Prologue

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As she adjusted her blazer in the mirror, Hridya took a deep breath, steadying herself for the whirlwind of the conference ahead. The sharp scent of her perfume lingered in the air, mingling with the nervous energy thrumming through her veins. She had spent countless hours preparing for this moment, meticulously crafting her presentation. Yet, as she looked at her reflection, doubt gnawed at her. What if she stumbled over her words? What if she didn't make the impression she so desperately wanted?

Her gaze flicked to her phone, a reminder of the world she was momentarily stepping away from—where her ambitions felt more like a burden than a dream

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Her gaze flicked to her phone, a reminder of the world she was momentarily stepping away from—where her ambitions felt more like a burden than a dream. Love was a distant thought; after her last relationship had fallen apart, she had vowed to focus solely on her career. But as she envisioned the vibrant crowd awaiting her at the conference, the possibility of connection fluttered in her chest, teasing the edges of her resolve.

Meanwhile, Anurag stood outside the venue, his heart racing with excitement and apprehension. Today was pivotal for his career; he had worked tirelessly to secure this opportunity. Adjusting his tie, he glanced at the multitude of professionals bustling into the conference hall, their laughter and chatter echoing in the air. His palms felt clammy against the polished surface of his briefcase, but he reminded himself that he was here to make a name for himself—not to get caught up in distractions.

 His palms felt clammy against the polished surface of his briefcase, but he reminded himself that he was here to make a name for himself—not to get caught up in distractions

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Stepping into the elevator, Hridya welcomed the brief moment of solitude. As the doors closed, she leaned against the wall, glancing down at her notes. The sudden jolt of the lift made her heart race, but it was nothing compared to the rush she felt when the doors opened again, revealing a tall, charismatic man stepping inside.

Anurag. His presence was magnetic, and the air seemed to shift around them as he entered. She caught his gaze—deep, ebony eyes that sparkled with confidence, and a smile that seemed to radiate warmth. The scent of his cologne wrapped around her like a comfortable embrace, drawing her in despite her efforts to maintain composure.

 The scent of his cologne wrapped around her like a comfortable embrace, drawing her in despite her efforts to maintain composure

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Just then, Anurag's phone buzzed, and he held it between his ear and shoulder. He began typing something on his tablet while fumbling to take out his AirPods. The way he juggled everything, focused yet casual, captivated Hridya. His captivating eyes, the perfume he wore, and the smooth, deep timbre of his voice sent a thrill coursing through her. In that moment, he was so attractive that she almost wanted to kiss him right there in the elevator.

The encounter was brief; the elevator doors opened again at the next floor. Anurag smiled gently at her as he stepped out, leaving Hridya momentarily spellbound. She remained lost in thought, enchanted by the man she had just met. The warmth of his cologne lingered in the air, and she couldn't shake the image of his smile from her mind.

As the doors closed, she glanced at the illuminated floor numbers, a smile creeping onto her face as she realized she had missed her stop. She quickly pressed the button for her floor, shaking her head at her own stupidity. Here she was, infatuated with a stranger whose name she didn't even know.

When she finally stepped out of the elevator, her heart still raced. She walked towards her hotel room, the excitement of the day mingling with thoughts of Anurag. She was taken by surprise when she spotted him again through the window of her room, standing on the balcony, engaged in conversation with someone.

Hridya found herself mesmerized, those deep-set eyes and the way he spoke igniting a spark within her that she hadn't felt in years. She was completely lost in the moment, her thoughts swirling as she watched him, oblivious to everything else around her.

 She was completely lost in the moment, her thoughts swirling as she watched him, oblivious to everything else around her

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Just then, a soft female voice interrupted her reverie. "Ma'am, do you need something?" Hridya turned, startled, to see a member of the hotel staff standing nearby. She shook her head, too dazed to speak, and the woman nodded, leaving her in peace. Hridya quickly glanced back toward the balcony, but Anurag had vanished. Disappointment washed over her as her eyes wandered around, searching for any sign of him, but he was gone, leaving her with only the echo of his presence.

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⏰ Last updated: Oct 12, 2024 ⏰

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