As she turned to leave, Vihaan felt a strange pull in his chest—a mix of guilt, regret, and something he couldn’t quite understand. He watched her walk away, her golden hair shining in the light, her presence still lingering in the room.

For a moment, he thought about calling her back, saying something to break the silence. But he couldn’t find the words. Instead, he sat there, staring at the empty doorway, his mind full of questions.

Why had she asked if he talked about her with Arv? Was she just curious, or did she feel something more? And why did it bother him so much that he hadn’t been honest with her?

He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his face. Arv’s words played in his head: "You’re married now. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?"

Did it? He wasn’t sure. What had started as a business arrangement now felt... different. She wasn’t just the daughter of the Summit Group’s chairman. She was a real person—someone with her own thoughts and feelings. And yet, he’d been so caught up in his own problems that he hadn’t even tried to know her.

The guilt weighed on him. He’d been so focused on his past and Pinnacle Industries that he’d treated her like just another part of the deal. But now, watching her walk away, he realized he might have been wrong.

Maybe Arv was right. Maybe it was time to stop thinking about the past and focus on the present.

Taking a deep breath, Vihaan stood up. He didn’t know where this would go, but he knew one thing—he couldn’t keep acting like she didn’t matter.

He walked out of his office, his steps firm. She wasn’t far ahead, her figure glowing in the hallway light.

"Wait," he called out, his voice calm but soft.

She turned, looking surprised. "Yes?"

For a second, he hesitated, feeling unsure. But then he took a step forward, looking straight at her.

"Let’s talk," he said simply.

He hesitated, then said, “I’m… sorry for how I’ve acted.” 

She smiled faintly. “It’s alright. I’m used to it.” 

The words stung. Used to it? He hated that she expected so little from him. Before she could leave again, he blurted, “Can we… be friends?” 

She paused, studying him. “If you’re okay with it,” she said quietly, then turned and left. 

Vihaan stood there, staring at the empty doorway. Can I really do this?

he wondered. Being “friends” felt like a small step, but even that scared him. He’d spent so long building walls around himself—first for Pinnacle Industries, then to survive the grief of losing *her*. Letting someone in, even a little, felt dangerous. 

But as he walked back to his desk, he noticed something on the floor—a hairpin she’d dropped. He picked it up, the silver glinting in the light. For the first time, he wondered if maybe those walls weren’t protecting him anymore. Maybe they were just keeping him alone. 

Outside, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. Vihaan slipped the hairpin into his pocket, unsure of what came next but oddly… hopeful.

 To be continued… 😊 😊