Hey guys, sorry for the delay!!!

I was not in my right mind.  I lost one of my close relatives to cancer. It was very very disheartening news for all of us. It took us time to come out of it, to accept the reality. We are doing well now, I am thankful to God to give us strength to go through all of it.
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Vedika's POV

It's been a week since I arrived here in this new city. Today is the first day in my new office.

Life here is not as bad as I imagined earlier. This past week has been full of exploring and experiencing new things.

It was a little awkward with no women around me in that huge mansion, but somehow Uncle Rex and other staff members made me at ease.

I took a tour of the whole mansion in the first two days. It was much bigger than I expected.

On other days, i explored the local markets in the city. Solo mini-tours have their own charm. It has been refreshing to immerse myself in this new environment, despite the initial apprehension.

And i thoroughly enjoyed my alone time in another room. I made a good decision by moving.

Although Uncle Rex didn't approve of my move, he remained silent. He didn't comment on it, however his expressions conveyed disapproval.

And the main reason of my easy life in the past week was due to the fact that certain someone was surprisingly absent from my life.

I have not seen him after that night and too say, I am not at ease, it would be a lie.

But again, I cannot explicitly say he was absent, as he maybe not be present physically. But his presence was always there in the form of his daily texts.

It was suprising to see his message first thing in the morning.

It started with a simple text on the second day of his absence:

“Good Morning wife, I am out of town due to some urgent work. Wait for me!!!“

I was amazed by the message. It was like any other husband telling his wife about his whereabouts.

I ignored his message as I was not interested in knowing him or his location.

But it happened again on the third day.

“Good morning wife. Wait for me”

I rolled my eyes looking at his same message for the next four days. I was not waiting for him at all.

As I was thinking about him, I realised I didn't get his text today. I somehow got accustomed to these good morning messages from the past week that it felt odd as i didn't received it today.

As I was drifted to my thoughts, a chiming sound from my phone distracted me.

I immediately checked my phone, only to be disappointed as it was a spam message.

I kept my phone in the bag to keep my thoughts on track, without my unnecesary distraction.

But, somehow, a small part of my subconscious mind was asking the reason for not getting any message today.

When I was lost in my thoughts, driver's voice brought me back to reality.

I looked ahead at the tallest building situated in the centre of the city.

I thanked the driver uncle after stepping out of the car. Thanks to Uncle Rex for his thoughtfulness, it saved me from the hassle by using personal car instead of a taxi.

Today marks the beginning of a new chapter as I step into my new office. Excitement tinged with a hint of nervousness courses through me as I prepare to meet my colleagues and delve into my work.

I walked to the reception, where they guided me to go to HR for further formalities.

After all the formalities, I was shown to my department where I met my manager, Mr. Victor, who further introduced me to my collegues and my work station.

Half of my day went by in a blur with all the formalities and introduction.

“Hi” A young girl around my age walked up to me, extending her hand.

"I'm Lucy, nice to meet you. I missed your introduction. Are you new here?"

Lucy was dressed in a blue shirt with a black pencil skirt. Having a red cherry wavy hairs with freckles on her face.

I shook her hand, smiling warmly. "Yes, I am. I have been transferred from the branch office. I'm Vedika. It's nice to meet you too."

Lucy grinned. "Well, welcome to the team! If you need any help settling in or have any questions, feel free to ask. We're a pretty friendly bunch."

"Thank you, Lucy. That's really kind of you," I replied, feeling a bit more at ease knowing that there was someone friendly to turn to if needed.

Unfortunately, my friend Sara couldn't make it because she declined the offer.

Some other team members have been transferred here, but I am not friends with them. And much to my annoyance, Stella is one of them.

Not that I have an issue with her but she definitely has.

As Lucy dragged me to the cafetaria for lunch, she filled me in on the office surroundings.

“Our department generally stays out of office politics as Mr. Victor, our manager, is involved in all that stuff. He believes in a healthy work environment where everyone can focus on their tasks without unnecessary drama,” Lucy explained as we walked towards the cafeteria.

"That sounds great," I replied, relieved to hear that the office culture here focused more on productivity and cooperation rather than office politics.

"Yeah, it's one of the reasons I enjoy working here. Plus, the cafeteria food isn't half bad," Lucy added with a laugh as we entered the bustling cafeteria.

As we settled down with our lunches, I couldn't help but feel grateful for Lucy's friendly demeanor and the welcoming atmosphere of the office.

“Hi Lucy, your new friend” Someone asked Lucy.

“Yeah, She is a one of the transferree from the branch office. Her name is Vedika. And Vedika, he is Neil, from the marketing department" She introduced.

Neil extended his hand with a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you, Vedika. Welcome to the team. I hope you find everything to your liking here."

I returned the smile and shook his hand. "Thank you, Neil. It's been great so far. Everyone's been very welcoming."

"That's good to hear. It's always a bit daunting, joining a new place, but you'll fit right in. If you need any insight into the city or just want to know where to get the best coffee around, I'm your guy," Neil offered, his demeanor easy and approachable.

Lucy chimed in, "He's not kidding about the coffee. Neil's our resident coffee connoisseur."

I laughed, appreciating the lighthearted conversation. "I might just take you up on that offer. A good coffee place is essential."

As we continued our lunch, the conversation flowed effortlessly. I learned about the office dynamics, the best places to eat, and even some insider tips about the city.

Lucy and Neil's company made me feel like I was already a part of the team, easing the transition into this new phase of my life.

After our heartfelt lunch, we moved to our respective work stations.

As there was some spare time, I checked the notifications and messages.

Suprisingly, there was one message among the spam messages that I skipped in the morning.

My lips arched upward unknowingly by looking at the sender's name.

Mr. Devil

As I read the message, I realised, for a change, I got the different message this morning.

It was different from his usual texts, and for a moment, I found myself at a loss for words.

"Good luck for your new beginning," the message read, simple yet somehow meaningful.

As I read the words again, I felt a flicker of warmth in my chest. Despite everything, it was a kind gesture, one that I hadn't expected from him to remember it.

With a small smile, I, for the first time replied to him, keeping it equally brief yet sincere.

"Thank you," I wrote, my fingers tapping lightly on the screen hesitatedly before I hit send.

As I set my phone aside, my thoughts again and again drifted back to the text. It was nothing special in his message, yet I feel something special in it.

I slapped my head mentally. Focus, Vedika, remember, he is a devil, not an enemy, definitely not a friend as well.

As the remaining day was spent in reading the files and learning the pattern of their work style, I didn't realise when the office hours end.

As I walked out of the office to take the subway, I saw Neil who was leaning on a bike outside the office.

“Hey, Vedika” He waved at me with a friendly smile.

I waved back at him.

“How was your first day at office?“ He enquired as I approached him.

“It was not bad, thanks to you and Lucy” I replied warmly.

“Good to know that i had left an impact on you” He said making me roll my eyes.

I didn't took his teasing words seriously.

“I will move as I have to catch the train.“ I tried to leave as it was getting dark.

“Why don't I drop you?“ He offered.

“hmm, thank you but i will take subway” I refused politely as I have met him today only. Also, I don't want him to know where I live, which is the devil's cave.

“Ok, then, I shall get going” He said disappointedly.

As I watched him riding his bike, I turned around only to see driver uncle from the morning, was standing not far away from me.

“Uncle,” I called him as I walked towards him.

“Young Madam, please get in the car.“ He politely opened the car for me to get in.

I passed him a polite smile and entered the car only to find someone already sitting inside the car.

“Y... You” I gasped in suprise. My polite smile earlier turned into stiff one when I saw Mr. Devil staring at me with his eagle eyes.

"Hello, Mr. Parker," I greeted him, trying to maintain my composure despite the surprise of seeing him here.

His presence was as commanding as ever, and his eyes held that familiar intensity that always left me on edge.

He acknowledged with a curt nod, his expression unreadable.

He turned back to his laptop which was on his lap. I took a deep breath, determined not to let his unexpected appearance fluster me.

“Hello, young madam” I heard Mr. Ben, whom I failed to notice earlier, was sitting on the front passenger seat.

“Hi,” I passed a smile to him.

He nodded at me, then turned his head forward.

Not wanting to make my presence more visible, I shifted my gaze outside to see the night serene.

Continuous tuck tuck of his fingers tapping on the laptop keys rythmically making noise in the silence in the car.

As I was looking at the passing trees, I felt something fall on my lap.

My eyes turned towards to find the beautiful bouquet of flowers lying on my lap.

I picked up the flowers to take a sniff of it. It has a light, tea-rose fragrance.

It has large, full, and cup-shaped blooms with soft apricot hues.

The petals were a blend of peach, pink and yellow shade. The soft touch itself gave a sense of luxury in these flowers.

“These???“ I turned my gaze to Mr. Devil after admiring the flowers in my hand.

“For you” he replied shortly.

“Umm, thanks” I said with a pink hue on my cheeks. I don't know why but i feel myself blushing. Maybe cause it is the first time someone gave me flowers.

“What are these called?“ I asked to pique my curiousity down.

He didn't replied as if he had not heard me.

“These are called Juliet Rose, Madam. Sir personally picked it for you when we visited the neighbouring country. These flowers are very rare. Sir wanted to give you the best...He even searched the who...“ Mr. Ben was explaining me when the partition started rolling up separting the front from the back.

I couldn't even complete my conversation as certain someone decided to close the partition.

As the screen rolled up, the space at the back seat looked more congested and intimate.

I turned my eyes towards him with a frown.

“I was talking to him” I mumbled under my breathe.

“Did you like the flowers?” He asked with some hesitation in his eyes.

“Yes” I replied honestly.

“Great. How was your day?“ He asked immediately eyeing me.

"It went well, thank you. Everyone has been very welcoming.“ I replied.

He nodded again, his gaze never leaving mine. "That's good to hear. I trust you'll find your place here quickly."

There was a moment of silence, the air between us thick with unspoken words. I fidgeted slightly, feeling the weight of his presence.

"Is there something specific you wanted to discuss?" I asked afterwards, as he closed the partition. I thought it may be due to some important matter related to our contract marriage.

Mr. Parker, or rather, the devil as I often thought of him, leaned back slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Not really. Why, are you feeling nervous?” He asked teasingly.

I looked here and there avoiding his gaze. I don't know how to answer him.

After a few minutes silence, he started again. “Now you have mentioned that, I just wanted to make sure you're settling in well. And to remind you that if you need anything, you can always reach out to me."

His words were polite, almost kind, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more behind them.

I nodded at him without refusing his help.

"Your message this morning," I began hesitantly, deciding to address the topic directly, "was a surprise. But... thank you."

He inclined his head slightly. "You're welcome. I meant it. Did you miss me?" He immediately asked.

It took me some time to register his latter words.

He sighed as I didn't replied to his enquiry.

“I missed you a lot, Vedika” He whispered making my heart skipped a beat as he started leaning towards me.

For a moment, the sincerity in his eyes and voice caught me off guard. But I quickly reminded myself of who he was and the strange circumstances that had brought us together.

I turned my head sideways as his face started closing to me.

I could feel his breathe on my cheeks and my heart started pumping rapidly.

I clutched the handbag in my hand when I felt his fingers tressing the loose strands of my hair.

“Ppl... Please”

I don't know what I wanted him to do or to stop.

He got it message as he took a deep breathe and moved away from me.

As we drove in silence, my mind raced with thoughts of the day, the new beginnings, and the enigmatic man sitting next to me.

The city outside seemed to pulse with life, a stark contrast to the quiet tension inside the car.

Finally, we arrived at the mansion. As the car came to a stop, I was ready to make a quick exit. But my wrist was locked in the tight yet gentle grip of the man sitting beside me. I tried to breakfree without looking back but he didn't let me go.

"Vedika," he called softly, stopping me in my tracks. I looked back at him, waiting.

“I know, it's difficult for you to navigate this new life. But I want you to try once to be in this new relationship, with me." he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. His eyes held a sincerity that was hard to ignore.

I nodded, unable to find the right words to respond. The conflicting emotions swirling inside me made it difficult to speak.

I finally managed to utter something, "I will think about it." before gently pulling my wrist free and stepping out of the car.

As I walked towards the mansion, the weight of the day's events settled on my shoulders.

This new chapter was proving to be more complex than I had anticipated.

Between the new job, the new city, and his unexpected gestures, I felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

I glanced back once more before entering the mansion, catching a glimpse of him still seated in the car, his eyes following my every move.

There was so much left unsaid between us, but for now, I needed to focus on finding my footing in this unfamiliar terrain.

Inside the mansion, Uncle Rex greeted me with his usual warm smile. "How was your day, young mistress?" he asked.

"It was good, Uncle Rex. Thank you for arranging the car. It made things much easier," I replied.

He nodded, pleased. "I'm glad to hear that. Dinner will be served soon. Would you like to freshen up first?"

"Yes, please. I'll be down shortly," I said, heading towards my room.

As I closed the door behind me, I took a deep breath, letting the events of the day wash over me.

I carefully placed the bouquet of Juliet roses on my nightstand, admiring their delicate beauty.

I changed out of my work clothes after washing myself and wore my night pyajamas.

As I made my way to the dining room, I thought of his parting words.

Should I try for this relationship? But what about our contract marriage? And will be it fruitful to involve our feelings when we will part ways after a year.

No, I cannot involve myself in the relationship which has no future. And most importantly the question, am I ready to involve myself with the Devil himself.

As thinking of the devil, I remembered when his breathe caressed my skin. My toes curled reminiscing that moment.

I shook my head left and right to clear my lingering thoughts.

I got startled when I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard the very voice who was disturbing my thoughts.

“Is there any issue? ” His whispered in my ears from behind.

I immediately jumped on my feet as his soft breathe fell on my ears.

“You... “ I stuttered.

He chuckled softly, clearly amused by my reaction. "Yes, me. I'm just making sure you're okay. You seemed lost in thought," he said, stepping back to give me some space.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "I'm fine. Just... thinking," I replied, avoiding his gaze.

"About what?" he asked, his tone more curious than probing.

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Just... the new job, the city, everything. It's a lot to take in."

He nodded, his expression softening. "I understand. It's a big adjustment. But you're handling it well."

"Thanks," I said, feeling a bit awkward under his intense gaze. "I should go to dinner. Uncle Rex is waiting."

"I'll join you," he said, surprising me. "It's been a long day for both of us."

We walked to the dining room together, the silence between us filled with unspoken words and lingering questions.

As we sat down to eat, Uncle Rex served us with his usual care and attention, the familiar routine bringing a sense of comfort.

Throughout dinner, I focused only on my food. Neither I nor him, uttered a single syllable.

“I heard, you have moved your belongings to another room. ” His questioning voice break the prevailing silence in the dinning room.

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With Love,
Piaa❤❤