The hum of computers, the tapping of keyboards, and the murmur of voices filled the office, creating a background noise that was both familiar and suffocating. Indrani sat at her desk, her eyes glued to her screen as she navigated through the labyrinth of emails, reports, and presentations that had piled up over the week. The deadlines were looming, but she had always thrived under pressure. Yet today, something was different—a weight that pressed down on her chest, a feeling she couldn’t shake off.
Anuruddha’s office was just a few steps away from hers, the glass walls offering a clear view of his imposing figure as he worked.
Indrani was careful not to look his way, but she could feel his presence like a heavy shadow.
The tension between them had been palpable ever since that fateful day, the day he had returned, stirring up emotions she had buried deep within.
She could sense his gaze on her now, a subtle prickling at the back of her neck. Anuruddha was watching her, but she pretended not to notice, her fingers flying across the keyboard.
He had been doing this more and more lately—stealing glances, lingering in her peripheral vision, but never saying a word.
It was maddening, this silent game he played, and it made her skin crawl.
Minutes stretched into hours, and the workload seemed endless.
She barely had time to breathe, let alone think about the man who had once held her heart, only to break it beyond repair. But as the clock ticked towards the end of the day, the inevitable happened.
Anuruddha appeared at her desk, a thick stack of files in hand.
“Indrani,” his voice was smooth, practiced, but there was an edge to it that set her teeth on edge.
“I need these reports finalized by tomorrow morning.”
Indrani’s eyes flicked up to meet his, her expression carefully neutral.
“By tomorrow morning?” she repeated, a hint of incredulity in her tone.
She could see the glint in his eyes, the way his lips curved ever so slightly as if he enjoyed seeing her struggle.
“Yes,” he replied, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. “It’s urgent.”
For a moment, she wanted to argue, to throw the files back at him and tell him to do it himself. But she bit her tongue, swallowing the retort that burned in her throat.
“Fine,” she said, her voice clipped. “I’ll get it done.”
Anuruddha’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, something unreadable in his eyes. Then he turned and walked away, leaving her with the suffocating weight of the work and the ache in her chest that refused to go away.
As the office slowly emptied, Indrani remained at her desk, the files spread out before her.
She worked mechanically, her mind a blur of numbers and data, but her heart wasn’t in it.
She kept replaying the brief exchange with Anuruddha in her mind, analyzing every word, every glance. It was as if he was testing her, pushing her to see how far she could go before she broke.
But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
When she finally closed her laptop and packed up for the night, exhaustion had settled into her bones, both physical and emotional.
She made her way home, her thoughts still swirling with anger and confusion.
Why was he doing this?
Why now, after all this time?
YOU ARE READING
Playfully Ruined
Fantasy"Playfully Ruined - Played by him, Ruined by her" is a thrilling tale of obsession, manipulation, dark romance, dignity, and mysteries. Anuruddha Dashwant, a wealthy businessman, finds himself ensnared in a dangerously alluring game when he meets I...
