The Article.

The nature park was alive with the sounds of chirping birds, rustling leaves, and the distant chatter of families and groups enjoying the sunny afternoon. The air was fresh, carrying the scent of blooming flowers and damp earth. Anushka and Mark had found a quiet spot away from the main paths, a secluded area under the shade of a large tree. They sat on a picnic blanket, a basket of snacks between them, their laughter and teasing filling the air as they enjoyed each other's company.

Mark leaned back on his elbows, his grin wide as he watched Anushka unpack the snacks. "I didn't think of you for the picnic type. I thought you'd be more of a 'fancy restaurant with a view' kind of girl."

Anushka rolled her eyes. "And I didn't think you would agree to it. But here we are."

Mark chuckled, reaching for a burger. "Touché. But seriously, this is nice. Just you, me, and nature. No distractions, no interruptions. Just us."

Anushka's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't look away. "It is nice," she admitted, her voice soft. "I like spending time with you, Mark. Even if you are so insufferable."

Mark feigned offense, his hand over his heart. "Insufferable? Me? I'm wounded, Ruhi. Truly wounded."

Anushka laughed, the sound light and carefree. "You'll survive. Now, eat your burger before I change my mind and take it back."

Mark took a bite, his eyes never leaving hers. "You know, you're kind of adorable when you're bossy."

Anushka's cheeks turned a deeper shade of red, and she swatted his arm playfully. "Stop it, Mark."

Mark grinned, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Why should I stop I think you like it."

Before Anushka could respond, a voice interrupted their banter. "Ooh, my God, it's her!"

They both turned to see two girls standing a few feet away, their eyes wide with excitement. One of them was pointing at Anushka, while the other was frantically scrolling through her phone.

"Wait, let me check," the second girl said, her tone urgent as she compared something on her screen to Anushka.

Mark and Anushka exchanged confused glances, their playful mood momentarily disrupted. "Uh… can we help you?" Mark asked, his tone polite but slightly wary.

The first girl ignored him, her attention fully on Anushka. "You're her, aren't you? The one from the webzine!"

Anushka's eyes widened, her confusion growing. "What are you talking about?"

The second girl held up her phone, showing an article with a photo of Anushka from the VoltTech photoshoot. "It's you! You're the one who's dating Mark Bendilani!"

Mark's expression shifted from confusion to irritation. He stood up, his tone firm. "Hey, that's enough. Give me that phone."

The girl hesitated, clutching her phone tightly. "But—"

Mark didn't wait for her to finish. He reached out and gently but firmly took the phone from her hand. His eyes scanned the article, his jaw tightening as he read the headline: "Cyber Genesis Interim President Anushka Ruhi Shah and Mark Bendilani: A Power Couple in the Making?"

Anushka stood up, her heart racing as she looked at Mark. "What does it say?"

Mark handed her the phone, his expression dark. "It's that journalist from the photoshoot. He wrote an article about us."

Anushka's eyes widened as she read the article, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and anger. The article hinted at their relationship, speculating about their history and even mentioning how she had used this relationship to make her way up as the President. It was invasive, sensationalized, and completely out of line.

Mark turned to the girls, his tone calm but firm. "Listen, I get that you're curious, but this is our private life. We'd appreciate it if you didn't spread this around."

The first girl looked sheepish, her excitement fading. "We're sorry. We didn't mean to intrude. It's just… you guys are kind of a big deal."

The second girl nodded, her tone apologetic. "Yeah, we didn't mean to upset you. We'll say nothing to anyone."

Mark's expression softened slightly, and he nodded. "Thank you. We appreciate that."

As the girls walked away, Anushka sank back onto the picnic blanket, her hands trembling slightly as she held her phone. "This is… this is too much, Mark. It's a lie, he lied."

Mark sat down beside her, his arm wrapping around her shoulders in a comforting gesture. "I know, Ruhi. And I'm sorry. I didn't think that journalist would go this far."

Anushka leaned into him, her voice quiet but filled with frustration. "I just… I don't want our relationship to be a spectacle. I don't want people prying into our lives, dissecting every little detail."

Mark's grip tightened, his tone firm but gentle. "I get it, Ruhi. And I promise you, I'll handle this. No one's going to invade our privacy like that again."

Anushka looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and uncertainty. "How? How are you going to stop them, Mark? Once something like this gets out, it's hard to control."

Mark's expression was determined, his gaze steady as he met hers. "I'll talk to Patrick. He's got connections in the media. We'll get this taken down, and we'll make sure no one publishes anything like this again. And if they do, they'll regret it."

Anushka's breath caught at the intensity in his voice, and for a moment, she was reminded of just how powerful Mark could be when he wanted to be. She nodded, her voice soft. "Okay. But… what about us? What does this mean for us?"

Mark's expression softened, and he reached out, his hand cupping her cheek. "It means we're in this together, Ruhi. No matter what happens, we'll face it as a team. And if anyone tries to come between us, they'll have to deal with me."

Anushka's heart swelled with emotion, and she leaned into his touch, her eyes closing for a moment as she savored the warmth of his hand against her skin. When she opened her eyes again, Mark was still watching her, his gaze filled with love and determination.

"Mark," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I… I don't know if I'm ready for all of this. The attention, the scrutiny… it's a lot."

Mark's thumb brushed against her cheek, his tone gentle but firm. "You don't have to be ready, Ruhi. We'll take it one step at a time. And I'll be right here with you, every step of the way."

Anushka's eyes filled with tears, and she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Okay."

Mark pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapping around her tightly. 

Finally, Mark pulled back slightly, his expression softening as he looked at her. "Now, how about we finish this picnic? I think there's still some chocolate in that basket, and I'm not about to let it go to waste."

Anushka laughed, the sound light and carefree despite the weight of the moment. "You're insufferable, Mark."

Mark grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Really! but I think you like it that's why you put up with me."

Anushka's cheeks flushed, but she didn't deny it. Instead, she reached for the basket, her smile genuine as she handed him a piece of chocolate. "Maybe I do."