The alarm buzzed at exactly 6:30 a.m., but Malishka had already been awake.
She lay staring at the ceiling, the memory of yesterday fresh in her mind like a bruise that hadn't stopped aching.
Rivan Knight.
CEO. Ex. Heartbreaker. Mystery.
She didn't know what stung more—the fact that he hadn't given her any explanation even now… or the fact that her heartbeat still picked up at the memory of his voice.
But today wasn't about him.
Today was about proving herself. To everyone. Especially to him.
She got up, showered, dressed in a smart white blouse and black trousers, tied her curls into a ponytail, and gave herself one final look in the mirror.
"Let's do this," she whispered to her reflection.
---
KnightCorp at 8 a.m. was buzzing with people. Malishka arrived ten minutes early, her nerves coiled tight, but her stride calm and purposeful.
She headed to the HR desk and was handed her ID card, company phone, and a thick file.
"Report to Mr. Aaryan Verma on the 37th floor," the assistant said. "He'll brief you on your duties."
Of course, the smirking idiot from yesterday. She sighed.
The elevator doors opened to reveal a more casual floor—open workspaces, glass meeting rooms, digital screens everywhere. The air buzzed with energy, ambition, and caffeine.
"Malishka Kapoor," a voice called, amused.
She turned to see Aaryan standing near a desk, his arms crossed, wearing a smirk and designer watch.
"You're early. Bonus points."
She forced a smile. "Let's keep it professional, Mr. Verma."
"Ah, the professional type. I like it." He gestured toward the desk beside his. "That's yours. You'll be assisting with project oversight, reporting directly to me—and occasionally him."
She didn't ask who "him" was. She knew.
Aaryan leaned casually against her desk. "You know, Rivan never hires people from his past. You're the exception."
"Lucky me."
"Or unlucky. Depends on how you define heartbreak."
She glared. "Do you always talk this much?"
"Only when I'm nervous around pretty girls."
She rolled her eyes and opened her laptop.
"Relax," Aaryan said, softer now. "I'm just the annoying best friend. I don't bite."
Unless Rivan asks you to, she thought bitterly.
---
The day flew in a blur of emails, software onboarding, department heads, and project charts. But even as she focused, Malishka felt a set of eyes on her more than once.
She looked up.
Glass wall. Top corner. CEO cabin.
And there he was. Standing in the shadows of his private office, watching her.
Expression unreadable. Eyes burning.
She looked away.
He didn't.
---
By lunchtime, Malishka headed to the cafeteria and was shocked to see how luxurious it was—like a five-star hotel lounge.
She picked a corner booth and sat alone, relieved to finally breathe.
But peace, apparently, wasn't hers today.
"Is this seat taken?" a female voice chirped.
Malishka looked up to see a girl around her age, wearing a sunny yellow top and a wide grin.
"No, go ahead."
The girl sat and extended her hand. "Rhea Mehra. Finance. You?"
Malishka blinked. "Malishka Kapoor. Assistant Project Manager."
Rhea's eyes widened. "Wait—are you the new girl who got hired straight by the CEO?"
Here we go.
"I… guess."
"Wow. You must be special."
Malishka gave a small smile. "Or cursed."
Rhea burst out laughing. "I like you already."
And just like that, something inside Malishka softened. Rhea's presence was warm, unfiltered, and exactly the kind of distraction she needed.
---
The day ended with a pile of work and sore feet, but as Malishka packed her things, a message blinked on her company phone.
From: Unknown
Subject: Rooftop. 7 PM. Don't be late.
–R
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
She looked up at the glass walls again.
His office was empty now.
---
She could ignore the message.
She could go home.
She could pretend the past didn't exist.
But she knew she wouldn't.
---
At 7 PM, Malishka stepped onto the rooftop terrace of KnightCorp. The city lights glittered below like fallen stars. The wind tugged at her hair, and the air was filled with silence.
And then—he appeared.
Rivan.
Leaning against the railing, black shirt sleeves rolled up, a cigarette burning lazily between his fingers.
He turned when he heard her.
"Still bold," he said. "I like that you came."
"I didn't come for you. I came for answers."
He dropped the cigarette and crushed it under his shoe.
"What do you want to know?" he asked.
"Why did you leave me?"
Silence.
"Why didn't you call, text, explain—anything?" Her voice cracked.
He looked at her then, and for the first time, she saw a flicker of guilt.
"I had to," he said. "You wouldn't have understood."
"Try me."
Rivan stepped closer. Too close. His presence wrapped around her like smoke.
"You lived in a world of sunshine, Malishka. I lived in shadows. My name… my family… the power—it's not clean. It never was. I walked away because staying would've dragged you down with me."
Her heart pounded. "So you decided for me?"
"Yes."
"And now you think you can just hire me, watch me from your glass office, and everything will be okay?"
"No," he said softly. "I don't think that. I just needed to see you again."
Her eyes shimmered. "You don't get to claim me after all these years, Rivan."
"But I do," he said, voice low. "Because I never stopped."
And for a moment—just a second—the wind stilled, the world blurred, and it was just them again.
Two hearts. One heartbreak.
And a claim that hadn't burned out with time.