Chapter 7 - Battle Lines

Adhya's POV

The next morning, Adhya walked into the office with a determined yet cheerful stride. She'd decided that today would be the day she started winning over the people here. And what better way than with coffee and croissants?

She'd spent the morning at the bakery, picking up the best pastries she could find, making sure there was something for everyone. A little charm went a long way in making first impressions, right?

As she entered the office, she spotted a group of employees gathered near the kitchenette. With a warm smile, she approached them.

"Good morning, everyone!" she called, setting the bag of croissants and coffee on the counter with a flourish.

Everyone paused and turned toward her, surprised.

"Oh, wow, thank you!" one of the women, Priya, said, walking over to grab a coffee. "This is sweet of you!"

"I figured I could use some friendly faces around here," Adhya replied, smiling. "Plus, who doesn't love a good croissant?"

Another employee, Rahul, grinned. "I think we might need to make you our new office favorite."

Adhya laughed, placing the last of the cups on the counter. "Well, I'm just here to make sure you guys start your day right. The last thing you need is grumpy coworkers, right?"

"True," Priya agreed. "And we do love a good coffee break around here."

A few people gathered around, taking their cups and pastries, chatting casually with Adhya. She felt a little more at ease, enjoying the light conversation as she took a sip of her coffee.

After a while, Adhya decided to take a quick break and head over to Malini's desk. The office was starting to feel a little more comfortable, but she still needed to win over some of the tougher crowd.

She approached Malini's desk, balancing a cup of coffee in her hands, a friendly smile plastered on her face.

"Hey, Malini," Adhya said, trying to sound casual. "I thought you might like a coffee too."

Malini looked up from her computer, her lips curling into a thin smile. "How thoughtful."

Just as Adhya leaned in to place the coffee cup on the desk, she accidentally brushed the edge, and—whoosh—the coffee spilled, splashing all over Malini's pristine desk.

"Oops," Adhya said innocently, her eyes wide with faux concern. "Guess I'm still getting the hang of things here."

Malini's eyes narrowed as she looked at the mess. "Really, Adhya? I'm trying to work here."

Adhya immediately grabbed a handful of napkins, dabbing at the desk. "Sorry, sorry! I swear I didn't mean to! You know, my clumsiness is legendary. Ask anyone around here."

Malini's gaze remained icy, but she wasn't able to hide the slight twitch of her lips. "You really think you can win everyone over with coffee tricks?"

Adhya gave her a bright, sarcastic smile. "Oh, I wasn't trying to win anyone over. Just spreading some kindness." She shot a quick glance toward the others, who had witnessed the accident.

As Malini scowled at her desk, Rahul snickered from across the room. "Guess the coffee's a little too hot for Malini to handle."

Someone else laughed. "She's probably not used to the extra warmth."

"Oh, please," Malini huffed, wiping down her desk. "This isn't funny."

"I think it is," Priya chimed in, chuckling. "Look on the bright side, Malini. You'll have a new desk smell now."

A few other employees joined in, the office buzzing with laughter. Malini's face flushed with annoyance, but she remained silent, glaring at Adhya as she continued to clean up the mess.

Adhya, trying to hold back her own laughter, gave Malini an apologetic smile. "I promise, no more coffee mishaps. You're free to go back to your work... until I spill something else, of course."

Malini narrowed her eyes but didn't respond, her fingers still wiping down her desk. Adhya flashed a winning smile before backing away.

Feeling proud of herself, Adhya strode to Reyan's office. She knocked once and entered without waiting for a response.

Reyan looked up from his laptop, his sharp eyes studying her. His office was just as cold and serious as the man himself.

"Reyan," Adhya said sweetly, "I thought I'd drop by and—"

"Adhya," he interrupted, his voice as cold as ever. "What's the matter now?"

"Nothing, just bringing you coffee," she said, setting a cup down on his desk.

He raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "I'm not in the mood for small talk."

She grinned, leaning against the doorframe. "Oh, I wasn't going to talk. Just thought I'd add some excitement to your otherwise boring day."

"Excitement?" Reyan repeated, his lips curling slightly. "You're lucky you're so charming when you want to be."

Adhya laughed, taking a step closer. "Oh, I'm not trying to charm you. I'm just here to brighten your day a little. You need it, trust me."

Reyan gave her an unreadable look, his lips pulling into a tight line. "Is that so? Because I think I'm doing just fine without any of your 'brightening.'"

She leaned in, her voice teasing. "You may think that now, but I'll find a way to get under that thick skin of yours. Just wait."

He met her challenge with a cool, unwavering stare. "You're welcome to try, Miss Chauhan. I don't think you're capable of breaking me."

"Oh, I think I'll manage just fine," she shot back, winking playfully. "After all, who could resist a little light in their life?"

Reyan's lips twitched ever so slightly, and for a moment, just a moment, his hard exterior cracked. But it was gone as quickly as it came, his gaze hardening once more.

"Good luck with that," he muttered, turning his attention back to his work.

But as she left his office, Adhya couldn't help but feel a small victory. The game had begun, and Reyan Malhotra didn't even know it yet.