4) Get a grip

*hiding behind friend*

*friend pushes me in front of the readers*

*squeaks*

H-hi! So...

*looks at angry readers*

*nervous laugh*

Listen, I can explain-

*gets ambushed by all my readers*

*screams for help"

Do I have an explanation for why I was so late? Yes, I do. Will it be enough? I don't know. *smiles nervously and hopefully*

I recently started my internship and it's been crazy handling everything. I'll try to be more regular from now on. As for now, you can finally meet our Grumpy devil!

Arjun's POV

The car sped up as my foot hit the accelerator and I barely tried to keep my anger in check. My knuckles turned white, my grip tightening on the steering wheel.

The fucking audacity of that girl.

I already had to cancel a meeting that I had been working my ass off on for the past week because dad wanted to talk about something that couldn't wait an hour.

And the encounter with that weird girl just added fuel to my rising temper.

Crazy girls and their crazier shirts.

Who does she think she is?

Queen Elizabeth?

The level of entitlement and stupidity that ran through her veins nearly had me driving the car into a pole.

The car came to another stop when the traffic light turned red.

Fucking traffic.

Rubbing my lower lip impatiently, I resisted the urge to honk the horn unnecessarily.

No matter how much I tried, I couldn't get that girl and her outrageous behavior out of my mind.

No one had ever talked to me like that before and I was having a hard time dealing with the nonchalant disrespect.

I didn't know whether to appreciate her suicidal tendencies or despise her courage.

Great! Just fucking great. That stupid girl insulted me in the middle of the road and here I was, all praises for her.

Go jump over a cliff, Arjun.

If I meet her again, I would make sure she regrets everything she said.

Hadn't dad called, I would have solved the matter then and there.

Speaking of the call, I wonder why dad was so insistent on meeting me. Being the only heir of Singhania Industries, I was ready to take over dad's position in a few days. I was sincerely hoping the conversation to be strictly business related.

Things were... awkward between us, to say the least. We hadn't had a real conversation since three years, anything apart from business and profit.

He hadn't made any real effort to stay in contact after mom's death. It took a toll on him. He became distant. I tried reaching out to him but to no avail.

I had shifted to my penthouse after I turned eighteen but I would still visit my parents almost every week. But things changed when mom died in a car accident.

Lost in my depressing thoughts, I finally reached the mansion where dad now lived with his new wife and her daughter.

Taking a deep breath, I got out of my car and walked towards the entrance.

Just don't do anything stupid.

My anger issues started with Mee-... her and mom's death made them worse.

When I entered the hall, dad was sitting on a couch along with Roshni. She married him a year ago.

I don't like her.

You don't like anyone.

Okay, fair enough. But there's something about Roshni that always ticked me off. I don't trust her. Plus, the fact that she tried to be my mother when I explicitly made it clear I didn't want that. She was so insistent on trying to replace mom that I finally snapped one day.

I also suspect she's after dad's money. Dad claims otherwise. The only reason Roshni isn't out of our lives yet is because Dad seems happy with her.

I cleared my throat and that's when dad noticed me. He smiled. "Arjun! Here you are. I was waiting for you. Come, sit."

"Do you want anything to drink?" Roshni asked but I ignored her like I always had.

Cautious of dad's happy mood, I went to sit on the couch opposite him and asked him directly, not in the mood for random small talk. "What is it that you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Can't I call my son for no reason?" He was still smiling.

Mission abort.

I narrowed my eyes. "The last time you called me, you told me you were selling 5 percent of our shares to those Malhotras. So, sorry for being suspicious you might tell me that you're leaving for the Himalayas next." I shrugged.

Dad laughed heartily and I grew a bit more uncomfortable.

Something doesn't feel right.

This was getting shady now.

"I am in no mood for any games today, dad. Get straight to the point." That girl had already angered me enough, I didn't want to say anything that I might end up regretting later.

"Fine. You know you'll be handling the CEO position soon, right?"

"Yeah?" Where was he going with that?

"Well, the Board of Directors is yesterday's meeting are a little... worried."

"About what? I've bagged deals for the company that their old asses couldn't even think about. I'd love to see them try talk to Ralph Black and not sweat like pigs."

"And there it is." He gestured towards me. "Your attitude and anger. They are hesitant you might ruin the company if you're overcome with your ego."

My brows knitted in confusion. "This is ridiculous. I have got the skills to be the CEO. I don't need to prove anything to anyone."

"Skills alone are not enough to handle a large company. You need much more than that."

"What do you want me to do then? Take anger management classes?" I asked sarcastically.

"No, I want you to get married."

.

.

.

The silence that followed was so loud I swear I could hear a bird chirp outside.

The serious look on his face nearly had me falling from my seat.

"Excuse me?" I looked at him as if he was questioning my sexuality.

As I waited for him to start laughing and explain the pathetic prank he was trying to play on me, I slowly realized that he had actually meant it. Because all I got in response was an expectant raise of a brow.

What in the ever-loving fuck?

"What the hell are you talking about?" I stood up immediately, my voice raising a notch.

"Calm down, Arjun. I am just asking you to settle down." He said as if it was no big deal.

Just asking me to settle down?

"Do you even hear yourself, dad? Who in their right mind gets married so young? And there are a hundred fucking ways to prove the Board of Directors I'm capable enough to handle this position. Marriage being none of them."

"Don't curse, Arjun." His voice was stern.

I scoffed in anger. "Right, cause that's the important thing right now. Whether I should curse in a moment of rage or not."

"Arjun, just listen to-" Roshni tried to intervene but I interrupted her.

"I'm not talking to you." My gaze turned to her in a warning look. "Don't try to involve yourself in our family talk."

"She is family. Arjun." Dad said.

"Your family, dad. Not mine." I yelled in frustration. "Never mine. Stop trying to control my life and telling me what to do."

"Ar-"

"No. I've had enough of this bullshit. I'm leaving." Not paying attention to his words, I left the mansion as fast as I could.

If I had stayed there for one more second, I would have slammed Roshni's oh-so-precious vases on the floor.

Reaching my penthouse, I went straight for a hot shower to calm myself down. When I was sure I wouldn't do anything disastrous, I came out of the bathroom and slumped down on the couch. Sighing deeply, I closed my eyes but the peace was short-lived as my phone started ringing.

I was tempted to throw my phone across the wall but it had some important documents and recovering them would be a hassle. I looked at the caller ID and groaned out loud.

Sid.

Did I have the mental energy to deal with him right now? No.

Will he keep calling me until I pick up the call? Yes.

Gathering my last bit of sanity, I picked the call. "What?"

"Arjun, my friend, it's been so long. I missed you." He said in a sing-song voice, extending the 'u' of my name and I had a sudden urge to punch him.

Idiot.

I was having a lot of violent thoughts today.

"We just met yesterday." I deadpanned.

"You are no fun." He whined like a small child. "Why do I even put up with you?"

I could imagine him rolling his eyes as if I was the drama queen between us.

Asshole.

"For your kind information, I'm the one who puts up with you and your dramatic ass."

He's my best friend since we were 10 years old. I didn't even want to befriend him. He just met me in school one day and since then followed me everywhere.

"Listen, I need to talk to you." I said, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Not on phone. I would talk to you when you come back to India."

"Wow. Arjun Singhania choosing to have a conversation face to face instead of a phone call? Shit's serious. Don't worry. I'll be coming back on Thursday."

"Okay, bye." I cut the call and let out another sigh, rubbing my eyes tiredly.

Today was one hell of a long day.

First that annoying anonymous girl and then dad's stupid idea. What was-

I sat up straight when something dawned on me. While I was talking to that girl, never once did I lose my control. I agree I was angry but not that much. Things can get really ugly when I'm furious but the argument I had with that girl was pretty tamed. I was surprised how well I behaved.

Well, as behaved as I can be.

And did a tiny part of me slightly enjoy the random, useless back and forth with her?

Fuck man.

I ran a frustrated hand through my hair.

Get a grip over yourself, Arjun!

And there you go with another chapter! Hopefully the next one will be sooner.

Quick question- Who do you imagine your Arjun as?