Secrets don't last forever.
And tonight—
They came dangerously close to breaking.
It was late.
Again.
The kind of late where the office feels like it belongs to just a few people.
Lights dim.
Hallways quiet.
Voices echoing a little too clearly.
Inside Arman's cabin—
The door was closed.
Not unusual.
But what was happening inside—
Was.
Anika stood near his desk.
Files forgotten.
Work ignored.
Because right now—
None of that mattered.
"You're still thinking too much," Arman said quietly.
"And you're still not thinking enough."
A faint smirk.
"Balance."
She rolled her eyes.
But didn't step away.
Didn't create distance.
Not anymore.
"You said this won't be halfway," she reminded him.
"It's not."
"Then why does it still feel like we're hiding?"
That made him pause.
Because she wasn't wrong.
Before he could respond—
A sudden knock on the door.
Both of them froze.
Instantly.
"Sir?" Meera's voice.
"Are you inside?"
Anika's heart skipped.
Arman's expression hardened immediately.
Back to control.
Back to CEO.
"Stay," he whispered.
Then stepped away from her.
Creating distance.
Fixing his posture.
"Come in," he said normally.
The door opened.
Meera stepped inside.
File in hand.
Professional.
Calm.
But her eyes—
Observant.
Always.
Anika stood near the desk.
Trying to look normal.
Trying to breathe normally.
"Sorry to disturb," Meera said,
"but the client sent revised documents—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Just for a second.
Her eyes flickered between them.
Too quick for anyone else.
But not for her.
Something felt off.
The air.
The silence.
The distance that looked… too deliberate.
Arman spoke calmly,
"Keep it on the table."
Meera walked forward.
Placed the file.
But didn't leave immediately.
"Anything else, sir?"
A simple question.
But it felt like more.
"No."
His tone was steady.
Unshakeable.
She nodded.
But before leaving—
She glanced at Anika.
Just once.
Not obvious.
But enough.
The door closed.
Silence.
Loud this time.
Anika exhaled slowly.
"That was close."
Arman didn't respond immediately.
His eyes were on the door.
Thinking.
Calculating.
"She suspects something," Anika said quietly.
"Yes."
No denial.
No comfort.
Just truth.
Anika looked at him.
"So what now?"
Arman turned to her.
His expression serious.
"This is why I said it's complicated."
"And I said I don't care."
"You should."
Silence.
Heavy again.
Anika stepped closer.
"I'm not scared of people knowing."
"I am."
That stopped her.
"Why?"
Arman held her gaze.
"Because the moment this gets out…"
A pause.
"…they won't just talk about you."
Her breath slowed.
"They'll question you."
"Your work."
"Your position."
Her expression softened slightly.
"So this is about protecting me?"
A long pause.
Then—
"Yes."
Silence.
But softer this time.
Anika looked down for a second.
Then back at him.
"And what about you?"
He didn't answer.
Didn't need to.
Because for the first time—
She understood.
This wasn't just hidden because of rules.
It was hidden because he didn't want her to get hurt.
Anika stepped closer again.
"No matter what happens…"
Her voice steady now.
"…I'm not backing out."
Arman looked at her.
Something in his expression shifted.
Less guarded.
More real.
"Neither am I."
And just like that—
They chose it.
Again.
But outside that door—
Someone had already started connecting the dots.
And soon—
This secret wouldn't stay safe.