Page 108 of Okay Boss
Vikram felt something warm expand in his chest. There. That expression. That genuine, unguarded joy. This was exactly what he'd been hoping to see.
"You've been working non-stop," he said, settling onto the edge of the bed. "Between managing my schedule and studying for exams. Everyone needs a break."
"But how did you know I wanted to see this?" She looked at the tickets again, then back at his face. "I never mentioned..."
"You didn't have to mention it." He leaned back on his hands, entirely too pleased with himself. "You had the theater website open on your laptop. Three weeks ago. During that production meeting. You closed it quickly when I walked in, but I saw the tab."
Her mouth opened. Closed. "You noticed that?"
"I notice everything." He said it simply, as if observing her laptop tabs was normal behavior. "Also, your thesis research is literally about documentary filmmaking. Didn't take a detective."
She stared at him, something in her expression shifting. Softening. "Thank you. Really. This is incredible."
"There's one condition." His eyes glinted. "We have to go incognito."
"Incognito?"
"Disguises. Professional-grade makeup. The full transformation." He gestured dramatically. "Can't risk being recognized and turning our date into a circus."
The worddatehungin the air.
"I'm thinking different hair for me. Contacts to change eye color. Maybe a beard. Very intellectual graduate student aesthetic."
"A fake beard?" She couldn't help the laugh that escaped.
"Aconvincingfake beard," he corrected. "There's a difference. And for you, different glasses maybe. Change your whole look so nobody recognizes you as 'Mrs. Khanna.'"
"This sounds very elaborate for a two-hour screening."
"This sounds very necessary for a two-hour screening without interruption." He stood, moving toward the door with that samesatisfied energy. "Sunday. Seven PM. Be ready at four-thirty for the transformation."
"Wait, transformation takes that long?"
"Have you never gone incognito before?" He paused at the door, looking back with mock disappointment. "Amateur. Professional makeup artists, the works. We're going full spy movie."
"For a documentary."
"For an experience." His mouth curved. "Trust me."
She looked down at the tickets again. "Thank you, Boss. This is really..."
The temperature in the room dropped five degrees.
Vikram’s expression shifted from playful to something sharper. Not angry. But pointed. Deliberate.
He stared at her. Just stared. No words. Just that look that saidreally? We're doing this again?
"Sorry!" The word came out automatically. "Sorry, I just... it's habit..."
He continued staring. Eyebrow raised. Waiting.
She faltered, words dying in her throat. She knew what he wanted. For her to say his name. To use it naturally, casually, the way a wife should. But something in her chest resisted. Saying his name felt too intimate. Too real. Too much like admitting this was more than their careful arrangement.
"Sorry," she repeated, softer this time. Then fell silent.
The moment stretched. Vikram's jaw flexed slightly. He recognized the wall when he saw it. Could see her retreatingbehind professional distance even while holding tickets he'd secured specifically for her.
One step forward. Half a step back.
