Friday.
9:06am.
Anika walked in.
Same time.
Same pace.
Same-
Distance.
No glance toward the cabin.
No pause.
No shift.
Like yesterday hadn't left anything behind.
Like she hadn't felt it.
Or worse-
Like she had.
And chose to ignore it.
---------------------------------------
Inside the cabin.
9:08am.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
Not the entry.
Not the timing.
The absence.
Again.
No instinct pulling his attention.
No reason to look up.
And yet-
He did.
Once.
Just enough to confirm.
She was at her desk.
Working.
Already.
No hesitation.
No distraction.
Nothing.
His gaze stayed a second longer than required.
Then dropped back to the screen.
"...fine," he muttered.
It wasn't.
--------------------------------------
10:02am
"Aaj 6 baje fix hai," Rohan said, sliding into the chair beside her desk.
Casual.
Confident.
Like it was already decided.
Anika didn't look up immediately.
Finished typing.
Saved the file.
Then-
"Hmm," she nodded.
Not hesitant.
Not unsure.
Just-
Agreed.
That landed.
---------------------------------------
Inside the cabin.
He didn't hear everything.
Didn't need to.
6 baje.
Again.
And this time-
No "dekhenge."
No pause.
No resistance.
His jaw tightened.
Slow.
Controlled.
Deliberate.
His thumb hovered over the screen.
Not hesitation.
Calculation.
A message already drafted.
He read it once.
Because this wasn't about the meeting.
It was about timing.
Then-send.
---------------------------------------
10:19 am.
Anika's screen blinked.
Mail from: Vihaan Singhania
Subject: Client Review - Today
Her brows pulled together slightly.
Opened it.
Meeting rescheduled to 6:00 PM. Mandatory presence.
She read it again.
Once.
Twice.
Slow.
Precise.
Because-
No.
That wasn't coincidence.
Rohan leaned over slightly.
"Kya hua?"
She turned the screen toward him.
He read.
Paused.
Then looked at her.
"6 baje?" he repeated.
Flat.
She nodded once.
"Hmm."
A beat.
Then-
"It wasn't there yesterday," she added.
Calm.
But not casual.
Rohan leaned back.
Exhaled through his nose.
A quiet scoff.
"Convenient," he repeated.
Then quieter-
"Aur thoda predictable bhi."
---------------------------------------
1:36pm.
Conference Room.
She walked in.
File in hand.
Expression neutral.
Controlled.
He was already there.
Standing.
Waiting.
That was new.
Her steps didn't falter.
Didn't slow.
Didn't react.
She placed the file on the table.
"Draft."
One word.
Clean.
He didn't pick it up immediately.
Instead-
"Any issue with the timing?" he asked.
Just like that.
Direct.
Her gaze met his.
Steady.
"Work priority hai," she said.
Professional.
Perfect answer.
Not the truth.
Not entirely.
His eyes didn't leave hers.
"Good," he replied.
Then softer-
"Glad that's clear."
And there it was.
Not loud.
Not obvious.
But-
Not subtle either.
--------------------------------------
4:48pm.
Rohan stopped by again.
"Plan cancel?" he asked.
Not joking.
Not light.
She looked at the screen.
Then at him.
A pause.
Measured.
Then-
"Reschedule kar lenge."
Simple.
Easy.
Controlled.
But this time-
There was no smile.
---------------------------------------
6:02pm.
Conference Room.
Everyone was there.
Slides open.
Discussion on.
Numbers.
Clients.
Targets.
Everything exactly as it should be.
Except-
His focus.
Because it kept drifting.
Back to her.
Not obvious.
Not repeated.
But-
Consistent.
She didn't look at him.
Not once.
Answered when asked.
Spoke when required.
Nothing extra.
Nothing unnecessary.
Nothing-
Personal.
6:37pm.
"Anything else?" someone asked.
Silence.
Then-
"No," he said.
Meeting dismissed.
Chairs moved.
Files closed.
People left.
One by one.
Until-
Only two remained.
She gathered her things.
Calm.
Unhurried.
Like this was just another meeting.
Like this hadn't-
Been anything else.
"Anika."
She paused.
Didn't turn immediately.
Then-
Looked at him.
"Sir?"
Formal.
Again.
Deliberate.
His gaze held hers.
Longer this time.
No rush.
No distraction.
"Your plan," he said.
Not a question.
A statement.
Her expression didn't change.
"Rescheduled."
Same tone.
Same control.
His gaze held.
A fraction longer than it should have.
"Of course," he said.
Silence stretched.
Not awkward.
Not comfortable.
Just-
Full.
Loaded.
Waiting.
Then she broke it.
"Anything else?" she asked.
Same line.
Different meaning.
He exhaled once.
Slow.
Controlled.
"No."
She nodded.
Turned.
Walked out.
Didn't stop.
Didn't slow.
Didn't look back.
And inside-
He stood there.
Still.
Now,
It wasn't about control anymore.
Because control didn't feel like this.
It was about one thing.
It was about one thing.
Clear.
Unavoidable.
Unacceptable.
He had interfered.
Deliberately.
Successfully.
And yet-
It didn't feel like a win.
---------------------------------------
TO BE CONTINUED...
---------------------------------------
Hey, My Cute Little Butterflies 🥰
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