“I did.” She hesitated, then added, “He responds better when you acknowledge his concerns first. After that, he’s easier to steer.”
He considered it. “I’ve been pushing him into video calls to avoid the emails. It works, but it’s exhausting.”
“Try starting with agreement,” she suggested. “Then set the boundary. He wants to feel heard before he falls in line.”
The conversation flowed easily after that. Less instruction, more exchange. Raghav found himself explaining his reasoning instead of issuing directives. Ishani offered suggestions without overstepping, adjusting when he pushed back, holding her ground when it mattered.
As they worked side by side, the space between them seemed to thin, as if the room itself were drawing them closer.
They reached for the same document. Their fingers brushed. The touch was light, accidental, but neither of them moved away immediately. The contact lingered just long enough to register, a quiet spark that made the moment stretch.
“Sorry,” Ishani said softly.
Raghav cleared his throat. “It’s fine.”
It wasn’t.
The air shifted, subtle but unmistakable. He became acutely aware of how close they were sitting now, close enough to catch the warmth of her, close enough to notice the faint scent that followed her movements. His eyes lingered on her longer thanappropriate. The straight line of her nose. The slight furrow between her brows as she concentrated. The curve of her neck as she bent over the keyboard.
When she looked up suddenly and caught him watching, Raghav’s gaze snapped back to the spreadsheet in front of him.
Too late.
Warmth crept up the back of his neck, sharp and unwelcome. He didn’t move, didn’t acknowledge it, but the awareness sat there—loud, intrusive.
“I think we’ve covered everything,” he said, more curtly than intended. “The projections are solid now.”
Ishani nodded, already closing her laptop. “Is there anything else you’ll need for tomorrow’s meeting?”
“No.” He stood, deliberately putting space between them. “Thank you for staying late.”
“It’s my job, Boss.”
“I’ll arrange a car for you.”
She looked up. “That’s not—”
“I need to make sure you get home safely,” he said, tone leaving no room for debate. “At this hour.”
That ended it.
He turned, already dialing, instructing transport to send a car. Not just for tonight—but from now on. Every evening. No exceptions.
When he hung up, Ishani said nothing. She only nodded once.
“Goodnight,” she said quietly.
As she left his office, laptop tucked under her arm, Raghav stayed where he was. Through the glass, he watched her reflection gather her purse, straighten her desk, and walk toward the elevators.
The floor felt too quiet once she was gone. Too empty.
Professional boundaries existed for a reason. He needed to remember that.
Chapter 4
Midweek brought a morning Raghav usually handled without pause. Back-to-back meetings. Urgent calls. Decisions that couldn’t be delayed.
He sat at the head of the conference table, walking the technology team through market positioning, when movement near the door caught his attention.
