Kiara hated how quickly her world had shifted.
Three days.
That's all it had taken for Reyansh Rathore to insert himself into every corner of her life—meetings, schedules, decisions. He didn't hover. He didn't micromanage.
That somehow made it worse.
He watched.
From across rooms.
From behind glass walls.
From the quiet spaces where power didn't need to announce itself.
And today, she felt it more than ever.
Aarav stood beside her in the elevator, hands casually tucked into his pockets as they descended toward the underground parking.
"You look tired," he said gently. "He's pushing you."
Kiara exhaled. "That's his strategy. Exhaustion makes people careless."
Aarav glanced at her. "And you?"
She met his gaze. "I don't break."
The elevator doors slid open.
They stepped out together.
They didn't see Reyansh at first.
He stood near his car, phone pressed to his ear, expression unreadable. But his eyes lifted the moment Kiara laughed softly at something Aarav said.
The sound reached him like a challenge.
Reyansh ended the call without another word.
He watched them—how Aarav leaned in slightly, how Kiara didn't move away. How comfortable she looked.
Too comfortable.
"Ms. Tripathi," Reyansh said sharply.
Kiara stiffened.
She turned slowly. "Mr. Rathore."
Aarav straightened. "We were just heading out."
"I'm sure," Reyansh replied coolly. His gaze never left Kiara. "We need to discuss the Rathore Holdings clause. Now."
Kiara frowned. "It can wait till tomorrow."
Reyansh took a step closer.
"No," he said quietly. "It can't."
Aarav's jaw tightened. "If this is about work, it can be scheduled like everything else."
Reyansh finally looked at him.
Really looked.
And something dark passed through his eyes.
"This doesn't concern you."
A beat.
"It concerns her," Aarav shot back. "Which makes it my business."
Silence dropped between them—heavy and volatile.
Kiara stepped forward before it could explode. "I'll handle this."
Her eyes flicked to Aarav. "Go. I'll call you later."
Reluctantly, Aarav nodded. "Don't let him corner you."
Reyansh's mouth curved slightly.
Too sharp to be a smile.
When Aarav left, the space felt emptier.
Colder.
Reyansh turned to Kiara. "You shouldn't promise things you can't keep."
She bristled. "And you shouldn't assume you own my time."
He stepped closer—slow, deliberate.
"I don't," he said. "But others seem to think they do."
Her pulse jumped. "This is about control, isn't it? You can't stand that I'm not isolated anymore."
His eyes darkened.
"Be careful," he said. "You're misreading me."
She laughed softly. "No. I'm finally reading you correctly."
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then, unexpectedly, his voice dropped.
"He looks at you like you're simple."
Her breath caught. "What?"
"Safe," he corrected. "Predictable. Like you won't hurt him."
"And that bothers you?" she asked quietly.
Reyansh's jaw tightened.
"It should bother you," he replied. "Men like him don't survive worlds like ours."
She stepped closer now—close enough to see the tension he tried to hide.
"And men like you?" she asked. "Do they?"
Something flickered in his eyes.
Regret?
No.
Something far more dangerous.
"They don't get the luxury of softness," he said. "And neither do the people close to them."
The implication settled heavily between them.
Kiara swallowed. "You don't get to decide who I let close."
He leaned in—not touching, never touching—but close enough that her breath stuttered.
"I already know who you won't," he said softly.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
"You don't know me anymore."
His gaze dropped to her lips. Just for a second.
"I know you better than anyone in this building," he murmured. "That's the problem."
She stepped back first.
That alone felt like a loss.
"I won't be managed," she said firmly. "Not by you. Not by anyone."
His expression shifted back to controlled calm.
"Good," he said. "Because if you were…"
He paused, eyes locking onto hers.
"I'd be worried about myself."
Kiara turned and walked away, pulse racing.
Behind her, Reyansh remained still.
Jealousy burned low and quiet in his chest—not explosive, not reckless.
Controlled.
And that terrified him more than anything else.
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Continueeee