The Office.

The morning sun streamed through the glass walls of the Bendilani Group headquarters as Mark and Anushka walked through the reception area together. The lobby was bustling with employees, the usual hum of activity filling the space. Janice, the receptionist, greeted them with her usual warm smile as they approached.

"Good morning, Anushka, Mr. Bendilani," Janice said, her tone cheerful. "Lovely to see you both today."

"Morning, Janice," Mark replied, his tone casual but friendly. Anushka offered a polite smile and a nod, her demeanor professional but slightly reserved.

As they made their way toward the private elevator, Anushka kept a careful distance from Mark, her hands clasped in front of her as she walked. She was acutely aware of the eyes on them, the whispers and glances from employees who had likely seen the news article. Mark, however, seemed unfazed. He glanced at her, noticing the way she was trying to maintain her composure, and decided to push her boundaries just a little.

Without warning, he reached out and took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. Anushka's eyes widened, and she tried to pull her hand away, but Mark held on firmly, his grip gentle but unyielding.

"Mark," she whispered her tone a mix of protest and embarrassment. "Let go. People are watching."

Mark glanced at her, his expression calm but mischievous. "So what? Let them watch."

Anushka's cheeks flushed, and she tried to free her hand again, but Mark only tightened his grip. She shot him a look, her eyes narrowing in frustration, but he simply smiled, his gaze steady and unapologetic.

As they stepped into the private elevator, the doors closing behind them, they heard the faint sound of giggling from the lobby. Two employees were whispering to each other, their voices carrying just enough to be heard.

"It's true! They *are* dating!" one of them said, her tone excited.

"What a cute couple," the other added, her voice filled with admiration.

Anushka's face turned a deep shade of red, and she looked away, her free hand nervously smoothing her blazer. Mark, however, seemed completely unfazed. He leaned against the elevator wall, his hand still holding hers, his expression relaxed.

As the elevator began to ascend, Anushka couldn't help but tighten her grip on Mark's hand, her emotions a mix of frustration, embarrassment, and something deeper—something she wasn't ready to admit. Mark noticed the change in her grip and glanced at her, his expression softening.

When the elevator doors opened on their floor, Anushka quickly pulled her hand away and strode into the office, her steps brisk and purposeful. Mark followed, his pace unhurried, a small smile playing on his lips.

Once they were inside the office, Anushka turned to him, her arms crossed over her chest and her expression a mix of anger and exasperation. "Mark, why are you so stubborn? Now the whole building knows about our relationship! Do you have any idea how uncomfortable that makes me?"

Mark closed the door behind him, his expression calm but determined. He walked over to her, his steps slow and deliberate. "Ruhi," he said, his voice soft but firm. "I'm not going to hide how I feel about you. Not from anyone."

Anushka's frustration only grew, and she began pacing the room, her hands gesturing wildly as she spoke. "It's not about hiding, Mark! It's about privacy! About keeping some things just between us! I don't want everyone gossiping about us, speculating about our relationship, prying into our lives!"

Mark watched her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without warning, he stepped forward and pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapping around her tightly. Anushka stiffened, her hands pressing against his chest as she tried to push him away.

"Mark, let go!" she protested, her voice muffled against his chest. "I'm serious!"

But Mark didn't let go. Instead, he held her tighter, his chin resting on top of her head. "Ruhi," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "Listen to me."

Anushka continued to struggle, her frustration evident. "Mark, I—"

Before she could finish, Mark cupped her face in his hands, his gaze intense but filled with affection. He leaned in and kissed her, his lips soft but insistent against hers. Anushka's protests died in her throat, her hands still pressed against his chest but no longer pushing him away.

When he finally pulled back, Anushka's eyes were wide, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps. Mark's expression was soft, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks as he looked at her.

"Everything will be fine, Ruhi," he said, his voice steady and reassuring. "I promise. No matter what happens, we'll handle it together. But I'm not going to pretend you're not the most important person in my life. Not for anyone."

Anushka's heart swelled with emotion, her frustration melting away as she looked into his eyes. She wanted to argue, to tell him how much his stubbornness annoyed her, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

"You are so stubborn, Mark," she said, her voice soft but filled with affection.

Mark smiled, his hands still cupping her face. "Maybe. But you love me anyway."

Anushka's cheeks flushed, but she didn't deny it. Instead, she leaned into his touch, her eyes closing for a moment as she savored the warmth of his hands 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 just… I don't want to lose what we have. I don't want the world to ruin this."

Mark's expression softened, and he pulled her into another hug, his arms wrapping around her tightly. "You won't lose me, Ruhi. Not ever. And nothing—no article, no gossip, no prying eyes—is going to ruin what we have. I won't let it."

Anushka's breath caught, and she buried her face in his chest, her arms wrapping around him as she held him tightly. For a long moment, they just stood there, the world outside their little bubble fading away.

Finally, Mark pulled back slightly, his hands resting on her shoulders as he looked at her. "Now, how about we get to work? We've got a company to run."

Anushka laughed, the sound light and carefree despite the weight of the moment. "Sure."