Jane pov
I stood frozen by the countertop, fingers still lightly curled around the edge of the tray, as if letting go would make my knees buckle.
Zayn's words echoed in my mind on loop:
"Because you're still bitter I never looked at you the way I look at her."
He had said it in front of meera. In front of her.
He had defended her.
Her.
A nobody secretary with a less-than-stellar record and no reason to be noticed, much less… protected.
i didn't even know how to breathe.
"Hey."
i flinched.
A soft voice came from behind me — warm, not mocking. i turned to see Amira, the soft-spoken admin assistant from floor two. Always with kind eyes. Always with peppermint lip balm and a neat little bun.
"I'm sorry," Amira said gently. "I didn't mean to startle you."
i shook her head. "No, you're fine. I just… I wasn't expecting—"
"I saw what happened," Amira said quietly, stepping closer, glancing around to make sure no one else was nearby. "With meera."
my stomach sank. "Oh."
Amira leaned on the counter beside me, folding her arms. "Don't take anything she says to heart. That woman's been bitter since the day I started here."
"She said I don't belong here."
"She says that to every woman who walks in pretty, quiet, and under thirty." Amira smirked. "You could be Mother Teresa and she'd still find a reason to hate you."
i gave a half-laugh. "She really doesn't like me."
"She doesn't like that Mr Anderson looked at you like he did today," Amira said without missing a beat.
i blinked. "You noticed that?"
"Everyone noticed that."
i looked down at my hands. "Why is she so… obsessed with him?"
Amira hesitated. Then leaned in just slightly. "Can I tell you something? Off the record?"
I nodded.
"There's a story from last year's leadership conference in Dubai. It wasn't official gossip, but half the admin team knows."
i waited, heart oddly caught between dread and curiosity.
"meera got drunk," Amira whispered. "Like, really drunk. They say she cornered Mr Anderson by the rooftop bar, tried to—well—throw herself at him. Told him he was everything she'd been waiting for. That she could help him 'heal.' Whatever that meant."
my brows lifted. "He didn't…"
"No. He rejected her. Cold. Publicly. Said he doesn't mix business and… other things. She was humiliated. I think someone from PR had to escort her back to her suite."
i stared at the countertop.
That explained a lot.
"After that," Amira continued, "she's been… worse. Especially toward anyone Anderson so much as acknowledges. She thinks everyone's a threat."
i looked up slowly. "Even me?"
Amira gave a small smile. "Especially you."
They stood in silence for a moment. i let the words settle. She felt… seen. Not just by Amira — but by Zayn.
"I should get back to my desk," i said, voice quieter now.
"Hey," Amira said before I could leave. "Don't let people like meera make you shrink. You're not the problem."
I nodded slowly. "Thank you."
I turned and walked back to my desk with my thoughts spiraling.
i wasn't sure what scared me more — meera's jealousy…
Or Zayn's eyes when he'd said what he did.
Zayn pov
The lounge was quiet when i turned the corner.
i had only meant to refill my coffee. That's all. i didn't need interruptions — especially not after back-to-back meetings and a morning full of half-competent reports.
But then i saw them.
Jane, standing stiffly by the counter.
And meera, too close, voice dripping sugar and venom.
i didn't move right away. Just watched.
Jane's shoulders were tense. Eyes flickering — trapped, not responding.
And meera… playing her little game again.
i should've walked away.
Instead, i stepped closer. Silent. Listening.
meera's voice was soft, but her tone was sharp. "Just saying, the executive floor can be… disorienting for some. Secretaries. Interns. People not used to real pressure."
I watched Jane blink. Still quiet. Still trying to hold herself together.
meera leaned in further, like a snake offering a favor before the bite.
"You might want to start polishing your résumé."
my jaw clenched.
Enough.
"meera."
Her name left my mouth like ice.
Both women froze.
Jane's spine went rigid. meera spun around, that familiar bright smile already plastered on her face like a shield.
"mr Anderson," she said lightly. "I was just—"
"Harassing my staff?"
Flat. Unapologetic.
I saw the twitch in her eye. The forced calm in her laugh.
"I wasn't—"
"She's under my command," I said, stepping closer. "If there's an issue with her, it goes through me."
"Of course," meera said quickly. "But I was just offering advice—"
"Unasked for. Unnecessary. And clearly motivated." my tone sharpened. "You forget I know exactly how you operate, meera."
The pause that followed was deliciously painful.
Jane was still. Quiet. But i could feel her confusion behind him — and something else.
meeta's expression shifted, lips tightening. "You think I'm being petty? Over her?"
"I think you're being sloppy," i replied. "And emotional. Which is dangerous. Especially for someone who couldn't even keep her emotions in check after one glass of champagne at last year's conference."
There.
The blow landed.
meera's face drained, then flushed red. She looked at Jane — the way people do when they've been undressed in public.
"You really want to bring that up in front of her?" she hissed, lower now.
"I don't care who hears it," I said simply. "But I won't tolerate you cornering my assistant because you're still bitter I never looked at you the way I look at her."
ihadn't planned to say that.
It slipped. Too raw. Too real.
And yet… i didn't take it back.
meera stared at him, stunned. Then at Jane
No words.
She turned sharply, heels clicking like bullets, and vanished down the hall.
Silence.
i let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Jane spoke, barely above a whisper. "You didn't have to…"
i looked at her. Eyes wide. Lips parted. So unaware of what she was starting to mean.
"She crossed a line," I said. "I don't let that slide."
i moved past her without hesitation.
But just before the door shut behind him, i paused.
Something twisted in my chest.
Possessiveness.
Confusion.
Regret?
No.
It was nothing.
Absolutely nothing.