Secrets don't stay hidden for long.
Not in a place like this.
Not in an office where every move is watched, noticed… remembered.
It started small.
Too small to matter.
At least at first.
Meera noticed it.
Not because she was trying to.
But because she had worked with Arman Khurana long enough to know—
He didn't repeat patterns.
Yet lately—
He was.
Like how his meetings somehow aligned with Anika's schedule.
How he dismissed others quickly—
But stayed longer when she spoke.
How his tone changed.
Subtly.
Almost unnoticeable.
But not to someone observant.
And then—
There were the looks.
Not obvious.
Not careless.
But… there.
Lingering half a second longer.
Softening for just a moment.
Meera stood outside the conference room one afternoon.
File in hand.
Waiting.
Inside—
Arman and Anika were discussing something.
Through the glass—
It looked normal.
Professional.
But then—
Anika said something.
Meera couldn't hear what.
But she saw Arman's reaction.
He smiled.
Not his usual smirk.
Not sarcastic.
Not controlled.
A real smile.
Meera froze.
Because in all the time she had worked with him—
She had never seen that.
And that's when it clicked.
Later that evening—
Anika walked into the records room again.
Searching for a file.
Trying to stay normal.
Act normal.
Think normal.
The door opened behind her.
She turned quickly.
For a second—
Her heart raced.
But it wasn't him.
It was Meera.
"Looking for something?" Meera asked casually.
"Yes… just a file."
Anika turned back quickly.
Too quickly.
Meera watched her.
Carefully.
Observing every small reaction.
Every shift.
"You've been staying late a lot," she said.
Anika paused.
"Work."
"Of course."
A small silence.
Then—
"You and sir… working on something together?"
The question was simple.
But the meaning wasn't.
Anika turned.
Calm.
Controlled.
"Project."
Meera nodded slowly.
"Right."
But her eyes—
Didn't leave Anika's face.
Because something was off.
Not wrong.
But different.
Later—
In Arman's cabin.
Meera placed a file on his desk.
"Anything else?" she asked.
Arman didn't look up.
"No."
She hesitated.
Then—
"Sir?"
He glanced at her.
"Yes?"
A pause.
Careful.
Measured.
"Should I be aware of anything… regarding Ms. Kapoor?"
Silence.
Arman's expression didn't change.
But the air in the room did.
"What do you mean?"
Meera held his gaze.
"Just asking professionally."
A long pause.
Then—
"Focus on your work, Meera."
His tone—
Calm.
But final.
She nodded.
"Of course, sir."
And walked out.
But now—
She knew.
Not everything.
But enough.
And in an office like this—
"Enough" was dangerous.
Because secrets don't break loudly.
They crack slowly.
Quietly.
Until one day—
They shatter everything.
And this?
This was the first crack.