Chapter : 11

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Rihaan wandered through the halls of the company, his eyes wide with the kind of innocent wonder that often got him into trouble. The building was vast, with its sleek, modern design, and Rihaan was always fascinated by the way the glass walls reflected light. He liked to come here sometimes, though Ananya had always made it clear that he shouldn’t stray too far from her office. Today, though, he had lost track of time and place, and now he was in a part of the building he didn’t recognize.

He paused, looking around for something familiar, his fingers twisting nervously at the hem of his shirt. His mind, though sharp in some ways, struggled with the complexities of the adult world. He just felt...lost.

Just then, a woman appeared from around the corner. She was dressed in a short, tight dress that clung to her figure, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. Her makeup was heavy, her eyes exaggerated with dark liner, and her lips painted a bright, attention-grabbing red. She spotted Rihaan and smiled, her gaze sweeping over him in a way that made him feel strange—uneasy.

"Hey there," she said, her voice lilting and sweet but carrying an edge that Rihaan couldn't quite place. She walked over to him, her hips swaying with each step. "Are you lost, handsome?"

Rihaan blinked, unsure of how to respond. The way she was looking at him—so intently—made his stomach churn. He wasn’t used to this kind of attention, especially from someone who seemed so…different from the people he usually interacted with.

"I… I don’t know where Anya is," he stammered, his eyes flicking to the ground, unable to meet her gaze. "I… I’m looking for her."

The woman’s smile widened, but it wasn’t a comforting smile. It was sharp, predatory. She reached out, lightly touching his arm, and Rihaan flinched at the contact. "Oh, don’t worry about her," she purred. "I’m sure she’s busy with something important. Why don’t you and I…get to know each other a little better?"

Rihaan felt his heart race, an uncomfortable heat rising in his chest. He didn’t like this. He didn’t like the way she was looking at him, or the way she was standing too close. His mind scrambled for something to say, something to do, but he felt frozen, his thoughts spinning in useless circles.

"I-I need to find Anya," he repeated, his voice trembling. "She’ll… she’ll be worried."

The woman leaned in closer, and Rihaan instinctively backed away, but she followed, her hand moving from his arm to his chest. "Oh, come on now, don’t be shy," she cooed. "I can keep you company until she’s free. We could have a little fun, just the two of us."

Rihaan’s breath hitched, his discomfort rapidly turning to fear. He knew this wasn’t right, but he didn’t know how to make it stop. His mind screamed for his Anya, but his voice felt trapped in his throat. He glanced around, desperately hoping someone would come by, someone who could help him.

"Please," he finally managed to choke out, his voice barely above a whisper. "Please, I just want to go."

The woman’s expression faltered for a moment, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face before she smoothed it over with another sultry smile. "Don’t be such a baby," she chided, her tone condescending. "You’re a grown man, aren’t you? Act like one."

Rihaan’s eyes filled with tears, his body trembling. He didn’t know what to do, how to make her stop, how to get away. His mind was a chaotic mess of fear and confusion, and all he could think about was how much he needed Ananya.

At that very moment, as if summoned by his desperate thoughts, Ananya appeared at the end of the hallway. She had been in a meeting, but a nagging feeling in her gut told her to check on Rihaan. She saw him first—her beloved husband, her Rihaan—standing there with wide, terrified eyes, his body rigid with fear. Then she saw the woman, her hand on his chest, leaning in far too close.

Ananya’s heart surged with fury. How dare she? How dare this woman touch her Rihaan, make him feel this way? The anger in her eyes was like fire, and she strode forward with purpose, her heels clicking with an authority that the other woman’s could not even mimic.

"Excuse me," Ananya’s voice cut through the air, cold and sharp as steel. The woman looked up, startled, and quickly stepped back, her hand dropping from Rihaan’s chest. Ananya moved to Rihaan’s side, her arm slipping protectively around his waist. She felt him relax slightly under her touch, his body leaning into hers for comfort.

"And who might you be?" Ananya asked, her tone icy as she looked the woman up and down, taking in every detail—the too-short dress, the garish makeup, the way she had been far too close to her husband.

The woman, realizing she had made a mistake, forced a nervous smile. "Oh, Ma'am I… I was just trying to help… I didn’t know he was…"

Ananya cut her off with a glare that could have frozen fire. "This is my husband," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "And I don’t appreciate the way you were 'helping' him."

The woman’s eyes widened in shock. "Your husband?" she echoed, the color draining from her face. She took a step back, suddenly looking very small in comparison to the towering presence of Ananya.

"Yes, my husband," Ananya repeated, each word laced with venom. "And you’ve made him uncomfortable. You’ve scared him. Do you know what that means for you?"

The woman stammered, her bravado crumbling under Ananya’s fierce gaze. "I… I didn’t know… I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean to…"

"Save your apologies," Ananya snapped, her patience worn thin. "You’re fired. Effective immediately."

The woman’s mouth dropped open in shock. "But… but I just started… Please, I need this job…"

"And you should have thought of that before you harassed my husband," Ananya replied coldly. "Consider yourself lucky if I don’t press charges. You will never work in this industry again. I’ll make sure of that."

The woman’s eyes filled with tears, but Ananya was unmoved. She tightened her hold on Rihaan, who was still trembling slightly, and turned her back on the woman. "Get out of my sight," she ordered, not even sparing her a final glance.

The woman hesitated for a moment, as if considering pleading again, but the look on Ananya’s face told her it would be futile. She quickly turned and fled down the hallway, her heels echoing her retreat.

Ananya exhaled, trying to calm the rage that still simmered within her. She turned to Rihaan, her expression softening instantly as she looked into his eyes. "Rihaan, sweetheart, are you okay?"

Rihaan nodded, but his eyes were still glassy with unshed tears. "I didn’t like her, Anya," he whispered, his voice small and childlike. "She made me feel… bad."

Ananya’s heart ached for him, and she pulled him into a gentle hug. "I know, sweetheart. I’m so sorry you had to go through that. But she’s gone now, and she won’t be coming back. I promise."

Rihaan buried his face in her shoulder, his body relaxing as he held onto her. "I was so scared," he admitted, his voice muffled against her. "I didn’t know what to do."

"You did the right thing," Ananya murmured, stroking his hair soothingly. "You did everything right. You’re safe now. I’m here."

They stood there for a long moment, Ananya holding him close, her anger fading into a fierce protectiveness. She would do anything to keep Rihaan safe, to make sure he never had to feel this way again. And she would make sure that the woman who had hurt him paid dearly for her mistake.

Finally, Rihaan pulled back slightly, looking up at her with wide, trusting eyes. "You’re the best, Anya," he said, his voice full of admiration and love.

Ananya smiled, her heart swelling with affection for the man she adored. "And you’re my everything, Rihaan. I’ll always protect you, no matter what."

With that, she gently guided him back towards her office, away from the scene that had frightened him so much. As they walked, Rihaan held her hand tightly, his steps becoming lighter with each passing moment, reassured by the presence of the one person who would always keep him safe.

Always.

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