Episode 4: The War Escalates
884 Words
Tara’s Public Rejection
The office was still reeling from Ammar’s possessiveness at the meeting.
Everyone had seen the way he had shut down the colleague who invited her for drinks.
Everyone had heard the warning in his voice.
And everyone had assumed the same thing:
Tara wasn’t just an employee. She was something more.
But Tara wasn’t about to let this continue.
The next morning, she stormed into Ammar’s office.
The door slammed shut behind her.
"You don’t get to do that," she snapped.
Ammar didn’t even look up from his laptop. "Do what?"
"You know what!" Her hands clenched into fists. "You humiliated me in front of everyone. Now they think—"
"They think the truth?" he cut in smoothly.
Tara’s breath hitched. "The truth? That’s rich, coming from you."
Ammar finally looked at her. His dark eyes burned with something unreadable. "Then tell me, Tara. What exactly is the truth?"
She exhaled sharply. "The truth is that I work here. Nothing more. Nothing less. And I won’t let you—"
Before she could finish, Ammar stood up.
He walked around the desk, closing the distance between them.
"You won’t let me what?" he murmured. "Protect you?"
Tara took a step back. "I don’t need your protection."
Ammar smirked, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "You might want to rethink that, sweetheart."
Her pulse pounded.
"Stay out of my way, Ammar," she whispered.
His gaze dropped to her lips for a fraction of a second before he stepped back.
"Too late for that," he said softly.
Tara turned and walked out.
But the moment she stepped into the hallway, she realized—
Half the office had heard them.
And the rumors exploded.
---
Maya’s Plan – The HR Call
Maya was thriving.
The office gossip had reached a boiling point.
And now, it was time for the final blow.
She walked into HR with a sweet smile.
"I just wanted to raise a concern," she said, voice full of false innocence. "It’s about… favoritism."
The HR manager frowned. "Favoritism?"
Maya sighed. "I just think it’s unfair, you know? Some of us worked for years to earn the CEO’s trust, but suddenly, one employee gets all of his attention. It’s making the workplace… uncomfortable."
She didn’t need to say Tara’s name.
HR got the message.
Minutes later, Tara was called in.
---
Tara’s Breaking Point
Tara sat stiffly in front of the HR manager.
"We’ve received some concerns about… a perceived relationship between you and Mr. Sadiq," the woman said carefully.
Tara’s stomach twisted. "Perceived?"
The manager sighed. "The way he interacts with you… It’s leading to speculation. We just need to ensure professionalism is maintained."
Tara swallowed back her frustration. "So, because he acts a certain way, I’m the one being questioned?"
The manager hesitated. "It’s about office harmony."
Harmony.
Tara clenched her fists.
She had earned this job.
She had worked for this position.
And now, all of it was being reduced to gossip.
She stood up. "There is nothing between me and Ammar Sadiq. And if people are assuming things, that’s their problem, not mine."
The manager nodded. "Of course. We just wanted to check in."
But Tara knew what this was.
A warning.
A warning for a crime she hadn’t even committed.
As she walked out, she saw Maya watching from a distance.
And she understood immediately.
Maya had done this.
And Tara was done playing nice.
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Ammar’s Anger – And A Dangerous Slip
Tara had barely made it back to her desk when she heard her name.
"Tara."
She turned.
Ammar stood there, looking furious.
"Come with me," he ordered.
She almost laughed. "Not a chance."
His jaw clenched. "Tara."
"No, Ammar," she said, her voice low. "I just got pulled into HR because of you. Because you can’t seem to control yourself."
Ammar’s expression darkened. "What did they say?"
Tara folded her arms. "Oh, you know. Just making sure I’m not seducing the CEO for special treatment."
Ammar’s eyes flashed with rage. "Who—"
"It doesn’t matter," she cut him off. "What matters is you need to stop this. I don’t need your protection, your possessiveness, or your—"
She stopped herself just in time.
Ammar took a step closer. "Or my what, Tara?"
Her throat went dry.
His voice was softer now. Almost… vulnerable.
"Or my attention?" he asked quietly.
Her heart pounded.
She hated this.
Hated that he could still make her feel anything.
She exhaled shakily. "I need my career, Ammar. That’s it."
Something in his eyes flickered.
And for the first time… he looked hurt.
But he masked it quickly.
"If that’s what you want," he said, his voice unreadable.
Then he turned and walked away.
And Tara should have felt relieved.
But all she felt was something breaking inside her.
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Flashback – Three Years Ago
A storm raged outside.
Rain poured against the windows.
Tara stood in Ammar’s living room, shaking with anger.
"I can’t do this anymore," she said, voice breaking.
Ammar’s expression was unreadable. "Tara—"
"I’m leaving," she whispered.
A muscle in his jaw twitched. "You promised me."
Her vision blurred. "You promised me, too."
Silence.
Thunder rumbled outside.
And then—
She turned and walked out.
And Ammar didn’t stop her.
---
- Writer
