The office was silent except for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the faint tapping of the clock on the wall. Everyone had already left for the day, leaving only scattered files, dim lights, and Arnika — alone in her cabin, her thoughts louder than the quiet.

Her vision wavered. The world tilted, her breath came uneven, and her body suddenly felt weightless.

The next thing she knew, she was on the cold marble floor.

She could faintly hear footsteps — quick, sharp ones ...echoing closer. Her eyelids fluttered open, her vision hazy, and through the blur, she saw a tall figure leaning over her.

For a moment, her mind whispered one name ..

Ruaan.

But when the outline sharpened, her heart dropped.

“Y… you?” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vedh smirked down at her, crouching beside her.

“Yes, me,” he said softly, his tone dripping with mock concern. “You didn’t think we’d meet this soon again, did you?”

Before she could reply, darkness claimed her completely.

Minutes Later

When Arnika opened her eyes again, the first thing she saw was the familiar cream ceiling of Ruaan’s cabin. Her head throbbed, her throat felt dry, and confusion clouded her senses.

As she blinked slowly, her gaze moved

..and froze.

There they were.

Ruaan, standing tall near his desk, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.

And Vedh, casually leaning against the wall, pretending to look concerned.

“What…” she started, her voice cracking slightly.

Vedh’s tone was smooth, far too practiced. “Mr. Sharma, you should really take better care of your employees. Poor Ms. Arnika almost collapsed because of overwork.”

Ruaan’s jaw tightened. “Sadly, Mr. Vedh, I’m not a doctor,” he said coolly, not even glancing in his direction.

The tension in the room was sharp, slicing through the air.

A few moments later, the company doctor — the one Vedh had called finished checking Arnika’s pulse and temperature.

“It’s mild exhaustion,” he said politely. “She just needs rest.”

Vedh nodded dramatically, as if he were the one giving orders. He turned toward Arnika, flashing that same familiar, arrogant smile.

“Take care of your health, Ms. Arnika."

And he leaned closer and said ... almost like a whisper..." You wouldn’t want to give your boss a bad name.”

Something about the way he said it , the mockery, the deliberate twist in his tone — made Arnika’s stomach tighten.

He left soon after, his expensive shoes echoing against the marble floor.

For a few seconds, the room was wrapped in heavy silence. The faint sound of papers rustling on Ruaan’s desk was the only thing that filled the gap.

Then, Ruaan spoke with his voice low, cold, and steady.

“Don’t ruin my reputation, Arnika.”

She blinked, confused. “Sir?”

His eyes lifted, meeting hers.

“You fainted in front of an investor. What should I say when someone asks if my secretary can’t handle her work?”

Her mouth parted, disbelief clouding her expression. She wanted to scream,

“You’re the reason I fainted!” but all that came out was a tired sigh.

He snapped his fingers slightly, grabbing her attention. “You can go home now,” he said flatly.

“Get some rest. And tomorrow—be here on time.”

Without another word, he walked out of the cabin, leaving her there — half angry, half hurt, and completely exhausted.

Outside – Late Evening

The sun had already dipped below the skyline when Arnika finally left the building. Her steps were slow, her bag hanging loosely from her shoulder.

As she waited for her cab, her thoughts began to swirl again.

Vedh.

Why was he here again? What game was he playing this time?

He had once turned her life into chaos — a darkness she had promised herself she’d never go back to. And yet here he was, walking into her life again, this time with a smile and a business card.

Was it coincidence? Or something worse?

The cab stopped in front of her, and she got in silently, pressing her forehead against the window as the city lights flickered outside.

Her reflection stared back at her — tired eyes, pale face, a heart full of confusion.

“Maybe I’m just overthinking,” she whispered to herself.

“Maybe he’s just… here for business.”

But deep down, her gut twisted in warning.

Something about Vedh’s smirk, something about the way Ruaan’s eyes had flickered when he saw them together — everything felt like a storm brewing quietly under the surface.

And for the first time, Arnika feared that the storm wasn’t far away.

To be continued...