Friday.
8:48 AM.
Singhaniya Tech.
The office wasn't fully awake yet.
Lights on. Systems booting. Conversations still finding their volume.
But Anika-
Was already there.
Of course she was.
Laptop open.
Coffee untouched.
Screen filled with numbers she wasn't actually reading.
Because her mind-
Wasn't cooperating.
Thursday.
The distance.
The looks.
That pause at the glass.
And somehow-
That felt louder than anything they had almost said.
She exhaled slowly.
Forced her focus back.
Because today-
She wasn't letting anything slip.
Not control.
Not rhythm.
Not herself.
8:56 AM.
The elevator doors opened.
And like clockwork-
The shift.
Not loud.
Not visible.
But present.
Vihaan walked in.
Same pace.
Same presence.
Same control.
Except-
Today-
He didn't look away.
Not immediately.
His gaze found her.
Stayed.
Not long enough to be noticed by others.
But long enough to matter.
Anika felt it.
Of course she did.
Her fingers paused-
Just for a fraction.
Then resumed.
Because reacting-
Was still not an option.
But something inside her-
Registered it.
Stored it.
9:03 AM.
The intercom buzzed.
She picked it up instantly.
"Yes, sir."
A beat.
Then-
"Coffee?"
A pause.
Her brows knit slightly.
"...Excuse me?"
"Coffee," he repeated.
Same tone.
Calm.
But-
Not routine.
"Black. No sugar."
Silence.
A second too long.
Because this-
This wasn't part of her job.
Not like this.
Not ever.
"...I'll have it sent."
"No."
Immediate.
Then softer-
"You bring it."
And that-
That wasn't professional.
Not entirely.
Not anymore.
A pause.
"...Okay."
She kept the receiver down.
Sat still for two seconds.
Then stood.
Because refusing-
Would mean acknowledging.
And she wasn't doing that.
9:08 AM.
Cabin.
She knocked.
Entered.
Placed the cup on his desk.
Didn't step closer than necessary.
Didn't linger.
Didn't look at him.
"Your coffee."
Formal.
Neutral.
Safe.
She turned to leave-
"Anika."
Again.
Her name.
Not a command.
Not a request.
Just-
Her name.
She paused.
Didn't turn fully.
"...Yes, sir?"
A beat.
Then-
"Sit."
That-
Was new.
Her grip tightened slightly on the tablet.
"...Is there something urgent?"
"No."
And somehow-
That made it worse.
Silence stretched.
Then-
Slowly-
She sat.
Across from him.
Distance maintained.
Eyes steady.
Professional.
"What is it, sir?"
He leaned back slightly.
Studying her.
Not the file.
Not the screen.
Her.
And for the first time-
He didn't hide it.
"Nothing urgent," he said.
Calm.
Measured.
"Just wanted to see if you'd come...
when it's not work."
Her expression didn't change.
But her gaze sharpened.
"I do my job properly."
"Hmm."
A faint nod.
Then-
"Even when it's unnecessary?"
That-
Landed.
Because this wasn't about coffee.
And they both knew it.
A pause.
Then-
"If there's nothing else, I should get back to work."
There.
Distance.
Placed again.
He didn't stop her this time.
"...You can go."
She stood.
Turned.
Walked out.
But this time-
It didn't feel like escape.
It felt like-
Avoidance.
And that difference-
Was dangerous.
1:26 PM.
Work Floor.
Most of the team had stepped out for lunch.
The floor-
Quieter.
Lighter.
Screens dimmed.
Conversations gone.
Anika stayed back.
Of course she did.
Laptop open.
Focus sharp.
Or-
Forced to be.
Because idle time meant thinking.
And thinking meant-
Him.
Footsteps.
Measured.
Familiar.
She didn't look up.
Didn't need to.
"Still working?"
His voice.
Closer than expected.
Not from the intercom.
Not from behind a desk.
Right beside her.
She stilled-
Just for a second.
Then looked up.
"Yes, sir."
Professional.
Immediate.
Safe.
He didn't move away.
Didn't step back.
Just stood there.
Hands in pockets.
Watching her.
Not the screen.
Her.
"You skipped lunch."
Not a question.
Observation.
"I'm not hungry."
"Hmm."
A small pause.
Then-
"Walk."
Her brows pulled together slightly.
"...Excuse me?"
"Break," he clarified.
Calm.
Like it was obvious.
"It'll take five minutes."
"That's not necessary."
There.
Distance.
Placed again.
He held her gaze.
Unmoving.
Then softer-
"It's five minutes, Anika.
I promise I won't ruin your schedule."
Not a command.
Not entirely.
But not something easy to refuse either.
She hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then-
Closed her laptop.
Because saying no again-
Would start meaning something.
1:31 PM.
Corridor.
They walked side by side.
Not touching.
Not speaking.
But-
Not distant either.
The corridor was almost empty.
Glass walls.
Muted light.
And awareness-
Too sharp.
He slowed slightly.
She noticed.
Matched it.
Without thinking.
And that-
Didn't go unnoticed.
"You overthink a lot."
He said it casually.
Like it wasn't loaded.
She glanced at him.
"I don't."
"You do."
Simple.
Certain.
She looked ahead again.
"That's your assumption."
"No," he said quietly.
"It's observation."
A pause.
Then-
"You didn't call back."
There.
Again.
Direct.
Unavoidable.
Her steps slowed.
Just slightly.
Then resumed.
"That wasn't a work call."
"And yet you noticed the time."
Her breath caught-
Barely.
But enough.
She stopped walking.
Turned to him.
Controlled.
But not untouched.
"I notice everything related to work."
A beat.
Then-
"And I ignore everything that isn't."
Silence.
Because that-
That was a line.
A boundary.
Placed clearly.
He looked at her.
Really looked.
Not challenging.
Not pushing.
Just-
Reading.
Then-
A small exhale.
"Right."
But he didn't move.
Didn't step away.
Didn't break it.
Because even that distance-
He wasn't giving easily anymore.
"Still thinking about it though."
Soft.
Not a question.
Not mocking.
Just-
True.
Her jaw tightened slightly.
Because denying it-
Would be obvious.
Accepting it-
Would be worse.
So she did what she always did.
She chose control.
"I should get back to work."
There.
Exit.
Safe.
He nodded once.
Stepped back.
Let her go.
But just as she turned-
"Anika."
She paused.
Didn't turn immediately.
"...Yes, sir?"
A beat.
Then-
"Next time..."
His voice lower now.
Closer.
Even from a distance.
"Just answer."
Silence.
She didn't respond.
Didn't turn.
Just walked away.
Back straight.
Steps steady.
Control intact.
But this time-
It didn't feel like control.
It felt like-
Something she was holding onto
a little too tightly.
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