The morning sun flashed through my apartment window.
Rubbing my eyes, I glanced at the clock, time to go to the office.
The cold water flowed over my skin, slowly waking me up. My eyes were closed... and suddenly, Tej's image flashed before them. I snapped my eyes open.
"Again..." I whispered.
I soaked my body under the shower, then slipped into my usual office attire shirt and pants.
Just then, my phone rang a message notification.
"At ××× Restaurant" from an unknown number.
I checked the full message. It was from the client I was supposed to meet for the project. I had to hand over the files with all the project details.
Okay, I replied back.
When I reached the restaurant, he was already there, legs crossed, eyes fixed on his phone like he was reading something more important than the world itself.
The perfect investor... calm, unreadable, like a man who holds secrets behind every decision.
"Good afternoon," I said gently, announcing my presence before he even looked up.
He gave a slow nod, finally meeting my eyes for just a second cold, calculating. The kind of man whose silence speaks louder than words.
"You arrived on time, didn't you?" he asked, his voice calm but unreadable.
I kept my gaze lowered, though I could feel his eyes on me watching, analyzing. He always looked at me that way. Suspicious. Intense. It made the confusion in my head swirl even more.
I handed him the files. He examined them carefully, his expression focused.
"Alright. Good work. You'll handle the rest with the CEO," he said, though his eyes still didn't leave me.
"Thank you, sir." I tried to get up from the table.
"Don't go anywhere," he interrupted. "I've already ordered lunch. Eat it."
Right then, a waiter stepped in with a tray. Without a word, he placed it on the table steaming noodles and a cup of coffee.
He crossed his arms.
His eyes were still on me. Watching.
It was hard to even touch the food with someone staring like that.
I lowered my gaze, uneasy.
"I don't know why you keep looking at me like that," I said quietly,
"But whatever it is you want from me… I can't give it.
I can never be that person."
I was telling him all this in my mind.
He couldn't hear me, of course… but the tension was high.
I kept repeating it silently, just to calm myself down… to make it feel lighter.
"Tell me something about you," he asked.
I lifted my head, and when our eyes met… it felt suffocating.
So I quickly looked down again, playing with the spoon in my noodles.
"I'm just a normal employee," I said quietly.
"But you always seem so quiet," he replied. "I want to know... what's roaming in your mind? What are you thinking all the time?"
That question
It burned in my chest.
Because the truth is… I don't even know myself.
I don't know what's going on in my mind what keeps running through it.
All I know is that I live in my own little world… all the time.
And sometimes, even I can't make sense of it.
"I don't know either," I murmured.
I took a sip of the coffee it was warm.
The moment it touched my tongue, a soft calm spread through me.
Just for a second… I felt relaxed.
Even though I was sitting in front of a stranger.
He paused, looking out the window.
Maybe he was just tired… or maybe sitting with someone like me was starting to feel dull.
I could sense it.
It's not easy to spend time with someone who barely talks.
People don't like being around quiet, boring types.
Then, without turning to look at me, he spoke.
"Want to come to the club with me tonight?"
I blinked, surprised. My head was still low, but slowly, I looked up.
Our eyes met.
"Why?" I asked, trying not to sound too startled.
He shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee.
"For fun. Don't you ever go out?"
His voice was casual, not pushy. But his eyes stayed on me, quietly waiting.
Not commanding just... expecting. Like he genuinely wanted me to say yes.
I hesitated.
"I don't really go to places like that," I admitted.
"I wouldn't know what to do."
He smiled slightly not the teasing kind. Just soft.
"You don't have to do anything. Just come. Watch people. Eat something. That's all."
I sighed, more to myself than to him.
"Is this related to work?" I asked, half-joking.
He chuckled.
"No. Just thought it might be good for you. You always look like you're somewhere else in your head."
That comment stung a little not in a mean way, just because it was true.
I took a slow sip of my coffee. It was still warm… and for a brief second, comforting.
"I'll think about it," I said quietly.
"Alright," he replied, looking back out the window.
"No pressure."
At first, I thought he was the demanding, commanding type.
But after talking to him… I realized he was just trying to reach me.
Trying to pull me out of my shell.
Trying to make things a little lighter.
Trying to… make me smile. Even if just a little.
For the first time in my life, someone said "Come with me" and it wasn't out of formality.
It was real.
And that made me quietly happy, deep inside.
I smiled while thinking about him.
At least someone saw through me…
At least someone heard the voice I never said out loud.
He noticed me… unlike the others.
Not just my presence but the silence, the hesitation, the way I kept things buried inside.
He saw what no one else bothered to look for.
****
"You're looking pretty. You should wear these kinds of fancy dresses to the office," he said with a chuckle of course, he was teasing me.
No one wears fancy dresses at the office. This man must be crazy... or living in his own world.
The club lights were flickering and dimming, disturbing me and giving me a headache.
He ordered a glass of wine and started drinking it alone. The place wasn't crowded like in the movies just a few guys sitting around.
"You drink?" he asked.
"No... only cold drinks or cold water," I replied.
"Ah, you still have a lot to learn," he said casually.
I looked outside… I wanted to return to my silent apartment as soon as possible.
How can anyone stay in a place like this? Even some employees were here, all drinking and laughing.
I glanced at the clock. Time was passing without me realizing it.
Mr. Gaurav sat beside me, silently admiring me. No doubt, he's an idiot. We're not a match at all he shouldn't be thinking like that.
But… he kept looking at my dull face anyway..