The office floor buzzed with quiet professionalism—a symphony of clicking keyboards, muffled phone calls, and echoing high heels on polished marble. Aashika Pandey sat at her sleek glass desk near the executive wing, trying to breathe normally.

It had been three days since the elevator.

Three days since Riaz Malhotra looked at her like a storm held back by skin.

She hadn't spoken to him. Not because she didn't want to. Because she wasn't sure what would happen if she did.

Her promotion to Executive Assistant to the CEO had come swiftly—too swiftly. She hadn’t even interviewed for it. She opened her inbox one morning and saw the offer letter, signed personally by him.

People talked.

"She must know someone."

"Did you see the way the CEO looks at her?"

"Maybe she’s one of those interns."

She ignored it all. She’d worked for years to stand on her own. She wouldn’t let whispers tear that down.

But still. It stung.

Aashika stood and gathered her files for the 11 AM meeting. Her blouse was crisp white, tucked into high-waisted trousers. Simple. Elegant. She pushed back a stray strand of hair and walked toward the boardroom.

He was already inside.

Seated at the head of the long mahogany table, fingers steepled, face unreadable. A navy three-piece suit clung to him like a second skin. He didn’t look up when she entered.

But he didn’t need to. She felt him.

The meeting moved in waves—updates, graphs, numbers. Aashika kept her voice calm, her eyes on the screen, never letting them drift.

Until his voice broke the rhythm.

"Miss Pandey, stay. The rest of you are dismissed."

She blinked.

The room emptied slowly. Murmurs. Curious glances.

Now, only the two of them.

He leaned back in his chair, studying her.

"You entered my elevator."

She looked down. "By mistake."

"You kept the hoodie."

That made her eyes snap up.

His tone hadn’t changed. Still even. Still cold.

But his eyes—they burned.

"You never asked for it back," she said softly.

"Because I liked knowing you had it."

The silence cracked like thunder between them.

She stepped back, suddenly unsure. "Why did you promote me?"

"Because you're qualified. And because I don’t like people touching what’s mine."

Her breath caught. Her pulse stuttered.

"I’m not yours," she whispered.

He stood then. Slowly. Like a predator. Walked toward her with measured steps.

"Not yet."

She should have walked away.

But she didn’t.

He stopped inches from her. Her back hit the glass wall. His hand came up to rest beside her face.

"Why didn’t you wait for me?" he asked.

Her eyes welled up.

"You disappeared. I didn’t know why."

His jaw clenched.

"My parents died. I buried them before I even buried my youth."

Aashika's heart cracked. She reached up, cupped his cheek.

"I had a letter for you. A bracelet. I was going to give it to you after graduation."

“Her letter stayed unread. His heart stayed unfinished.”

His eyes flickered. "Where is it?"

"Still with me. Somewhere in my old room."

He leaned closer.

"Then one day, I’m going to find it. And that night, I’m going to put it on. And claim you properly."

She shivered.

He smirked slightly.

"Now get out before I forget this is still a workplace."

“Her love was quiet. His obsession was loud.”

She left with trembling fingers and a wild heart.

Behind her, Riaz Malhotra stared at the door she just walked through.

Not yet, he thought.

But soon.