The door opened.
And froze.
It was Steve.
For a second, my mind went completely blank.
Then—
he shut the door immediately.
I stood there, heart racing, heat rushing to my face.
"What just happened…" I muttered under my breath.
I quickly changed and stepped out.
Steve was standing outside.
Avoiding eye contact.
His ears slightly red.
Not just him—
even I felt… awkward.
Unusually aware of everything.
We didn't talk about it.
Didn't even mention it.
We just… left.
The meeting venue was a club.
Pentagon.
Too loud.
Too bright.
Too different from the quiet tension we carried in.
"This is where the meeting is?" I whispered.
Steve nodded. "Business isn't always what it looks like."
Something about that line stayed with me.
The meeting went surprisingly well.
Despite everything, I stayed focused.
My presentation—
clear, confident, controlled.
Steve supported me when needed, stepping in smoothly like he had done this a hundred times before.
The deal was finalized.
Our boss praised us.
Everything should have felt… perfect.
But it didn't.
The CEO of the other company was… overly friendly.
Too close.
Too interested.
"Impressive work, Miss Rose," he said, smiling in a way that didn't reach his eyes. "You have potential."
"Thank you," I replied politely, shifting slightly.
"Join us for a drink," he insisted.
I hesitated.
Then glanced at Steve.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"Sure," I said anyway.
Music.
Lights.
Voices blending into noise.
Steve left for the washroom.
"I'll be back," he said shortly.
I nodded.
The CEO continued talking.
I tried to stay polite.
Professional.
But something felt off.
The drink in my hand felt heavier.
Warmer.
Stronger.
My thoughts slowed.
The room blurred slightly.
"I think…" I whispered, trying to steady myself, "I should go back…"
But my voice didn't sound like mine anymore.
Darkness.
When I opened my eyes—
I was in my room.
The lights were dim.
My head throbbed.
And Steve was sitting beside me.
"What… happened?" I whispered.
My voice felt distant.
Unsteady.
He didn't answer immediately.
His expression was different.
Harder.
Controlled.
"Steve?" I tried again.
He exhaled slowly.
Then spoke.
(Steve's POV)
"When I came back… you weren't there."
"I thought you left for the hotel."
"I tried calling you—your phone was on the couch."
I picked it up.
Something felt wrong.
I went back to the hotel.
Checked your room.
Nothing.
Then I remembered.
You were with him.
I called our boss.
Asked for the CEO's location.
He hesitated.
That was enough.
I went there.
Knocked.
He opened the door slightly.
Tried to block the view.
Said you weren't there.
I didn't believe him.
I pushed the door open.
And then—
I saw you.
You were on the bed.
Crying.
Barely conscious.
Something in me—
snapped.
I don't remember what I said.
Or how hard I pushed him.
I just remember—
taking you out of there.
(Back to Rose's POV)
Silence filled the room.
My fingers curled into the bedsheet.
My chest tightened.
"I…" my voice broke slightly, "I don't remember anything."
"Good," he said quietly.
I looked at him.
"Good?"
His jaw clenched.
"You don't need to."
That tone.
It wasn't anger.
It was something deeper.
Something protective.
And something dangerous.
I didn't ask more.
I couldn't.
At some point—
he fell asleep.
Sitting there.
Still beside me.
Morning came slowly.
I watched him.
His face looked calmer now.
But even in sleep—
his hand was still slightly clenched.
"Steve," I said softly.
He stirred.
"You're awake."
"You stayed here?" I asked.
"You couldn't even stand," he replied simply. "I wasn't going to leave you alone."
There was a pause.
Then—
"I owe you," he added.
I frowned slightly. "For what?"
"For trusting me," he said.
Before I could reply—
my phone rang.
The sound felt too loud.
Too sharp.
I picked it up.
Unknown number.
"Hello?"
"Am I speaking to Miss Rose?"
"Yes."
"Congratulations. You have been selected as one of the top 10 candidates… worldwide."
My breath caught.
"What?"
"You will need to confirm your participation by this evening."
My mind raced.
"This… this is about the organization?"
"Yes."
"And after that?"
"You will be sent to India for training."
"India…?"
"Yes."
The call ended.
For a moment—
I just stood there.
Frozen.
Top 10.
Worldwide.
This wasn't small.
This wasn't normal.
But instead of fear—
I felt excitement.
I turned to Steve.
"I got selected."
He didn't smile.
"I have to go to India," I added.
Silence.
"That means you're going anyway," he said quietly.
"Yes," I replied.
Another pause.
Longer this time.
"I won't stop you," he said finally.
"But you don't understand what this is."
My heartbeat slowed.
"What do you mean?"
He looked at me.
Directly.
No hesitation this time.
"This isn't an NGO, Rose."
My stomach dropped.
"Then what is it?" I asked.
He didn't answer.
Instead, he said something that made everything colder—
"If you go…"
he paused—
"you might not come back the same."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Outside, the city moved like nothing had changed.
Flights. People. Noise.
Normal life.
But inside—
everything had shifted.
Because now—
it wasn't just a choice anymore.
It was a risk.
And the worst part?
I still wanted to say yes.