Rima’s POVAs I held my silence, uncertain of how to respond, he lifted his gaze from the glowing screen of his laptop. His solitary raised eyebrow jolted me from my reverie “Uh… sure okay… can I get a coffee first?” I stumbled over my words “I can bring one for you as well… if you’d like”His eyes flickered back to the laptop screen, fingers flying over the keys in a dance of digital fluency “Sure, bring something to eat too” he commanded, not missing a beat.“What would you like to eat?” I asked, trying to reclaim some semblance of control.His gaze returned to mine with a level of intensity that caught me off guard “For you, Rima. This endeavor will consume a significant portion of our energy and time. I need you at full capacity, completely focused, and energized enough to keep pace with me”“Oh… okay” I replied, my voice barely more

Rima’s POVAfter a moment of silence, I cleared my throat, mustering the most professional tone I could “Alright, I’ll do it. And… thank you, for your confidence in me. I’ll do my best not to let you down”His smile widened a bit, and he nodded approvingly “I know you won’t. And remember, we’re a team. We’ll work on this together”“Okay, that sounds… less terrifying” I admitted, letting out a nervous chuckle “So, we should probably start preparing, shouldn’t we?”“Yes, we should. Let’s start by going over the details of your strategy again, and then we can craft the presentation around that. Sound good?”I nodded, the knot in my stomach slowly starting to loosen “Sounds good. Let’s do this”As we dove into the work, I couldn’t shake off the lingering nerves entirely, but his calm and supportive demeanor was reassuring. Maybe, just maybe, I could pull this off. And if not, well… it would be a private spectacle, limited to Mr. Snow and the company we’re pitching to. No office gossip, no

Rima’s POVI nodded at Mr. Snow’s words, appreciating the sentiment even though I had no intention of revealing any more of my vulnerability to him “Thank you, Mr. Snow” I said quietly “Shall we continue with the presentation?”Instead of agreeing, he shook his head “Rima, you’re excused for today. We can continue working tomorrow”I stiffened at his words. I didn’t want his pity, nor did I want his judgment of my ability to work based on what he’d witnessed. The idea of being alone with my thoughts was daunting. The work was a distraction, something I needed now more than ever “I’m fine, Mr. Snow” I retorted stubbornly “Let’s finish this”He regarded me silently for a moment, his gaze probing as if searching for something. Whatever he found in my determined expression seemed to convince him that I needed this. With a mild nod, he finally agreed “Al

Rima’s POVAs I sat at my desk, the humdrum tasks that usually consumed my attention seemed to fade into the background, replaced by a vivid and unshakeable replay of last night. It was as if my brain had suddenly been hijacked, stubbornly looping the same scenes like a glitching software refusing to load the next task.The moment Mr. Snow stepped away from his desk and closed the distance between us was etched into my mind with startling clarity. I could still feel the electric charge that crackled in the air, the anticipation that made my heart flutter wildly against my ribs. And his words, oh his words, they echoed in my mind, a silent mantra that transformed my fears into something more tangible, more conquerable.“Your stance,” he had said, his fingers feather-light on my shoulders “It should echo your confidence. Shoulders back, chin up, eyes steady”I remembered how my breath hitched when he traced a path from my shoul

Rima’s POVI took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the decision hanging over me like a storm cloud. I knew the risks, I knew the dangers that came with his family name, but I also knew what I had found in this job - a spark of purpose, a sense of belonging, a place where I was growing and evolving.I thought about leaving, starting fresh, finding a new job. But the idea of abandoning all that I had built, all that I had achieved; as little as it might seem given it’s barely been a week, felt like leaving a piece of myself behind. It was more than just a job - it was a part of me now.His world was a place I had promised myself I would avoid at all costs. But leaving now would mean giving into fear, letting it dictate my decisions, my life….all over again.I was stronger than that. I had faced adversity before, had overcome hurdles greater than this. I could handle it. More than that, I wanted to handle it. I wanted to face the chall