Hello and welcome all. Before you start reading the chapter, please read this. I will try to fulfill your expectations if me but if I can't at certain point, think of me as amateur writer as I am someone who is still learning this writing and all things. I hope you all support me in this new journey and shower love and support as you all have in my previous book. Hoping you enjoy this book and without a further ado, let's start.🥹

Enjoy reading!❣️

Author's pov-

In a conference room of a ten floor building, a girl in mid 20s with a high pony, wearing a beige color suit and pants crossing legs sitting in the chair of CEO of Pearl's Designing Company. Nobody can guess what is on her mind and her facial expression gave no hint. She is Gauri Anand, as you might have guessed, the CEO of a designing company named Pearl's.

"So tell me, Mr. Gaurav, how will you compensate for the loss you have created for me? Her no-nonsense voice boomed in the silent room making goosebumps rise on every person that was sitting there. Everyone was afraid as well as curious to know what will happen to Gaurav as he had betrayed her, the Queen as she is called among the colleagues.

Apparently he has sold the designs to the rival company of Pearl's who was also competing for the offer made by Raven designer's who are one of the top selling brands in the world.

"Clean your space before you leave this office. Ravi, I want Mr. Gaurav to be out of this office in exactly ten minutes. One more minute extra and you are welcome to go with him and never come back." She said to Ravi, the peon working in the office who was right now standing by the door waiting for Gaurav to come as he doesn't want to lose his job because of any reason and was drying the sweat on his forehead from his handkerchief.

"I am so sorry mam, please give me one more chance. I swear to God I won't disappoint you again. I didn't have any option, they offered me money and I couldn't refuse them, I am sorry." Gaurav was pleading for his life looking like he was at the verge of crying, but our queen, she didn't get fazed by those crocodile tears. She knows how douche of a man he is.

"If you wanted money, you could have asked from me as you work here, but you decided to sell yourself and I don't have a place for people who don't value themselves. I sell designs, not people. Now if you please, unlike you some people have work to do so please show yourself out." After Gaurav went out she resumed the meeting and once again warned her employees to not do something like this as she will not once hesitate to do something like this again.

She went away to her cabin where she worked till evening. The news of firing Gaurav has spread like fire in the forest in the office and everybody was talking about it. Gauri was going to take a turn for the stairs but stopped at the turn when she heard some girls who work in her office talking. Although she doesn't like people talking in the office hours and doesn't meddle into it, she stopped when she heard her name taken by one girl.

"Why is she so cruel and bossy all the time? Every time she does what she wants. She wants everybody to dance to her tune."

Another one said, "I have also not seen her smile once let alone laugh. And she is so arrogant and always shouting at people."

"Maybe, she isn't satisfied at night. If you know what I mean." The last one said and all three of them laughed listening to her.

They were bitching about her, she understood this much with their way of talking but she didn't react a bit, not even a twitch of a muscle was seen. She was just waiting for them to go but they didn't so she decided to go. When she made her presence known, she didn't stop for a second but the three girls were greeting her. She ignored them and went downstairs. As she was stepping down, thinking about the next day, her meetings and collaboration.

Not even once her mind diverted to their conversations as she knows there are a lot of rumors like this in the office and she can't shut each and every person so she decided to stop reacting to such baseless things. She bid bye to the guard and thanked him who opened the door for her. Quite contrary to what the girl said and went inside the car.

On the way she told the driver to stop at the Simson's bakery (imaginary) which is near her apartment as she has to take strawberry cake for the person who is waiting for her at home. It took a total of half an hour to take the cake and reach the door of her apartment. Once she opened the door she was engulfed in a hug by a five year old girl wearing a yellow polka dot dress with two pigtails, having chubby cheeks and a toothy smile on her face.

Gauri left the things on the floor as it is and took her in her arms and there we can see her smiling like she got the world and spin her two to three times making the baby laugh to her fullest. "Mumma, you bawght me the cwake?" (Mumma, you bought me the cake?). The baby asked Gauri in her cute voice with those doe eyes and her hands on Gauri's cheeks.

"Of course Aarna, how can I forget that and that to your favorite strawberry? But first let me get freshen up okay, then we both will sit inside the blanket and eat it."

She went inside with her where she could see Kamla in the kitchen. Kamla is the maid and only one to work where she cooks sometimes, clean and babysits Aarna and when Gauri comes home she says her goodbye and goes to her.

"Didi (Sister), I have cooked the dinner and you go till then I will set the plates."

"Kamla, let it be. I will take it on my own, you should go home now as it is already late."

After a little persistence from Gauri, Kamla went away. Then Gauri took Aarna with her inside her room and made her sit in the bed, gave her toys to play with and spread the pillows around her for her safety. When she came out in her night dress, a smile adorned her face looking at the baby, her reason for still being in this world.

When Aarna saw her, she made her hands go up, the sign that she wants to be in her arms and said, "Mumma, cwake." (Mumma, cake). Gauri laughed and took her in her arms and went to the living room.

Talking about her apartment, it was not too luxurious like the apartment of typical CEO's nor too spartan. It was enough for her and Aarna with two rooms, one being a guest room and other is hers, both have attached bathrooms with it and Gauri's room even had a balcony in it, along with it, there was kitchen and living room but the highlight was that the the windows in the two rooms and living room were floor to ceiling windows. And as the apartment was on the top floor of the building, it gave the view of the whole city.

Gauri made such arrangements on the sofa where blankets and pillows were scattered all around and some toys on the table kept in front of it. She also brought the strawberry cake, her dinner and some milk to make her drink later. Making both of them comfortable, she started to play the movie which is Aarna's favorite, Tangled. She loves it so much that every time she is asked which movie to watch she says Tangled and she never gets bored of it.

As the movie was progressing the amount of cake and food was decreasing and Aarna's blabbering made the whole mood lively. Aarna was telling all about her day in her play school which she joined last year and has settled well. And Gauri was listening to her giving her all the attention she needed and even asked her questions about when and where.

When the movie ended Gauri looked down she saw Aarna already asleep with her head attached to her chest. She switched the television off and took Aarna to her room to make her sleep comfortably and wrap her in a blanket. Then she came into the living room and cleaned the space and went back inside.

It was almost midnight, she prepared her coffee and went inside with it. Then she picked up her laptop, along with coffee and after checking on Aarna, she went to the balcony. She sat on the lounging sofa and started with her work. Due to her past, she has become such that she doesn't give time to herself. For her only two things matter to go on in her life, Aarna and Pearl's. Other than this she has no desire to live in this world.

Right now she is working to acquire the meeting with Regal Ventures, one of the top companies in the country known for organizing fashion shows. And as her company is still rising, she has to get this meeting on board as soon as she can since it will take Pearl's to newer heights.

She worked until three in the night and in between kept checking Aarna after then finishing her work she went back inside. Making sure Aarna is well covered and taking her medicines, she also hides herself in the covers and taking Aarna into her arms, she closes her eyes hoping to get some sleep. 

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Until next update! xoxo.💌

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Chapter Aesthetics