[Kartikey's POV – 2 Days Later | 7:14 PM]
"She hasn't messaged since morning."
Kartikey stared at his phone screen.
No response. Not even a read receipt.
He'd only texted something simple:
"Hey, want me to cook tonight? Or ordering in?"
But it was now past 7. She should've left work already.
His mind played out a few options:
Maybe her phone died.
Maybe she was just tired.
Still... it had never been this quiet before.
He sighed and looked down at the small plastic bag in his hand milk, eggs, and instant ramen.
Tonight felt unusually long.
[Nancy's POV – Earlier That Day | 3:30 PM | Luxury Auto Lounge, Seoul]
"Are you sure this isn't too flashy?" Nancy asked, arms folded, looking at the latest Porsche Panamera on the showroom floor.
Vansh chuckled. "My dad owns a shipping empire, Nancy. You think he's gonna settle for a used hatchback?"
Nancy didn't even smile.
Truth was she didn't want to be here.
But when Vansh had shown up in the morning, pretending to be desperate for her input because "no one had her taste," she gave in.
Barely.
They'd gone from car to car, test drive to test drive, and she kept glancing at her phone.
She had already told Kartikey she might be busy today, but she still didn't like being this unreachable.
Then it happened.
She was seated in the backseat of a moving Bentley Continental, as Vansh rambled on about leather options.
That's when she saw him.
Kartikey.
He was standing across the road in front of a motorcycle dealership.
The wind ruffled his messy hair, and he looked completely absorbed.
His gaze was fixed on the display window, where a BMW M1000 RR stood like a beast from another world.
Nancy blinked. For one second, the entire city went silent.
He wasn't smiling. But there was a light in his eyes she hadn't seen before.
Pure fascination. Pure want.
She leaned a bit toward the window, but the Bentley turned the corner and he was gone.
"...what do you think, Nancy?"
She turned her head slowly. Vansh was looking at her.
"Sorry, what?"
"I said, should I go with the AMG or the Carrera? You were zoning out," he laughed.
She forced a smile. "You should go with whichever suits you best."
But her mind… was still stuck on that image. Kartikey. That bike. That look.
[Kartikey's POV – Late Evening | 9:41 PM]
He was brushing his teeth when the phone pinged.
Nancy💬: "Sorry for not replying earlier. Vansh dragged me to look at cars all day. I'm finally heading back now. You still awake?"
He typed quickly.
Kartikey💬: "Yeah. Hope it wasn't boring."
Her reply came fast.
Nancy💬: "It was. You looked better than any car I saw today, to be honest."
He stared at the message, confused.
Kartikey💬: "Huh?"
Nancy💬: "I saw you. Outside that BMW showroom. You were staring at a bike like it was the love of your life."
He felt a small flutter in his chest.
Kartikey💬: "Damn. You didn't stop?"
Nancy💬: "I wanted to. But I didn't. I figured if you were supposed to know, you'd see me too."
Kartikey💬: "Sneaky."
Nancy💬: "I try."
[Nancy's POV – Midnight | Her Apartment]
Nancy stepped inside and took off her heels.
She didn't even turn on the lights just dropped onto the couch, stared at the ceiling, and let her mind wander.
Vansh had tried too hard today.
Always pushing small compliments into the conversation.
Always trying to insert himself into her schedule.
And when she had mentioned Kartikey just once his face had twisted for a second.
Like a crack behind a mask.
"He's trying to pull me away," she thought.
But what Vansh didn't understand wasNancy didn't do things she didn't want to do.
She closed her eyes and whispered to herself, "He thinks he can win by wasting my time."
Her eyes opened again, sharp and cold.
"Let's see how long he lasts in my game."
[Vansh's POV – Same Time | Penthouse Suite, Lotte Tower]
Vansh leaned back on his leather recliner, swirling whiskey in a crystal glass.
His assistant was reading out next week's meetings.
"Cancel my Friday. Tell them Nancy's reviewing the contracts personally."
"But she didn't—"
"She will. Tell them to keep her till late."
He sipped. "The longer I keep her in rooms I control, the more cracks I'll find."
He looked at his phone.
No response from Nancy since that last emoji she sent him.
"Don't worry, sweetheart. He's not built for your world."