An Unexpected Name on the List

Veer walked through the dimly lit hallways of the mansion, his mind still lingering on his last conversation with Zara.

Her teasing words, the way she had playfully challenged his concern, the unapologetic confidence in her voice—it all clung to his thoughts like an unshakable presence.

But just as he was about to enter his room, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

A message.

Elara: Sir, don't forget about our meeting tonight regarding the interviews of the candidates for the personal manager position at Ethereon Pharmaceuticals. I'll be waiting.

Veer stopped in his tracks.

"Shit."

For a moment, he had completely forgotten about it.

It wasn't just any meeting—it was about the hiring process for his personal manager, a crucial role in one of their most important companies.

Shaking his head, he quickly stepped into his room, closed the door behind him, and walked straight to his desk.

Placing his phone aside, he opened his laptop, logged into the meeting platform, and clicked on the link Elara had sent.

A few seconds later—

The screen loaded.

And the moment the video from Elara's side appeared, Veer froze.

Elara was sitting in her dimly lit bedroom, leaning slightly against her headboard.

But it wasn't her background that caught Veer's attention—it was her.

She was dressed in a black striped night suit, one that clung to her body in ways that left little to the imagination.

The fabric, though soft-looking, was perfectly fitted, outlining every curve of her lean, toned figure.

The stripes of the suit followed the contours of her waist, chest, and thighs, accentuating them in a way that felt almost... deliberate.

And then, there was the small but undeniable detail—

The faint outline of her nipples, slightly visible beneath the snug fabric, telling Veer that she clearly wasn't wearing a bra.

For a moment, he just... stared.

His gaze, though subtle, was unwavering, his mind momentarily losing track of everything else.

On the screen, Elara, noticing his reaction, felt a warmth rise to her cheeks.

She was a confident woman, rarely shaken, but the way Veer's eyes were fixed on her made her skin tingle.

Taking a slow breath, she tried to compose herself and spoke, her voice slightly lower than usual.

"Sir... should we start the meeting, or do you need more time to admire me?"

The teasing edge in her tone snapped Veer out of his trance.

He blinked, exhaling sharply before letting out a low chuckle.

"You're looking... well, let's just say you're making it hard to focus on work, Elara."

A knowing smile played at the corners of her lips.

"Oh? And here I thought my job was to assist you in managing, not distracting you."

Veer leaned back in his chair, smirking.

"Well, you're doing a bit of both right now."

Elara let out a soft laugh, her eyes glinting.

"Good to know. Maybe I should dress like this more often for our meetings, then?"

Veer grinned, tilting his head slightly.

"Only if you want to make my job harder."

Elara shook her head, her smile lingering.

"Tempting, but I'd rather keep my job."

The lighthearted flirtation between them wasn't new.

Their connection wasn't just professional—it had a layer of genuine friendship, built over the years of working closely together.

There had been times when their schedules extended late into the night, leading them to dinners together, long car rides home, and quiet moments of unspoken understanding.

And tonight was just another chapter in their ever-growing dynamic.

With a final smirk, Elara straightened up and shared her screen.

"Alright, enough distractions. Let's get to the real reason we're here."

On the screen, a spreadsheet popped up, displaying a list of candidates who had applied for the personal manager position at Ethereon Pharmaceuticals.

"We received around thirty applications," she said, scrolling down. "I've shortlisted the most promising twenty candidates."

Veer's eyes moved over the names, listening as Elara summarized the top candidates—their qualifications, experience, and potential suitability for the role.

Everything was going smoothly—until she scrolled to the 20th name on the list.

And Veer's entire body stiffened.

His gaze locked onto the screen.

There, next to the final name on the list, was a passport-size image of a woman he had not expected to see here.

Zara.

His breath hitched for half a second before he quickly masked his reaction.

"Elara, show me the details of the 20th candidate."

Elara, who had immediately noticed his sudden interest, paused for a moment before smirking.

She hovered her mouse cursor over Zara's picture, the pointer circling her face playfully.

"Sir... do you know her?"

Veer exhaled, leaning forward slightly.

"Yeah, I do."

Elara raised an eyebrow.

"And by the way you're looking at her name, I'd say you know her quite well."

Veer chuckled, shaking his head.

"It's... complicated."

Elara folded her arms, tilting her head.

"Oh? Do tell."

And so, Veer told her everything—about meeting Zara in the forest, about the strange yet undeniable connection they had built just within five to six hours of there dramatic meeting, and about the way she had opened up to him about her past, her struggles, and the scars she carried.

As he spoke, Elara listened carefully, her expression unreadable.

But the moment he finished, a knowing glint appeared in her eyes.

"Interesting," she mused.

Veer raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

Elara leaned back, stretching lazily.

"Nothing. Just... I think tomorrow's interview is going to be more fun than I expected."

Veer rolled his eyes.

"You're enjoying this too much."

Elara smiled.

"Maybe."

After discussing the final details for the interviews, the meeting finally wrapped up.

Elara yawned, stretching her arms.

"Alright, Boss. I think we're set for tomorrow."

Veer nodded, closing his laptop.

"Yeah. Good job tonight, Elara."

A lazy smile spread across her lips.

"And? No final compliment before we sign off?"

Veer smirked.

"You want another one?"

Elara shrugged.

"Wouldn't hurt."

Veer chuckled.

"Fine. You looked absolutely stunning tonight. Happy?"

Elara laughed softly.

"Very. Goodnight, Sir."

"Goodnight, Elara."

As the call ended, Veer leaned back in his chair, exhaling.

A small, amused smile played on his lips.

Tomorrow was going to be very interesting.

And as he slipped into bed, the thought of Zara sitting across from him at the interview table filled his mind.

This was going to be fun.

To Be Continued...