Page 77 of Since You Stole My Heart

Kashvi chuckled. ‘I guess you should’ve saved the confetti popper for now, huh.’

With a squeal, Naina jumped up and wrapped her arms tightly around her. ‘Yes, yes, yes. Thank you!’

Kashvi laughed, patting her back. ‘I should be thanking you. I notice your effort, even if I don’t say it every day. You’ve earned this.’

Naina pulled back, quickly dabbing at the corner of her eyes. ‘You’ve already done more than enough for me, but I won’t lie, I’m expecting a very big raise now. You can even count my cute confetti surprise as part of the bonus.’

‘I should’ve known there was a hidden agenda.’

‘Duh!’ Naina rolled her eyes. ‘Although, it seems like I’m not the only one trying to get into your good books today.’

Kashvi frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Wait,’ Naina said quickly, rushing out of the room. Kashvi shook her head, thinking that this was what she got for hiring a firecracker.

Her phone buzzed softly against the desk, pulling her attention. Kashvi reached for it, glancing at the screen as a new message notification lit up, when the door burst open again.

Naina walked in holding a bouquet of orchids, delicate white and soft violet petals arranged in a cascading display, wrapped in translucent lavender paper. ‘Someone delivered this for you.’

A sliver of unease crept in as Kashvi looked at the flowers, though she couldn’t place why. ‘When?’

‘Right after I came in.’

‘From?’

‘That’s the strange part. There was no name on the delivery sheet. But there’s a card tucked in here. I mean, this definitely looks like a romantic gift for someone special.’

Her words did little to ease the tight knot beneath Kashvi’s ribs.

‘You need to read less romance,’ she playfully admonished Naina.

‘And you need more pampering, so take it,’ she said, handing her the bouquet.

‘I don’t know. I just…’ Kashvi trailed off, her gaze lingering on the flowers as she tried to make sense of her discomfort.

‘Stop overthinking this and enjoy it. You’re allowed to have nice things.’

Kashvi gave her an unimpressed look. ‘Go do your work.’

‘Yes, ma’am!’ Naina saluted her, then pointed to the bouquet in her hand as she walked backwards towards the door. ‘And read the card. I want updates.’

Kashvi rolled her eyes as the door shut behind her. She placed the bouquet on her desk, then moved to sit in her chair.

Sunlight filtered through the glass panels, catching on the edges of files stacked neatly on one side of her desk. But her attention remained fixed on the orchids, the stark violet petals almost luminous against the darker wood of the polished surface.

Kashvi leaned forward, resting her elbows lightly on the desk as she reached for the small envelope. She slid her thumb beneath the flap and drew out the card. Tiny hearts lined the edges, the design unmistakably intimate.

I can’t wait to see you.

It didn’t look like Swayam’s messy, scrawled handwriting. She had seen him scribble impatient notes in manuscript margins for years. But maybe he had asked the florist to write it.

A faint warmth rose to her cheeks, a small smile playing on her lips as she read it again.

In such a short time, her life had changed drastically, and at the centre of it was Swayam.

Kashvi imagined walking in and telling Naina that the rumours she had feared were true instead of the stability she had promised. And it was Swayam who had made it all happen.

She reached for the office phone and quickly dialled his number. Kashvi wanted to thank him, and if she was being honest, she wanted to hear his voice too.