The next morning the office atmosphere felt strange.
Whispers moved from desk to desk.
Everyone was still talking about yesterday's presentation disaster.
And about how Arman Khurana defended Anika Kapoor in front of the clients.
Anika tried to ignore it.
She sat at her desk, focused on finishing the corrected design file.
But she could feel the stares.
Some curious.
Some judgmental.
Some jealous.
Across the floor, inside the glass cabin—
Arman watched everything silently.
His gaze eventually landed on Rhea.
She was laughing with a few colleagues as if nothing had happened.
As if she hadn't sabotaged someone's work just yesterday.
Arman pressed the intercom.
"Send Rhea to my office."
Two minutes later.
Rhea walked into his cabin confidently.
"Good morning, Arman."
She closed the door behind her.
"You wanted to see me?"
Arman didn't reply immediately.
He slowly stood up from his chair.
Then walked toward the large screen on the wall.
"Tell me something, Rhea."
His voice was calm.
"Do you enjoy playing games?"
Rhea smiled lightly.
"That depends on the game."
Arman picked up the tablet on his desk.
Then pressed play.
The CCTV footage appeared on the screen.
The moment Anika left her desk.
The moment Rhea walked to the laptop.
The moment she changed the files.
Rhea's smile disappeared.
The room became silent.
Arman watched her reaction carefully.
Then he paused the video.
Right at the frame where she stood beside Anika's desk.
"You should have been more careful."
His voice was quiet.
But dangerous.
Rhea quickly recovered her composure.
"You think this proves something?"
Arman raised an eyebrow.
"It proves enough."
She crossed her arms.
"You won't report me."
"Why not?"
Rhea stepped closer.
Because she knew him well.
"Because a scandal inside your company right now would ruin your new international deal."
For a second…
Arman said nothing.
Then he smiled slowly.
"You're right."
Rhea relaxed slightly.
But the next sentence froze her.
"But don't mistake my silence for mercy."
His eyes turned cold.
"If you go near Anika Kapoor again… even by accident…"
He leaned slightly closer.
"I will make sure you never work in this industry again."
Rhea's jaw tightened.
"So this is about her?"
Arman didn't answer.
And that silence…
Was answer enough.
Rhea laughed bitterly.
"You're protecting her."
Arman walked back to his desk.
"No."
He said calmly.
"I'm protecting my employee."
Rhea looked toward the glass wall of his cabin.
Outside—
Anika was working quietly at her desk, completely unaware of the conversation happening inside.
Rhea's eyes darkened slightly.
"You're making a mistake, Arman."
He didn't even look at her.
"Meeting over."
Rhea left the cabin without another word.
But as she walked past Anika's desk…
She stopped for a second.
And looked at her.
A slow, calculating smile appeared.
Because if Arman thought the game was over—
He was very wrong.
The real game had just begun.