The heavy glass doors of Khurana Enterprises hissed shut behind Myra. She stood on the sidewalk, the signed contract in her bag feeling like a lead weight. Her skin still felt buzzy where Reyansh had touched her hair, a ghost of his scent clinging to her clothes.
She pulled out her phone and dialed the one person she knew in this sprawling, humid jungle of a city.
"Anjali it's me... I'm in Mumbai "
30 min later
the taxi pulled up to a colorful, slightly cluttered apartment complex in Andheri. Anjali, Myra's best friend from college, was already waiting at the gate. She didn't ask questions. She just saw Myra's pale face and tear-streaked mascara and pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.
"Inside. Now. I have wine, junk food, and a very sharp kitchen knife if we need to go find Arjun," Anjali muttered, dragging Myra and her suitcase toward the elevator
Anjali's apartment was the polar opposite of Reyansh's cold, marble penthouse. It smelled of jasmine incense and burnt popcorn. There were fairy lights draped over a bookshelf and a beanbag in the corner. For the first time in twenty-four hours, Myra felt like she could breathe.
"So," Anjali said, handing Myra a glass of oversized wine once they were settled on the floor. "The jerk cheated. You found out at the office. And then what? Where did you stay last night? You weren't answering your phone!"
"I... I just wandered around. I stayed at a hotel," Myra lied, the guilt gnawing at her. "But Anjali, I got the job. At Khurana Enterprises.
Anjali's eyes widened. "Wait, the Khurana Enterprises? Under Reyansh Khurana? Myra, that man is a shark! They say he fires people for wearing the wrong shade of blue. But... at least it's a distraction from Arjun."
"Yeah," Myra whispered, looking at her bare ring finger. "A distraction."
"Stay here as long as you need," Anjali said firmly, squeezing her hand. "We'll get you back on your feet. No more men, okay? Just you, your career, and me."
Suddenly her phone vibrated
[Unknown Number]: Rule Number Two, Myra. My driver is outside your friend's building. You have ten minutes
The wine nearly spilled. He had tracked her. He knew where Anjali lived.
"Everything okay?" Anjali asked, frowning at Myra's sudden paleness.
"I... I forgot I have to go back to the office for some late-night paperwork," Myra lied, standing up so fast her head spun. "The CEO is... very demanding about deadlines
Anjali groaned. "On your first day? What a ruthless beast!"
You have no idea, Myra thought, her heart racing as she headed for the door.