Trapped in the Dark

Saira POV

As the last board member left, Raj’s gaze shifted slowly to me, intense and unreadable. “Come to my office,” he ordered, his voice low and firm. I followed him out of the boardroom, and out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Sophia gritting her teeth in anger. I didn’t dwell on her strange behavior, though; I was too focused on keeping up with Raj.

Once inside his office, the door closed behind us with a soft click. I barely had a moment to register the silence before Raj’s hands were on me, pinning me gently against the wall. He raised my arms above my head, his face only inches from mine, his dark eyes holding me captive. His gaze felt as if he were looking straight into my soul, peeling back my defenses. He leaned in close, his lips just brushing my ear as he spoke in a low, almost tender tone. “You should have told me about the problem you were facing. But you chose to handle it alone… why?”

His warm breath sent shivers down my spine, and I felt a flutter of butterflies in my stomach. My breath hitched as I struggled to keep my composure, his presence overwhelming. In a hushed voice, I managed to reply, “I didn’t want you to think I wasn’t capable… that I couldn’t handle this role.” My voice faltered, my heart pounding. “And… I didn’t think I could trust you.”

A flash of something darker crossed his eyes. Without a word, his hands slid down to my waist, drawing me closer, and he began to trail gentle, lingering kisses down the side of my neck. My mind spun, caught between the heat of his touch and the soft hum of his breath against my skin. Suddenly, I felt a sharp nip as he bit down, just enough to make me gasp. He sucked at the spot to soothe the sting, leaving a mark that seemed to claim me.

He pulled back, a slight smirk on his lips. “That’s your punishment for not trusting me,” he murmured. “From now on, if you face any problem, you come straight to me. The first thought in your mind should be me. Understood?”

I was still trying to steady myself, lost in the haze of everything that had just happened. Why hadn’t I stopped him? Why had I let him close the distance, let him do whatever he wanted?

Before I could answer, he pulled me back to him by my waist, his gaze firm. “Are you listening to me, Saira?” he asked, his voice a blend of authority and something dangerously intimate.

All I could manage was a nod, still at a loss for words. Satisfied, he released his hold, stepping back to give me room. “Tomorrow, your desk will be moved here. You’ll be working in my office from now on. For now, you can check with Alexa or Sophia to get your next tasks.”

I barely registered his words, nodding again, before slowly making my way out. My mind was still racing, my pulse quickened, and all I could think was: what had just happened between us?

I stepped out of Raj’s office, still reeling from our encounter, my heart racing as I tried to steady my breaths. I made my way toward the elevator, hoping to reach Alexa’s office and settle into my next task. But just as the elevator doors came into sight, I felt an icy gaze on me.

Sophia stood a few feet away, arms crossed, glaring at me with a look that could freeze fire. The way she stared me down made every instinct tell me to turn and take another route. I decided on the spot to pivot and head toward Alexa instead, but before I could make my escape, Sophia’s voice rang out, sharp and mocking.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she sneered, eyes glinting. “Running away from your work already?”

I froze, frustration bubbling under my skin. I wasn’t “running away,” but explaining myself to Sophia felt useless. I clenched my jaw, choosing to hold my tongue as she took a few steps closer, her expression turning smug.

“Follow me,” she said, gesturing down the hall with a condescending smile. “There’s a ton of work waiting for you, and we wouldn’t want the CEO’s new secretary slacking on her very first day, would we?”

I bit back a retort, forcing myself to nod instead. Just when I thought I’d barely survived one challenge, Sophia seemed all too eager to pile on another. 

As Sophia and I stepped into the elevator, an uncomfortable silence settled between us. I could feel her smug gaze lingering on me, but I kept my eyes fixed on the elevator doors, willing the ride to be over as quickly as possible.

Then, without warning, the elevator jolted to a halt. I grabbed onto the railing, steadying myself as a flicker of panic crossed my mind. Before I could even process what was happening, the lights went out, plunging us into complete darkness.

My breath hitched, and I could hear Sophia’s sharp intake of air beside me. The air felt thick and suffocating in the pitch black, and I fought the rising wave of panic clawing at my chest.

"Are… are we stuck?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.