💼 Chapter 2: The Lion’s Den

The automatic doors of Suryavanshi Tech Towers opened with a hiss. The air inside was cold, clinical, and… tense.

Poornima Desai, dressed in a sharp beige blazer over a black kurta, stepped into the sleek lobby. Her hair was tied in a no-nonsense ponytail, her heels clicked with controlled confidence, but inside—

Her heart thudded.

She knew who ran this company.

She knew he would never welcome her.

She knew Veeresh Suryavanshi, the man she once loved deeply—the man who now probably hated her with a fire strong enough to burn the building down—was waiting upstairs, ready to destroy her.

But Poornima had stopped running from storms.

Now… she walked into them.

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🧊 The First Encounter

The HR manager escorted her to the top floor. Her breath caught in her throat the second the elevator doors opened.

There he was.

Veeresh.

Back turned, hands in pockets, looking out the glass wall at the Bangalore skyline.

Broader than before. Stiffer. Colder.

He turned slowly.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, the air left the room.

It was like a thousand silent memories collided between them—laughter, fights, the kiss on her birthday, the betrayal, the silence that followed.

His face didn’t flinch.

Neither did hers.

> Veeresh (curt): “Welcome, Miss Desai. Hope you don’t expect a red carpet.”

> Poornima (calm): “No, Mr. Suryavanshi. I’m here for work. Not nostalgia.”

Their tones were polite.

Their eyes? Pure war.

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😤 Game Begins

Veeresh sat behind his desk like a king on a throne, eyes cold.

> Veeresh: “You’ll report to me. Your domain is legacy migration. Tech debt cleanup. Boring, long, frustrating.”

> Poornima (smirking): “Perfect. I’m used to cleaning up old messes.”

A flicker of rage passed through his eyes.

He dismissed her with a nod. “You're excused.”

As she turned to leave, he said, venom lacing every word:

“Let’s see how long you survive here.”

She paused.

> Poornima (without turning): “I didn’t come here to survive, Veeresh. I came to rise. Whether you like it or not.”

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🧷 The Office Buzzes

By lunchtime, whispers flew across the office.

> “That’s Poornima? The Poornima?”

“Isn’t she the CEO’s ex?”

“He’s never hired ex-employees from BEL. Why her?”

Poornima ignored it all. She wasn’t here for gossip.

But she felt it.

The looks. The subtle smirks. The planted mistakes in her tasks. The missing access.

Veeresh was already starting his silent war.

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👶 The Unexpected Meeting

That evening, as she left the building, she saw a small child toddling into the lobby, giggling, “Appa! Appaaa!”

Poornima froze.

Thoshini.

She hadn’t seen her since she was born.

Big doe eyes. Same curls as Veeresh. Same stubborn lips.

Veeresh entered seconds later, scooping the child up with a warmth that broke Poornima’s heart.

She hid behind a pillar.

She could hear him whisper:

> “Let’s go home, Thoshini. Appa's done fighting demons for today.”

Poornima’s eyes stung, but she didn’t let the tears fall.

> “I made this choice. I’ll face it.”

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⚠️ Chapter Ends with a Spark

That night, Veeresh opened his laptop to check the project update.

Poornima had already submitted it—flawless, detailed, precise.

He smirked bitterly.

> “She still thinks she can win.”

He hit reply:

> “Impressive. But this is just the beginning. Let’s see how long you play perfect.”

At her apartment, Poornima read the mail, exhaled deeply, and whispered:

> “I won’t let your hatred break me, Veeresh. Not this time.”