From Broken Trust to endless love (Vol-3)

From Broken Trust to endless love

As the weeks passed, Mihir and Kavya  relationship blossomed in a way neither of them had anticipated. Despite the clarity they had about their feelings for each other, they knew that stepping into the light with their romance wouldn’t be as simple as just being open. The world they navigated was complicated—Mihir ’s business empire, the expectations of his high-profile life, and the judgment that often followed those in the public eye. And Kavya , though beloved in the company, had always kept a relatively low profile.

So, they decided to keep their relationship a secret—for now. It wasn’t because they were ashamed, but rather because they needed time. Time to be certain of where their hearts stood, time to figure out how to balance their personal lives with the responsibilities they each held in their professional worlds.

Mihir ’s days had become a careful dance of routine and restraint. Kavya  was his rock, always by his side, but the dynamic between them at work remained professional. In meetings, they exchanged the occasional glance, a subtle gesture of reassurance, but never anything more. It was as if the office world was one that didn’t acknowledge the quiet connection that had grown between them. And as much as Mihir hated it, they couldn’t risk being open. Not yet.

Every time Mihir walked into a meeting room, he had to remind himself to keep his distance, to act like the professional CEO he had built himself to be. Kavya , too, maintained the same façade. She was always on top of her work, attentive, and efficient—exactly how everyone in the office expected her to be.

But there were moments. Small moments. Like when she’d brush past him in the hallway, her hand grazing his, and their eyes would meet with a silent promise. Or when she would stay late to work on reports, and they’d share a quiet dinner in the office together. Their moments of togetherness, fleeting as they were, became more precious with each passing day.

One evening, after a particularly draining board meeting, Mihir and Kavya  found themselves alone in his office, the city lights twinkling below. They both stood by the window, taking in the view in silence.

“I don’t think I can keep doing this much longer,” Kavya  said softly, breaking the silence. Her voice, though calm, betrayed a sense of weariness. “Pretending we’re just colleagues all the time. It’s exhausting.”

Mihir glanced over at her, his heart aching. He could feel the same frustration in himself, but he also understood why they couldn’t reveal their relationship just yet.

“I know,” he replied, his voice low. “It’s hard, Kavya . But I just… I’m not ready to risk everything, you know? I can’t have the media or the company turning this into something it isn’t. People might think you only got this far because of our relationship. And that’s not who you are.”

Kavya  nodded, her eyes downcast. “I get it. I really do. But I don’t want to feel like we’re hiding. I don’t want to feel like I’m part of a secret.”

Mihir turned to face her, walking over and gently taking her hands in his. “I don’t want that either. You mean too much to me, Kavya . You deserve better than hiding in the shadows. I just need time. I need to figure out how to manage this… the right way.”

She squeezed his hands, giving him a soft smile. “I know. And I’m willing to wait. I just don’t want to keep pretending forever.”

Mihir ’s heart swelled with both gratitude and guilt. He knew she was right. They couldn’t keep living in this limbo forever. But at the same time, he couldn’t ignore the immense weight of their secret. The company was watching. The media would be relentless.

And then there were their families.

The first test came during a company event—an annual gala where the biggest names in the tech world gathered, including major investors, executives, and even the media. Mihir had been preparing for the night for weeks, making sure everything was in place. Kavya , as always, was at his side, helping him organize the logistics of the evening. But as the night drew closer, Mihir could feel the pressure mounting. He wanted to be with Kavya , wanted to show her off to the world, but he knew the consequences of doing so.

“Are you ready for tonight?” Kavya  asked as she stood beside him, adjusting his tie, her fingers brushing against his neck.

Mihir nodded, giving her a small, appreciative smile. “As ready as I’ll ever be. But we need to be careful tonight, Kavya . You know the media will be watching everything. If they catch even a glimpse of us—of us together—it could get messy.”

Kavya  expression softened, her eyes understanding. “I know, Mihir . But I’ll be there with you. We’ll just… do our best to keep everything professional. No one needs to know.”

The evening unfolded as expected. The guests mingled, the conversations flowed easily, and Mihir kept his focus on the business side of the event. But every once in a while, his eyes would wander to Kavya  across the room. She looked stunning in a navy-blue gown, her hair styled to perfection. There was something about the way she moved through the crowd—graceful, confident—that made him proud. Yet, they were careful not to interact too openly. Their brief exchanges were confined to small moments, hidden behind the bustle of the event.

However, the tension was palpable. Mihir had to remind himself to maintain a distance, to act as though he and Kavya  were nothing more than colleagues. But the harder he tried to control the situation, the more frustrated he became. He had never been good at pretending, and tonight, it felt like a performance he could no longer sustain.

The following week, the first crack in their secret relationship came from an unexpected source: the media.

A tabloid magazine had caught wind of the “mysterious connection” between Mihir and Kavya . They had been spotted in a cozy, intimate conversation at the gala—just a few moments, fleeting glances, and a shared laugh. Nothing overtly romantic, but enough to spark rumors. The magazine ran a headline: “Tech CEO’s ‘Secret’ Assistant: Is There More Than Just Business Between Mihir Sharma’s  and Kavya  Ford?”

The article was a mix of speculation and half-truths. It painted Kavya  as a “mysterious woman” who had worked her way into Mihir ’s personal life, while the accompanying pictures were grainy and vague enough to keep the details unclear. The media didn’t have enough proof to draw definitive conclusions, but it didn’t stop them from sensationalizing the story. And as expected, Mihir ’s company was flooded with calls for comment.

Kavya  was the first one to receive the message.

“I saw the article,” she said quietly, sitting across from Mihir in his office the next morning. Her hands were clasped tightly together. “The tabloids… I never thought this would happen so soon.”

Mihir clenched his jaw, frustration boiling inside him. “This was exactly what I was afraid of,” he said, pacing around the room. “I can’t believe this is happening now.”

Kavya  voice was calm, but her eyes betrayed the concern she was feeling. “We can’t keep pretending anymore, Mihir . The media won’t let us. And we can’t keep lying about our feelings, either. Not to ourselves.”

Mihir stopped pacing and looked at her, his heart heavy with the weight of everything. “I know. I know this is going to make things complicated, but I don’t regret it, Kavya . I don’t regret us.”

Her lips curled into a small, genuine smile. “Then let’s stop hiding, Mihir . We’ve waited long enough.”

And in that moment, Mihir realized she was right. He had spent so many years running from the truth, from vulnerability. He couldn’t hide anymore. It was time to face whatever came next, with Kavya  by his side. The media, his family, the company—everything else would have to adjust. They had already adjusted to each other, and that was all that mattered.

“You’re right,” Mihir said softly, his voice filled with determination. “Let’s face this together.”

And from that day on, they decided to stop hiding. Whatever came next, they would face it as partners—in love and in life.

TO BE CONTINUED