“Stop it, Arohi…”

“No. He’s more to me than all of you.”

“I don’t care. I’m leaving. I will never come back.”

“Arohi! AROHI!”

Ruaan jolted awake, breath hitching, chest rising and falling fast.

Darkness hugged the room. Sweat clung to his forehead.

Just a dream.

Just… a dream.

His fingers ran through his hair as he exhaled shakily.

That voice. Those words.

Echoes from the past he had buried under ambition and glass walls.

Why now? After all these years?

He pressed his palms to his face.

“Stop thinking about the past. It's done.”

But his chest didn’t agree.

Just then –

His phone buzzed. Mom.

He answered, voice heavy.

“Good morning, beta. Did you eat?"

“Yes, mom.”

“So? Thought about marriage? Any girl finally caught your eye?"

He closed his eyes. His temples throbbed.

“Your wish, Mom,” he muttered.

She gasped, delighted, already planning his life—

But he ended the call before she could start naming brides.

He showered, got dressed, but the mirror didn’t lie—

last night still clung to him.

Alcohol, memories, and…

her falling on him.

He shook his head hard.

No. Do  NOT think about Arnika.

She is an employee.

A troublesome one.

At the Office

Arnika stood outside his cabin, holding files, composed but pale from fever.

“Good morning, sir. Here’s your schedu—”

And suddenly, like lightning, the image flashed before him—

Her soft hair brushing his cheek,her breath catching when she fell on him,

her cat-like eyes wide and startled.

His heart did something unfamiliar.

He inhaled sharply, turning away like a teenager.

“Uh— do the work. Yes. That. I— I'll be in my cabin.”

He practically fled inside, slamming the door.

“What the hell, Ruaan…” he muttered, rubbing his face.

You don't stutter. You don't feel. Get it together.

Then—

Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.

Notifications exploded on his phone.

Dozens. Hundreds.

Buzzing nonstop, like bees around a wound.

He clicked one—and froze.

A picture.

Him holding Arnika outside his mansion last night.

Arnika half-sleepy, looking like she leaned into him.

His hand steadying her.

Headline–

“BREAKING: CEO Ruaan Sharma seen with secretary late night — Secret affair?”

• “Sharma Group scandal — CEO romancing employee?”

Dozens of blogs.

Screenshots

Speculation.

His company is trending.

His reputation… bleeding.

He clenched his jaw so tight it hurt.

Knock.

Arnika rushed inside, eyes wide in panic.

“Sir— what is this? They’re saying we— you and me—”

Her voice shook.

He didn’t answer.

She tried again, desperate, “Sir, I will explain.

You were drunk, and I only came to drop—”

Then he snapped.

“Are you out of your mind?! If you say I was drunk the media will tear apart my credibility! A CEO who cannot control himself? Are you trying to ruin everything?!”

She flinched.

Her hands tightened around her bag.

“But… the picture looks— it will look worse if—”

Silence.

His eyes went quiet, calculating, and dangerous.

“I have a solution."

Her brow furrowed hearing him having a solution.

“What?”

He stepped forward, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her.

“Just stay quiet. This mess started because of you. So now, you're going to fix it.”

“W-What are you doing?!” she hissed, stumbling after him.

But he didn’t stop.

As he went before the media with her...

Cameras flashed like lightning.

Microphones pointed at their faces.

“Sir, is this an inappropriate workplace relationship?"

“Who is she to you?”

“Miss Arnika, are you dating your boss?”

“Were you at his house last night?”

Chaos.

Noise.

Judgment everywhere.

Arnika’s throat dried.

Then Ruaan raised a hand—calm, powerful, commanding.

“Enough.”

Silence dropped.

His gaze turned sharp, cold steel.

And then, the bomb he dropped to EVERYONE

“Why wouldn’t she come to my home?”

His voice was smooth, confident—lethal.

“She’s my fiancée.”

The world froze.

Arnika’s ears rang.

Her heartbeat stopped.

What… WHAT did he just say?

“We planned to announce later,” he continued with a perfect corporate smile, pulling her close by the waist.

“We care for each other. We are getting married.

So there is absolutely nothing wrong.”

Clicks. Gasps. Shouting.

“And whoever took that picture…”

His eyes sliced the crowd.

“…stay away from our private life.”

He took Arnika inside before she could even breathe.

As they reached his cabin–

The door slammed shut.

“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND MR.SHARMA?!” Arnika exploded, voice shaking with fury and shock.

“You just announced I’m your fiancée in front of the entire nation???!"

He raised an eyebrow, amused.

“Woah. Back to ‘Mr. Sharma’? Formalities, Miss Arnika?”

“That’s not the point—!”

“You ruined my reputation. Now you fix it.”

Her eyes burned.

Her chest hurt.

“Fix? By lying to the whole world?! There were other ways!”

“No,” he said coolly.

“This was the best. Think of it like a contract engagement or marriage or whatever you name it ....!"

Her breath caught.

“Contract— what?!”

“No strings attached. Just act until the media calms down. It’s temporary.”

“But—”

“And,” he added casually, stabbing the final knife,

“let’s be honest. Your groom already left you once. Consider this a second chance.”

Arnika’s world went quiet.

Her heart cracked loudly enough she swore the walls heard it.

He looked away, picking up papers as if nothing happened.

Business as usual.

Life as usual.

Except her world had tilted.

She swallowed the burn in her throat.

“Unbelievable,” she whispered.

Ruaan didn’t respond.

But when she walked out, slamming the door—

his hand clenched into a fist.

And on the other side, Arnika whispered to herself,

“This time…

I am not the one who will break.”

.

.

.

Outside the building, Vedh sat in his car, watching the announcement on his phone, jaw tightening.

“So you announced her yours, Ruaan?”

His smirk appeared slowly, darkly.

“Game on.”

To be continued ....