The Wrong Kiss

In the conference room on the top floor of Suryadev Corporation, everyone leaned over the polished table. Aadhiran Varma sat at the head of the table with his laptop open, looking at the presentation screen. The project lead was presenting the project to one of the important client representatives, and their MD were visible on the Zoom screen. Their eyes were on their screen as Suryadev's project lead shared the presentation slides.

This was a wrap-up meeting for the oral discussion and for the almost finalised project. This was like a brush-up meeting, and Suryadev Corporation was at the final stage of getting official approval.

Aadhiran always spoke less at the final meeting, as his stature usually entered a room before he did. Aadhiran's employees had learned to speak carefully whether he was present or not. He moved his eyes from the screen to the printed documents in front of him every now and then. To him, when millions of rupees and the company’s reputation are involved, a small mistake will have serious consequences.

The project lead changed to the revised budget slide. He began explaining the changes in detail, pointing out every adjustment they made. The project lead spoke with confidence, and then he mentioned the total projected construction cost.

"The revised estimate comes to one hundred and eighty-six crore rupees."

One of the senior client representatives immediately leaned closer to his screen.

"One hundred and eighty-six? Your earlier figure was one hundred and seventy-six."

The project lead stopped, and he looked at the screen. He looked down at the document file in front of him on the table. He flipped the page, then another. He was confident as he flipped away fast. Everyone was looking at him, and the client representative also saw him on screen.

His eyes scanned the screen and the signed paper by Aadhiran.

Aadhiran already knew the project lead had opened the wrong presentation file, which was the previous day's. Aadhiran interrupted before the project lead could say it was the wrong presentation slide.

"Sorry, there is no confusion," he said, keeping his palms on the table as he stood.

Aadhiran strode towards the project lead, and the project lead stepped back as he saw Aadhiran coming.

"Our project lead was handling two projects simultaneously. When you said about the figure, he got confused," Aadhiran said, smiling.

The client's MD looked at Aadhiran.

Aadhiran highlighted the figures and said, "We said we would be making it 176 after the supplier negotiation. Speaking with the material vendor, they said it was just cost ot cost to them. I have said we can do it for 176, so I can't give you low-quality materials. You know our company is for quality. The market speaks about us in terms of quality. If you need an apology, I can ask."

Aadhiran wanted to close this project as he would get government tenders via this client. The client is powerful enough to get the government tender, and they promised they would get it for Suryadev Corporation if they made a high-quality project at a low price.

"We know about you," the client MD said.

He took the remote from the table and moved back to his seat. He sat on the chair and pulled his coat.

Aadhiran took over the presentation. Aadhiran answered the client's question without checking the file. Aadhiran knew the words in the project file. By the time the presentation ended, the earlier mistake had almost disappeared from the client's mind. The senior representative from the client smiled and looked at their MD.

"Mr Varma, I'm satisfied with the explanation. And we will meet soon for the agreement signing."

"We'll make sure we keep up your quality expectations," Aadhiran said with a polite nod.

Aadhiran waited for the reply and asked, "Anything to get clarified?"

"All good; we have no issues as of now."

With the clients' permission, Aadhiran ended the meeting. The screen went dark, and the room changed its atmosphere. The people who were relaxed enough till now suddenly became very attentive. Aadhiran looked at the screen on the wall. His fingers rested on the edges of the table. Then Aadhiran looked toward the project lead.

The project lead looked at Aadhiran with his wide eyes. His fingers tightened around the file, and a bead of sweat dripped down his temple in the AC room.

Aadhiran looked at everyone with an unreadable expression. They started to move; HR and GM stayed. The door closed as the final employee left the room.

"Why did you play an unapproved presentation?" Aadhiran asked.

"Sir, I made a mistake. I double-checked it. I didn't realise how it happened..."

Aadhiran continued looking at him.

"I'm sorry, Sir."

The HR manager sat opposite Aadhiran. She already knew where this was going. Aadhiran moved his eyes toward the HR manager. The HR manager moved her finger on her laptop trackpad.

The project lead saw the movement, and his face got tight.

"Sir, please," he said.

The HR manager clicked on the trackpad and scrolled on the trackpad.

"I've been with the company for three years," the project lead said quickly. "Please give me another chance. I won't make the same mistake again."

Aadhiran leaned back in his chair.

"You should have checked the report before the meeting."

"I know, sir."

"You had one responsibility."

"Sir, I understand."

Aadhiran's voice remained calm, and he said, "If I fire you personally, finding another job," he waited and said, "Even to get a security job, will be difficult for you."

The project lead stared at him as he mentioned a security job.

Aadhiran's face remained even. He just looked at the project lead as he stared at him. He looked at the laptop as a notification appeared, then slowly lifted his eyes to the project lead.

"Please, sir. I have a family."

Aadhiran looked at the HR and said, "Ask him to submit his resignation."

"Sir—"

"Today, I need," Aadhiran said, looking at HR.

The project lead lowered his head, and he turned toward HR. She nodded to him that she was helpless.

"Come with me," she said quietly and got up from her seat. He followed her and the door closed behind them.

Aadhiran looked at GM, Arjunvel, who was also his friend. Arjunvel looked at Aadhiran and waited a few seconds.

"You could have given him another chance."

"You want to run my company?"

Arjunvel's mouth curved into a smile. "No. I'm only trying to stop you from becoming a complete monster."

Aadhiran gave him a cold look and said. "Careful."

Arjunvel laughed.

Everyone in the company backed away as soon as Aadhiran looked at them with his wide eyes. But Arjunvel was not one of them. He knew Aadhiran from his school, and he knew Aadhiran's pulse as well. He could read Aadhiran's moods easily. Their friendship had gone through fights, but he knew when he shouldn't talk to him.

Arjunvel looked at Aadhiran, his fingers tapping on the keys.

"One day," Arjunvel said, getting up, "someone is going to tell you that you're impossible."

"Already many speak behind my back, and you know too, but you don't say it to me."

"And still you keep proving them. Right?"

Aadhiran looked at him with a smile and said, "Go and do your work."

Arjunvel shook his head, smiling. "See? Complete monster."

Aadhiran looked at his laptop screen.

Arjunvel's phone vibrated. He glanced at the phone on the table; it was a message. He saw the name displayed on his phone, and he looked toward Aadhiran.

He opened the message and read it.

'Please tell Aadhiran to call me. He's not answering my calls.'

Another message popped up on his screen.

'I've been trying since morning.'

Arjunvel looked at Aadhiran and said, "Meena Ma'am messaged me."

Aadhiran kept typing on the documents and did not pay attention to Arjunvel. Arjunvel expected him to look at him.

"She wants you to call her," Arjunvel said.

Aadhiran looked at Arjunvel and said, "I already told you to stop calling her Ma'am," and continued typing.

Arjunvel waited and asked, "You're not calling?"

"Say to her, I have work."

Arjunvel stared at him for a moment.

"She's been trying since morning."

Aadhiran kept typing.

Arjunvel slipped his phone back into his pocket.

"Fine. I'll tell her you're busy."

Aadhiran gave a small nod.

Arjunvel smiled, looking at Aadhiran.

Meena was Aadhiran's girlfriend. Meena said to Arjunvel that she would marry Aadhiran one day. Arjunvel also knew Aadhiran was not interested in married life. Meena took Arjunvel's number when she met him at Aadhiran's birthday.

Meena used to get some information about Aadhiran's daily plan. Arjunvel said only what Aadhiran approved to say to her.

By night, Aadhiran was at his guest house, sitting on the sofa with a drink in front of him. His white shirt was slightly loose, the buttons undone, showing the line of his abs under the thin fabric and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. The room was filled with a faint hum of the air conditioner.

He was drafting an email for an investor pitch for his new brand. He heard the door open, and he looked up. It was Meena.

He saw her wearing a black sleeveless lace dress. Her dress traced the shape of her body. She walked toward him. Her visible skin and her dress caught the light. She stopped a step before him and looked at him with a confident smile.

"How do I look in this dress?"

Aadhiran looked at her eyes. Aadhiran's eyes moved slowly over her shoulder. Thin straps went only around her neck and followed to her chest. Her deep V-cut showed most of her cleavage. She stood with her confident posture.

Aadhiran's attention shifted to her wide lips.

“Why are you so quiet?" She asked.

Aadhiran leaned back against the sofa and said, "You looks sexy in any dress."

Aadhiran's eyes met Meena's.

"And you are irresistible without a dress", he added.

Meena's smile widened further, and she stepped toward him. Aadhiran picked up the bottle. Pours two drinks, filling each glass just a quarter and gave one to Meena.

"Sorry, dear," she said as she accepted it and continued, "My friend kept me at her house."

"Your friend knows how to make you look sexy."

She took a slow sip, watching him over the rim of her glass.

Aadhiran noticed her look and asked, "What?"

"Nothing."

A minute later, they went into the bedroom.

The room was filled with dim red lamplight near the bed. Meena stood in front of him and turned her back towards him. His fingers held the zipper, and he slowly pulled the zipper down. He then loosened the knot around her neck. The dress slipped down her body. She turned toward Aadhiran. Aadhiran looked at her chest, which shone in the light and leaned in to kiss.

Meena placed her hand against his chest and asked, "You always look at me like it is the first time."

"You always look the same as when I saw you for the first time."

"And?" She asked, looking into his eyes, and she unbuttoned his shirt.

He unbuckled his pants hook, and they fell down. She pushed him onto the bed. She straddled between his hips, her knees sinking into the bed and her feet behind her.

Then she started moving—up and down and twisting her hips. She leaned forward, and her palms were flat on his chest. Her breathing got quicker. Her legs pressed tighter on his sides. She moved slower and looked into his eyes.

Aadhiran felt she was thinking about something.

"What, Baby?" he asked.

She looked at his eyes and said, "I had a dream."

"That I tried BDSM with you?" He asked.

She smiled and said, "Somewhat like it. You tied a knot around my neck..."

As she said, he held her upper arms and pulled her closer to him, interrupting her.

"So you finally wanted to try? I have done BDSM with others; none accepted it. Can we try?"

"Let me say fully."

"Say how weird it was?"

"You tied a knot around my neck before all," she said, smiling.

"Fuck, what a weird dream," he pulled his lips downward, his face twisting into a disgruntled scowl.

"Baby, you married me," she said, smiling.

His eyes widened, and he pushed her up.

Meena stared at him for a second, and she smiled and asked, "What happened, Baby"

"I said I don't like marriage," he said in a stern tone.

"I had a dream; I thought to say so I said."

She bit her lower lip and looked at him, and she slid her hand on his chest.

“Sorry, baby, for spoiling your mood,” and she moved her hips on his.

Later, Aadhiran sat at the edge of the bed. Meena sat in the chair facing him. Aadhiran was looking at Meena's sweat-coated chest. Meena's feet rested between Aadhiran's thighs, nudging slightly.

Aadhiran's phone rang, and he looked at the table beside them. Aadhiran leaned over and took the phone. It was from HR. He answered it on the speaker.

"Sir, I have an update for you?"

"Yes,"

"Sir, your new PA is joining from the day after tomorrow."

Aadhiran smiled, looking at Meena, and said, "That's good news after 10 P.M"

"Sorry, Sir, I have told her to update me at any time about her joining."

"I am in a meeting,"

She said okay and hung up.

Meena looked at Aadhiran and asked, "What's her name?"

"Vennila."

"Hope she likes BDSM?"

Aadhiran smiled, looking at her.