The first rule of observing people is simple.

Don’t trust what they show you.

Trust what slips.

I spent the next few hours doing exactly what I was supposed to do.

Blend in.

Work. Nod. Listen. Exist.

Like everyone else.

But I wasn’t like everyone else.

I was watching.

“Anaya.”

I looked up from my desk.

Ben stood beside me, holding two cups of coffee.

“Thought you might need this,” he said, placing one in front of me.

Kind.

Too kind.

“Thank you,” I said, taking it.

Our fingers brushed slightly.

Accidental.

Normal.

But his reaction wasn’t.

He pulled back just a second too fast.

Almost like—

He didn’t expect contact.

Interesting.

“You’re settling in quickly,” he said, leaning casually against the desk.

“Trying to,” I replied.

His eyes moved around the office for a brief second.

Quick. Careful.

Checking.

Checking what?

Or… who?

“You’ll like it here,” he added. “It’s not as strict as it looks.”

That didn’t match what I had seen.

Or heard.

Or felt.

“Is it?” I asked lightly.

He smiled again.

“Depends on who you ask.”

Before I could respond, his phone buzzed.

Just once.

But it was enough.

He looked at the screen.

And for the first time—

His expression changed.

Not much.

Most people wouldn’t notice.

But I did.

The ease disappeared.

Replaced by something sharper.

More alert.

He locked the phone instantly.

Too quickly.

“Everything okay?” I asked casually.

“Yeah,” he said. Too fast. “Just work.”

Lie.

And just like that…

The feeling returned.

Something didn’t add up.

“Excuse me.”

The voice came from behind.

Cold.

Familiar.

I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

“Anaya,” he said.

I stood up immediately.

“Yes, sir?”

His gaze moved from me… to ben.

Slow. Calculated.

“I need the revised files,” he said.

Arjun straightened slightly.

“I’ll send them in a few minutes.”

A pause.

“Now.”

The word was quiet.

But it wasn’t a request.

Ben nodded.

“Of course.”

He walked away without another word.

Silence.

Then—

“You seem comfortable already.”

I looked at him.

Careful.

Measured.

“I’m just trying to learn.”

He stepped closer again.

That same controlled distance.

That same pressure.

“From him?”

Straight to the point.

“I’m learning from everyone,” I said calmly.

His eyes held mine.

Searching.

Testing.

“You should be careful who you trust.”

For a second—

I almost smiled.

If only he knew.

“I will keep that in mind,” I replied.

Another pause.

Then he said something that caught me off guard.

“Come to my office.”

That wasn’t part of the plan.

And plans…

Were the only thing keeping this under control.

Or at least—

That’s what I thought.

Because the moment he closed the door behind me…

I realized this wasn’t just a conversation.

It was an interrogation.