Chapter 25

When Lakshmi arrived at the conference hall, she was already late. Panic gripped her as she slowly pushed the door open, trying to make as little noise as possible.

As the door creaked, Vikram's attention snapped to it. There she was—the reason he was here. Despite all the anger and the plans for revenge swirling inside him, his heart betrayed him, beating faster at the sight of her. Without realizing it, a small smile tugged at his lips. She looked as beautiful as ever, but now, more than before—more grown, more mature.

Lakshmi didn't dare lift her head. She moved toward the group of staff members, hoping to slip by unnoticed. When she finally joined the others, she sighed in quiet relief, lifting her gaze just to glance ahead.

But the ground beneath her seemed to vanish as her eyes met the man she least wanted to see. Vikram stood before her, staring at her with pure rage, his gaze like a searing heat. It wasn't love or even fear that made her shiver, but a deep sense of disgust—a disgust that she couldn't escape, no matter how hard she tried.

Instinctively, she wiped away the tears that had started to fall, but she didn't realize it until the tears were already there, betraying the turmoil inside. Frozen, she stood still, unable to focus on anything else happening around her.

Vikram was locked in place too, unable to tear his eyes away from her. Minutes passed, and everyone else in the room shifted uneasily, waiting for the speech to begin. Adharv, noticing the shift in Vikram's demeanor, decided to step in. He cleared his throat and started his speech, though Vikram barely registered any of it, his eyes fixed on Lakshmi.

When the meeting finally concluded, the staff began to disperse. Lakshmi was the first to leave, eager to escape the suffocating tension in the air. She moved quickly, barely holding herself together, and left the room in a blur.

Meanwhile, Vikram and Adharv made their way back to their cabin. Once inside, Adharv wasted no time in asking the question that had been on his mind. "Viki, now that you've found her, what's your next move?"

Vikram's lips curled into a dark smirk. "I'm going to make sure she sees hell for betraying me," he said, his voice cold and filled with resolve.

Adharv paused for a moment, his concern evident. "Viki, first...you need to think this through. Revenge is one thing, but it can't cloud your judgment. Don't do something you'll regret."

Vikram's smirk never faltered. "She deserves it. And I'm going to make sure she gets exactly what she deserves."

Lakshmi walked into the staffroom, her heart heavy with the weight of her thoughts. The room felt suffocating as she sat down, and the tears came without warning.

Why, God? Why have you brought the past back? I'm just trying to forget it all... The thoughts were like a storm inside her head, and she couldn't stop them.

She wiped her face, trying to compose herself. She had been running from her past for so long, but it always seemed to find her, creeping back in moments she least expected. After a long moment, she stood up with determination. Enough. I can't take this anymore.

She grabbed her things, her mind made up. She wasn't going to keep tormenting herself by staying here, being reminded of the pain every single day. She had to leave. She walked to the supervisor's cabin, her footsteps echoing in the quiet hall.

She knocked softly on the door.

"Come in," came the voice from inside.

Lakshmi pushed the door open and entered. "Yes, Lakshmi, what is it?" the supervisor asked, looking up from his desk.

"Sir, I'm leaving," she said, her voice steady but quiet. "I won't be coming to work anymore. It would be good if I could get my salary for the days I've worked here."

The supervisor raised an eyebrow, not expecting such a sudden decision. "Lakshmi, you can't just quit like that. Have you heard what the new CEO said? No one is allowed to leave without his approval. You need to speak with him about your resignation, and your salary."

Lakshmi's heart sank. She had hoped to avoid Vikram entirely. The thought of facing him again, after everything, made her stomach turn. But there was no choice. She needed her money, even if it meant seeing him again.

"I understand, but please, Sir," she pleaded, her voice soft. "I'm just a sweeper here. Why do I need to meet the CEO for this? It's a trivial matter."

The supervisor's face hardened. "Lakshmi, if you don't want your salary, fine. But if you want to get paid for your work, you need to speak to him. I'm not the one who makes those decisions anymore. Go and talk to the CEO."

Lakshmi hesitated, her hands trembling at her sides. She didn't want to go. She didn't want to face him. But her pride—and the need for the money—forced her to swallow her fear.

She walked slowly to Vikram's cabin, every step heavier than the last. When she stood in front of his door, her heart raced, her breathing shallow. She could feel the dread crawling up her spine.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked.

"Come in," Vikram's voice rang out, cool and detached, as though nothing had changed.

Lakshmi's heart skipped a beat. She could already feel the weight of his gaze before she even stepped inside. She remembered the first time she entered this room—the first time they had spoken. That had been the beginning of everything. Now, it felt like walking into hell itself.

With a hesitant hand, she turned the knob and stepped inside.

Vikram sat behind his desk, his posture relaxed, one leg crossed over the other, exuding an air of indifference. But his eyes were sharp, cutting into her as if she were already beneath him. A slight smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

How dare she stand before me after everything she's done? he thought, the disgust simmering beneath his calm exterior.

Lakshmi stood in front of him, unable to meet his gaze. Her eyes were locked on the floor, her voice devoid of emotion. "Sir, I'm leaving this job. I just want my salary for the days I've worked here."

Vikram didn't respond immediately, his eyes sweeping over her. She was still the same Lakshmi—the one who had once made his heart flutter, the one he had loved. But now, looking at her, he felt nothing but bitterness.

This face, this innocence... This is the same woman who betrayed me, he thought, the anger bubbling up inside. She was the one I trusted. But not anymore. Not after everything she did.

"You can't just quit like that," Vikram finally spoke, his voice cold, cutting through the thick tension in the air. "You have to follow proper protocol, especially when it comes to resignation. I'm not accepting it unless I see a proper notice, and I'll have to review everything first."

Lakshmi's chest tightened. Her whole body felt as though it were suffocating under the weight of his words. Tears welled up in her eyes again, but she wiped them away quickly, not wanting him to see her weakness.

"I... I understand, sir," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please... just let me go."

But Vikram was already lost in his thoughts, his eyes still on her. He didn't care for her pleading. He didn't care for her feelings. All that mattered now was seeing her suffer—just as she had made him suffer.

This is just the beginning, he thought, a bitter smile curling on his lips.

Vikram leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the edge of his desk, a cruel smirk playing on his lips as he studied Lakshmi. She stood there in front of him, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, her posture rigid with uncertainty. Her entire demeanor screamed defeat.

"Did you really think you could just walk away?" Vikram's voice was calm, too calm, as he looked at her with cold eyes.

Lakshmi hesitated before responding, her throat tight, "I need my salary, sir. That's why I'm here. I'm leaving, that's all."

Vikram's eyes flickered for a moment, then narrowed. She thinks she can just walk out of here, like she has nothing left to lose. No. She doesn't get to leave that easily.

"Here's the thing," he began, his tone turning icy. "You don't get to quit just like that. Not when we're short on staff and especially not when you're leaving without a proper notice. Do you know how much work it takes to find a replacement?"

Lakshmi felt her heart drop. She opened her mouth to speak but didn't know what to say. What does he mean by that?

"Until we find someone to replace you, you're staying," Vikram continued, his voice turning darker. "And if you want your salary, you will stay. You won't get a single penny until then, understand?"

"And if you quit, be prepared to face the consequences," he warned, his voice cold and unyielding. "You know what I'm capable of."

Lakshmi stood still, not knowing how to respond. She was keenly aware of the power imbalance between them, the helplessness she often felt in situations like these. She lowered her gaze and nodded, resigned. Turning to leave, she reached for the door handle, but before she could open it, a sudden noise broke the silence—clink—the sound of a coffee cup tipping over. The dark liquid splashed across the floor, and Lakshmi froze, panic flooding her senses.

Vikram's gaze was sharp as ever, his voice clear and firm. "Clean it."

Lakshmi's throat tightened, but she didn't hesitate. She nodded, forced herself to take a deep breath, and left to gather the cleaning supplies. When she returned a few moments later, she knocked on the door, then entered when he gave his consent.

She moved to the spill, feeling his presence like a weight on her shoulders. The tension in the air was palpable. As she bent down to clean the mess, she couldn't shake the discomfort of being in his proximity. Even though she wore her staff coat, which usually provided her some semblance of anonymity, today she felt exposed—vulnerable under the intense, watchful gaze of Vikram.

Her hands trembled slightly as she worked, wiping up the dark stains on the carpet. It wasn't just the coffee she was trying to clean, it was the pressure, the memories, the past that she couldn't escape, and the man standing just a few feet away from her. Every moment felt heavy, like she was back in the past, a place she didn't want to revisit.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last of the spill was cleaned. She stood up quickly, avoiding looking him in the eye. Without a word, she turned to leave.

Vikram let out a deep breath once she was gone, his hands running through his hair in frustration. Despite the fury he felt towards her—towards the betrayal—he couldn't deny the way his heart still raced when she was near. He didn't want to feel anything for her, yet she made him feel everything. He closed his eyes, trying to push those emotions away, but they lingered, swirling around like an uninvited storm.

Lakshmi had just finished a long, tiring day at work and was walking home, her face pale and exhausted. As she walked along the road, her body heavy with fatigue, Vikram's car passed by. His eyes caught sight of her, and a sudden wave of guilt and something deeper—something more painful—hit him. She looked so fragile, so broken. His heart ached at the sight of her. If only she had been loyal to him, he thought. He would have done anything for her. He would have brought the moon to her feet. But now, she had chosen this path, one that led them both here. With a sharp breath, Vikram slammed his foot on the gas, speeding away toward his hotel, pushing the thoughts from his mind.

Once he arrived at his room, Vikram immediately picked up his phone and dialed Adharv's number. "I need you to find an apartment for me," he said. "Also, take care of things back there and manage the company. I'll stay here to handle everything." Adharv agreed without hesitation, and shortly after, Vikram hung up. He leaned back in his chair, trying to quiet the storm raging inside him, and waited for Adharv to call back with the details.

The next morning, Lakshmi arrived at work, determined to get through the day as quietly as possible. She planned to avoid both Vikram and Charan, keeping her head down and focusing solely on her duties. But it seemed that fate had other plans for her. Both men appeared to be watching her every move, as though she were the center of their attention. It was unnerving.

During the tea break, Lakshmi's worst fear came to life. Vikram's secretary informed her that he wanted to see her in his office. Her heart raced with panic. What kind of humiliation awaited her this time? She tried to steady her breath, but anxiety gripped her chest as she made her way toward his cabin.

With a soft knock on his door, she entered. Vikram didn't even look up from his computer screen as he spoke. His voice was firm, cold. "I want you to stay outside my room and take care of my needs. Don't leave unless I tell you to. Now, go make coffee for me. You know how I like it, right?"

Lakshmi nodded, though her heart pounded in her chest. Without a word, she turned and left for the cafeteria, the weight of his command pressing down on her.

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