"Bitter Hearts, Sweet Surrender"

The Consequences

The next day, Maya arrived at the office with a renewed sense of determination. She had made a decision the night before—a firm decision. There would be no more moments with Aryan, no more flirtations, no more allowing herself to be swept up in the intensity of whatever it was between them. She was a professional, and she needed to act like one.

But as soon as she stepped into the conference room for their morning meeting, her resolve wavered.

Aryan was already there, his eyes immediately locking onto hers as she walked in. His gaze was intense, unreadable, and for a brief moment, Maya’s stomach did a flip. She quickly composed herself, forcing her face into a neutral expression as she took her seat at the table.

"Good morning," Aryan greeted, his voice calm, but there was a heat behind his words that only Maya could detect.

"Morning," she replied curtly, refusing to engage in anything more than a professional tone. She couldn’t afford to let things spiral again.

As the meeting progressed, Maya found it harder and harder to focus. Aryan’s presence was impossible to ignore, even when he wasn’t speaking. Every time he made a point or glanced in her direction, she felt her resolve weakening. It didn’t help that the rest of the team seemed oblivious to the undercurrent of tension between them, casually discussing timelines and project updates while Maya was fighting to keep her emotions in check.

Finally, the meeting ended, and Maya was the first to stand, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere. She gathered her files quickly, but just as she turned to leave, Aryan spoke up.

"Maya, can I have a word?"

Her heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t let it show. She turned slowly, her expression cool. "Sure."

The rest of the team filtered out of the room, and soon it was just the two of them. Aryan leaned back in his chair, watching her with an unreadable expression.

"You’ve been avoiding me," he said, his voice low.

Maya crossed her arms, trying to maintain her composure. "I’ve been working."

Aryan smirked. "Is that what we’re calling it now?"

Maya’s jaw tightened. "What do you want, Aryan?"

He stood then, closing the distance between them with slow, deliberate steps. Maya’s pulse quickened, but she forced herself to hold her ground.

"I just want to know where we stand," Aryan said, his voice soft but laced with something dangerous. "Because last night felt like a turning point."

Maya’s breath hitched. She had been trying so hard to pretend that the kiss hadn’t meant anything, but Aryan wasn’t going to let her forget it. He was standing too close now, his presence overwhelming as always, and Maya could feel her resolve crumbling.

"We stand where we’ve always stood," Maya said, her voice firmer than she felt. "On opposite sides."

Aryan raised an eyebrow. "Do you really believe that?"

Maya’s chest tightened. "I have to."

There was a long pause, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Aryan’s gaze softened, and for a moment, Maya thought he might back off. But then, he stepped closer, his voice low and rough as he spoke.

"You can keep telling yourself that, Maya. But we both know it’s not true."

Maya’s heart pounded in her chest, and she hated how right he was. There was no denying the connection between them, no matter how hard she tried to fight it. But that didn’t mean she could let it take over.

"We can’t do this," Maya whispered, her voice trembling.

Aryan’s gaze was intense, filled with desire and something deeper. "Then why are you still here?"

Maya’s breath caught in her throat. She didn’t have an answer for that, and Aryan knew it. He reached out, his fingers lightly brushing her arm, sending a jolt of electricity through her.

"I’m not giving up on this," Aryan said softly. "And I don’t think you want me to."

Maya’s mind was spinning, her heart torn between logic and the overwhelming pull she felt toward him. She had spent so long building walls around herself, walls that Aryan was slowly, steadily breaking down.

But no matter how much she was drawn to him, Maya wasn’t ready to let those walls crumble just yet.

With a shaky breath, she stepped back, putting more distance between them. "I can’t do this, Aryan. I won’t."

Aryan’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t push. Instead, he nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving hers. "For now."

Maya didn’t respond. She turned and walked out of the