The car rolled through the entrance of RAI Citadel.

The massive iron gates opened slowly, guards standing at attention with crisp salutes. Morning sunlight spilled across the grand royal official building like liquid gold, making the white marble walls shimmer under the soft, ethereal glow. This place stood far from the kingdom's crowded areas, isolated, quiet, but radiating an undeniable power that commanded respect from miles away.

Not everyone got to see this place. Not everyone was worthy.

RAI Citadel was the perfect fusion of royalty and modern power. Here, within these sacred walls, every important decision was made. Every official matter of the kingdom was handled with precision and care. People's problems, finance, healthcare, infrastructure, everything was discussed, debated, and resolved here. This wasn't just a building. It was the heart that kept the kingdom beating.

Beside the main official building stood another smaller structure reserved exclusively for army officials, men and women who'd sworn their lives to protect what we'd built. And at the very end, stretching as far as the eye could see, was the massive training ground.

The ground was so vast it seemed endless, just land upon land, touching the horizon like an ocean of earth. It was alive with sound: the sharp clang of swords clashing, the rapid fire of bullets hitting targets, bodies slamming against the ground in combat training, groans of effort, shouts of command. All these sounds echoed through the air in a violent yet beautiful rhythm, singing an anthem of strength, discipline, and unwavering dedication.

This was where warriors were forged.

This was where loyalty was tested.

This was where kings ensured their kingdoms stayed safe.

The car came to a smooth stop in front of the main official building. The guard opened my door with a respectful bow, eyes lowered, posture perfect. As I stepped out, my expression shifted automatically, more serious, more controlled, more king than man.

The moment my foot touched the ground, Sahil appeared at my side like clockwork, falling into step beside me. He handed me the iPad without a word, the screen already displaying today's schedule and work details in neat, organized rows.

Dadu always said, "Loyalty runs in blood, Reyansh. And those who bleed for you will never betray you."

I was proud...no, blessed ..... to have men like Sahil by my side. Loyal. Hardworking. Fearless.

Sahil and Ansh were cut from the same cloth, chaotic, headache-inducing at times, but overflowing with love and dedication. They worked harder than anyone I knew, and their loyalty was absolute. Abhiman was different, more like me, serious, calculative, meticulous,but unlike me, he still carried happiness effortlessly. He laughed freely. Loved openly.

I used to be like that too.

I used to love someone deeply, recklessly, with everything I had.

But loving someone is one thing. Not being able to be with them is another? That changes you. That breaks something inside that never quite heals.

'Let's not go down the love lane, Rai. We have work to do,' my inner voice reminded me sharply.

I pushed the thoughts away and focused.

As soon as I entered my cabin, I took a deep breath. A small, almost imperceptible sigh escaped my lips.

I loved this place. I felt peaceful here, which was rare for someone like me.

My cabin was massive and exquisitely designed.....a perfect blend of royal elegance and modern corporate efficiency. It looked like a king's private chamber but functioned like a high-powered CEO's war room. Dark mahogany furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the citadel grounds, bookshelves lined with legal texts and historical volumes, a sleek glass desk that reflected power.

Everything in its place. Everything under control.

Today's agenda was relatively light.....just three meetings.

"The board members will be in the conference room in fifteen minutes," Sahil said in his professional tone, though exhaustion lined his face. "The file is already on your desk. Your black coffee will be here in a few seconds. The second meeting is at 2 P.M. at Handi Restaurant....the iPad has all the details regarding the school project that needs to be discussed."

He was about to continue when a knock interrupted him.

The citadel chef entered carrying a tray.....my black coffee and Sahil's juice. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the room instantly, sharp and grounding. As the chef left, Sahil grabbed his juice and downed it in one go like a man dying of thirst.

"And lastly," he continued, setting the empty glass down, "you have a meeting with IT officials regarding that hacking and data misplacement case. A few interns will also be joining today as per your orders. They'll be working here at the citadel on kingdom growth initiatives and managing all online services."

I took a slow sip of my coffee, the bitter warmth spreading through me as I scanned the documents on my screen. Everything was in order. Everything was as it should be.

"Okay," I said calmly, my tone formal and measured. "You can go. And Sahil......" I paused, glancing up briefly. "Wish Priyanshi a happy birthday."

He started walking toward the door but stopped abruptly, spinning around with an expression of pure horror.

"Do NOT......I repeat, do NOT......forget to come to the club tonight after office," he said, pointing at me accusingly. "Or else Pree will have my head if you don't show up at her birthday party. I'm serious, Rajasa. She will actually kill me."

I couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at my lips. "I'll be there after nine."

"You better be," he muttered, storming out of the office like a man on a mission.

My first meeting was straightforward.....final paperwork and logistical details for the new stores and roads we were constructing in previously untouched areas. These were regions where people struggled to connect with the main markets, where progress had been delayed for far too long. We were changing that.

By the time the meeting ended, it was already 1 P.M., so I decided to check on the NGO while heading to my next meeting.

I settled into the car, scrolling through emails on my phone, when one particular notification caught my attention.

It was related to a book being published through our publishing house.

I didn't read books often—rarely had the time or patience for them....but this writer... this woman had somehow carved out a permanent place in my heart with nothing but her words.

I bought the first copy of every single one of her books. Always.

Her debut novel, 'Her Ranasa,' had completely captivated me. I'd read it in one sitting, unable to put it down. The way she wrote.....raw, emotional, devastatingly beautiful...it was like she reached inside your chest and pulled out feelings you didn't even know you had.

My team had tried multiple times to arrange a meeting with her. She declined every single time. We attempted to track her down, to find out who she really was, but one email from her stopped everything cold:

"I write to be heard, not seen. Please respect that."

And I did. Because I understood.

Her new book was launching next week—her fourth. She'd reached phenomenal heights in such a short time. Her last release sold over thirty lakh copies within a month. Thirty. Lakh. Copies.

The world loved her. And so did I, in a way I couldn't quite explain.

I wished I could meet her in person. Her words were so deep, so achingly real, that you could feel everything she described...the pain, the love, the longing, the hope. Reading her work felt like she was speaking directly to your soul.

Sometimes, late at night when sleep refused to come, I wondered what it would be like to have a partner like her. Someone who understood depth. Someone who could put chaos into words.

But I wasn't made for love. Not anymore.

I wanted control. Power. I wanted everyone at my mercy, not the other way around. Love was a weakness I couldn't afford.

The meeting at Handi Restaurant went smoothly. We finalized all the protocols for the school project......construction timelines, safety measures, staffing requirements. Everything was falling into place perfectly.

By the time I headed back to the office, the afternoon sun was high, casting sharp shadows across the city.

I stepped into the elevator, checking emails on my phone, my mind already shifting to the next task. The doors began to close when suddenly.......

They stopped mid-way.

A small figure rushed in.

A woman.

Her face was turned toward her bag, phone wedged between her ear and shoulder as she spoke in a hurried, soft voice.

"Duggu, mera aaj first day hai, please Miss Tripathi ko sambhal lena. Main saat baje tak room mein aa jaungi aur balcony ka gate khol dena bas..."

Her voice was gentle, calm....like a child speaking, but with the maturity of an adult. There was warmth in her tone, affection, care.

("Duggu, today is my first day, please handle Miss Tripathi until I get back. I'll be in the room by seven, and please unlock the balcony door...")

"Hmm... main le aaungi pastry, bas tu sambhal lena. Acha chal, bye. Main aa gayi office."

("Hmm... I'll bring the pastry, you just handle her. Okay bye, I've reached the office.")

I found myself staring.

Actually staring at her.

I couldn't help it.

She was... different. There was something about her presence...soft yet grounded, delicate yet strong. Her voice alone carried a melody I wanted to hear again.

she didn't even looked toward me, was finding something in her bag but said.....

"Staring is a bad habit, mister."

Her voice had changed completely...gone was the sweetness, the warmth, the gentle affection. Now it was laced with frustration and a sharp hint of anger, like I'd personally offended her by existing in the same elevator.

I cleared my throat, forcing myself to look away, trying desperately to refocus my attention anywhere else.

Keyword: TRIED.

Because everything about her made it impossible.

Her chocolate-dusky skin seemed to glow under the elevator's soft lighting. The sweet scent of cocoa clung to her like a signature..warm, intoxicating, maddening. I caught a glimpse of her profile as she shifted her bag, and my brain short-circuited.

Focus, Rai. Focus.

The elevator doors opened with a soft chime.

I watched...no, stared.... as she stepped out gracefully, her movements fluid and unconscious. She reached up and gathered her loose hair into a high ponytail as she walked away, exposing the elegant curve of her neck.

'How will I get to know her?' the thought slammed into my mind unbidden.

'This is your office, idiot,' my inner voice mocked mercilessly. 'Just ask someone.'

Right. Of course.

First, I needed to focus on the main issue at hand...the IT meeting, the hacking case, the interns.

But later?

Later, I'd ask my men to get me every single detail about her.

Her name. Her position. Her background.

Everything.

Because something told me this small, cocoa-scented, sharp-tongued woman was about to turn my carefully controlled world completely upside down.

And for the first time in years...

I didn't mind.

"Some storms don't announce themselves with thunder. Some arrive quietly, smelling of cocoa and carrying fire in their eyes."

Here is the next chapter..

show some love......