"Bitter Hearts, Sweet Surrender"

The Aftermath

The kiss hung in the air between Maya and Aryan like a storm waiting to break. The office was quiet, the dim lighting casting shadows that seemed to echo the tension between them. Maya’s mind was spinning, her heart racing from what had just happened. She had crossed a line—a line she had sworn she wouldn’t even approach, and now there was no going back.

Maya pulled away from Aryan, her breath still uneven. She looked up at him, searching for something in his eyes—regret, confusion, anything—but all she saw was a calm intensity. He didn’t look shaken or guilty. If anything, he looked like a man who had gotten exactly what he wanted.

"This… can’t happen," Maya said, her voice trembling as she stepped back, putting some much-needed space between them.

Aryan’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t move. "Why not?"

Maya let out a soft, incredulous laugh, unable to believe he was asking that. "Why not? Are you serious? We work together, Aryan. We’ve been fighting each other since the moment you walked into this office. I can’t—" She paused, searching for the right words. "I can’t do this with you."

Aryan tilted his head slightly, studying her as if she were a puzzle he was trying to solve. "Are you afraid of what people will think? Or are you afraid of how you feel?"

Maya felt her pulse quicken. Of course, Aryan would get straight to the heart of the matter. He was perceptive, too perceptive, and he had a way of cutting through her defenses that unsettled her more than anything.

"I’m not afraid of anything," Maya shot back, her voice a little too sharp, betraying her emotions.

Aryan’s lips curled into a small smile, the kind that made her want to slap him and kiss him all at once. "You don’t strike me as the kind of woman who’s afraid of much, Maya. But this…" He gestured between them, his voice dropping an octave. "This scares you, doesn’t it?"

Maya swallowed hard, her chest tightening. She wanted to deny it, to tell him he was wrong, but deep down, she knew he wasn’t. This attraction between them—the way her body reacted to him even when her mind screamed at her to walk away—it terrified her because she had never felt anything like it before. And the idea of losing control, of being vulnerable with Aryan Malhotra of all people, was enough to send her into a panic.

"We need to stop this now," Maya said, her voice firm despite the war raging inside her. "Whatever this is… it can’t happen again."

Aryan took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "I disagree."

Maya’s heart pounded in her chest as Aryan closed the gap between them. The air between them was electric, and for a moment, she couldn’t breathe. She hated the way he made her feel—so out of control, so drawn to him despite everything.

"This is a mistake," she whispered, more to herself than to him.

Aryan’s voice was low, almost a growl. "Then why does it feel so right?"

Maya’s breath caught in her throat. She had no answer to that, and Aryan knew it. He leaned in slightly, his face inches from hers, his presence overwhelming.

"Tell me you don’t want this," Aryan whispered, his voice rough with desire. "Tell me, and I’ll walk away."

Maya’s mouth went dry. She wanted to say the words, to tell him to leave, but they wouldn’t come. Because the truth was, despite every logical reason to push him away, her body betrayed her. She wanted him. Desperately.

But wanting him and acting on that desire were two very different things.

With every ounce of willpower she had, Maya stepped back, putting more distance between them. "This can’t happen, Aryan. I need you to respect that."

Aryan’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something almost like disappointment. He took a breath, then nodded slowly. "Alright, Maya. For now."

Maya didn’t respond, her heart still pounding. She watched as Aryan turned and left the room, the sound of the door closing behind him echoing in the silence.

As soon as he was gone, Maya sank into her chair, her hands shaking slightly. What had she just done? What was she doing? She had promised herself that she wouldn’t let him get to her, but it was too late. Aryan had already gotten under her skin in a way no one ever had before.

But no matter how much she was drawn to him, she knew one thing for sure: giving in to this would only lead to disaster.

And Maya wasn’t ready to risk everything for Aryan Malhotra. Not yet.