Chapter Ninety Two.

Chapter Ninety Two.
The day moved faster than Veda expected. Between briefings, her assigned team project, and the quiet competitiveness in the air, she found herself slipping into her usual rhythm.

She thrived in work mode, sharp, focused, no room for distraction.

Hours later, she closed her laptop with a satisfying click. The team’s portion was done, at least her part of it, Her supervisor was really nice but strict.

She slid her laptop into her handbag, ready to call it a day.

“Hey.” a voice popped up beside her desk. Kabir, leaning slightly over from his own station. “Are you leaving?”

Veda turned her head toward him, exhaling a quiet sigh. “Yes..” she replied with polite stiffness.

“I’ve finished my part of the work. Supervisor said we are to present on Friday. Focus on your share.”

Kabir only smiled, though his eyes lingered, warm, curious, and just a little too intent.

She didn’t notice at first, but Kabir had been watching her all afternoon.

He’d seen how she helped her teammates without hesitation, how quick she was at spotting errors, how sharp her focus stayed even when the others drifted off into side chatter.

And beyond that, she carried herself with this quiet confidence and grace that was impossible to ignore.

She wasn’t just smart. She was magnetic.

Veda stood up to leave, but saw that he was still looking at her.

She blinked, arching a brow. “Weirdo..” she muttered under her breath, not waiting to see if he heard.

She turned and walked away, sandles softly against the floor, but her thoughts weren’t as steady as her steps.

Why was Varun here?

When she thought she had escaped him, he was here, of all places, even where she was doing her internship. This was bad. Very bad.

Also, he is the part owner of this company?? The hell?!

Veda’s thoughts were a tangled mess as she walked briskly toward the elevator.

Her bag strap dug into her palm from how tightly she held it, almost as if she could squeeze the unease away.

Just then, someone called her name.

She turned, her guard snapping up, only to see Shanaya hurrying toward her with that bright, bubbly smile Veda had already come to expect.

The sight made her relax, just a little, and she managed a polite smile in return.

Shanaya reminded her so much of Samaira… the same warmth, the same way they made people feel included without trying.

“Girl, did you hear? There’s a little party for the interns. Will you attend?” Shanaya’s eyes sparkled like it was the most exciting news in the world.

Veda sighed softly. “Sorry, I don’t do parties.”

Shanaya’s jaw dropped like Veda had just confessed to a crime. “What? Why? You have to come!”

“I’ll think about it.” Veda said with a small shrug.
A lie, of course. She wasn’t going, not in this lifetime.

She had no interest in parties, especially not now. But Shanaya seemed satisfied, her enthusiasm undimmed.

Veda pressed the elevator button, and the doors slid open with a soft chime. She stepped in, giving Shanaya one last smile.

“See you tomorrow, bestie!” Shanaya beamed, waving until the doors closed.

Veda’s smile faded as soon as she was alone.

Does Varun even know I’m here? she wondered, her mind racing.

I made sure to keep my head down… I didn’t even look at him.

But that feeling...

But the image of his eyes, those piercing, unwavering eyes fixed on her during orientation, flashed in her mind, and her stomach knotted.

A sudden throbbing started at her temples. She pressed a hand to her head, closing her eyes briefly.

Great. Just what I needed… headaches on top of everything else.

The elevator hummed softly as it descended, but in her head, the noise was much louder, his presence still echoing there.

♤♤♤

Veda stepped out of the cab, her legs feeling heavier than they should after such a short ride. The cool late afternoon air brushed against her skin, but it did nothing to soothe the tension in her chest.

Her eyes scanning the quiet street out of habit before walking toward her apartment door.

The lock clicked, the familiar sound giving her a small flicker of comfort.

She slipped inside and shut the door, exhaling a deep sigh, finally, her own space, her own silence.

She turned to set her bag down when her breath caught in her throat.

Arms. Around her.

Her body froze before her mind even processed what was happening.

Her pulse thundered in her ears. Panic surged, she was trapped. But then her brain caught up, and she realized whose arms they were.

Varun.

Somehow, that made it worse.

Pure instinct took over, she shoved him back with all her strength. He staggered but didn’t lose his balance. And then… he smiled.

“WHY ARE YOU HERE, VARUN?” Her voice came out louder than she intended, shaking with both fear and fury.

She swallowed hard, trying to steady her breathing.

“I missed you, Veda.” he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“I… I didn’t see you after the orientation ended.” His tone was calm, almost soft, but it made her skin prickle.

Her anger flared. “Why were you even there, Varun? You know what, no. I don’t want to know. Just… leave. My place. Now.”

He didn’t move. Just looked at her. And then he started walking toward her, slow steps that made the air in the room feel heavier.

She backed away instinctively, her hands raised slightly as if they could keep him at bay. “V… Varun… I… please… leave.” Her back hit the door with a soft thud, and her stomach dropped. There was nowhere left to go.

He was close now. Too close. She could smell him, his cologne, sharp and clean, the same as before.

A scent that used to comfort her, now turned into a cage.

Her head tilted back as her eyes met his. It was then she realized something she had never paid attention to before, how tall he was, how broad his shoulders seemed in the light of her apartment. He loomed over her like a shadow that refused to move.

“You were sitting close to a guy today, Veda…” His voice was almost conversational, but there was a dangerous edge under every word. “He was staring at you. I hated it.”

Her breath caught.

“I held myself back… so bad… not to walk up there and take his eyes out.”