The next morning, the office felt… strange.
Not loud.
Not chaotic.
Just filled with quiet whispers.
Anika walked into the design floor with her usual calm expression, holding her tablet and coffee. But the moment she passed the reception desk, two employees suddenly stopped talking.
Another pair near the elevators glanced at her and quickly looked away.
Her brows furrowed.
What is going on?
She reached her desk when her colleague Neha leaned closer.
"Anika… can I ask you something?"
"Depends," Anika replied casually.
Neha lowered her voice.
"Were you with Mr. Khurana last night?"
Anika froze for half a second.
"What?"
"Someone saw his car outside your building," Neha whispered. "And people are saying—"
"People are saying nonsense," Anika cut in calmly.
But inside, irritation burned.
Of course.
Rumours.
She should have expected it.
Across the floor, two employees were whispering again.
"Maybe that's why she got the project."
"No wonder the boss chose her."
Anika's jaw tightened.
She stood up immediately.
Without saying a word, she walked straight toward the CEO cabin.
Inside the cabin, Arman Khurana was reading a report.
The door opened without knocking.
He looked up.
Anika Kapoor stood there, clearly annoyed.
"You need to fix something," she said.
Arman leaned back slightly.
"Good morning to you too."
"People are talking."
"People always talk."
"Not like this."
She stepped closer to his desk.
"They think I got this project because of you."
Arman studied her face for a moment.
"And?"
"And it's insulting."
His voice remained calm.
"Why does it bother you so much?"
"Because I earned my place here."
The conviction in her voice was undeniable.
Arman's eyes softened for a brief moment — almost impressed.
Then he said quietly,
"Then prove them wrong."
Her expression hardened.
"That's easy for you to say. You're the CEO."
"And you're the designer handling the most important project in this company."
Their gazes locked.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then the cabin door opened again.
Rhea walked in.
She immediately sensed the tension between them.
"Oh," she said lightly. "Am I interrupting something?"
Anika stepped back.
"No. I was leaving."
She walked out of the cabin without another word.
But as the door closed—
Rhea looked at Arman.
"You know the entire office is talking about you two, right?"
Arman's expression turned cold again.
"Let them."
Rhea crossed her arms.
"You're not worried about your reputation?"
"My reputation isn't that fragile."
Rhea held his gaze.
"Maybe not."
Then she added quietly,
"But hers might be."
For the first time that morning…
Arman Khurana felt something close to guilt.