Chapter 11 — Say It Again
897 Words
Chapter 11 — Say It Again
The world outside the safehouse faded into rain and darkness.
Inside, everything narrowed to one impossible moment.
Maya Verma stood inches away from Mihir Raichand, his hand warm against her cheek, his forehead resting softly against hers.
And Maya had just whispered:
“I don’t think I want to survive it.”
Silence followed.
Not awkward.
Not uncertain.
Just full of everything they still hadn’t said.
Mihir closed his eyes briefly like he was losing a battle with himself.
Then quietly—
“You have terrible timing.”
Maya blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Right now I should be focused on stopping a cyber terrorist from stealing experimental AI.”
His thumb brushed softly across her cheek.
“Instead I’m thinking about kissing you.”
Maya’s heartbeat completely abandoned professionalism.
“Oh.”
“That’s all you have to say?”
“No, actually, internally I’m screaming.”
A quiet laugh escaped him.
God.
That laugh.
Maya was genuinely becoming emotionally compromised.
Mihir looked at her carefully after the laughter faded.
And suddenly something vulnerable slipped through his usually controlled expression.
“I’ve never done this before.”
Maya frowned slightly. “Done what?”
“This.”
His hand tightened gently against hers.
“Needed someone this much.”
The honesty hit her hard.
Because Mihir Raichand looked genuinely terrified by his own feelings.
Not embarrassed.
Not ashamed.
Afraid.
Maya’s chest softened painfully.
“You make it sound like a terminal illness.”
“It feels worse.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“And yet you’re still here.”
That was the problem.
Maya should’ve left weeks ago.
The logical decision would’ve been distance.
Independence.
Safety.
Instead she stood in the middle of a dangerous safehouse at midnight wanting a germophobic billionaire to kiss her.
Life choices had clearly deteriorated.
Mihir studied her face carefully.
“You’re thinking too loudly.”
“I’m deciding whether emotions are worth the inconvenience.”
“And?”
Maya looked into his eyes.
Dark.
Steady.
Focused entirely on her.
Then she whispered honestly—
“I think you already ruined my ability to avoid them.”
Something shifted in Mihir’s expression after that.
Like restraint finally snapped.
He moved closer slowly.
One hand against her waist.
The other still cradling her face carefully like something precious.
Maya’s fingers instinctively gripped the front of his shirt.
Neither looked away.
Closer.
Closer—
A loud crash echoed somewhere downstairs.
Both froze instantly.
Maya stared at the ceiling in betrayal.
“This is getting ridiculous.”
Mihir actually groaned softly in frustration.
The sound shocked both of them.
“You growled,” Maya whispered dramatically.
“I did not.”
“That was absolutely a frustrated rich-man growl.”
Another crash sounded below.
Work.
Danger.
Reality.
Mihir exhaled slowly and stepped back with visible reluctance.
“We should check the perimeter.”
Maya sighed heavily. “Fine. But emotionally, I’m filing complaints.”
—
Fifteen minutes later, the safehouse security room buzzed with controlled tension.
No intruders.
Just storm damage outside.
Unfortunately for Maya, that meant she had more time to think.
Which was terrible.
She sat spinning slowly in a chair while pretending to monitor surveillance feeds.
Pretending being the important word.
Because really she was replaying every second from upstairs.
Mihir’s voice.
His hands.
The way he looked at her like she mattered more than his own carefully controlled world.
Catastrophic.
Naina suddenly walked into the room carrying chips.
One look at Maya’s face and she gasped dramatically.
“Oh my God.”
Maya immediately pointed threateningly. “Don’t.”
“You almost kissed him.”
“We are not discussing this.”
“You LIKE him.”
“People have flaws.”
Naina sat beside her excitedly. “Tell me everything.”
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“Maya.”
“He’s emotionally intense and aggressively attractive. It’s exhausting.”
Naina nearly choked laughing.
Then her expression softened slightly.
“You deserve this, you know.”
Maya blinked.
“Deserve what?”
“To be loved like that.”
The words hit unexpectedly hard.
Maya looked away quickly.
Because deep down…
She didn’t know how to believe that yet.
Naina noticed the shift immediately.
“You’re scared.”
“I’m practical.”
“You’re terrified.”
Maya muttered quietly, “Important people become targets.”
Naina’s expression softened further.
“Maya…”
“He got shot because of me.”
“No. He chose you.”
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
Because that was true.
Mihir chose her every single time.
Without hesitation.
Before Maya could emotionally collapse further, the security room door opened.
And Mihir walked in.
Black shirt.
Slightly damp hair from rain.
Bandaged shoulder.
Unfairly handsome existence.
Maya’s brain instantly malfunctioned again.
Naina noticed both their expressions and stood dramatically.
“Wow. The s****l tension in this room could power cities.”
Maya nearly threw a keyboard at her.
“Naina.”
“I’m leaving.”
“Please do.”
Naina grinned shamelessly while walking out.
“Try actually kissing this time.”
The door shut.
Silence.
Maya covered her face instantly.
“I’m changing my identity and moving continents.”
A soft laugh escaped Mihir.
“You’re blushing.”
“She’s a traitor.”
“She’s observant.”
Maya looked at him through her fingers suspiciously.
“You seem very
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