CHAPTER 3 （WAR OF HEARTS）
KRISH
I was at the combat training room early on a Sunday, working out my frustrations on the punching bag.
This morning, my dad, who happened to be the president of GLEN, called me, questioning why I hadn’t returned to Austria yet and what was prolonging my stay in India.
Even though all the necessary paperwork was completed, I couldn’t bring myself to explain that taking the next flight back would mean putting miles between me and the woman who had been occupying my thoughts—Trisha.
Ever since meeting Trisha, I hadn’t been able to get her out of my head.
These days, I often thought about her strength, skill, and undeniable beauty.
She was unlike any woman I had ever met.
Despite the training protocols at GLEN, emphasizing the need to keep personal lives separate from missions, even if it meant giving them up, I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about her.
I felt an undeniable desire to get to know Trisha better, to spend time with her.
Although I already knew every detail of her personal life through the background check conducted when we hired her, I found myself craving more.
With each punch, I replayed the puzzled expression on my dad’s face during our video call earlier today when I informed him about needing an extra week or two in India to wrap up some undisclosed matters.
I could have come up with a more convincing excuse, but at that moment, nothing came to mind.
Dad’s reaction made it clear that he wasn’t buying my explanation either.
He possessed the ability to see though my lies just by looking at me, a skill he excelled at.
It wasn’t just limited to me; his adeptness at psychologically reading any agent made it nearly impossible to keep secrets from him.
There was a reason he held the position of President in this international law enforcement organisation—decades of experience and unparalleled knowledge had honed his ability to understand the minds and struggles of individuals.
I was lost in thought when suddenly I heard her voice behind me. “I didn’t know Directors had to keep up with the combat training,” Trisha said playfully.
I glanced back, my heart leaping at the sight of her. Hoping to sound casual, I replied with a flirtatious wink, “Not all Directors. Only those aiming to impress certain agents.”
I felt her cheeks flush, but she tried to remain nonchalant. I continued to punch the bag while she watched me admiringly as I showed off my moves. I was eager to impress her, and landed my hardest punches.
“It’s been a while since I practiced this,” I admitted as I continued.
“Here, let me.” She stepped forward to hold the bag steady for me. Thrilled by her proximity, I resumed my rhythmic punches as she observed closely.
“Your form is good, but you’re dropping your left shoulder on those crosses,” she said. “To maximise the effectiveness and power of each punch, you need to correct that form.”
Unable to resist demonstrating, Trisha gently placed a hand on my shoulder. “Keep it up, like this.”
Her touch ignited sparks within me, and I couldn’t help but steal glances at her lovely face as she corrected my posture.
“Yes, that’s it,” she added, providing guidance while catching glimpses of my charming smile, reserved only for her. We both were hyper-aware of our closeness, our hands occasionally brushing against each other. By the end, all I wanted was to keep her by my side.
Grabbing a towel, I kept my gaze fixed on her.
“We should train together more often,” I suggested, my voice unintentionally soft. “At least until I am here.”
My heart soared as she warmly smiled. This woman had awakened something in me that I had never felt before.
“And how long are you here?” Trisha inquired.
“Two more weeks,” I shrugged. “So, let’s make the most of it.”
“Are you inviting me on a combat training date, Director?” she smiled again, making my heart flutter even more.
“Why not? But if you don’t like it, maybe we can settle for a real date… over dinner?” I suggested hopefully.
I really longed to know her better beyond our physical chemistry during training.
“We’ll see, Director,” she replied, letting the possibility linger tantalisingly between us.
Trisha then turned to leave, unable to hide her own smile. Watching her walk away, I knew I had to find out if what we had between us was more than just attraction. Being with Trisha made me believe that maybe, just maybe, I could experience a feeling deeper than anything I’d ever known—Love.
**************
A week later
Since that day, Trisha and I continued to cross paths during her morning workout in the gym or in the combat training room, where I practiced my combat skills.
We slowly fell into easy conversation, chatting and joking about nothing of significance.
With Trisha, things just felt natural and unforced.
Time seemed to stand still during those perfect moments when it was just the two of us, all professional barriers forgotten.
I found myself sharing things with her that I normally kept private.
I shared about my life as a Director at GLEN in Austria, the encouragement and trust I received from my father, and my close-knit circle of friends.
About Ayaan Shergill, my best friend and fellow Director at GLEN in Austria, who held a special place in my life.
I told her almost everything. Trisha was so easy to talk to, and she always listened with genuine interest. In return, I was fascinated by learning tidbits about her life outside of GLEN.
Every new detail, no matter how small, felt like discovering a hidden treasure.
She was slowly opening up to me like I was happily bonding with her.
It was a quiet Sunday morning, and I was in my office finishing up some reports that just couldn’t wait.
As the Director of GLEN, the concept of a “day off” didn’t really exist for me.
I was so focused on the task at hand that I didn’t even hear the knock at my door at first. When I glanced up, I was pleasantly surprised to see Trisha entering my office holding two steaming cups of coffee.
“Thought you could use a pick-me-up,” she said with a smile, offering me one of the cups.
“You read my mind,” I replied gratefully as I accepted the coffee.
A faint electric spark surged through me as our fingers lightly brushed during the exchange.
However, my attention shifted to her ring finger, adorned with a thin gold band.
Discomfort settled within me at the thought of Trisha being engaged again.
I knew she had a broken engagement in the past. Had they reconciled?
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” she remarked, noticing my gaze on her ring finger.
I nodded absentmindedly, hesitant to inquire about the ring but also not wanting to reveal my evident disapproval of her engagement, if it were true.
“I never noticed this on your finger before,” I mentioned, clearing my throat.
“I rarely wear it. We’re not allowed such accessories at work. But today is special, so I decided to put it on. I hope you don’t mind,” she explained.
I do mind if that is your engagement ring—my subconscious protested. But I held back from voicing my suspicions to Trisha.
“And what’s so special today?” I broached the subject again as I watched Trisha making herself comfortable, perching on the edge of my desk like she belonged there.
Seeing her dressed so casually in a t-shirt and jeans was a refreshing change from her usual tactical gear. She looked beautiful, bathed in the morning sunlight streaming through my window.
“It’s my Mumma’s birthday today,” she responded with a smile. “This is her ring; she gave it to me before she passed away a few years ago. I wear it every year on this day to honour her memory.”
“Your mother’s ring?” I clarified, exhaling in relief.
“Yes, my mother’s ring. What did you think?” she asked, and I shook my head, avoiding any indication of my earlier suspicions.
“Nothing,” I replied, sipping the coffee and smiling in relief before placing the mug on the table.
“So tell me, Mr. Director, don’t you ever take a day off?” Trisha asked, her playful tone seemingly aware of my discomfort, possibly thinking the ring meant an engagement.
I gazed up at her, smitten. “I do take days off, albeit not regularly. However, today, I had a hunch that a stunning woman I admire would drop by my office, bringing specially brewed coffee and a smile to brighten my day,” I flirted in response.
“Stop it.” She laughed and nudged my shoulder lightly. The sound of her laughter was music to my ears.
There was a ping on her phone, and as she read the message, I knew our impromptu coffee break was over. Too soon!
“Got to go. We have some intel on the drug lord we are looking for. Need to work on that,” Trisha conveyed, rising from the desk and heading towards the door. A pang of disappointment hit me; I wasn’t ready for this stolen moment of closeness to end.
Just as she reached the door, Trisha glanced back with a playful glint in her eyes. “You know where to find me if you need more coffee,” she said sincerely, raising her mug.
“What if I don’t need more coffee but good company to hear the story behind that ring and your mother? The dinner date offer is still open,” I teased.
She bit her lip, slightly flustered, and rolled her eyes before making her exit.
I couldn’t keep the grin off my face as I watched her disappear out the door.
Even after she was gone, I found myself replaying every second we had shared, marvelling at how Trisha had the power to make even the most mundane day feel extraordinary.
If this was just a small taste of what it could be like between us, then I was excited to see where this undeniable connection might lead next.
Trisha had awakened a longing in my heart I never knew existed.