"Avantika," he began, his voice barely above a whisper, "I... I have so much to say, so much to apologize for."

Avantika's expression softened ever so slightly, a glimmer of something akin to forgiveness flickering in her eyes. She motioned for him to take a seat opposite her, and as he did, the distance between them felt both vast and infinitesimal.

"I know I have hurt you deeply," Abhay continued, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I was blind, arrogant, and foolish. I let the prejudices of my father cloud my judgment, and in doing so, I pushed away the one person who truly saw me for who I am."

Avantika remained silent, her gaze unwavering as she listened to his confession. The weight of his words hung heavy in the air between them, mingling with the memories of their shared past.

"It's almost eerie, isn't it?" Avantika's voice dripped with a mix of amusement and malice as she crossed her legs at the knees, settling back against the plush couch. Abhay stood at the edge of the seat opposite, his body tense as he waited for her next move. "The very moment you realized your follies just happened to coincide with the time you'd have to work for me. How...convenient."

"Avantika..."

Avantika cut across before he could form a rebuttal. "It is Ms. Sharma for you, Mr. Malhotra."

A wave of realization washed over him. He had hoped for forgiveness, a chance to make amends, but it seemed Avantika had other plans. Her cool demeanor sent a shiver down his spine, a stark contrast to the warmth they had once shared.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Abhay straightened his posture and met Avantika's gaze with a newfound determination. "Ms. Sharma," he began, his voice unwavering despite the turmoil within him, "I understand that my past actions have caused you pain. But I am here to make things right, to show you that I am not the same person I once was."

Avantika raised a skeptic eyebrow as her nose crinkled. No amount of preparation could ready her with a confrontation with a man who had tore down her self-respect for the world to watch.

"You say you are not the same person, but your actions indicate otherwise, Mr. Malhotra." She scoffed, shaking her head. "You used me once to win that case-study competition and now you want to use my company to kickstart, or, should I say, restart your career. Conniving as always!"

Abhay's jaw clenched at the accusation, his frustration bubbling to the surface. He had expected resistance from Avantika, but her blunt confrontation caught him off guard. The tension crackled in the air between them, each word sharpening the divide that had grown between them over the years.

"Using you was never my intention," Abhay retorted, his voice tinged with a mix of defensiveness and desperation. "Yes, I made mistakes in the past, but I am not here to exploit you or your company. I came to apologize, to make amends, to request for a change in the employment contract."

Abhay squirmed in his seat, his eyes wandering away unable to meet her pointed gaze. "I-I can't afford the ESOP buyout. Please, please do away with it!"

Avantika arched an eyebrow, considering his plea with a calculating gaze. The power dynamics had shifted between them, leaving Abhay vulnerable and exposed before her. She savored the moment, relishing in the reversal of roles that destiny had orchestrated.

After a pregnant pause, she leaned back in her chair and let out a soft chuckle that sent a shiver down Abhay's spine. "You come here, uninvited, armtwisting me into offering you employment, expecting me to simply forgive and forget all the pain you caused me. And now you have the audacity to request changes to the contract?"

Abhay's heart sank as he realized the magnitude of his request. He had braced himself for Avantika's anger and resentment, but her amusement cut deeper than he could have anticipated.

"That ESOP payout is our insurance that you would prioritize this company's interests over any inclination for misdemeanour. Given your past," she said, laying hard emphasis over the last few words, "it is imperative we take steps to minimize our damage when you are done with us. Because you will be done with us one day and you won't hesitate to ruin us."

A surge of frustration and shame plunged him in their unfathomable depths. The truth in her assessment of his character pierced through his defenses, leaving him raw and exposed before her. He had hoped for a chance at redemption, a way to prove that he had changed, but Avantika's skepticism served as a stark reminder of the consequences of his past actions.

Silence enveloped the room, heavy and suffocating, as Abhay struggled to find the right words to plead his case. He knew that his request was unreasonable, that he had no right to ask for special treatment after everything he had done. But the fear of losing this opportunity, the chance to make amends and start anew, gnawed at him relentlessly.

Swallowing his pride, Abhay met Avantika's unwavering gaze with a mixture of humility and determination. "I understand your reservations, Ms. Sharma," he began, his voice laced with sincerity. "But if you give me a chance, I will prove to you that I am capable of change. I will work tirelessly for the betterment of this company, not for personal gain, but to right the wrongs of my past. Please, allow me the opportunity to show you that I am truly remorseful and willing to earn your trust again."

Avantika studied him intently, searching his eyes for any hint of deceit or insincerity. After a long moment of contemplation, she uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, her expression inscrutable.

"The company will cover your ESOP buyout which would be deducted as a percentage of your compensation" she finally said, her voice betraying no emotion. "However, it comes with a twelve percent interest per annum and you can only leave the company if you return the total buyout amount along with the interest accrued."

Abhay felt a wave of relief flood through him at Avantika's unexpected concession, grateful for the opportunity she had reluctantly granted him to prove himself. The weight of the conditions she had imposed hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the uphill battle he faced to earn back her trust and redeem himself in her eyes.

"I accept your terms, Ms. Sharma," Abhay said with a determined nod, his voice steady despite the turbulent emotions swirling within him. "Thank you for giving me this chance. I will not disappoint you."

Avantika regarded him with a cool gaze, her expression unreadable as she leaned back in her chair once more. "Words are easy, Mr. Malhotra. Actions speak louder than words. You have a long way to go to make amends for the damage you've caused. If I see even a shadow of your old self during that time, our deal is off. Do you understand?"

Abhay nodded earnestly, relief flooding through him at the glimmer of hope she had offered. "I won't let you down, Ms. Sharma."