Twin Inferno

7.caught in crossfire

Siya s POV

The office was quieter than usual, but I could feel the tension crawling through the air. The light click of keyboards and distant murmurs were the only sounds as I sat at my desk, trying not to draw attention to myself. My fingers fumbled over the keys, heart racing as I glanced nervously at the pile of files Ehaan had dumped on my desk earlier.

"Siya," Ehaan called out, his voice sharp, like a blade cutting through the silence.

I winced, pushing my chair back and standing up hurriedly. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, the new assistant who couldn’t seem to catch a break.

"Yes, sir?" I responded, forcing a polite smile.

Ehaan didn’t look up from his computer screen. "I need those reports by noon. And don’t mess it up this time. You’ve already been here long enough to know better."

I swallowed hard, biting back the retort sitting at the edge of my tongue. He always did this—taunting me, making me feel small, like I was walking on eggshells every second I was around him.

"I’ll get them done," I muttered, turning back to my desk, my hands trembling as I picked up the files.

But it wasn’t just the workload that was overwhelming me—it was the constant mind games. The way Ehaan enjoyed watching me scramble, how he made sure I felt out of place, incompetent, like I didn’t belong here. And now, with Rudra always around, I could feel the invisible tug of war between the two of them.

And then there was *her*—Esha. Sweet on the outside but passive-aggressive in the cruelest ways. The way she would throw shade at me, pretending to offer help while twisting the knife with every word.

I sat down, opening the first file, trying to ignore the growing knot in my stomach. As I began typing, I heard footsteps approaching, and before I knew it, Ehaan’s shadow loomed over my desk.

"What’s taking so long?" he demanded, leaning over me, eyes glinting with something dark and twisted.

"I—I’m working on it," I stammered, my fingers freezing on the keyboard.

Ehaan scoffed, shaking his head. "Pathetic. You’d think after a week, you’d get the hang of this. Maybe you’re just not cut out for this kind of work."

I bit my lip, fighting back tears of frustration. I couldn’t let him see me break. Not here. Not now.

Suddenly, a deep voice cut through the tension. "That’s enough, Ehaan."

I looked up, startled, as Rudra appeared at the edge of my desk, his eyes locked onto Ehaan with an intensity that made the room feel even smaller.

Ehaan straightened up, his smirk returning. "Oh, Rudra. Didn’t see you there. Just trying to help Siya learn the ropes."

"Help?" Rudra raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Seems more like you’re trying to crush her under them."

My heart skipped a beat. Did he just… stand up for me?

Ehaan’s smile didn’t falter, but there was a flicker of something behind his eyes. "You know how business works, Rudra. Tough love. Can’t coddle everyone."

Rudra’s gaze flickered to me, and for a moment, I thought I saw something—concern? No. That couldn’t be. But there was something in the way he looked at me, something that made my pulse quicken.

"You’re pushing her too hard," Rudra said evenly, his voice low but firm. "She’s not a punching bag."

Ehaan shrugged, clearly unbothered. "If she can’t handle the pressure, maybe she shouldn’t be here."

The tension between them crackled like electricity, and I could feel the weight of their unspoken rivalry pressing down on the room. It wasn’t just about me—this was personal.

"I’ll finish it," I mumbled, feeling small under their scrutiny. "I can do it."

But Rudra didn’t move. His eyes stayed on Ehaan, and I could sense the shift in the room, like they were silently daring each other to take it further.

After what felt like an eternity, Ehaan smirked again, clearly pleased with himself. "Fine. Have fun babysitting." He turned on his heel and walked away, leaving a trail of arrogance in his wake.

I exhaled slowly, my heart still racing. The moment Ehaan was out of sight, Rudra turned to me, his expression softening slightly.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice quieter now, more genuine.

I nodded quickly, trying to pull myself together. "Yeah. I’m fine. I just… I’ll get the reports done."

Rudra gave me a long look, like he didn’t believe me, but he didn’t push it. Instead, he rested his hand on the edge of my desk, leaning in slightly.

"Don’t let him get to you," he said, his voice a low rumble. "He’s just trying to mess with you."

I glanced up at him, feeling that weird flutter in my chest again. The way his eyes softened when he looked at me—it was hard to ignore. And I hated that I noticed it. Hated that the butterflies were starting to dance in my stomach. This was Rudra—the same guy who terrified half the office, the one with the cold reputation. But right now, he didn’t seem cold at all.

"I’m used to it," I admitted softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "It’s… just how things are."

Rudra frowned, shaking his head. "It shouldn’t be."

For a moment, the office faded away, and it was just us—standing in the middle of a battlefield where neither of us had asked to fight.

Before I could say anything, Rudra straightened up, his expression hardening again, like he was trying to shake off whatever had just passed between us.

"Let me know if you need anything," he said, his voice back to its usual steady tone. But there was something in his eyes—something unspoken, as if he wanted to say more but held himself back.

"Thank you," I whispered, feeling the warmth spread through my chest, those stupid butterflies refusing to calm down.

He gave me a small nod and walked away, leaving me sitting there with my heart racing, my mind spinning. I hated this. Hated that he could make me feel like this with just a few words.

But as I watched him leave, I couldn’t help but think that maybe—just maybe—there was more to Rudra than I’d realized. And maybe, just maybe, those butterflies weren’t such a bad thing after all.