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Episode 3: The Firestorm Begins

The Office Buzz – The Wrong Assumptions

The moment Ammar said "I’m not touching you for the first time, Tara," the office went into chaos.

But not the way Tara expected.

No one assumed they had history.

Instead, whispers spread like wildfire.

"She must be special to the boss."

"She’s been here for barely a month, and he’s already protective of her?"

"Maybe she’s one of those women who know how to get close to powerful men."

Tara heard the hushed voices.

And she hated it.

She had worked too hard to be reduced to a woman who “had something” with the boss.

She stormed out of the meeting, heart pounding.

Ammar had no idea what he had just done to her reputation.

---

Maya’s Poisonous Words

Maya smirked as she watched the way people whispered about Tara.

Perfect.

She didn’t need to do much. The office was already painting Tara as someone who had caught the CEO’s interest in all the wrong ways.

She sat with a few colleagues at lunch, her voice casual but sharp.

"I mean… don’t you think it’s strange? A new employee, and suddenly, Mr. Ammar is acting so… territorial?"

One of the women frowned. "You think she’s after him?"

Maya gave a fake smile. "Oh, I don’t know. But if I were Tara, I’d be careful. Women who play these games usually end up losing."

And just like that, the seed was planted.

---

Haider’s Confrontation – The Breaking Point

Haider couldn’t stay silent anymore.

He found Tara after work, standing outside the office, staring at the city lights.

"You need to stop this," he said.

She turned, confused. "Stop what?"

Haider’s jaw tightened. "Letting people think you’re… whatever they think you are to Ammar."

Tara’s stomach twisted. "I never said anything!"

"You didn’t have to," Haider said bitterly. "He’s making it obvious. And you’re letting him."

She clenched her fists. "You think I want this? You think I enjoy people whispering about me like I’m some gold-digger?"

Haider exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Then why aren’t you fighting back?"

Tara swallowed hard. "Because I don’t know how."

She didn’t know how to undo the damage Ammar had caused with a single sentence.

And worse—she didn’t know why part of her heart still reacted to him.

---

Ammar’s Possessiveness – A Public Display

The next day, everything got worse.

During a meeting, a male colleague leaned toward Tara, whispering, "You should join us for drinks. Would love to see you outside of work."

It was innocent.

But Ammar’s head snapped up instantly.

"Tara doesn’t need to entertain anyone outside of work," he said coldly.

The room fell into stunned silence.

Tara’s breath caught. Not again.

She turned sharply. "That’s not for you to decide, Ammar."

His dark eyes locked onto hers. "Maybe. But I won’t allow it."

Allow it?

The entire office was watching.

And now, everyone was convinced.

Tara wasn’t just another employee.

She was something more.

And she had never felt more trapped.