The kiss changed everything.

Or maybe it changed nothing.

Because the weight they carried hadn't vanished. It had only risen—bubbling beneath the surface of every stolen glance and every silent breath between them.

Aashika avoided him the next day.

He didn't call her into his office.

Neither texted.

But the tension sat heavy, like fog that refused to lift.

Until Friday night.

She was walking out of the building, heels clicking on the marble, bag slung over her shoulder, when his voice came from behind her.

"Aashi."

She stopped.

Turned.

He stood there. No guards. No car keys. Just him in a dark grey shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, the top two buttons undone.

Dangerously casual. Completely intentional.

"Dinner," he said. Not a question.

She raised an eyebrow. "You order. You don't ask?"

"With you, I'll ask." A pause. "Sometimes."

They ended up at a rooftop restaurant. Soft jazz in the background, fairy lights strung like stars overhead, and the city twinkling far below.

They didn't talk much during starters. Not about the company. Not about the kiss.

But when dessert came, so did the ghosts.

"I had a letter," she said quietly. "And a gift. For graduation. I waited for hours."

He didn't look surprised. Just... hurt.

"I know."

She blinked. "You know?"

"One of your friends—Payal—told me after. I was already on the plane by then."

"Why didn't you say something? Send something? Anything?"

He leaned back, shadows in his eyes.

"Because I buried my parents and my entire life in one day, Aashi. I left with nothing but a funeral suit and a father's blood on my hands."

She inhaled sharply. "Wait... what?"

He didn't flinch. "My father didn't die in a car accident. That was the story we gave the press. In truth, he was shot. He was the mafia king everyone feared. I didn't know. Not until I saw him bleed out in front of me."

Her hand flew to her mouth. "Riaz..."

He nodded slowly.

"My mother died from the shock. Same night. I was twenty-two. I buried them both the next day. And inherited a kingdom built on blood."

Aashika reached across the table, grabbing his hand.

He looked down at their fingers. Hers were trembling. His were stone.

"Why tell me now?"

He looked into her eyes.

"Because last time, I left without a goodbye. This time, I won't leave unless you ask me to."

Tears slipped down her cheeks. He reached out and brushed one away.

"Don't cry for me, Aashi. I've survived worse."

"I'm crying because I didn't know. Because I was so angry. And because... I still wore the bracelet for months after. Even though I never gave it to you."

His lips curved into a soft smile.

"We'll find it. One night, when your parents are out. And when I wear it, you'll know what that means."

She laughed through her tears. "You're such a dramatic idiot."

He leaned in, kissed the corner of her mouth.

"Your dramatic idiot."

And she knew.

This time, there would be no goodbye.