Author's POV:-

The next morning, Dhiraj was busy packing his office files, ensuring he had everything needed for an important meeting.

"Sab packing ho gaya? Aur kuch baaki hai toh batao, main le aati hoon," Akansha offered, her voice laced with concern as she watched him move around in a hurry.

He shook his head. "Sab kuch le liya, Akansha. Aur kuch baaki nahi hai."

"Toh fir neeche aajao, breakfast kar lo," she urged, hoping he’d at least take a moment to eat.

But he sighed, already glancing at his watch. "Abhi bilkul time nahi hai, mujhe nikalna hoga. Eesha bar-bar calls kar rahi hai…" he muttered in frustration.

Akansha let out a slow breath, already irritated. She had noticed it too—Eesha’s constant calls, especially the previous night when she had called at least eight times, all for petty corrections.

One thing was clear to Akansha now: Eesha was beyond irritating.

"Kaunsi female boss apne male employee ko raat ke 2 baje phone karte hai?" she thought bitterly. And that too knowing he had a wife waiting for him at home?

Her thoughts were cut short when she suddenly felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, pulling her close.

"Kya soch rahi ho?" Dhiraj’s voice was warm, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

She sighed before threading her fingers through his hair, smoothing it gently.

"Mujhe tumhari woh boss bilkul pasand nahi hai, Dhiraj," she admitted, her nose scrunching in pure dislike.

He let out a soft laugh at her expression before leaning in, pressing a tender kiss to her nose. "Mujhe bhi nahi…" he whispered, his lips curving into a knowing smile.

For a moment, her annoyance melted as warmth filled her heart.

In the office,

A large projector screen displayed the title of the presentation, and Dhiraj, dressed sharply in a crisp navy-blue suit, stood at the front with a poised demeanor. His confidence radiated as he prepared to begin explaining the slides one by one about ideas for the new project.

As he spoke, his tone was measured, his words articulate. His ability to break down complex ideas into digestible points had always been one of his strengths. He engaged the room effortlessly, making eye contact with different members of the panel, emphasizing key statistics, and providing well-structured arguments.

But one pair of eyes never left him.

Seated at the head of the table, Eesha leaned forward slightly, her chin resting on her hand, as she watched Dhiraj intently. Unlike the others, who were jotting down notes or analyzing his points, she seemed more captivated by him than his words.

As he concluded a key point, one of the executives nodded. "That was a well-thought-out approach, Dhiraj. However, do you think we might face logistical challenges in executing this?"

Dhiraj nodded, anticipating the concern. "Yes, and I have already mapped out contingency plans for that. If you refer to slide eight, you’ll see an alternative strategy that mitigates those risks."

The executives exchanged impressed glances. But before anyone could add anything further, Eesha clapped her hands together lightly.

"Brilliant, Dhiraj. Absolutely brilliant!" she exclaimed.

A brief pause filled the room. Some colleagues shifted in their seats, exchanging glances. It wasn’t that Dhiraj didn’t deserve praise—he absolutely did—but Eesha’s enthusiasm seemed a little excessive.

Ignoring the atmosphere, she continued, "Your attention to detail is remarkable. Honestly, I don't think anyone could’ve presented it better than you!"

Dhiraj gave a polite smile, choosing to remain professional. "Thank you, ma’am."

Another executive cleared his throat, bringing the focus back. "Well, the points were strong, but we might need to tweak the budget allocation slightly. What are your thoughts on that?"

Before Dhiraj could respond, Eesha interrupted again. "Oh, I’m sure whatever solution Dhiraj comes up with will be perfect! He has a sharp mind."

The room fell into an awkward silence.

Clearing his throat, Dhiraj finally answered the question. "I understand the concern, and I do have a suggestion. If we allocate an additional 5% from the discretionary funds, we can balance the budget without affecting the quality of execution."

The executives nodded in agreement, making notes.

Dhiraj internally sighed. This is getting ridiculous.

As the meeting wrapped up, the executives congratulated him for a job well done, offering constructive feedback.

Dhiraj then started closing his laptop. He was then only one present in that meeting room.

'Hey !! Dhiraj congratulations..you have done really good'

Dhiraj stiffened instantly, his body turning rigid as Eesha suddenly wrapped her arms around him. The unexpected gesture caught him completely off guard, leaving his hands frozen in midair, unsure of where to place them.

The slow, deliberate way her hands moved up and down his back sent a wave of discomfort through him. It wasn’t just a congratulatory hug—it lingered, her fingers pressing slightly as if tracing the contours of his muscles. His jaw clenched involuntarily, an uneasy feeling settling in his chest.

"Uh... Ma’am?" he said awkwardly, trying to step back, but she held on a second longer before finally releasing him making him squeezed his eyes shut.

Eesha pulled away with a bright smile, her hands still lingering on his arms. "I mean it, Dhiraj! Your presentation was just outstanding. You truly are an asset to this company. I don’t know what we would do without you."

Dhiraj forced a polite smile, discreetly adjusting his shirt sleeves. "Thank you, ma’am. I appreciate it."

Dhiraj sighed, rubbing his tired eyes as he glanced at the clock on his screen. 12:00 AM. A pang of guilt settled in his chest—he knew Akansha was still awake, waiting for him, probably sitting by the dining table with untouched food. All his colleague and his friend has already left.

Just as he was about to shut down his laptop, his cabin door creaked open, and Eesha stepped inside. Her heels clicked softly against the tiled floor as she walked toward him with an all-too-familiar smirk.

"Dhiraj, I need you to go through this report and make some revisions," she said, placing a thick file on his desk.

He suppressed a sigh, his fingers instinctively curling into a fist under the table. Again? Hadn’t he already worked overtime for the past few nights? He forced a polite smile. "Ma’am, can this wait until morning? It’s quite late."

Eesha waved off his words with a dismissive chuckle. "Oh come on, Dhiraj. It won’t take long. Besides, I trust only you with this." Her voice carried a sweet yet commanding tone, leaving no room for refusal.

He stole another glance at the clock. Akansha. His stomach twisted at the thought of her waiting alone.

Without another word, he took the file and began skimming through the pages, his fingers tightening around the paper. The weight of exhaustion pressed heavily on his shoulders, but he remained silent, forcing himself to focus.

Meanwhile, Eesha smirked, her gaze flickering toward the clock before she casually slid into the chair beside him. The deliberate closeness made his muscles tense, prompting him to shift slightly, creating a careful distance between them.

"I'm sorry, Dhiraj… It's urgent, that's why I had to ask you," she said, her voice carrying a hint of guilt, though the glint in her eyes suggested otherwise.

Dhiraj forced a small, polite smile. "It's okay, ma’am. No problem," he said, his voice laced with exhaustion.

Eesha, still focused on her phone, barely looked up. "Did you have your dinner?" she asked casually, her fingers tapping against the screen.

Dhiraj's eyes remained fixed on the file in front of him. "Uhh… no, ma’am," he admitted, not thinking much of the question. His priority was finishing this work as quickly as possible so he could finally head home-To His Akansha.

Eesha’s face lit up with enthusiasm. "Oh, that’s great! Let me order some food then. We can have dinner together," she said excitedly, already scrolling through restaurant options.

That made him look up, his brows slightly furrowing. "No, ma’am, it’s not at all needed," he quickly declined, trying to keep his tone respectful yet firm. "I’m not hungry… I had a heavy tiffin in the evening."

Instead of taking the hint, Eesha reached out and placed her hand on his, squeezing it gently. Dhiraj stiffened at the unexpected contact, his muscles tensing instinctively. He tries to remove his hand from her clutching but she pressed it tight not letting it go.

"Come on, Dhiraj," she said in a soft, coaxing voice, tilting her head slightly.

"You don’t have to feel shy in front of me… I’m like your close friend." Her thumb slowly began rubbing against the back of his hand in small, deliberate circles sliding up from his knuckles to his arm

"Besides, I want to give you a treat for today’s brilliant presentation."

Dhiraj’s gaze flickered down to their hands. The sight of her thumb grazing over his skin sent a wave of discomfort through him. He swallowed, his mind racing for the right response. His white knuckles is turning red with the effect.

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