Page 52 of Yes Boss
“I’m so sorry,” Ishani began, stepping forward. “It was a delivery. I didn’t expect. I tried to catch him before—”
“He’s very determined,” Raghav interrupted, scratching behind the puppy’s ears with surprising gentleness. The tiny dog leaned into his touch, eyes closing in bliss. “Like someone else I know.”
His gaze met hers over the puppy’s head, something warm and playful there that she’d never seen before. This wasn’t CEO Raghav. This was someone else entirely, someone who laughed freely and held small animals with careful hands.
“Another gift from your admirer?” he asked, though something in his tone suggested he already knew the answer.
Ishani nodded, approaching his desk cautiously. “I didn’t know it would be an actual puppy.”
The puppy spotted Ishani and immediately wriggled with renewed excitement, trying to launch itself toward her. Both of them reached to catch it at the same time, their hands meeting in the process. His fingers wrapped around hers for a brief, electric moment before they both pulled back, the puppy safely cradled in Raghav’s arms.
“This can’t stay here,” he said, his voice gentle but firm as he held the squirming ball of fur. “The office isn’t set up for pets.”
“I know,” Ishani agreed, reaching out to stroke the puppy’s soft head. “I’ll figure something out.”
“Your apartment building allows pets?” Raghav asked, though something in his expression suggested he already knew the answer to this as well.
“No,” she admitted. “No pets policy.”
Raghav nodded, as if he’d expected this. “I’ll have my driver take it to my place,” he said, the decision already made. “I have more than enough space.”
“But that’s too much trouble—”
“It’s no trouble,” he cut her off smoothly. “Unless you have another solution?”
Ishani bit her lip. She didn’t.
“Then I’ll keep him at my place until we figure something out.”
We.
The word hung between them, small but significant. Notyoufigure something out, butwe. As if they were already a unit, a team making decisions together.
The puppy yawned, small pink tongue peeking out, and settled more comfortably against his chest, as if it had already chosen its temporary home. The sight was almost absurd. This tiny creature, curled trustingly against the most intimidating man in the building.
Something softened in Ishani’s chest.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
Raghav’s eyes met hers, holding her gaze for a long moment. “Don’t thank me yet,” he replied, something like a promise hidden in the words. “We still have tomorrow.”
Ishani blinked at the cryptic statement. Before she could react, Raghav had already called his driver to take the puppy home.
The entire office watched in stunned silence as Raghav Khanna, CEO and notorious workaholic, cradled the puppy against his chest with unexpected tenderness. The sight questioned everything they thought they knew about him. Ishani stood frozen in the doorway of the conference room.
“I’ll take him down to my car,” Raghav announced, adjusting his grip as the puppy nuzzled into the crook of his arm. “Everyone back to work.”
No one moved. The command that would normally send people scurrying back to their desks seemed to bounce off an invisible wall of collective shock.
Raghav walked toward the elevator with the same confident stride he used entering boardrooms. The difference was in his face—his usual mask of sternness had softened, the corners of his mouth lifting whenever the puppy licked his hand or wiggled against him.
“It’s okay, little one,” he murmured, his voice so low that only those nearest could hear. His finger stroked between the puppy’s ears, the gesture surprisingly gentle from hands that typically signed million-dollar contracts with ruthless precision. “We’ll get you settled.”
As he passed Kavya’s desk, the puppy stretched toward her, tiny paws reaching out. Raghav paused, allowing Kavya to pet the excited bundle of fur.
“He likes you,” he said, his tone casual, as if he regularly discussed puppies with his employees.
Kavya’s eyes widened. “He’s adorable, Boss.”
