Chapter 11 – Ripples After the Meeting

The moment I stepped out of the boardroom, it felt like I’d just run a marathon in heels. My brain was fried, my heart was racing, and yet… a tiny thrill bubbled inside me. I had survived the client meeting. I had actually—somehow—impressed them.

Niran followed silently behind me, calm and commanding, golden-brown eyes scanning the office before settling briefly on me. That look alone made my stomach do a little flip. Did he notice everything I did in there? Every shift in my posture, every careful smile, the tiny tremor in my hands? Probably. He notices everything.

“Good work today, sir,” I said, trying to sound confident even though my heart was hammering in my chest.

He raised an eyebrow slightly. “You handled yourself well. Your preparation shows.”

I forced a nod, swallowing hard. “I… I tried to be thorough, sir.” My hands itched to fidget, but I forced them to stay still.

Niran’s gaze lingered a second longer than usual, and my chest tightened. There was something about the way he looked at me that made my brain foggy yet alert at the same time. Dangerous combination.

Before I could say anything else, Alex popped up from behind the nearest desk, grinning like he’d planned this. “Well, well, Katty. I didn’t think you’d pull it off. Niran actually complimented you!”

I groaned internally. “I’m trying not to collapse from excitement,” I muttered, though a small, proud smile tugged at my lips.

Alex leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “Seriously, you’ve got skills. Don’t let him intimidate you too much, though. That golden gaze of his? Deadly.”

I shot him a look that could have melted paper, but Alex just chuckled and wandered off, leaving me in the wake of my flustered thoughts.

Then there was Vivian. Of course. She appeared gracefully from the corner, papers held perfectly in her hands, eyes first on Niran, then sweeping over me with a subtle, appraising intensity.

“You did well,” she said softly, but there was an edge there. Possessiveness, maybe. She turned her gaze briefly back to Niran, then to me again, a silent challenge in her expression. “Not many people impress him on the first try. I hope you understand what that means.”

I swallowed, nodding. “I… I understand, ma’am,” I said carefully, trying not to show how tense I was.

Vivian gave a small, almost imperceptible smile before retreating, leaving me slightly shaken. Office politics, romance, and subtle rivalries—I was juggling all of it, pretending to be someone I wasn’t, and somehow surviving. Two months. Two months of pretending… but moments like this made it almost addictive.

Niran finally moved toward the elevator, holding the door open for me. “Katty,” he said.

“Yes, sir?” I froze mid-step, my hand hovering over the door handle.

“Your attention to detail is commendable. Don’t let it falter,” he said, voice calm but carrying weight, like every word had to be considered carefully.

I nodded, words failing me. “I… won’t, sir.”

He didn’t say more, just stepped in, and I followed, heels clicking against the polished floor. I wanted to scream internally: I’m trying, I really am! But all I managed was a tiny, nervous smile.

Once in the lobby, I exhaled. Surviving today had been exhausting. Winning a little respect from Niran was thrilling. And somehow… knowing I’d impressed the client, even if only slightly, made me feel like maybe, just maybe, I was capable of more than just surviving.

My phone buzzed. A text from Katty:

Day eleven. Your first real test. How did it go?

I typed back quickly:

Managed. Survived. Sir… complicated as always.

Her reply came instantly:

Good. Keep playing. And don’t forget… small victories count. They’re more than just game points.

I smiled faintly. She was right. Every task, every interaction… every little success, counted.

Later that evening, I lingered near the office lounge, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Niran’s eyes, the way he observed silently, the fleeting acknowledgment—it all replayed in my mind like a movie. Somehow, the thought of him noticing me made my chest flutter in ways I wasn’t supposed to admit.

Then Alex appeared again, holding two coffees like some overly dramatic prop. “Relax. You earned this,” he said, handing me one. “Consider it a reward for surviving the office battlefield.”

I accepted it, rolling my eyes. “Thanks… I think.”

Alex grinned knowingly. “You’re learning fast. Sir might actually start thinking you’re Katty… for real.”

I almost choked. “Don’t even joke about that!”

Alex laughed and wandered off, leaving me alone with my thoughts—and Niran’s golden gaze that haunted my mind more than I wanted.

Vivian appeared once more, gliding past with effortless grace. Her eyes briefly met mine, then shifted to Niran with that same subtle tension. She whispered almost to herself, “You’re handling him well… but remember, he notices everything.”

I shivered. Yes, Niran noticed everything. And somehow, I had to keep up with him, Vivian, Alex, client expectations… and my own rapidly growing feelings, which were the hardest part to manage.

By the time I left the building, the evening air was crisp, the city lights twinkling around me. I took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration. Today had been a victory, small but significant. I had survived, impressed a client, and—just maybe—caught Niran’s attention a little.

Two months. Pretending. Surviving. Winning. And somewhere in the middle of it, maybe even… enjoying the chaos.

I smiled faintly, texting Katty one last time for the night:

Day eleven. Still alive. Winning points here and there… but sir… complicated as ever.

Her reply:

Good. Keep your wits about you, Katty. And don’t let your heart get tangled.

I laughed softly, shaking my head. Two months. Pretending. Winning. Surviving. And somehow… my heart was already starting to feel tangled.