The next day felt… normal.
At least on the surface.
Meetings resumed.
Deadlines returned.
People worked like nothing had happened.
But underneath—
Something had changed.
Anika sat in the discussion area with a client file open in front of her.
Beside her stood Rahul, one of the senior consultants from the client's team.
He was explaining something on the tablet.
"So if we adjust this section," Rahul said, leaning slightly closer, "the cost efficiency improves by almost ten percent."
Anika nodded.
"That makes sense. But we'll have to rebalance the structure here."
She pointed at the screen, focused, confident.
Rahul smiled.
"You're really good at this."
"Thank you."
"And honestly," he added casually,
"not many people at your level handle pressure like you do."
Anika smiled slightly.
"I've had practice."
They both laughed softly.
From across the floor—
Arman Khurana saw everything.
His eyes fixed on them.
On how close Rahul was standing.
On how easily Anika was talking to him.
On how she was smiling.
Something inside him tightened.
He didn't like it.
Not one bit.
Inside his cabin—
Arman tried to focus on the file in front of him.
Failed.
His gaze shifted back to the glass wall.
Still there.
Still talking.
Still smiling.
His jaw clenched slightly.
Why does it bother me?
He looked down at the file again.
Then closed it.
Hard.
Enough.
Outside—
Anika was explaining a point when suddenly—
"Mr. Rahul."
Both of them turned.
Arman stood there.
Calm.
Composed.
But his eyes—
Sharp.
Rahul straightened instantly.
"Yes, Mr. Khurana."
"The meeting you requested has been moved to the conference room."
"Oh, I didn't realize—"
"It's already started."
Rahul nodded quickly.
"Of course."
He turned to Anika.
"We'll continue this later."
"Sure."
Rahul walked away.
Leaving them alone.
Anika looked at Arman.
"You could've just told him normally."
"I did."
"No," she said calmly.
"You interrupted."
Arman's expression didn't change.
"He was standing too close."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Silence.
Anika blinked.
"What?"
Arman realized what he said.
But instead of correcting it—
He stepped closer.
Now it wasn't Rahul standing near her.
It was him.
"And you seemed comfortable with it."
Anika frowned.
"That's none of your concern."
"It is when it affects my project."
Her eyes narrowed.
"My project too."
"Not when distractions are involved."
That hit.
Anika's expression hardened.
"So now I'm getting distracted?"
"You tell me."
"I was doing my job."
"And smiling?"
She stared at him.
"Seriously?"
Arman didn't reply.
But his gaze didn't leave her face.
Anika crossed her arms.
"You don't get to control who I talk to."
"I'm not controlling."
"You're interfering."
Their voices weren't loud.
But the tension?
Very real.
Very visible.
Then Anika said something that stopped him—
"Why does it bother you?"
Silence.
Arman didn't answer immediately.
Because he didn't have one.
At least—
Not one he was ready to admit.
Anika took a step closer.
"Say it."
His jaw tightened.
"It doesn't."
She held his gaze.
"You're lying."
That did it.
Arman stepped forward.
Now they were close again.
Dangerously close.
His voice dropped—
"I don't like seeing someone else that close to you."
Her breath caught.
For a second—
Everything stopped.
Then she whispered—
"Why?"
Arman looked at her.
And for the first time—
There was no arrogance.
No control.
Just truth.
"I don't know."
And somehow—
That was more dangerous than any answer.
Anika stepped back slowly.
Her heart racing.
Because whatever this was…
It wasn't hate anymore.
Across the floor—
Rhea stood watching everything.
Her expression unreadable.
But inside—
She knew.
This was no longer a rivalry.
This was something else.
Something deeper.
And if she didn't act soon—
She might lose completely.