Estranged lovers

Chapter 47

ANNIKA'S POV

The evening had been simple, yet meaningful. After a long day at work and the weight of the conversation she had with Shivani still hanging in the air, Annika had decided to stay at the office for a bit longer. The others had left, and only a few employees remained finishing up their work.

She had managed to steal a few moments with Shivani in the break room earlier, but her friend had been distant, Shivani had always been the strong one, but there was something fragile beneath her tough exterior, and Annika couldn't quite put her finger on it.

She had texted Siddharth after they parted ways, her heart still racing from the tenderness of their earlier messages. The connection they had felt on that weekend getaway still lingered, a sweet sense of calm and certainty that had carried her through the ups and downs of the day.

Annika: "Hey, I'm heading out. Just wanted to remind you that I'm thinking of you. 😊"

Her phone buzzed almost immediately with his reply, the words sending warmth through her chest.

Siddharth: "I'm thinking of you too. You're my peace, Annika. Always."

She smiled, her fingers tracing the message. It had been a quiet evening, and the simplicity of their exchange was a balm to her restless thoughts. For once, it felt like the world outside was still, as though nothing could touch her. She had Siddharth by her side, even if just through messages. Nothing else mattered.

Annika stood up from her desk, stretching as she grabbed her coat. It was a little past nine, the office now nearly empty, and the quiet gave her a chance to clear her mind. She had decided to call it a night, feeling the weight of the day lift off her shoulders.

As she stepped into the elevator, she glanced at her phone one last time.

Annika: "Siddharth. I love you."

Before she could even hit send, the elevator doors slid open, and she stepped out into the empty parking garage. It was a short walk to her car, the crisp night air a welcome change after the stuffy office. Annika's heels clicked sharply on the concrete, her thoughts still lingering on her conversation with Shivani, wondering if her friend would ever open up about what was troubling her.

She hadn't noticed the dark car parked a few spaces away until it was too late.

A figure stepped out of the shadows, moving swiftly toward her. Before she could even process the danger, strong hands grabbed her from behind, pulling her into the cold, hard grip of the assailant. Her breath caught in her throat as a cloth was pressed over her mouth, and everything around her began to spin.

The last thing she heard before everything went black was the faint sound of her phone buzzing, her screen flashing with Siddharth's name.

SIDDHARTH'S POV

Siddharth sat back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts consumed by Annika. The day had been a blur of meetings, reports, and business, but his mind was always with her. He had just finished sending her a quick response when his phone buzzed again.

He picked it up with a smile, expecting to see another sweet message from Annika. But when he saw the message notification, his heart dropped.

It wasn't Annika.

It was a call.

From a blocked number.

A wave of unease washed over him. The only time he had received calls like this were from people who had something to hide. Without hesitation, he picked up.