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His face remains impassive.

“Not approved. If you want to meet this client, you need to provide all location details and client information beforehand. We can make it happen tomorrow, but today is absolutely out of the question. Keeping you safe is my responsibility.”

I feel the fight drain out of me. There’s no point arguing—Abhay would never go against Vishnu’s orders. With a resigned sigh, I turn to my team.

“Go ahead without me. I’ll connect with the client over the phone.”

As my team files out, I cross my arms and face Abhay, frustration bubbling up inside me.

“If this is how it’s going to be, then I don’t understand why Vishnu even allowed me to work from the boutique. He could have just kept me locked up at home.”

“I had actually told him that,” he admits, and I feel my eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “But he refused. He said he didn’t want to cage you or make you feel more insecure. He knows how much you love your work, how committed you are to it. His exact words were that he didn’t want to clip your wings. Instead, he asked me to double the security so you could run your business with ease.”

I feel something catch in my throat. “He... he actually said that?” The words come out barely above a whisper.

“You didn’t believe he could?” Abhay’s question is gentle but pointed.

I shrug, struggling to process this new information about the man I’m still trying to understand. Words fail me completely.

“I’ve known Vishnu for more than a decade,” Abhay continues, his voice taking on a thoughtful tone. “He’s not someone who easily opens up about his feelings, not even to those closest to him. But his actions...” he pauses meaningfully. “His actions always speak louder than his words.”

That catches me off guard. Vishnu, who refuses to compromise on anything, actually thought about me? Cared enough to ensure I could still work without feeling suffocated? This little heart-to-heart with Abhay warms something inside me.

“Thank you for telling me, Abhay. And Vishnu is lucky to have you,” I say softly. “And a team like yours.”

A small smile touches Abhay’s usually stoic face.

“The feeling is mutual,” he replies.

I glance back at my office, my mind already shifting back to the work waiting for me.

“I’ll be done in two hours. Then we can head home.”

He gives me a professional nod and turns to leave, but I remain standing there for a moment longer, my thoughts lingering on Vishnu’s words about not wanting to clip my wings. Perhaps there are more layers to him than I’d imagined, depths I’m only now beginning to understand.

**************

Two Hours Later

The exhaustion of rescheduling work, the pressure of the wedding, and the overwhelming chaos of my emotions have left me drained. I’m gathering my things, ready to call it a day, when Julie’s voice stops me.

“Simran, don’t forget to check the bouquets and gifts before you leave,” she reminds me with a bright smile.

I sigh, nodding. “Fine, let me look at it quickly.”

As Julie leaves, I walk around to the other side of my desk, where the neatly arranged gifts await me. The sweet fragrance of flowers fills my nostrils as I examine the thoughtful presents from friends and clients, all celebrating my upcoming wedding.

The word‘wedding’sends my heart into a familiar flutter, but I push the feeling aside, focusing on the task at hand. The warmth of the well-wishes fills me with gratitude, but it’s bittersweet. These people are congratulating me on a marriage that I’m still struggling to accept.

My fingers trail over various packages until they stop at a peculiar one. It’s wrapped elegantly in plain brown paper, but what catches my attention is the simple initial ‘Z’ on the card—nothing else. No name, no message. There’s something about it that makes my skin prickle, I push the feeling aside, dismissing it as mere paranoia.

I carefully begin to unwrap the package. The moment I unfold what’s inside, my breath catches in my throat, and my hands freeze. Inside is a white scarf, its fabric stained with splotches of dried blood. My eyes zero in on the ominous words written across it:My eyes will always be on you.

The realisation hits me like a physical blow—it’s from him, the masked man.

A scream rips from my throat as I stumble backwards, the scarf slipping from my fingers. I bolt from my cabin, blind with fear, only to crash into something solid and warm. It takes a moment to register that it’s Vishnu, his strong arms catching me before I hit the ground.

The relief that floods through me is immediate, but it doesn’t stop my violent trembling.