Unspoken Desires
1883 Words
The world had an ironic way of playing its cruel games.
Six years had passed since Isa walked away from Mav, leaving behind nothing but a void in his heart. In those years, Mav had changed. The pain had hardened him, turning him into an even more ruthless businessman and a feared mafia leader.
He had drowned himself in work, building his empire even stronger, making sure no one could ever leave him broken again.
And yet, fate had other plans.
Isa had done everything she could to disappear. She moved to India, built a new life with her son, and tried to forget the man who had once meant the world to her. But no matter how much she tried, some wounds never healed completely.
It all started with a business deal.
Isa worked as a secretary for one of India's top business tycoons, Mr. Rajan Mehta. She had kept a low profile, dedicating herself to her job and Aiden, ensuring their life remained stable.
Then, one day, the company secured a major international deal—with none other than Maverick Blackwood.
The moment she heard his name, her world stopped.
She had prayed that the deal would be handled remotely, that she would never have to see him again. But life wasn’t that merciful.
Mav had decided to personally come to India to finalize the agreement.
Isa had tried to avoid the situation, but fate refused to let her go. Mr. Mehta, impressed by her skills, had assigned her a new role—personal secretary to Mr. Blackwood.
Her worst nightmare had come to life.
The First Encounter
The moment she stepped into the boardroom, Isa felt her breath catch in her throat.
Mav was seated at the head of the long, sleek conference table, dressed in an expensive black suit, his presence commanding the entire room. He looked more powerful than ever, exuding a dangerous aura that sent shivers down her spine.
But what hit her the hardest was his eyes.
The same brown eyes that had once been lost in darkness. The eyes that had desperately searched for her years ago.
And now, those same eyes held nothing but cold indifference.
He didn’t recognize her.
At least, not yet.
Isa lowered her gaze, gripping the files in her hand as she walked to the table.
“Mr. Blackwood,” she greeted him formally, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.
Mav barely spared her a glance, nodding slightly. “Sit.”
She did, keeping her expression neutral as the meeting began.
For the next hour, she focused solely on work, answering questions, taking notes, and avoiding unnecessary eye contact. Mav, on the other hand, was sharp and direct, his presence overwhelming.
But then, something happened.
A small moment—so insignificant to others, yet so shattering for her.
As she reached for a document, her hand accidentally brushed against his.
The touch was fleeting, barely a second long.
But for Mav, it was enough.
His fingers froze against hers, a strange sensation washing over him. Something familiar.
His eyes flickered to her, sharp and observant.
Isa quickly withdrew, lowering her head as if nothing had happened.
Mav frowned.
A strange sense of déjà vu settled in his chest. Something about this woman… her touch, her presence—it reminded him of something, of someone.
Someone he had spent years searching for.
The Growing Suspicion
Over the next few weeks, Isa did everything in her power to avoid him. She kept their conversations strictly professional, never meeting his eyes for too long, and always excused herself quickly after meetings.
But Mav wasn’t a fool.
As a mafia leader, he was trained to read people. And Isa’s behavior? It was suspicious.
She avoided him. She flinched whenever he came too close. She never met his gaze directly.
And that feeling—that strange sense of familiarity—it only grew stronger.
He started observing her more. The way she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was nervous. The way she bit her lip when she was deep in thought. The way her voice held the slightest tremble when she spoke to him.
It felt like her.
Like Isa.
But it couldn’t be.
Could it?
A Night of Unspoken Words
One evening, after an important business meeting, Mav insisted on taking his team out for dinner. As his secretary, Isa had no choice but to accompany them.
The restaurant was grand, the air filled with laughter and conversations. But Isa felt suffocated.
She sat at the farthest end of the table, trying to blend into the background. But Mav’s eyes found her every time.
At one point, he excused himself from the group and walked towards her.
Isa tensed.
“Step outside,” he ordered quietly.
She hesitated but nodded, following him onto the balcony. The cool night air brushed against her skin, but it wasn’t enough to calm the storm inside her.
Mav stood beside her, silent for a moment.
Then, he spoke.
“You seem uncomfortable around me,” he stated.
Isa forced a small smile. “I treat all my bosses the same.”
Mav scoffed. “You flinch every time I come near you. You run whenever I look at you for too long. And now, you’re lying to my face.”
Isa clenched her fists. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Mav turned to her, his eyes dark and intense.
“You remind me of someone,” he murmured.
Isa’s heart pounded.
“Someone I once loved.”
The words hit her like a bullet.
For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.
But she couldn’t let this happen.
She had spent six years building a new life, raising her son, burying her past. She couldn’t let Mav drag her back into the pain she had barely survived.
She took a step back. “I think you’re mistaken.”
Mav tilted his head, his gaze piercing through her.
“You’re scared of me.”
Isa swallowed. “I’m not.”
“Then why won’t you look at me?”
Silence.
Mav took a slow step forward, closing the distance between them.
Isa’s breath hitched as he reached out, his fingers gently tilting her chin up.
“Look at me,” he whispered.
Her heart shattered.
This was dangerous.
This was temptation.
And if she wasn’t careful…
She would lose herself all over again.
The days at the office started to follow a rhythm—one that neither Mav nor Isa wanted but couldn't avoid. Isa did everything in her power to stay professional, avoiding unnecessary interactions, keeping conversations brief, and maintaining a polite yet distant demeanor. But Mav wasn’t a fool. He watched her closely, noticed the slight tremor in her voice when she addressed him, the way her fingers clenched the pen when he walked past, the way her breath hitched when their gazes accidentally met.
At first, he ignored it, assuming she was simply nervous in front of such a powerful man. But the more he observed her, the more he saw things that didn’t add up.
The Subtle Tests Begin
Mav wasn’t one to let his instincts go unchecked. He started with small tests—ones she wouldn’t even realize were tests.
One morning, as he entered his office, he purposely stopped near her desk and muttered, “Coffee. Black. No sugar.”
Isa froze for a second but quickly nodded. “Yes, sir.”
When she brought the coffee, he took a slow sip, his gaze fixed on her. Wrong.
His coffee preference had changed over the years, but back then—when he was blind—Isa used to bring it to him just the way he liked. He still remembered how she would tease him, saying, “You drink it too strong, Mav. How do you even survive with this much bitterness?”
And yet, today, she had brought it exactly the way he used to drink it years ago.
His fingers traced the rim of the cup as he asked casually, “How did you know I liked it this way?”
Isa’s eyes widened just a fraction before she quickly looked away. “It’s just a guess, sir. Most CEOs prefer strong coffee.”
Mav leaned back, his expression unreadable. A guess?
Or was it a slip?
He let it slide for now, but he knew this was just the beginning.
The Unexpected Encounters
One evening, as Mav worked late in his office, he heard a soft knock.
“Come in.”
Isa stepped inside, looking hesitant. “Sir, the documents you asked for.”
As she placed them on his desk, a gust of wind from the open window sent some loose papers flying. Without thinking, Isa moved to catch them, but in her rush, she stumbled—straight into Mav.
His arms caught her before she could fall. For a long moment, neither moved.
His grip on her waist tightened instinctively as their eyes met—her blue ones wide and full of something unspoken, his brown ones searching, intense. The scent of vanilla and jasmine clung to her, familiar and intoxicating.
Isa’s breath came unevenly as she hurriedly stepped back. “I—I’m sorry, sir.”
Mav watched her as she quickly turned away, her hands gripping the edge of the desk like she needed support.
He smirked slightly. “Be careful, Ms. Rosé. I wouldn’t want my secretary getting hurt.”
Her shoulders tensed.
He saw it. He saw the way her hands trembled for just a second before she steadied herself and left without another word.
Interesting. Very interesting.
The Unraveling Truth
Over the next few days, Mav continued his subtle tests. Dropping small details about the past, watching her closely whenever he mentioned something only Isa would know. And every time, he saw her react—small, almost unnoticeable gestures, but not to him.
One afternoon, he decided to push further.
“Ms. Rosé,” he called as she was about to leave for lunch.
She turned. “Yes, sir?”
Mav tapped his fingers against his desk. “Have we met before?”
Isa stiffened. Too stiff.
Too unnatural.
But her expression remained neutral. “I don’t think so, sir.”
Liar.
Mav let out a soft chuckle, standing up and walking toward her, closing the distance. “Strange. You remind me of someone I once knew.”
Isa swallowed, her fingers gripping the file she held. “I just have one of those faces, sir.”
Mav tilted his head, his smirk growing. “Do you? Or are you hiding something from me?”
For the first time since she started working there, Isa looked up—really looked up—into his eyes. There was something raw in them, something fragile yet determined.
“I have nothing to hide, sir.” Her voice was steady, but Mav didn’t miss the way she avoided his gaze the moment she said it.
He let her go, but as she walked away, he whispered under his breath. “We’ll see about that, Isa.”
And this time, he knew.
He knew it was her.
And he wasn’t going to let her run again.
To Be Continued…
- Writer
