YOU LIVE IN MY HEART

The glass doors of CyberPeak Solutions parted with a soft whoosh as Ananya Mehra stepped into the vibrant hum of the office. After a week’s leave, the clatter of keyboards and the faint aroma of fresh coffee felt like a homecoming. Her almond-shaped eyes gleamed with excitement, her long braid swinging as she moved through the open-plan office. Dressed in a sleek cream blouse and tailored black pants, Ananya’s energy was contagious, her smile lighting up the room. “Hey, Nisha! Missed you!” Ananya called, spotting her friend by the water cooler. Nisha turned, her face breaking into a grin. “Ananya! You’re back! How was the beach getaway?” “Pure bliss!” Ananya beamed, slinging her bag onto her desk. “The waves, the sunsets—oh, I’ve got stories!” She fist-bumped another coworker, Vikram, who was juggling a laptop and a coffee mug. “Vikram, still fighting with that buggy code?” “Every day,” he groaned, but his smile mirrored hers. The office buzzed with her return, her warmth spreading like sunlight. As Ananya weaved through the cubicles, exchanging cheerful hellos, she didn’t notice the figure standing near the executive suite. A tall man, impeccably dressed in a navy suit that accentuated his broad shoulders, stood with his hands in his pockets. His chiseled features and piercing hazel eyes were fixed on her, his expression a mix of irritation and something unreadable. At six feet, he commanded the space effortlessly, his dark hair perfectly styled, a silver cufflink glinting under the office lights. Ananya, lost in her chatter with Nisha, kept moving until she stopped short. The man was now directly in her path, his towering frame blocking her way. She looked up—way up—her breath hitching as their eyes met. His gaze was intense, almost searing, his lips pressed into a thin line. “You!” Ananya exclaimed, her voice sharper than she intended, a spark of defiance flaring at his stern expression. Something about his stare rubbed her the wrong way, like he was judging her for being a few minutes late. The man’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of discomfort crossing his face as nearby heads turned. He glanced around, then back at her, his voice low and cutting. “Late on your first day back? And you’re wasting time chatting?” His tone was like ice, slicing through her enthusiasm. “Get to your desk and start working.” Ananya’s jaw dropped. Who was this guy? Her cheeks flushed, and she crossed her arms, her 5’4” frame bristling with indignation. “Excuse me? Who do you think you are? CEO, my foot!” she shot back, her voice ringing with defiance. A hush fell over the nearby cubicles. Nisha’s eyes widened, and she grabbed Ananya’s arm, yanking her aside. “Ananya, stop!” she whispered urgently. “That’s Vihaan Kapoor. The new CEO.” Ananya blinked, her anger stuttering. “CEO? Him?” She glanced back at the man, who was now striding toward the executive suite, his posture rigid, his movements precise. “That guy? Seriously?” “Yes, seriously,” Nisha hissed, pulling Ananya toward her cubicle. “He started while you were on leave. He’s intense, Ananya. Like, terrifying intense. And you just yelled at him in front of everyone.” Ananya’s stomach twisted, but her pride held firm. “So what? He can’t just storm in here and act like he owns me. I’m not scared of some fancy suit.” Nisha sighed, nudging Ananya into her chair. “You should be. You need this job, Ananya. We all do. He’s not just a suit—he’s the one signing our paychecks. So maybe dial back the fire?” Ananya slumped into her seat, her earlier excitement now a tangle of embarrassment and defiance. She stole a glance at the glass- walled executive suite. Vihaan Kapoor stood inside, his back to her, speaking to someone on the phone. Even from here, his presence was magnetic, like a storm brewing on the horizon. “Great,” she muttered. “Just what I needed—a grumpy CEO with a power trip.” Nisha leaned in, her tone teasing but cautious. “Maybe don’t make him your enemy on day one? I heard he axed two developers last week for missing a sprint deadline.” Ananya rolled her eyes, but Nisha’s words hit home. She did need this job. Her apartment rent wasn’t cheap, and her dream of launching her own app wasn’t going to fund itself. Still, the idea of bowing to some arrogant, suit-clad overlord made her skin crawl. As she booted up her computer, Ananya’s mind raced. She wasn’t one to back down, but maybe Nisha had a point. She needed to be strategic. For now. Inside the executive suite, Vihaan Kapoor ended his call, his jaw tight. He glanced out at the office floor, his eyes briefly landing on Ananya’s cubicle. She was typing furiously, her expression a mix of focus and barely veiled irritation. He didn’t know why her carefree attitude had grated on him so much. Maybe it was the way she’d strolled in, late, laughing like the world was hers. Or maybe it was the way she’d shouted “You!” like he was just another coworker she could challenge. Whatever it was, Ananya Mehra had just caught his attention. And Vihaan Kapoor wasn’t the kind of man who let challenges go unanswered