In shadows where secrets softly tread,

Dreams and fears by silence fed.

A heart seeks truth, a past concealed,

Where masked intentions are soon revealed."

SAISHA's POV:

It's ironic, isn't it? How hope lifts us high, only to push us off the edge in the end.

Two weeks. It's been two weeks since I returned from Mumbai for my final semester. One last stretch before I can finally hold my degree in my hands and step into the professional world. That was the dream, right? A stable job. A fresh start. A life without complications. 

But life always finds a way to throw curveballs. I've been observing dad has been acting weird. Which is making me tensed about the approval of job if i get one.

"Did you see how Professor Sharma dragged that poor guy out of the class?" Vaishnavi asked, laughing as we sat in the empty classroom. Her laughter echoed through the walls, but her eyes still held the shadows of the incident the opportunity lost. She told me everything that happened —how she'd been betrayed, humiliated, and left to pick up the pieces of her dignity at the interview at Bangalore. Yet here she was, standing tall, holding herself together like a warrior.

God, when will I have that kind of confidence?

I was about to reply when the sound of approaching footsteps made me stiffen. I didn't need to turn to know who it was. My body recognized his presence before my eyes did.

Arsal.

Vaishnavi's smile disappeared, her posture shifting into defense mode. Her gaze turned icy as she fixed it on the boy who once made my heart race but now only made my stomach churn.

"Saisha... can we talk?" Arsal asked hesitantly, stopping a few steps away. His voice was soft, almost cautious.

Vaishnavi scoffed. "She has nothing to say to you, Arsal."

"Vaish," I whispered, placing a hand on her arm. She hesitated but didn't argue.

Before I could respond, Rivan entered the classroom, his eyes darting between me and Arsal. "What's going on?" he asked, his tone protective.

"Arsal wants to talk to Saisha," Vaishnavi replied, crossing her arms.

Rivan's jaw tightened. "Five minutes," he said to Arsal. "Not a second more."

I took a deep breath and stood, my legs slightly unsteady as I followed Arsal out of the classroom. The hallway felt colder than usual, the walls pressing in on me.

He stopped and turned to face me. "Saisha, I know I messed up. I treated you like crap. I took you for granted when you gave me everything." His eyes searched mine. "I... I know you loved me. And I was stupid enough to let that go. Can we—can we try again? I promise I'll fix everything this time."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Fix everything?" I repeated, tilting my head. "Arsal, I genuinely believed I'd be devastated when we broke up. I was ready to fall apart. But guess what? I didn't."

His brows knitted in confusion.

"Because I gave my all to that relationship. I poured every part of myself into it. I loved you with every fiber of my being. I was in your hands, and you let me slip through like sand. So no, Arsal, we can't start over." I stepped closer, my voice low but firm. "Everything I've ever let go of has my claw marks on it. I don't give up easily... but I gave up on you. And now you should let go too."

I didn't wait for his response. I turned around and walked away, leaving him in the silence of his regret.

As I reached the classroom, Vaishnavi and Rivan were waiting by the door. Their faces were tense with curiosity.

"What happened?" Vaishnavi asked.

"I closed the chapter," I said with a shrug.

Vaishnavi's lips curled into a proud smile. "Good. No second chances for people like him."

Rivan grinned. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

We laughed, and just like that, the tension faded.

The day passed in a blur until the final bell rang, signaling the end of classes. We were about to leave when Rivan came sprinting toward us from the hallway. His face was flushed with excitement.

"Whoa, whoa! Calm down, man," Vaishnavi said, raising a hand.

"Check your emails!" he panted. "The offer letters—they're out!"

My heart stopped. My breath caught in my throat. Slowly, I pulled out my phone, my fingers trembling as I opened my inbox.

Veltrix Enterprises—Offer Letter

A wave of relief and excitement crashed over me. "I got it," I whispered. "I actually got it!"

Rivan whooped in celebration while Vaishnavi clapped her hands. But then her smile faltered.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I gave my interview for another company," she said, frowning . She was smelling something fishy but shrugging her thoughts she said "But they said something about shifting their interns to Veltrix Enterprises in Mumbai."

"Wait... does that mean—?"

"That means we're ending up in the same company!" Vaishnavi exclaimed, her eyes widening.

I screamed, unable to contain my excitement. We hugged tightly, the joy of an unexpected reunion buzzing between us.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Rivan interrupted. "Guess what? I also got selected... in Mumbai!"

"Are you serious?" Vaishnavi and I yelled in unison.

"Looks like Mumbai isn't ready for the three of us," Rivan said with a wink.

As we walked out of the campus, the sun painted the sky in shades of orange and pink. My heart swelled with happiness. I had my friends. I had my dream internship. And, most importantly, I had myself back.

Mumbai, here we come.

VIHAN's POV:

The offer letter must've reached her by now. It's been two days since we last talked—two long, unbearable days. I'd been drowning in back-to-back meetings and merger negotiations, but the weight of her absence was worse than any corporate pressure.

My Gummy Bear.

I ran a hand through my hair and leaned back in my chair. The city skyline glowed through the glass windows of my penthouse office, but all I could think about was her voice. Her laugh. Her damn stubbornness.

With a deep breath, I unlocked my phone and typed the text I'd been dying to send.

"Hi, Gummy Bear."

My thumb hovered over the send button for a second before I tapped it. The anxiety of waiting kicked in immediately. I checked my phone twice, thrice—every passing second feeling like an eternity.

And then...

"Hi, Masked Man."

A smile tugged at my lips. Finally.

I quickly typed back.

"Missed me?"

Because hell, I missed her. No—I craved her. Every damn day.

Her reply came with a teasing delay.

" Mm... maybe."

I chuckled. I knew her 'maybe' better than she realized. It was her way of saying yes without feeding my ego. Too bad, Gummy Bear—I already knew I lived rent-free in your mind.

 "Okay, so what about the job updates?"

I asked casually, though I was anything but calm. I wanted to know if she was as excited as I was that we'd be in the same company. Same city. Same air.

Her response appeared after a few seconds.

 "Two days ago, I got my offer letter from Veltrix Enterprises."

My heart raced. She said it. She actually said it.

" That's great. Did you like the company?"

I asked, knowing damn well how much effort I put into making Veltrix the best in the industry. I wanted to hear her thoughts. Her unfiltered, honest opinion.

"Yes! Actually, the company is mesmerizing. The way they work, the structure... it's impressive. But..."

I frowned at the trailing text.

 "But what?"

Her reply came almost instantly.

 "The CEO. He seems kinda dangerous."

I froze. My breath caught in my chest. She noticed me.

Wait... did she see me? Recognize me?

Shit. My mind raced. I'd been extra cautious at the office, especially since learning she might join us. I never wanted her to connect Vihaan Malhotra, the cold-hearted CEO, with the anonymous "Masked Man" she confided in.

"Why do you think that?"

I asked, masking my panic.

" I don't know... his aura is different. Intense. He looks like the type who'd fire you for sneezing too loud."

I barked out a laugh, the sound echoing in the empty office. She wasn't entirely wrong. I was strict when it came to business, no compromises. But for her? For my girl? I'd bend every rule I ever made.

"Yeah, sounds tough. Won't it be difficult for you to work for someone like him?"

I wanted to test the waters. See if she'd drop more hints about what she thought of me.

" No, I won't have to."

My brows furrowed.

" Why not?"

I stared at the three dots blinking on the screen as she typed. Then her reply popped up.

"Dad disapproved. He doesn't want me working there. Especially in Mumbai."

My grip on the phone tightened, knuckles turning white. Rage bubbled inside me, hot and suffocating.

Of course. Her father. The same man who never showed her an ounce of genuine love. The man who tried to control her every move, every decision, every damn breath she took. The same man my father had cut ties with years ago for his deceitful tactics and lack of integrity.

I inhaled deeply, trying to suppress the urge to punch something. That man had already ruined too much of her life. And now this?

" That's unfair. You were so excited about this."

" It's fine. I'll find something else, I guess." she said

Her casual response made my blood boil further. She deserved more than just 'something else.' She deserved every opportunity, every dream she dared to chase. And I would make sure she got it.

" We'll figure it out, Gummy Bear."

I texted, forcing calm into my words.

"I know, Masked Man. Goodnight."

" Goodnight. Sweet dreams."

I dropped the phone onto my desk and leaned back, raking both hands through my hair. My jaw clenched as I processed what just happened.

She should've been working in Veltrix. Walking through those glass doors. Sharing the same workspace. Crossing paths with me in the hallways, clueless that the "strict, dangerous" CEO she feared was the same man she trusted with her secrets every night.

But her father screwed it all up.

My phone buzzed with an incoming call.

"Yeah?" I answered curtly.

"Sir, the board meeting is scheduled for—"

"Cancel it," I snapped. "Reschedule for tomorrow."

"But, sir—"

"I said reschedule."

Hanging up, I exhaled sharply. My mind was already racing with plans. If her father wanted to keep her away from Veltrix, then he just declared war.

I opened my laptop, pulling up the HR reports. I searched for her name, and when it appeared on the screen, I felt a possessive smirk stretch across my face.

Saisha Saksena. My Gummy Bear.

If her father thought a mere disapproval could keep her from me, he had no idea who he was dealing with.

She was the drug I was getting addicted to, and I wasn't about to let anyone stand between us.

SAISHA's POV:

I've been hearing whispers about it ever since I returned from Mumbai—my dad's business is going downhill. Employees whispering into phones, tense meetings that stretch late into the night, and Dad's phone ringing with more urgency than usual.

But today... today, I saw it for myself.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked downstairs, ready to leave for college. The sharp, clipped voices in the living room made me pause mid-step. Peeking from behind the staircase, I saw three men standing across from my father. Their eyes were downcast while Dad paced like a caged animal.

"Who the hell leaked the information?" Dad's voice was tight with barely restrained fury. "It wasn't supposed to go public. That deal was critical!"

One of the men shifted uncomfortably. "Sir, the system was hacked. The private files... they were compromised."

Hacked?

My breath caught in my throat. This wasn't just some minor business hiccup—this was serious. Deals getting leaked meant financial damage, trust broken, contracts potentially lost.

Dad pinched the bridge of his nose and swore under his breath. I knew better than to walk into that chaos. Slowly, I tiptoed toward the back door and slipped out unnoticed.

The crisp morning air hit my face as I hurried toward the car, heart racing. If Dad's company was in trouble, no wonder he didn't want me going to Raipur for the internship. He probably wanted me close during the crisis.

But Veltrix Enterprises... that was my dream. My chance to build something beyond the confines of this suffocating mansion and my father's overbearing control.

And I wasn't ready to give that up.

By lunchtime, the scene from the morning still played on a loop in my mind. Vaishnavi, Rivan, and I sat in our usual spot at the canteen—a corner table by the window that overlooked the basketball court. My untouched sandwich sat between us while Vaishnavi waved a hand in front of my face.

"Earth to Saisha?" she said, snapping her fingers. "What's wrong with you? You look like someone just stole your favorite snack."

"I'm fine," I muttered, picking at the sandwich crust.

"Yeah, right." Rivan leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. His dark eyes narrowed with concern. "Come on, Saisha. We can literally read your face like an open book. Spill."

I hesitated. But they were my people—my only constants when everything else seemed shaky.

"My dad refused to let me take the job in Mumbai," I said softly.

"What?" Vaishnavi's voice shot up an octave. "Why? You were so excited about that!"

"He just... disapproved." I shrugged, avoiding their eyes. "Said it's not safe, that it's better I stay here and figure something else out."

"That's so unfair," Vaishnavi fumed. "You worked so hard for that interview! What reason did he even give?"

I chewed my lip before answering. "I think it has something to do with his business. It's... not going well."

Their eyes widened in unison.

"Wait, what do you mean?" Rivan asked, his tone sharp.

I played with the hem of my sleeve. "This morning, I overheard him yelling about some confidential deal that got leaked. Apparently, someone hacked their system and released private information."

"Shit," Vaishnavi whispered. "That's serious."

"Yeah. Dad was livid. I guess with everything going wrong, he doesn't want me working far away. Probably thinks I'll get caught in the crossfire or something."

For a moment, silence settled over us like a thick fog. But then, as my eyes drifted toward Rivan, I noticed something strange.

His jaw tightened. His lips twitched into... was that a smirk? It was faint, barely there, but I saw it. The glint in his eyes shifted for a fraction of a second before he quickly masked it with concern.

Did I imagine that?

"Rivan?" I asked, my voice uncertain.

He blinked, expression slipping back into his usual laid-back self. "Yeah?"

"You... seemed weird for a second."

"What? No." He forced a laugh. "Just surprised about your dad's company. Must be stressful for you."

"Yeah... maybe I imagined it," I mumbled, though unease itched beneath my skin.

"Don't worry," Vaishnavi said, placing a hand over mine. "We'll figure something out. Your dad can't control your dreams forever."

"Yeah," I agreed, though my thoughts were still tangled around that fleeting smirk on Rivan's face.

 The day passed in a blur, but the uneasiness never left. I reached home, opened the gate, and noticed something strange. Two unfamiliar black cars were parked outside. The license plates were covered in dust, and the windows were tinted so dark I couldn't see inside.

Shrugging it off, I walked toward the front door. But before I could even reach it, the door burst open.

Dad stood there, his face pale, his eyes blazing with rage. Behind him, Mom clutched her saree with trembling fingers.

"Dad... what happened?" I asked, stepping back instinctively.

He pointed at me, his finger trembling. "Go to your room. Now!"

"Why? What—"

"NOW, Saisha!" he roared.

I froze. My father had always been strict, but this... this was different. His eyes weren't just angry—they were scared.

I turned and ran upstairs, heart hammering in my chest. On the way i saw neha also locked herself in the room, it was bigger than i thought the situation . As I closed the door behind me, I heard his voice downstairs.

"It was deliberate," Dad said. "Someone wanted that information out. And I swear, when I find out who it is, they're going to regret it."

I sat on my bed, knees pulled to my chest, my mind spinning.

I didn't know anything about the situation. But I had a sick feeling that whatever storm was brewing downstairs... was just the beginning.

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