Chapter 7 - Secret Office Romance?

🗓️ 5 Days Later – ZedCorp Headquarters

There was an unspoken rule in the 23rd-floor marketing department:The moment someone from top management hovered around for longer than three minutes, everyone suddenly became incredibly productive.

Emails were typed faster. Phones were answered in smoother tones. Even the office plants seemed to stand taller.

So when Ishita Rajawat started showing up—sometimes with a notepad, other times simply observing—it didn't take long for whispers to spread like wildfire.

She wasn't just the CEO's daughter.She was stunning. Sharp. And suspiciously interested in the creative team where Rohan worked.

People noticed.

People always noticed.

"Malhotra, blink twice if you're dating the boss's daughter," whispered Raghav from HR, leaning on Rohan's cubicle wall with his third cup of chai.

"Get lost."

"So that's a yes?"

"It's a 'get lost.'"

Raghav leaned closer. "She was watching you present yesterday like she was reading poetry. You two got a secret romance brewing?"

"You think I'd be that stupid?"

"Bro," Raghav said, nodding, "men have risked kingdoms for women like her. And your 'kingdom' is one rented flat and two roommates who never do the dishes."

"Exactly. I'm not risking that."

Raghav smirked, unconvinced, and walked away.

Rohan sighed.

The thing was—he wasn't lying.

There wasn't a relationship.

Not officially.Not publicly.Not even privately, if you asked her.

But ever since that rooftop conversation, something had changed.

💻 Inside the Office — 2:40 PM

Meetings had become minefields.

Rohan would be in the middle of a pitch and catch Ishita watching him from the corner seat. Not just watching—listening, really listening. She'd tilt her head slightly, the way she did when she was curious, and jot something in her notebook.

He didn't know what.

But every glance she gave him felt like a secret passed under the table.

And it wasn't just him.

People were noticing.

Their coffee breaks had grown quieter whenever Ishita entered. Conversations died mid-sentence. Coworkers nudged each other when they sat too close. There was even a meme circulating in their office group chat: a side-by-side pic of "CEO's Daughter" and "Confused Employee" with Rohan's blurred face under it.

He tried to ignore it.

He tried to act normal.

But how do you act normal around someone who kissed you and then said it was a mistake? Someone who now reviewed your reports and smiled like nothing happened?

It was impossible.

Especially when she started lingering.

☕ 4:17 PM – Pantry Room

Rohan walked in for his second coffee.

She was already there.

Alone.

Filling her cup with green tea, heels off, socks visible. She looked… less like an executive and more like the girl from the rainstorm again.

He turned to leave.

"Wait," she said. "Can we talk for a sec?"

He paused.

"I thought we agreed. Colleagues. Boundaries."

"We also agreed not to look at each other during meetings, and you broke that seven times this morning."

He smiled, despite himself. "You counted?"

"I'm scarily intuitive. Remember?"

She took a breath.

"I just wanted to say… I know this is messy. And I don't want to make it harder for you."

"Too late."

"But I'm glad you're here," she said softly. "Even if we have to pretend we're not… whatever we were."

He met her eyes.

There it was again.

The spark. The thing no one could name but everyone felt. Even the fluorescent lights above seemed to pause, unsure what to do with the tension in the air.

"Do you regret it?" he asked.

"Which part?"

"The kiss. The call. All of it."

She was quiet for a long second.

"No," she said finally. "I regret calling it a mistake."

That hit harder than he expected.

Before either of them could say more, the door opened and two interns walked in—talking loudly, then freezing at the sight of the two of them.

Awkward.

Rohan stepped back, cleared his throat, grabbed his mug.

"See you in the meeting," he said stiffly.

"Right. Just colleagues," she replied.

But her eyes said otherwise.

📝 Later That Night – Group Chat

Raghav [HR]:

bro u were blushing in the pantry don't lie 💀

Mitali [Design]:

WAIT is it real??? 👀💘

Ayan [DevOps]:

someone saw them talking on rooftop last week 🤨

Rohan:

You all need to get hobbies.

Ishita (new contact):

👀

Everyone left the chat.