be here.

Her actual interview was two buildings away, at a startup called SniffIt!, which made pet perfumes.

But thanks to Google Maps, her death with driving skills, and a wildly misread office directory, she’d parked herself outside the very empire of Ruhan Kapoor, a man rumored to fire people for breathing too loudly.

And now, thanks to one slippery step, a ripped tote bag, and a flying résumé… she found herself in the elevator, escorted by a peppy HR girl named Ananya, who chirped, “Mr. Kapoor’s been waiting for a personal secretary. You’re just in time!”

chaavi blinked. “I think there’s been a—”

DING.

The elevator doors opened. Silence. Cool air. Marble floors that looked shinier than her future.

And in the middle of it all… him.

Ruhan Kapoor.

Black suit. Black coffee. Black expression. Like a living Vogue spread, except ten times more intimidating and a hundred times more allergic to nonsense.

He looked up. “You’re late.”

She cleared her throat. “Technically, I wasn’t even hired—”

“Sit.”

She sat.

And just like that, chaavi, who was supposed to be at a pet perfume startup, became the personal assistant to Ruhan Kapoor—the grumpiest, sharpest, and most dangerously attractive CEO in all of India.

And worse? She had no clue what a “procurement spreadsheet” was.

10:30 AM – CEO Cabin, Kapoor & Co.

Ruhan Kapoor was having a good morning.

Until she spoke again.

“So… how do you feel about office plants?” chaavi asked, twirling in his vintage leather chair like a child in a candy store. “Because I feel like this office screams I’m rich but emotionally unavailable. A cactus would really vibe with you.”

Ruhan blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Then picked up his pen and muttered, “Are you always like this or is this a performance for your dismissal package?”

“Excuse me,” she said, hands dramatically on hips, “I saved your company from being labeled emotionally sterile. You’re welcome.”

He closed his eyes like he was praying for patience. “You're supposed to be scheduling my meetings.”

“I did,” she said, waving a crumpled post-it. “You have ‘Torture with Ties’ at 11, ‘Devil’s Denim Board’ at 1, and a ‘Zoom of Doom’ at 3.”

His jaw clenched. “Those are client meetings. With people who pay us crores.”

“Oh. Right.” She coughed. “Should I rewrite them or... add emojis?”

There was a long pause.

And then—like the sound of hope dying—he said, “You’ve got ten minutes to retype my entire day’s schedule. In proper format. In silence.”

chaavi froze. “Silence? You mean like, actual no-talking silence or pretend silence like in temples where everyone still gossips in whispers?”

Ruhan just stared.

She mimed zipping her lips. “Fine. But if I explode from unspoken thoughts, it’s on you.”

11:10 AM – Meeting Room

chaavi sat beside him during the presentation, trying not to snort as Ruhan grilled a manager with the intensity of a courtroom judge.

“Why is the campaign late?” he asked coldly.

“Sir, we ran into a few creative blocks.”

chaavi whispered under her breath, “Like not having any creativity at all.”

Ruhan turned slowly, eyes flickering with warning. “Ms. mehra.”

“What? That was my inside voice,” she whispered.

“That was a megaphone voice.”

The manager, clearly sweating, stammered something about deadlines, while chaavi tried to discreetly chew her pen lid—until it snapped.

And flew.

And landed.

In. Ruhan. Kapoor’s. Coffee.

Dead silence.

chaavi turned to him with a nervous laugh. “I believe that’s what we call ‘extra flavor infusion’?”

He looked at his coffee. Then at her. “Are you sent by my enemies?”

“Technically, I was sent by HR.”

1:00 PM – Lunch Break (Sort of)

“Do I get a lunch break?” she asked, following him into the elevator.

“You’ve had three coffee breaks, a YouTube break, and fifteen minutes of gossip with the receptionist.”

“Okay first of all, her name is Simran and she’s heartbroken, Ruhan. Heartbroken. I was emotionally supporting her.”

“It’s Mr. Kapoor to you.”

“Right. Ruhan Kapoor. Ru…Kap. Sir. Sorry.”

He sighed as she stumbled into the elevator wall. “Do you trip this much at home too?”

“Only emotionally,” she said brightly.

4:00 PM – CEO Cabin, Round 2

chaavi returned with a tray of fresh coffee—determined to redeem herself.

“Peace offering,” she said, placing the cup carefully in front of him.

He took a sip.

Paused.

Then looked at her in disbelief. “This is… sweet.”

She grinned. “Exactly! I used jaggery instead of sugar. Healthier. And a little desi. Like me.”

“Did I ask for healthier?”

“You never ask for anything except silence, meetings, and revenge. It’s honestly impressive.”

For a second, Ruhan actually looked like he might smile.

Almost.

But then he said, “You’re fired.”

chaavi gasped. “What?!”

He leaned back. “Kidding. Unfortunately.”

She exhaled. “I almost fainted. And I’m not even dramatic.”

He raised an eyebrow.

She smiled. “Okay. A little dramatic.”

To Be Continued...

so guys..I have been thinking of creating a chat story of the same couple...the story and conversations, Will be different from these...I am still not sure about this..but if I will be able to write then I will surely create..so guys please read the chat story too✨❤️

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