The morning after the grand wedding celebrations, the office buzzed with a familiar rhythm. Employees hurried through the corridors, files in hand, while hushed discussions about deadlines and contracts filled the air. Aarchi walked into the office, adjusting her crisp white blazer, determined to shift her focus back to work.

She barely had a moment to settle in when Kartik entered her cabin, his presence as commanding as ever. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a knowing smirk on his lips.

"Good morning, Miss Singh. Recovered from the wedding chaos yet?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement.

Aarchi looked up, rolling her eyes. "Good morning, Mr. Shikhawat. If you're here to discuss the wedding, I'd advise you to turn around. We have work to do."

Kartik chuckled and stepped inside, placing a file on her desk. "Straight to business? Impressive. But I was actually here for this." He tapped the file. "Our new project in Pune. Legal contracts need your review."

Aarchi flipped open the file, scanning through the details. "There are a few clauses that need rewording. We need to ensure liability protection for your company in case of unforeseen circumstances."

Kartik nodded, pulling out a chair and settling across from her. "Go on. What else?"

For the next hour, they dissected contract terms, debated legal clauses, and exchanged ideas on how best to approach the upcoming project. Aarchi found herself appreciating Kartik's keen business acumen, while Kartik was equally intrigued by Aarchi's sharp legal mind.

When the conversation drifted to expansion plans, Kartik leaned back and folded his arms. "You know, Aarchi, you have a knack for simplifying complex legal jargon. Ever considered being a permanent part of Shikhawat Constructions?"

Aarchi raised an eyebrow. "Are you offering me a job?"

Kartik shrugged. "I'm just saying, we work well together. It's something to think about."

Aarchi smirked. "Well, I'll think about it after I send you my bill for legal services."

Kartik laughed. "Fair enough. Just don't charge me extra for making you coffee."

.............

Kartik sat in his cabin, watching through the glass walls as Aarchi worked diligently at her desk. Her brows furrowed in concentration, fingers skimming over the legal documents with a precision that never failed to impress him. There was something about her working style—structured yet instinctive, disciplined yet spontaneous—that set her apart from anyone he had ever worked with.

He leaned back in his chair, smirking slightly as he remembered their discussions from earlier. Aarchi had a habit of questioning everything, not out of doubt but out of a relentless pursuit of clarity. It was something he both admired and found utterly exasperating.

She had this ability to dismantle a contract clause in seconds, breaking it down to its very core, as if every word carried a hidden meaning only she could decipher. And the best part? She did it all without losing her characteristic poise. There was never a moment when she was flustered or unsure—she owned every argument like she was born for it.

Kartik had worked with several legal experts before, but none quite like Aarchi. Where most people in her field operated in rigid frameworks, she found innovative solutions, balancing legal precision with business practicality. It was a skill few possessed, and it was exactly why he trusted her judgment more than anyone else's.

He glanced at his watch. An hour had passed, yet she hadn't even looked up from her work. He decided to test just how absorbed she was.

"Aarchi."

She hummed absentmindedly in response, not looking up. Kartik shook his head in amusement before speaking again. "Aarchi, should we change the company name to 'Singh Constructions'? Since you're practically running the legal side of it."

That got her attention. Her head snapped up, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What nonsense, Kartik?"

He chuckled. "I was just checking if you were still alive. You've been buried in those papers for an hour."

She sighed, leaning back in her chair. "You should try reading these documents. Some of these clauses are so vague that even the best lawyers would get headaches."

Kartik grinned. "That's why we have the best lawyer handling it."

Aarchi rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the slight smile on her lips. "Flattery won't get you out of this. You still need to go through the revised sections."

He picked up the file and flipped through it. As expected, she had meticulously highlighted, underlined, and annotated every important detail. Her notes were sharp, to the point, and sometimes even carried sarcastic comments in the margins when she found an error too ridiculous to ignore.

"You know," Kartik mused, tapping a page, "if you ever get tired of being a lawyer, you could be a teacher. You have a very... instructive way of pointing out mistakes."

Aarchi smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment. Now focus, Mr. Shikhawat."

He nodded, but as he read, he couldn't help but glance at her every now and then. Watching her work was fascinating—how she switched from intense analysis to lighthearted banter, how she adapted without losing focus.

It wasn't just her intelligence that intrigued him; it was her sheer passion. She cared about her work, about making things right, about ensuring that every loophole was sealed tight. It was rare to see someone so dedicated, and even rarer to find someone who could match his own work ethic without breaking a sweat.

As the evening rolled in, the office slowly emptied out. Kartik looked around and then back at Aarchi, who was still scribbling notes, completely unaware of the time.

"Aarchi," he said softly.

She looked up, surprised at the sudden shift in his tone. "Hmm?"

"Let's call it a day."

She blinked, as if realizing for the first time that the office was nearly deserted. "Oh... yeah, I guess we should."

Kartik stood up, stretching slightly before walking over to her desk. "You know, for someone who gives me lectures on work-life balance, you're not setting a great example."

She smirked, packing up her things. "Well, someone has to make sure Shikhawat Constructions doesn't land in legal trouble."

He chuckled, holding the door open for her. "And for that, I owe you."

Aarchi glanced at him, a playful glint in her eyes. "You do. And I accept payments in the form of coffee."

Kartik laughed. "Consider it done, Miss Singh."

As they walked out together, he couldn't help but think—Aarchi Singh wasn't just an exceptional lawyer. She was someone he truly admired. And maybe, just maybe, he was beginning to realize that admiration wasn't just limited to work.

........

Later that evening, as Aarchi wrapped up for the day, she found Kartik waiting by her car. "You're still here?" she asked, tilting her head.

Kartik gave a casual shrug. "Thought I'd walk you to your car. After all, it's been a long day."

Aarchi chuckled. "You're being unusually considerate. Should I be suspicious?"

Kartik smirked. "Maybe. Or maybe I just enjoy your company."

Aarchi shook her head, unlocking her car. "Good night, Kartik. Try not to overwork yourself."

As she drove away, Kartik watched her car disappear into the city lights, a soft smile playing on his lips. Work was important, but some things were worth taking a pause for. And Aarchi Singh was certainly one of them.

************

Next chapter will be a chapter kartik flirting with Aarchi what say ?

Much love ❣️
Tanya 🪄

Word count: 1.2k+