The bright morning sun filtered through the large glass panes of Rathore Enterprises, illuminating the glimmering reception area where Sanaya stood, her heart fluttering with a mix of nervousness and excitement. Dressed in a smart pastel blue kurti with neatly pinned hair and her signature silver watch, she looked every bit the professional she was hoping to become.
She clutched her purse tighter as the receptionist smiled politely. "Sanaya Sharma, right? Please wait here. The manager will be down shortly to introduce you to the team."
Sanaya nodded and took a deep breath. This was it—her first official day.
A few minutes later, a confident woman in her early thirties with sharp features, a sleek ponytail, and an air of authority approached her. She wore a dark green blazer with matching stilettos and carried a tablet in one hand.
"Sanaya Sharma?" she asked, her tone brisk but not unkind.
"Yes," Sanaya replied, standing up immediately.
"I'm Priya Sinha, the floor manager. I'll be introducing you to the team today. Let's get started, shall we?"
Sanaya followed her through a maze of open cubicles, glass-partitioned cabins, and potted plants. The office was alive with soft murmurs, keyboard clatters, and the hum of printers.
Priya walked with purpose, her heels clicking on the polished floor. "You'll be working in the Content and Branding department, and I've heard good things from your interviewers. But there's one more thing."
Sanaya's brows lifted in curiosity.
"You'll be reporting indirectly to our CEO," Priya continued. "He likes to keep an eye on the creative side of things himself."
"Oh…" Sanaya murmured, her heart skipping a beat. CEO? She hadn't really given it much thought. Whoever he was, he had built an empire—and now she was going to be a part of it.
Priya paused at the conference room door. "He's already here. I thought it'd be good for you to meet him directly."
Sanaya's heart dropped to her stomach.
Please, no. This can't be—
The door opened.
There he was. Abhimaan.
Wearing a crisp black suit, a grey tie, and a smirk that screamed control and calm, he sat at the head of the table, flipping through some files. His gaze lifted, and for a fraction of a second, their eyes met. Something flickered in his expression—pride, amusement, and something more unreadable.
Sanaya blinked, her mind short-circuiting.
CEO? He's the CEO? My husband is the freaking CEO?!
Abhimaan stood up with casual elegance. "You must be the new recruit," he said smoothly, extending his hand as if they were total strangers.
Priya looked between them, oblivious. "Yes, Sanaya Sharma. She'll be joining Branding."
Sanaya managed to plaster a polite smile and shook his hand. "It's… nice to meet you, sir."
"Welcome aboard, Ms. Sharma," Abhimaan said, the corner of his lips twitching slightly.
It took every ounce of self-control Sanaya had not to throw her purse at him or burst into laughter—or both. He looked so smug standing there, letting her discover his identity like this.
Once the introduction ended, Priya took her around to meet her teammates.
"Guys, this is Sanaya. She's joining us from today as a content strategist."
There were three people seated at the shared desk area.
One was Aarav—tall, bespectacled, a little nerdy, with a friendly smile. The other was Jiya—a fashion-forward, bubbly girl with kohl-rimmed eyes and an excited grin. And finally, there was Kavya—quiet, reserved, with sharp eyes that missed nothing.
"Hey Sanaya!" Jiya chirped, immediately pulling out the chair next to hers. "You're sitting here. Welcome to the chaos."
"Thanks," Sanaya said with a warm smile, grateful for the friendly energy.
"You'll love it here," Aarav added. "We have a coffee machine that works half the time and a boss who's mysteriously handsome but also super scary when angry."
Kavya tilted her head slightly. "You mean the CEO?"
"Exactly," Jiya replied. "I mean, he's never yelled at me, but there's this… presence he has, you know?"
Sanaya bit her lip to hide the grin tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"You've met him, right?" Aarav asked.
Sanaya nodded. "Yes, briefly. He seems… very professional."
"Uff, that voice!" Jiya fanned herself dramatically. "If he wasn't so obviously single, I swear I would've asked him out by now."
Sanaya choked on air.
"Single?" she squeaked.
"Yup," Kavya answered with a shrug. "Never seen him with anyone. No ring. And he's super private. No social media. Totally a mystery man."
Sanaya sat frozen for a second before letting out an awkward laugh. "Maybe he just doesn't like public attention?"
"Hah, you sound like his PR rep!" Jiya teased.
Sanaya shook her head. "Not at all. Just saying."
Oh God. This is going to be a minefield, she thought. Her husband—the literal CEO—was being called single, eligible, and dateable by her new friends. And she couldn't say a word.
---
Lunch Break Drama
By the time lunch rolled around, Sanaya had bonded well with the team. They had laughed over memes, joked about annoying clients, and even exchanged numbers.
In the cafeteria, the same topic resurfaced.
"Sanaya, dare time!" Jiya declared.
"Oh no," Sanaya laughed, holding her sandwich defensively.
"One honest answer. Just one. Do you find our CEO hot or not?"
Sanaya choked again. "W-what?"
"It's tradition!" Aarav grinned. "Everyone answers that on their first day."
Sanaya pretended to think, cheeks slightly pink. "He's... okay."
"Okaaaay?" Jiya exclaimed. "Girl, are you blind?! That jawline could slice bread!"
"He's not your type?" Kavya asked quietly, sipping her juice with a raised eyebrow.
Sanaya laughed nervously. "I guess I'm more into… I don't know, the goofy type?"
Abhimaan walked in right at that moment.
Everyone straightened up.
He walked toward the coffee counter, unaware—or maybe very aware—of the buzz behind him. Sanaya's eyes followed him involuntarily.
"Okay, she definitely finds him hot," Aarav whispered, grinning.
Sanaya kicked his leg under the table.
---
Later That Day
By afternoon, Sanaya had adjusted well. She was even given a task—reviewing a campaign script—and submitted her edits early.
Just as she was wrapping up, her phone buzzed.
Abhimaan: Meet me in my office. Now.
Heart racing, Sanaya excused herself and headed upstairs. She knocked, and he opened the door himself.
"Come in, Mrs. Rathore," he said with a devilish smirk once the door was closed.
"You enjoy this, don't you?" she muttered.
He leaned against the desk, arms folded. "I thought you'd enjoy the surprise."
"You're the CEO! And you didn't think to tell me?"
He raised an eyebrow. "I didn't hide it. You never asked."
She glared at him. "Everyone here thinks you're single."
He tilted his head. "Do they?"
She narrowed her eyes. "You let Jiya flirt with you."
He chuckled. "She flirts with the vending machine. Don't take it personally."
Sanaya groaned. "You're impossible."
"You're adorable when you're angry," he teased, stepping closer. "And for the record, I don't hide you. I just don't mix personal and professional. But if you want the entire office to know, I could always make an announcement."
Sanaya blushed. "No! Let's… keep it this way for now."
"Whatever you say, Mrs. Rathore," he said, his voice a low purr.
She rolled her eyes. "And stop calling me that here."
He smiled. "Fine. Ms. Sharma."
---
Back at Her Desk
When Sanaya returned, Jiya wiggled her eyebrows. "You were gone for long."
"I was just handing over the edits to the manager," she lied smoothly.
Kavya watched her a little too carefully. "You're doing well for a first day."
"Thanks," Sanaya smiled. But she had a feeling Kavya had picked up on more than she should have.
---
See if story feels confusing sorry for it as this is my first story so obviously I will make mistakes.
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