Chapter 2: The Girl No One Looked Twice At

Poornima adjusted the files in her hand as she walked into the office, her steps quiet, almost unnoticeable among the noise of the morning rush.

“Hey Poornima, you’re early again,” a colleague called out.

She smiled softly. “I like finishing work before it piles up.”

“You’re too sincere for this place,” he joked.

“Or maybe you’re too lazy,” she replied gently, a hint of teasing in her voice.

He laughed. “Okay, that hurt.”

She sat down at her desk, switching on her system, her focus settling instantly like the outside world didn’t exist anymore.

Minutes later—

“Poornima, can you check this report once?” another voice came, slightly nervous.

She turned her chair. “What happened?”

“I feel something’s off… but I can’t figure it out.”

She took the file, scanning it quickly, her brows knitting slightly.

“You’ve used last year’s growth rate here,” she said calmly, pointing at the screen. “This quarter is different.”

“Oh damn… I missed that.”

“It’s okay,” she said softly. “Fix it before submission.”

“Thank God for you, seriously.”

She just gave a small nod and went back to her work.

Inside the glass cabin, Veeresh stood still, his gaze unintentionally drifting toward her desk.

His assistant spoke, “Sir, the audit file…”

He didn’t respond immediately.

His eyes were still on her.

“…Sir?”

He blinked once, pulling his attention back. “Yes.”

“The financial report—Poornima handled most of it.”

A brief silence.

Then, “Give it to me.”

He flipped through the pages, sharp eyes scanning every detail, every number, every calculation.

Perfect.

No unnecessary explanations. No errors.

Just precision.

“Sir… should we send it for recheck?” the assistant asked carefully.

Veeresh closed the file.

“I don’t recheck her work.”

The assistant froze for a second. “Understood, sir.”

Outside, Poornima had no idea.

She stretched slightly, rubbing her eyes after staring at the screen for too long.

“Poornima, lunch?” her friend asked.

“In a bit,” she replied. “Let me finish this.”

“You always say that.”

“And I always mean it,” she smiled.

By evening, the office slowly began to empty.

She packed her bag neatly, making sure everything was in place.

As she stood near the exit, she almost bumped into someone.

“I’m so sorry—” she started, then stopped.

Veeresh.

For a second, time felt… still.

He looked at her, his expression unreadable.

“You work in finance,” he said, not asking, just stating.

“Yes, sir.”

“The audit file,” he continued, his tone calm, “you handled it?”

“Yes, sir.”

A pause.

“You didn’t make a single mistake.”

She blinked, slightly taken aback. “I just did my job, sir.”

Most people would have smiled wider… tried to impress… said more.

She didn’t.

That caught him off guard.

“Hmm,” he responded, his gaze lingering for a second longer than usual.

She stepped aside. “Excuse me, sir.”

He moved, letting her pass.

For reasons he didn’t understand…

His eyes followed her.

And for the first time in a long time—

Veeresh noticed someone…

Who wasn’t trying to be noticed.

And that made all the difference.