Chapter 24

Aria's POV

Aria arrived early, setting her notes on the long mahogany conference table, her mind already working through the problem at hand.

Veda Islands had luxury, exclusivity, and privacy, but so did half a dozen other high-end resorts. What it needed was an identity that set it apart, something that couldn't be replicated.

She had spent the morning refining her approach, scribbling ideas, thinking through positioning. But nothing felt quite right.

She exhaled, rubbing her temples.

The problem wasn't what Veda Islands was offering—the problem was how it was being perceived.

The door opened.

Expecting Paul, she didn't bother looking up. "If you're here to steal my coffee, I will end you."

A low chuckle. "Good morning to you too, Aria."

She looked up sharply. Kabir.

Dressed in a crisp shirt, sleeves rolled up just enough to show his forearms, he walked in with a stack of his own notes.

She blinked. "You're early."

He smirked. "So are you."

Aria sat back, watching as he placed his papers down across from her. This was unexpected.

She had assumed he'd make an appearance later, swoop in with a few polished remarks, maybe approve or tweak her ideas. She hadn't expected him to actually sit down and—

"What do you have so far?" he asked, scanning her notes.

She hesitated for half a second before sliding the papers toward him. Fine. If he wanted to be involved, she wasn't about to stop him.

He read in silence, his fingers tapping against the table.

Aria studied him, waiting for a reaction.

She had assumed Kabir Oberoi was the kind of businessman who liked to be in control but preferred delegating the details to others. But the way he scanned through her work, his brow furrowing slightly, the way he turned a page back, reread something—it told her otherwise.

She had worked with powerful men before, but Kabir?

He wasn't just powerful. He was sharp.

After a moment, he exhaled. "You're thinking about this too much like a traditional luxury resort."

Aria raised an eyebrow. "That's what it is."

"That's what it looks like," Kabir corrected. "But the people who come here don't just want an expensive getaway. They want something they can't buy anywhere else."

He leaned back, stretching one arm along the back of his chair, his watch catching the morning light.

"They don't just want luxury," he continued. "They want reinvention. A place where no one expects anything from them. Where they can be whoever they want, even for a few days."

Aria considered that.

He wasn't wrong.

People didn't just escape for privacy. They escaped to live differently.

She tapped her pen against the table. "Then the messaging should focus less on exclusivity and more on transformation."

Kabir nodded. "Exactly."

For the next hour, they worked through the details, bouncing off each other seamlessly.

Aria was used to holding her ground, used to clients who either needed their hands held through the process or fought every suggestion she made.

But Kabir?

He wasn't arguing to win—he was challenging her to think bigger.

And she liked it.

She liked the way he questioned her ideas, not dismissively, but strategically. She liked that he wasn't just someone who threw money at a project and expected magic.

He actually thought.

And for the first time, she wondered what it must be like to be inside his head all the time.

Across the room, Paul sipped his coffee, watching with interest.

Aisha, Kabir's assistant, leaned in slightly, whispering, "She's good."

Kabir didn't look up. "I know."

Aisha smirked. "You like that, don't you?"

Kabir didn't answer. But he didn't deny it, either.

Paul and Aisha made brief eye contact, a silent conversation passing between them.

They don't even realize it yet.

Paul grinned into his coffee. This was going to be fun.

The Trek Invitation

An hour later, just as Aria and Kabir finalized the core messaging, the door swung open.

Sanya Malhotra strode in, radiating effortless confidence.

Aria didn't react, but she felt Kabir shift slightly next to her.

Sanya's eyes went straight to him.

"I was just telling Aisha," she said, her voice smooth, "I'm planning a trek tomorrow morning. You should come, Kabir. It's the perfect way to experience the property from a guest's perspective."

Aria could read between the lines.

This wasn't just about experiencing Veda Islands.

This was a move.

She stayed silent, pretending to review her notes.

Sanya turned slightly, finally acknowledging her. "You're welcome to join too, Aria. If you're up for it."

The afterthought was obvious.

Paul nearly choked on his coffee. Aisha raised an eyebrow.

Aria, without looking up, said casually, "Sounds great. I'll be there."

Silence.

Just for a second.

Sanya blinked, visibly thrown off. Kabir smirked.

Paul outright grinned.

Sanya's smile didn't falter, but Aria could see the flicker of irritation beneath it.

"Perfect," Sanya said smoothly.

Aria turned a page in her notebook, unbothered.

Sanya lingered a second longer before turning on her heel and walking out.

The second the door shut, Paul exhaled dramatically.

"Well, that was fun."

Kabir leaned back in his chair, watching Aria for a long moment before murmuring, "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Aria, flipping through her notes, didn't even glance up. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Mr. Oberoi."

Kabir let out a low chuckle. "Of course you don't."

Aisha rubbed her temples. "God, this trek is going to be a disaster."

Paul smirked. "Yeah. But it's going to be hilarious."

Aria ignored them all.

But she wasn't foolish enough to ignore the way Kabir was still watching her.

Something told her this trek wasn't just going to be a morning hike.

And for some reason, she wasn't dreading it.

She might have even been looking forward to it.