“Why?” she demanded.
He closed the distance between them without warning. She had no time to retreat before her lower back met the edge of the desk, the solid surface stopping her short. He leaned in, bracing his arms on either side of her, trapping her in place. As usual, his proximity took her breath away.
“Myoffice.Myrules. Andmywife,” he replied, eyes never leaving hers. “No one gets to decide how I treat them, or why.”
The way he said it was peak possessive.
Then, as if something clicked in his mind, as if he realised how close he had allowed himself to get again, he stepped back, just enough to restore a professional distance.
“What’s the status of the Trinity project?” he asked. “I want a full report.”
“I have already started working on the project,” she said evenly. “And it’s going great.”
He barely reacted. “Letmedecide that,” he replied. “You just keep working.”
She muttered something irritatingly under her breath at his demand, but he continued.
“And keep working does not mean staying back late every night and skipping meals.”
Her head lifted instantly, her eyes snapping to his.
So he had noticed.
Not just the late hours, but the missed meal times. The days she had ignored hunger, the nights she had worked through exhaustion. He really had been keeping an eye on her. Even from a distance.
She liked knowing he cared enough to notice. Karan noticed her expression softening.
“Don’t even think I care for you,” he said flatly. “You are an employee of this company now.My company. And as your boss, I have a responsibility to make sure you don’t overwork.”
Of course.
Here he was again, she thought bitterly. Hiding behind professionalism. Turning concern into obligation. And there was no mention of Dubai. No explanation for his absence. Not a single word about the kiss as though none of it had ever happened. But Mishti was not willing to let him erase it so easily.
Just then, the door opened without warning.
Rajat and Abhimanyu walked in, mid-conversation, and froze when they saw how close the two of them were standing.
Rajat immediately turned to Abhimanyu, grinning. “I told you. He would be here.”
They stepped inside, but Rajat continued, this time more teasingly. “The only cabin where you will find a husband who has returned from a two-week business trip without seeing his wife is his wife’s cabin. And look,” he added, gesturing vaguely. “Karan is here.”
Karan clenched his jaw.
“Why didn’t you both knock before entering?” he asked.
Rajat raised an eyebrow, entirely unapologetic. “Did we have to?” he replied casually. “It is not like we walked in when youtwo were in any compromised position. Besides, this is Mishti’s cabin. She’s family.”
“So what?” Karan snapped. “She is an employee here. You both will follow office etiquette like everyone else.”
Abhimanyu pressed his lips together, holding back a smile. “Always so concerned about his wife,” he muttered.
“Shut up.” Karan shot him a sharp look before turning to Mishti. “I want the full report by three p.m.”
She nodded.
Without another word, he strode toward the door. But just as he reached it, something made him stop. He turned back instinctively, only to find Rajat and Abhimanyu already engaged in conversation with Mishti. Nothing serious. Just casual remarks, which she responded to easily,smiling.
That smile struck him like a blow to the chest.
