Page 84 of Okay Boss
“I need you to stand in for this scene.”
Her heart stuttered. “What? No. Anika Ma’am’s right there...”
“I know where Anika is.” His voice was matter-of-fact, entirely practical. “But I’m not connecting with the blocking. The spatial dynamics are off. I need someone shorter to get the angle right.”
It was a completely reasonable explanation. Professional. Logical.
It was also complete bullshit, and they both knew it.
She dropped her voice. “I’m not an actress. I don’t know what I’m supposed to...”
“You don’t need to do anything except stand there.” His hand found hers, fingers threading through with casual ease. “Five minutes to get the positioning right, then we’ll shoot it properly with Anika.”
The lie was so smooth she almost believed it.
“This is ridiculous...”
“Farhan,” Vikram called over his shoulder, not waiting for her agreement. “I’m going to run through it once with Divya. Check sight lines.”
Farhan’s eyebrows rose nearly to his hairline. “Your... wife?”
“She’s the right height,” Vikram said, as if this explained everything. “And she’s here. It’s efficient.”
“Sure.” Farhan’s grin was unholy. “Very efficient. Anika, take five.”
Anika stepped aside gracefully, shooting Divya a look that was pure amusement.
Before Divya could protest further, Vikram was guiding her toward the set, his fingers wrapped around her wrist, not rough, not forceful, simply inevitable.
She found herself positioned in the middle of the set, the same spot where Anika had stood moments before. The lights were hot. The crew was watching. And Vikram was standing closer than necessary, looking at her with an intensity that had nothing to do with sight lines.
“Relax,” he said quietly. “This is technical work.”
She managed a nod, not trusting her voice.
“Action,” Farhan called, sounding far too entertained.
Vikram’s entire demeanor shifted. His voice dropped, rough and raw. “I know I’m your boss. I know this crosses every professional line we have. But I can’t...” He stepped closer, his hand finding her waist. “I can’t pretend anymore that you’re only my assistant.”
This was the dialogue from the script. She’d heard it during revisions. But hearing it directed at her face, feeling his hand warm against her waist, seeing his eyes focused entirely on her, it didn’t feel like blocking.
“I tried to ignore it,” he continued, his forehead nearly touching hers now. “Tried to maintain distance. But every time you walk into my office, every time you anticipate what I need before I ask, every time you look at me like...” His thumb traced her lower lip. “...like you’re seeing something worth seeing, I lose myself a little more.”
Her breath caught. She wasn’t supposed to react. This was positioning. Nothing more.
“Tell me to stop,” he whispered, so quiet only she could hear. “Tell me this is inappropriate.”
She couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t remember why this was supposed to be pretend.
“Cut!” Farhan’s voice broke the spell. “Perfect! That’s exactly what I needed. Vikram, can you replicate that energy with Anika?”
Vikram stepped back slowly, his hand leaving her waist with visible reluctance. His eyes never left hers.
“Sure,” he said. “I’ll try.”
But when he ran the scene with Anika, something was missing. The intensity was there, the technical performance flawless, but that raw edge, the thing that had made Divya forget to breathe, was gone.
Farhan noticed it too. Called cut after the second take.
