Sitara's POV

Today's second meeting. The Big Day Planners, at 12:30 pm.

My car was on its way to their office. Raj and Tina were with me.

My gaze was fixed outside the window, particularly at nothing. Only one thing was on my mind.

Kabir Sinha.

He was everything the media described him to be. Handsome, mysterious, forbidden.

I always appreciated beauty, and Kabir exceeded the definition of it.

"Call me Sitara."

I smiled to myself. I don't know why I said that, but the reaction I got from Kabir was worth it. Surprised, but pleased.

He knew how to behave, how to talk, and how much to talk to leave the other person wanting more from him. There was a reason he was the top model in the country.

My hand involuntarily touched my lips, the hand he shook. His hands were a different story in themselves.

"We are here," Tina said, tapping on my shoulder.

Shit.

I've never got lost in my thoughts like this, especially not in front of my employees. I tried to cover up my flustered state by roughly running the fingers that rested on my lips through my hair.

I nodded and got out of the car.

"Ask which floor is the Vice President's cabin," I ordered, keeping my pace faster than Tina and Raj.

"Y-yes, mam," Tina said, panting, trying to catch her breath and my steps.

Tina walked to the receptionist's desk, opposite to the elevator.

She came back and said, "8th floor."

After a few seconds of the elevator ride where I stood completely silent, the doors opened. I walked further into the office area fully packed with people and computers and papers. People scrambled here and there with files in their hands. Laughing and joking around. Friendly environment. Comfortable workspace.

I already like this Vice President's work ethic and leadership qualities.

Raj always accompanied me through the elevator ride and then after it was just Tina and me.

"Where is the Vice President's office?" I asked a man passing by with an empty coffee mug in his hand.

"Straight and second left," he replied and walked away.

I turned in the told direction. A high-pitched voice of someone calling me from behind stopped me.

"May I help you?" A girl carrying a bunch of papers in her hands inquired, wearing a mini skirt with button-up blouse and kitten heels.

"I'm here to meet the Vice President," I answered and ignored her further attempts to stop me.

"Do you have any appointments?" She jumped in front of me, scanning me from head to toe with judgy eyes.

What the fuck is her problem? Doesn't she know who I am?

"I'm Sitara Roy," I said, raising my eyebrow. "I'm the CEO and owner of Estilo and I'm here to meet the Vice President. Now step aside before I get you blacklisted."

It was a petty move. But the satisfaction I would get from seeing someone's face after telling them who I am will be enough for me to sleep at night.

Fear crawled up her eyes at the realization. She gulped and cleared her throat. Her gaze slowly lost the attitude and level at which they met mine.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Roy. I didn't know. Please forgive me." Her voice sounded guilty.

This is how you talk with me.

If she was working in my company, I would have surely fired her because of this rude behavior and lack of knowledge.

I strode towards the office and stopped before entering. I read the golden nameplate on the door.

Vice President - Mr. Kartik Arora

I knocked.

I always preferred knocking before entering.

You never know what's going on the other side of a door.

There was someone inside, the faint voices stopped when I knocked.

"Come in."

Slowly pushing open the door, I tried to figure out who the other person inside was. I was pretty sure I have heard that voice before. It wasn't a voice you could forget that easily, yet I struggled to recognize it right away.

I stepped inside the office. A man clad in a white button-up shirt and black pants was sitting on the Vice President's chair while his one hand rested on his right eye.

Maybe he was Kartik Arora.

As I stepped further inside, my eyes involuntarily searched for something and I saw it. The dark brown depths of Kabir's eyes.

My breath caught in my throat when I noticed the small curve of his lips. He was smiling. I think. But at the same time, he wasn't.

Was I imagining things?

Kabir was leaning on the bookshelf behind the VP's chair in the same outfit which he was in earlier when I met him.

What is he doing here?

"You must be Ms. Roy?" Kartik Arora said, getting up from his chair.

I nodded in response and stood in front of his desk. I didn't let my eyes betray me again and meet Kabir's. I knew he was watching me, studying me.

Was I happy that he was watching me? Was I enjoying it?

"Kartik Arora. Nice to meet you. Please have a seat." He introduced, forwarding his hand.

"Nice to meet you too." We shook hands and got seated. His office was everything I expected a Vice President's office to look like. Huge, structured, and rightfully fitting his taste.

As I watched Kartik Arora telling someone on the telephone to bring the contract papers, I saw some red mark below his right eye.

Like someone punched him hard.

The contract papers were discussed and ready via the email conversations we had, not much was there to discuss today except signing them.

It was my first time doing business with the Big Day Planners. Every planner before them who worked with me was great. But this time, I needed someone more efficient.

I needed big names in the industry to work with me on this project and Kartik Arora was known for his extraordinary work with many designers.

Originally, his father had built the reputation he lives today. Nonetheless, Kartik upheld everything his father was known for. Excellence, precision, good results.

"I'm happy to know that you are allowing us to work for your upcoming show, Ms. Roy," Kartik said, a gentle smile on his face. "I've heard you are considering Kabir for the showstopper's outfit." He gestured towards Kabir.

I shifted my gaze on Kabir. The man he was.

I was aware he had his eyes on me the entire time. I won't lie, I was enjoying it. A little too much.

"I already signed him." I said. "Right, Kabir?"

Kartik laughed a little at the silence he faced from me and Kabir at that. "My friend here isn't much of a talker. So obviously, he didn't tell me that." He glares at Kabir.

That makes so much sense for Kabir to be in his office, standing wherever he felt like.

"May I come in, Sir?" The same rude girl from outside peeped in.

"Yes, come in, Aisha," Kartik ordered. She came and stood next to him, handing the papers.

Was it just me or was she standing very much unprofessionally close to him?

She acknowledged me with a slight nod but kept her words directed to Kartik.

They talked in low voices about something, then she left. Not before I noticed a wink from Kartik to her.

So that's the reason why she is still working here.

As Kartik busied himself in revising the papers, I dared a glance at Kabir.

He was already staring at me.

Something shifted in me at the way his presence made me feel. Something different, strange, and yet unapologetically tempting.

Those eyes can make you commit your inner demons.

"Here." Kartik's voice startled me out of my thoughts. He didn't notice the startle. Or the red creeping up my neck.

But Kabir did. The way his mouth curved at the sides, I knew he's far more notorious than the media shows it.

"I have signed and read all the terms and conditions." He said, passing me the contract papers.

I offered him a polite smile and took the papers to read one more time. I must have read these papers a hundred times at home.

I didn't know why I was stalling. Of course, I didn't expect Kartik to manipulate words into the papers. But there was something inside me that wanted to spend a few more seconds in this room.

After successfully wasting everyone's precious five minutes, I finally signed it. I handed them back to Kartik and stood up.

"You will soon receive the amount," I said, forwarding my hand.

"Looking forward to working on this project with you, Ms. Roy. Have a good day." He said with a smile.

"Thank you."

My feet didn't leave instantly. They were waiting for something. And that something finally opened his mouth.

"Hope we will meet soon." Kabir said. His words and eyes and smile and everything were directed to me. "For the rehearsals."

He had rolled up his sleeves, displaying the brilliant veins on his forearms.

"Of course." I returned his smile.

When I exited the office, I never turned around. It was a habit of mine. Myra called it confidence.

I called it fear of someone waiting for me to turn around. Because of most of the time, no one ever wanted me to turn around. They would breathe a sigh of relief once I exited the room.

Today was a fruitful day for me. Both contracts were signed. Things were in motion. We were on a perfect schedule with everything.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I fetched it out and saw there was a text from Myra.

Myra: Call me immediately after your meeting