"What?" Arun barked, the sharpness in his voice momentarily shattering the strange tension that had filled the room. Seeing Swati flinch, a pang of guilt flickered within him. Maybe he was laying it on a bit thick.Swati, for her part, was secretly relieved by his return to his usual bossy demeanor. At least it was familiar territory, a world she understood. "It's ten o'clock, Sir," she announced, gathering her things."Right," he acknowledged with a curt nod. He rose from his chair, his tall frame momentarily filling the doorway. Swati instinctively stepped aside to let him pass, following close behind as he strode out of the cabin.She assumed a driver would be waiting to whisk them away to the meeting. Instead, Arun led her straight to a sleek black car parked in the lot. He climbed into the driver's seat, leaving Swati momentarily confused."Seatbelt," he commanded, his voice clipped.Swati blinked, momentarily thrown off guard. She fumbled with the unfamiliar buckle, a k
Arun watched the entire scene unfold, a reluctant smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He couldn't deny finding her fiery response…intriguing. As Swati reached him, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of anger and amusement, he offered her a silent nod of approval.Adi limped over to Arun, muttering under his breath, "Tigress, that one."Arun simply smirked. "Yep," he thought to himself, "a tigress indeed." The day was turning out to be far more interesting than he'd anticipated.A flicker of unease sparked within me as Adi greeted Swati with his usual brand of charm. I knew his flirtations were harmless, a routine he followed with every new face in the office. But Swati wasn't like the others. There was a quiet strength about her, an enigmatic quality that drew me in. The thought of another man flirting with her, even harmlessly, sent a jolt of possessiveness through me – a feeling I couldn't explain.Relief washed over me when Swati politely declined Adi's dinner invitation.
I dug into my Pav Bhaji, the familiar blend of spices sending a wave of satisfaction through me. Swati, on the other hand, approached her meal with a cautiousness that surprised me. She picked at the fluffy buns, her eyes lingering on the rich curry with a hint of apprehension. A soft chuckle escaped my lips as I polished off my plate. Swati, having finished her buns, seemed unsure what to do next. Her gaze darted towards my empty plate, a flicker of confusion crossing her features. "Never tried Pav Bhaji before?" I inquired, my voice gentle but laced with a hint of amusement.Swati hesitated, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. Under my watchful gaze, she offered a hesitant nod."Damn it," I muttered under my breath, more to myself than to her. The disappointment was real. I'd hoped to share the experience of this comfort food with her, but forcing someone to eat something they weren't comfortable with wasn't my style. "It's okay," I reassured her, signaling the waiter dis
A few days zipped by in a whirlwind of activity. Both Arun and Swati threw themselves into their work, a silent tension simmering beneath the surface. Stolen glances became a secret game they both played, a delicious dance of unspoken attraction.The late-night office silence was shattered by a sudden burst of noise. Kavya and Deepali, Swati's coworkers, erupted through the doorway, a chorus of "Happy Birthday!" echoing through the room. Swati, startled awake from a light doze, blinked blearily at the sight of a cake and a gaggle of her colleagues. A tired smile tugged at her lips as she acknowledged their well wishes.Arun watched the scene unfold from his desk, a pang of guilt twisting in his gut. He'd completely forgotten about her birthday. He'd been so caught up in his own whirlwind of emotions, in the unspoken connection that crackled between them, that he'd let this important detail slip through the cracks.Swati blew out the candle on the cake, the flickering flame illuminatin
A few days zipped by in a whirlwind of activity. Both Arun and Swati threw themselves into their work, a silent tension simmering beneath the surface. Stolen glances became a secret game they both played, a delicious dance of unspoken attraction.The late-night office silence was shattered by a sudden burst of noise. Kavya and Deepali, Swati's coworkers, erupted through the doorway, a chorus of "Happy Birthday!" echoing through the room. Swati, startled awake from a light doze, blinked blearily at the sight of a cake and a gaggle of her colleagues. A tired smile tugged at her lips as she acknowledged their well wishes.Arun watched the scene unfold from his desk, a pang of guilt twisting in his gut. He'd completely forgotten about her birthday. He'd been so caught up in his own whirlwind of emotions, in the unspoken connection that crackled between them, that he'd let this important detail slip through the cracks.Swati blew out the candle on the cake, the flickering flame illuminatin
The elevator doors sighed open, revealing a vision in red. Swati stood frozen near her desk, their eyes locking in a silent conversation. Arun's carefully planned opening line died in his throat. He swallowed hard, his gaze sweeping over her in a way he knew was blatant, but completely irresistible.Swati, under his scrutiny, transformed into a living blush. A fiery warmth bloomed across her cheeks, mirroring the heat that flared within him. He felt a pang of something akin to annoyance - annoyance at her for affecting him so profoundly, for turning his carefully guarded emotions into a tangled mess."Sruthi, get me..." he began, his voice rougher than he intended. But the words never materialized. The sight of her flustered state, so utterly captivating, stole his focus entirely.Before he could stammer out another syllable, Swati blurted, "I will get your coffee, Sir!" and practically bolted towards the elevator, her haste both endearing and comical.A soft chuckle escaped Arun's li
Swati watched in horror as the woman, Sheetal, invaded Arun's personal space. Disgust churned in her stomach as she witnessed Sheetal's blatant possessiveness, the way her touch lingered on Arun's chest and cheek. A primal pang of jealousy, sharp and unexpected, ripped through her. She knew she had no right to feel this way, and yet, the feeling was undeniable.Swati forced herself to take action. With trembling legs, she approached them, her voice barely a whisper as she tried to interject. But before she could even speak, Arun's reaction was swift and brutal. He shoved Sheetal's hands away with a force that spoke volumes about his anger.Swati's heart lurched. Relief warred with a fresh wave of fear. Arun's anger was a storm cloud, his face a mask of fury. He locked eyes with Swati, his jaw clenched tight. For a horrifying moment, she thought she saw a flicker of accusation in his gaze, a silent question that sent a shiver down her spine."How dare you..." he growled, his
Today was supposed to be a dream. Her birthday, the crimson sari that mirrored the heat blossoming in my chest... God, if only she knew the wildfire she ignited with every glance, every subtle curve accentuated by the silk. She'd burrowed deep into my heart, a sweet trespasser leaving me a tangled mess of desire and self-control.Having her so close, yet completely out of reach, was pure torture. The way a blush crept up her neck under my gaze was a mirror to the inferno raging within me. I knew my stare was a double-edged sword, affecting her as much as it did me. But rushing things... that could scare her away. I craved the slow burn, the chance to savor every stolen smile, every shy exchange. So I devoured her beauty from afar, a parched man yearning for a single drop of rain.Then Sheetal barged in, shattering the fragile paradise I'd built. That woman... countless warnings had fallen on deaf ears. Yet, here she was, parading her unwelcome advances with shameless abandon. It was i