I didn't sleep much that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw it again—
the way the room went silent when Arvan spoke.
The way people looked at me afterward.
Not curiosity.
Calculation.
By the time morning came, my chest felt tight with something that wasn't fear exactly.
It was awareness.
The office buzzed differently when I arrived.
Too polite.
Too careful.
A few coworkers smiled at me. Others avoided eye contact completely. Conversations stopped when I walked past.
I told myself it didn't matter.
I was here to work.
Nothing else.
But the whispers still found me.
"She's bold."
"No, she's reckless."
"Do you think she knows what she's doing?"
I sat at my desk, staring at my screen without reading a single word.
The cost of standing too close.
Riya slid into the chair across from me quietly.
"You okay?" she asked.
I nodded automatically. "Yeah."
She raised an eyebrow. "That was the weakest lie I've heard today."
I exhaled. "People are talking."
"People always talk," she said. Then softened. "But today… they're scared."
"Of me?"
"Of him," she corrected. "And of anyone he decides to protect."
That didn't make me feel better.
"I didn't ask for that," I murmured.
Riya studied my face. "No. But you didn't stop it either."
I didn't reply.
Because the truth was—I didn't know how to.
Around noon, a meeting notification appeared on my screen.
Executive Review — 15 minutes
My stomach tightened.
When I entered the conference room, Arvan was already there, standing near the window. He turned when he sensed me.
Our eyes met.
No tension.
No intensity.
Just something quiet and steady.
"Sit," he said calmly.
The meeting was brief. Efficient. Professional.
He didn't single me out this time.
Didn't look at me more than necessary.
It should've made things easier.
Instead, it made my chest ache in a way I didn't expect.
When the meeting ended, I gathered my things quickly, hoping to leave before—
"Mira."
I stopped.
He waited until the room was empty before speaking again.
"Are you uncomfortable today?"
I hesitated. Then nodded. "A little."
He didn't look surprised.
"This was inevitable," he said. "Attention always follows authority."
"I don't want authority," I replied quietly. "I just want to do my job."
He stepped closer, keeping his voice low.
"And you will. Nothing about yesterday changes your role here."
"It already has," I said.
He studied me carefully.
"Do you want me to pull back?"
The question caught me off guard.
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
I didn't know the answer.
"I don't want to cause trouble," I finally said.
"You're not," he replied immediately.
Then, softer, "But if being near me becomes too much… say the word."
I looked up at him.
"And you'll let me go?" I asked.
Something flickered in his eyes.
"Yes," he said.
After a beat.
"I won't stop you."
That scared me more than his protectiveness ever had.
Because it meant the choice was mine.
I nodded. "Okay."
He stepped back, giving me space.
"Go," he said gently. "Take a break."
I left the room with my heart heavier than when I entered.
Because standing close to him wasn't just dangerous.
Walking away from him felt worse.
And that realization followed me all the way back to my desk—
Quiet.
Unavoidable.
And terrifyingly real.