The next few days passed carefully.
Too carefully.
In meetings—formal.
In hallways—distant.
In front of others—nothing.
But behind closed doors?
Everything changed.
That evening—
Arman had asked her to stay late for "work."
Anika already knew that excuse was fake.
She entered his cabin, shutting the door behind her.
"There better actually be work this time."
Arman looked up from his chair.
"There is."
"Oh really?"
"Yes." He stood.
"You distract me all day."
Her breath caught.
"You're impossible."
"And yet you're here."
She walked closer, smiling.
"You called me."
"And you came."
He stepped forward.
Close enough to make her heartbeat race.
"Because maybe I wanted to."
A pause.
"Maybe I wanted to see you too."
That made his whole expression soften.
Arman gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Still not fully used to being this soft with her.
"You have no idea what you do to me."
Her voice dropped.
"Then tell me."
He looked into her eyes.
No teasing.
No games.
Just honesty.
"You make me forget control."
Silence.
Her heart melted.
She whispered—
"That's my favorite version of you."
He smiled faintly.
"And you're the only one who gets it."
Then he leaned in—
And kissed her slowly.
Not rushed.
Not desperate.
Just soft.
Meaningful.
Like he wanted her to feel every emotion behind it.
When they pulled apart—
Their foreheads touched.
Anika whispered—
"What are we doing?"
Arman looked at her.
"This."
He held her hand gently.
"And whatever comes after it."
Her smile widened.
"Was that your version of being romantic?"
"Don't mock it."
She laughed softly.
"It was cute."
His eyebrow lifted.
"Cute?"
"Very."
He narrowed his eyes playfully.
"You're enjoying this too much."
She leaned closer, whispering—
"Maybe because I like knowing I'm yours."
That sentence froze him.
Entirely.
His voice dropped lower—
"Say that again."
Her cheeks warmed.
"No."
He stepped closer.
"Say it."
She smiled shyly.
Then softly—
"I like knowing I'm yours."
That was all it took.
He kissed her again—
Deeper this time.
More intense.
Because hearing that from her?
It did something to him.
When he finally let her breathe—
He whispered against her forehead—
"You always were."
And her heart nearly stopped.