Her Dangerous Obsession

Chap 70 - The Office Gossips

Author's POV

For a long, suspended moment, neither of them looked away from each other.

It was nothing — just a glance. Yet, it wasn’t just a glance.

The red light ahead forced Jeet to keep the car still, and the stillness only amplified the quiet tension, that hung thick between them. Every second felt elongated, every heartbeat exaggerated.

Kriya was the first to shift her gaze, turning toward the window, and pretending to study the traffic outside. But the faint warmth creeping up her neck betrayed her calm facade.

Her fingers tightened slightly on the edge of her seat, betraying the storm beneath her controlled exterior.

Jeet's grip on the steering wheel tightened in tandem. He didn't know, what unnerved him more — the echo of Preeti's words still lingering in his mind, or the sheer effect a single moment with Kriya had on him.

Every glance, every fraction of a second shared, seemed to ignite something inexplicable inside him.

The light finally turned green. Jeet hurriedly pressed the accelerator, the tires rolling forward, though the silence between them remained unbroken, dense with unspoken emotion.

The drive was quiet. Neither of them spoke a single word. Not a single sound disturbed the intimate bubble around them. Only the faint hum of the engine, the distant noise of the city outside, and the subtle rustle of Kriya's clothing filled the space between them.

Eventually, he pulled up in front of her house.

"Thank you for dropping me here!" she said softly, unbuckling her seatbelt. Her voice, though gentle, seemed to echo in his chest.

He gave a short nod, saying nothing, but when she stepped out and walked toward the gate, his eyes followed her every step until she finally disappeared inside.

Only then did he lean back in the seat, exhaling a breath he hadn't realized, he was holding till now.

He tried to make sense of his own turmoil. Was this the effect of Preeti's words, planting seeds of thought he had never allowed himself? Or was it something else entirely — a genuine pull toward Kriya, that he could no longer ignore?

He inhaled deeply, a bitter-sweet tension curling inside his chest, and started the car again, this time with no destination in mind.

His hands rested lightly on the wheel, eyes scanning the roads aimlessly.

He had no intention of going home yet, no desire to confront normalcy. Tonight, he would drive — let the city lights wash over him, let the wind outside carry away the storm inside, even if just temporarily.

£ Mehrotra Mansion — 11 PM

Preeti was resting her head against the headboard when Jeet finally returned.

The faint glimmer of moonlight spilling through the curtains caught her pale face, highlighting the exhaustion etched across her features.

She smiled faintly at him, a soft acknowledgment of his return.

"You dropped her safely?" she asked, her voice tinged with a teasing lilt despite the fatigue weighing her down.

Jeet shot her a flat look, his eyes sharp. "You should have been sleeping." he said, his tone firm, but carrying the undercurrent of care he didn't voice outright.

"I will. I just wanted to know, if you're still denying what I said today." her voice softened, serious this time, the teasing replaced with sincerity.

He didn't answer, instead moving closer to tuck the blanket around her with a practiced gentleness. "Rest. We'll talk about your nonsense later!" he murmured, brushing a lock of hair from her face.