Ishita Sharma's Perspective - ]

It had been a blissful few days since Teej. Rudra and I were officially, deeply, committed. To celebrate, I decided to surprise him at his office. I had spent hours customizing a beautiful photo frame with our best candid picture-the one where we were laughing-and I brought a delicate bouquet of white lilies, his favorite (I'd researched).

I took an auto-rickshaw to the famed **Eternity Headquarters**. The building was a shimmering tower of glass and steel, intimidating and luxurious.

I walked up to the reception desk, my heart fluttering with excitement and nervousness. The woman behind the desk was sharp, dressed in a severe black suit, and looked like she was carved from ice.

**Ishita:** (I gave my brightest, most sincere smile.) **"Hi! I'm Ishita Sharma. I'm here to see Rudra Singh Rathor, please. I have a surprise for him."** I held up the frame and the lilies.

The receptionist, who was filing her nails a moment ago, looked up, her expression freezing into one of utter disdain. She looked me up and down slowly, lingering on my simple cotton dress and the local *gajra* still woven into my hair from yesterday.

**Receptionist (Ms. Ice):** **"Do you have an appointment?"** Her tone was flat, dripping with ego and arrogance.

**Ishita:** **"Uhm, no, it's a surprise. I'm-I'm his fiancée, Ishita."** I shouldn't have mentioned the fiancée part, but I wanted her to know I wasn't a random delivery girl.

She let out a sharp, incredulous laugh that sounded like shards of glass.

**Ms. Ice:** **"His *fiancée*? Listen, dear. The line for 'Rudra Singh Rathor's fiancée' starts outside this building and wraps around the city. Now, unless you are from the *Ambani* family or have a prior meeting scheduled with his PA, you do not disturb the President of Eternity."**

Her voice was loud enough to carry. My cheeks burned.

**Ms. Ice:** (She leaned forward, her eyes narrowed in a condescending glare.) **"This is **Eternity**, not a *chai tapri*. Leave the flowers here. We will dispose of them. And next time, try using the service entrance. Security!"**

She made a dismissive gesture with her hand, and in the process, she accidentally-or deliberately-hit the bouquet of lilies I was holding. The beautiful **flowers went flying**, scattering across the immaculate, polished marble floor.

I froze, humiliated. The sight of the delicate white petals crushed under the weight of her indifference was unbearable.

I looked around. Sure enough, several impeccably dressed **employees were standing around the elevator bay, openly laughing** or suppressing snickers behind their hands. Their expensive suits and sharp faces made me feel small, cheap, and utterly out of place.

The receptionist's sneer deepened. **Ms. Ice:** **"Now, get out before I call security to clear the trash."**

The pain of her words, the insult to my gift, and the crushing realization of the divide between Rudra's world and mine was overwhelming. My eyes instantly welled up. I clutched the photo frame protectively to my chest, turning to run before I completely broke down.

[Rudra Singh Rathor's Perspective -]

*50th Floor | The Cabin

I was deep in a video conference with my European division. The office was quiet, secure, and running with its usual ruthless efficiency. I briefly glanced at the candid photo of Ishita on my desk-the one she had sent me-and smiled faintly.

My phone vibrated with a text from Laksh, my PA: *"Sir, slight disturbance at reception. Should I intervene?"*

I frowned. Disturbance? At *my* reception? **Rudra:** **"Handle it, Laksh. Now. Don't bring noise to my floor."**

I muted the video conference, listening to the ambient noise of the office, expecting Laksh to resolve it instantly.

But then, I heard a high-pitched, sharp voice-the voice of my lead receptionist, Ms. Sharma (no relation to *my* Ishita, thankfully).

**Ms. Sharma:** (Her voice, though distant, was clearly audible through the internal speaker system, laced with venom and arrogance.) **"...This is Eternity, not a *chai tapri*. Leave the flowers here. We will dispose of them. And next time, try using the service entrance. Security!"**

The tone alone made my blood run cold. My employees knew my zero-tolerance policy for disrespect.

And then, I heard something else-a sound I recognized instantly, even from fifty floors up. A low, shaky sound of **suppressed distress**.

*Ishita.*

My heart stopped. Why was *she* at the reception? And who was speaking to her like that?

I slammed my hand down on the desk, cutting the video feed abruptly, leaving a dozen European directors staring at a blank screen.

**Rudra:** (I roared into the intercom, my voice shaking the silence of the 50th floor.) **"LAKSH! GET DOWN TO RECEPTION! NOW! AND IF I SEE ONE SINGLE PETAL ON THE FLOOR, OR HEAR ONE MORE LAUGH, I WILL FIRE EVERY EMPLOYEE ON THAT FLOOR!"**

I didn't wait. My face set into a mask of pure, lethal fury-the true **Rudra Singh Rathor, the corporate tyrant**. I tore out of my cabin, moving towards the private elevator, my mind consumed by one thought: **Whoever made Ishita cry will pay for it.**

The private elevator shot down fifty floors faster than the speed of sound. The doors slid open, and I stepped out, my face a mask of lethal fury.

My eyes immediately scanned the pristine lobby, and there she was-a small, trembling figure in soft dress clutching the photo frame to her chest, hurrying toward the exit doors. The delicate white lilies were scattered like discarded trash on the marble floor near the reception desk.

**Rudra:** (I didn't break stride, but I snapped my command to Laksh, my voice low but venomous.) **"Laksh! Gather every single person who was standing here and laughing. The receptionist, the security, and every employee near the elevators. Conference Room B. Five minutes. Lock the doors. No one leaves."**

Laksh, pale and already predicting the devastation, didn't hesitate. He nodded sharply, pulling out his phone to execute the deadly order. **Laksh:** (Inner Monologue): *Their careers are over. They messed with the one person he cares about. God help them.*

Ignoring the terrified gasps of the employees who realized the President was downstairs, I walked swiftly toward the exit. I could not let her leave like this. I couldn't let her think my world was too cruel for her.

I reached the glass doors just as she was pushing them open.

**Rudra:** (My voice was rough, pulled from deep in my chest, laced with urgency.) **"Ishita! Stop!"**

She froze. Her shoulders tightened, and she slowly turned around. Her eyes-those sparkling, brown eyes that were my sanctuary-were swollen and red. Her cheekbones were stained with tears.

The sight of her pain, caused by my own employees, made my vision briefly turn red.

I closed the remaining distance in two large strides.

**Rudra:** **"Don't you dare walk out of here like that, **Jaana**."** I reached out, my hands trembling slightly, and gently took the photo frame from her rigid grip. I placed it safely on a nearby marble ledge.

**Rudra:** (I lowered my voice, speaking only to her, blocking out the stunned silence of the lobby.) **"Look at me. Who spoke to you? Who touched your flowers? Tell me, **Ishi**. Every single word. Everything."**

I reached up and gently wiped a tear from her cheek with my thumb, my fury completely focused on the perpetrators, not on her.

**Rudra:** **"Do you think I brought you into my life only for my employees to humiliate you? You are my future. You are the owner of this entire place. That woman at the desk-I will ensure she never works in this city again. But first, tell me you're okay. Tell me what they said."**

[Ishita Sharma's Perspective -]

I heard the frantic clicking of the elevator doors and a voice-a voice that could command an entire continent-roaring from the 50th floor. I knew it was him. And I knew the wrath I had just unleashed.

I pushed the heavy glass door, desperate to escape.

**Rudra:** **"Ishita! Stop!"**

I froze. His voice was close, raw, and full of thunder. I slowly turned, and the sight of him-the unstoppable force in his perfectly tailored suit, rushing toward me with pure, focused rage-made me shrink further.

He looked absolutely terrifying.

He stopped right in front of me. **Rudra:** **"Don't you dare walk out of here like that, **Jaana**."**

He gently relieved me of the photo frame, his touch the only gentle thing in the room.

**Ishita:** (I tried to speak, but my voice was a strangled whisper.) **"Rudra... I... I just wanted to surprise you. But she... she called me a random girl. She threw my flowers..."** I pointed to the crushed lilies. **"She said this wasn't a *chai tapri*. Everyone was laughing."**

I couldn't stop the fresh flood of tears. **Ishita:** **"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come without an appointment. Your world is... too big for me. They hate me here."**

**Rudra:** (He wiped my tear away, his thumb incredibly soft despite the visible tension in his forearm.) **"Hate you? They don't matter. This world is not 'too big' for you, **Ishi**. This world, this building, this empire-it all belongs to the woman who holds my heart."**

He pulled me against his chest, the fierce embrace a silent promise of protection.

**Rudra:** **"Never apologize for coming to me. Never. Those people will learn today who the real queen of Eternity is. They will learn respect. Don't worry about them, **Jaana**. I will fix this. I will burn this place down before I let them hurt you again."**

Rudra didn't give the weeping crowd another glance. He kept his arm securely around me, leading me away from the devastated reception area. Instead of the main lobby elevator, he guided me toward a discreet, polished door-the **private entrance** that led to his executive lift.

He ushered me into the elevator, pressing the button for the top floor. The ride up was silent, the silence heavy with his controlled rage. His hand never left the small of my back, a constant, solid presence.

When the doors opened, we stepped into his world-the **President cabin**. It was massive, spanning the entire end of the floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a dizzying view of the city. It was easily **much bigger than my entire studio**, minimal, sleek, and utterly dominant.

He led me straight to a plush, leather sofa set facing the panoramic view and gently pushed me down. He knelt in front of me, his height shrinking for the first time, his ocean eyes focused entirely on my face.

**Rudra:** (His voice was low, thick with distress.) **"Ishita, **Jaana**... I am so sorry. I am deeply sorry that my world brought you pain. This is unacceptable. They made you cry. I should have warned you about coming without telling Laksh first. This is my fault."**

I reached out and gently cupped his strong jaw, feeling the tension there.

**Ishita:** **"No, Ru. Stop. It's not your fault."** I shook my head softly. **"It's my fault for walking in like I owned the place, wearing my cheap clothes, thinking I could just breach security. They were just doing their job, maybe. They didn't know who I am."**

**Rudra:** **"They should have known better than to treat any woman like trash, especially the woman who is everything to me,"** he corrected fiercely. **"And your clothes are beautiful. They only saw a price tag, **Ishi**. I see my future wife, and that is all that matters. Never call your clothes 'cheap' again."**

He leaned in, pressing a fervent **kiss** to the back of my hand, holding it tight.

**Ishita:** **"Okay, okay. But please, don't fire everyone. Don't ruin their careers because of me. Just fire that rude receptionist. The others were just watching."**

**Rudra:** (He looked conflicted, but his gaze softened.) **"I will deal with them. But right now, *we* need to make up. Tell me what you brought me. Tell me about the photo frame."**

I smiled, finally feeling safe enough to breathe. I pointed to the frame he had placed on his large desk.

**Ishita:** **"It's a frame of us. It says, 'The Day We Said Forever.' And I got you lilies. They were white, Ru, fresh white lilies."** I sniffled, still sad about the flowers.

He immediately got up, retrieved the frame, and brought it back. He held it carefully, staring at the picture of us laughing after the rain dance.

**Rudra:** **"This is ten thousand times better than any flowers, **Jaana**. I will place this right where I can see it every minute of the day. This is the only view I need."**

He sat down beside me on the sofa now, pulling me into a protective embrace, tucking my head under his chin.

**Rudra:** **"Look at me. Forget the lobby. Look at this room. This is your safe zone. You are never, ever unwelcome here, **Ishi**. Never think that. Now, let's talk about that B.Ed. college. Your application deadline is next week, and I want to finalize the best one."**

He sealed the promise by pressing a tender **kiss** to the top of my head, right where the *gajra* was nestled. I tightened my hands around his waist, feeling the deep, reassuring rhythm of his heart. This was all the apology I needed.

[Rudra Singh Rathor's Perspective -]

I led Ishita from the battlefield downstairs, into the safe, quiet sanctity of my office. She sat on the sofa, small and fragile against the vastness of the space. My fault. All my fault for not securing her entry into my chaotic world.

I knelt before her, refusing to hide behind my status. **Rudra:** **"Ishita, **Jaana**... I am so sorry. I am deeply sorry that my world brought you pain. This is unacceptable. They made you cry. This is my fault."**

She reached out and touched my face, her fingers cool against my heated skin. **Ishita:** **"No, Ru. Stop. It's not your fault. It's my fault for walking in like I owned the place... They didn't know who I am."**

**Rudra:** **"They should have known better than to treat any woman like trash, especially the woman who is everything to me,"** I reiterated, my voice firm. **"You are the owner of this entire place, **Ishi**. Never call your clothes 'cheap' again. Everything you touch is gold."**

I leaned in and pressed a fierce **kiss** to the back of her hand, trying to transfer my commitment through my touch.

**Rudra:** **"I will deal with them. But right now, *we* need to make up. Tell me what you brought me. Tell me about the photo frame."**

I retrieved the framed picture from the desk-the silly, joyful candid of us from the rain-and my heart swelled. She loved me enough to bring *this* to my office.

(these are there photos )

**Rudra:** **"This is ten thousand times better than any flowers, **Jaana**. I will place this right where I can see it every minute of the day. This is the only view I need."**

I sat beside her, pulling her close, tucking her head under my chin. My left hand held her tight to my side, while my right stroked her hair.

**Rudra:** **"Look at me. Forget the lobby. Look at this room. This is your safe zone. You are never, ever unwelcome here. Never think that. You are the only person who gets to skip security, skip appointments, and walk straight into my heart."**

**Rudra:** **"Now, let's shift focus. Your B.Ed. application deadline is next week. We need to finalize the college. I'm thinking Delhi University or maybe a private institution with a less demanding schedule. Which one should we target?"**

I sealed the moment, the hurt, and the promise by pressing a long, tender **kiss** to the top of her head. **Rudra:** **"Let me worry about the corporate mafia, **Ishi**. You worry about your future."**

[Ishita Sharma's Perspective -]

I felt the last knot of tension ease as I was wrapped in Rudra's embrace. He felt like an immovable mountain-safe and warm. I **snuggled close to him**, burying my face into his chest, inhaling the clean, expensive scent of his cologne mixed with the faint, comforting scent of temple incense.

He **caressed my hair softly**, his fingers stroking the length of my braid, a soothing rhythm that almost made me forget the humiliation downstairs.

**Rudra:** (After a moment, he pulled back slightly, holding my gaze.) **"Will you wait a bit here, **Jaana**? I have a little-just a little-thing to handle. I will go and come fast."**

I knew exactly what that "little thing" was. The storm I had unleashed. I didn't want him to be ruthless, but I knew he had to defend me.

**Ishita:** (I gave a small, resigned nod.) **"Hmm, okay. Go. But don't be too scary, Ru."**

He smiled-a quick, tight, decisive flash of teeth. He leaned down and pressed a warm **kiss to my nose** with a soft *mwah*, a gesture so sweet it was completely out of place with the vengeance he was about to unleash.

**Rudra:** **"Don't worry. I'll be back before you finish admiring the view."**

He straightened up, his towering figure radiating authority, and walked out of the cabin, the heavy door closing behind him with a soft click, leaving me alone in the silent, glass-walled room.

[Rudra Singh Rathor's Perspective -]

The minute I stepped out of the cabin, the softness was gone. It was sealed inside the room with Ishita. The man who emerged was **Rudra Singh Rathor: The Emperor of Eternity**, cold, ruthless, and ready to destroy.

**Laksh** was already waiting outside, holding a sterile tablet, his eyes wide with palpable fear-not for himself, but for the dozen employees waiting below.

**Rudra:** (My voice was low, cutting, and flat.) **"Status."**

**Laksh:** **"Sir, Conference Room B. All of them. The receptionist, Ms. Sharma, the shift supervisor, and seven others who were witnessed laughing. They are waiting. They know."**

I didn't need to ask if they were afraid. They knew the cost of making the President angry. But they had done worse-they had hurt **my Ishita**.

**Rudra:** (I didn't break stride, gesturing for Laksh to follow me.) **"Good. Tell security to ensure no calls or emails leave that room. And make sure Ms. Sharma's final severance is calculated-minimum legal requirement. She doesn't deserve a rupee more."**

We walked down the corridor to the secondary, private elevator. I could feel the transformation complete: my features were **ruthless, emotionless, and heartless**. The only emotion was a pure, icy fury aimed at securing my queen's future peace.

We reached Conference Room B. Laksh opened the door, and I walked in.

The room was filled with terrified, smartly dressed executives and the arrogant receptionist, who was now weeping silently, her ego shattered. Their faces were ashen.

I didn't sit. I didn't speak immediately. I simply stood at the head of the long table, my 6'3" frame looming over them, my ocean-blue eyes scanning each face with contempt. The silence was deafening, suffocating.

**Rudra:** (Finally, I spoke. My voice was dangerously calm, low enough that they had to strain to hear, making it infinitely more terrifying.) **"You saw a young woman today. She was smiling. She came here with a gift. She asked for five minutes of my time. And what did you do?"**

I paused, letting the fear build.

**Rudra:** **"You humiliated her. You laughed at her clothes. You called her devotion 'trash' and threw her gift on the floor. You mistook her humility for weakness, and her kindness for lack of standing."**

I pointed directly at the trembling receptionist. **Rudra:** **"Ms. Sharma. You are terminated. Effective immediately. You will be escorted off the premises by security. You will not have access to your desk. And I will personally ensure you never hold a position in any corporate setting in this city again. You thought you were protecting the company's image. You just destroyed your own future."**

I turned my glacial gaze to the remaining employees. **Rudra:** **"The rest of you. You watched. You participated with your silent ridicule. You thought mocking the woman who owns my heart was acceptable entertainment. Your employment is also terminated. All of you. Laksh will handle the paperwork. I never want to see any of your faces near this building again. Get out."**

My voice rose slightly at the end, the finality absolute.

**Rudra:** **"I warned you all: you mess with my world, you face my wrath. And she,"** I paused, turning my eyes back toward the direction of my cabin, a sudden, fleeting softness entering my voice, **"She is my only world."**

The moment my sentence was delivered, the room erupted. **Everyone started pleading.** A torrent of desperate apologies, excuses, and pleas for mercy-all meaningless noise to me. My decision was final, rooted in the humiliation Ishita suffered.

**Ms. Sharma** was the worst. Sobbing dramatically, she stumbled toward me, driven by a foolish, final, arrogant delusion.

**Ms. Sharma:** (Wailing, trying to sound seductive through her tears.) **"Sir, please! You don't understand! I am dedicated, I am efficient! That girl... she is low class! She is not suitable for you! I am better for the Rathor image! I can-I can be anything you need!"**

She made the monumental mistake of trying to make physical contact, reaching out and grabbing my wrist-the wrist of the man who was **damn loyal to Ishita** since the moment I saved her on those Shiv Mandir stairs. I am only **hers**.

Her touch was repulsive. It was a vile intrusion on my personal space, a final, sickening disrespect to the woman I love.

My reaction was instantaneous and brutal. I **jerked my hand away** with such force that **Ms. Sharma,** already unbalanced by her hysteria, **fell** backward onto the expensive carpet with a choked cry.

I didn't pause. I stepped over her prostrate body, my entire focus now on making the warning unforgettable. I bent down, my features inches from her terrified face, and **fisted my hand badly in her hair**, dragging her head up slightly.

**Rudra:** (My voice was a low, terrifying snarl, laced with absolute venom.) **"Listen to me. You will never, *ever* speak her name again. She is worth more than this entire building, Ms. Sharma. You compared her dedication, her innocence, and her light to your cheap ambition? You touched me with your filthy hands while disrespecting the woman who is my soul?"**

I pulled her hair tighter, forcing a gasp from her.

**Rudra:** **"You will take your termination, and you will disappear. If I hear one word-one single, malicious whisper-about Ishita Sharma, I will ensure every family member you have feels the weight of my resources. You will learn today what loyalty costs. Now, crawl out of my sight."**

I released her hair with a sharp, painful yank, letting her head drop back to the carpet. I stood up, adjusting my *shirt sleeve, feeling clean despite the brutality.

**The others**-the executives who had laughed-were now a picture of total collapse, **gasping and sobbing**, their hands clasped in useless prayer, realizing the true extent of the President rage.

Meanwhile, **Laksh** stood by the door, his face a perfect picture of professionalism. He was **used to it**, this display of power-it was simply the cost of doing business with Rudra Singh Rathor. His expression was **totally normal** as he waited for the bodies to be cleared.

**Rudra:** (I addressed Laksh, my voice back to its controlled, cutting tone.) **"Escort these failures out. Every file, every access card, seized. Now."**

I didn't wait for the cleanup. I turned and walked out, my only thought being to get back to Ishita, to the only thing pure and real in my entire, ruthless existence.

[Ishita Sharma's Perspective - ]

I had managed to calm myself down, focusing on the breathtaking view outside the massive window. The city sprawled below-a sea of concrete and glass that looked small and manageable from this height. I was still leaning against the cold glass, my eyes tracing the lines of the roads, trying to distract myself from the heavy silence of the closed cabin.

I knew he was handling the "little thing," but I couldn't stop worrying about his ferocity.

Then, I felt a familiar, strong, and undeniable presence behind me.

Suddenly, a pair of **strong, big hands** wrapped securely around my waist, pulling me back gently until my back was flush against his hard, warm chest. I was completely enveloped.

I **smiled** instantly, a deep sense of relief washing over me. The warmth of his body was the only antidote to the chill of the corporate world. I let out a soft sigh and **leaned back at him**, fitting perfectly into the curve of his 6'3" frame.

**Ishita:** (My voice was soft, laced with affection and a little worry.) **"That was fast. You said just a little thing, but you look like you just conquered three more countries, Ru."**

He shifted slightly, resting his chin on the top of my head, nuzzling my hair where the *gajra* still rested. His breathing was still slightly deep, the aftermath of his contained fury.

**Rudra:** (His voice was a deep, low rumble right above me.) **"Done. It's handled. No more negativity will touch you here, **Jaana**. I secured the perimeter."**

He tightened his arms around me possessively, squeezing gently.

**Rudra:** **"You were looking outside the window. Are you still thinking about leaving? Because the view from here is better, and you're not going anywhere."**

**Ishita:** (I reached up, covering his hands with mine, lacing my fingers through his.) **"No, I was thinking about how small the world looks from up here. And how big you are. And how grateful I am that you came back so quickly."**

I tilted my head back, looking up at his sharp, handsome profile. **Ishita:** **"Did you... did you fire everyone?"**

**Rudra:** (He paused, then answered honestly, his thumb gently stroking my wrist.) **"The main problem, yes. The rest were warned severely. They won't forget this day, **Ishi**. They won't forget the consequence of disrespecting you."**

He didn't need to elaborate. His aura, the slight tension still vibrating off him, told me the full, terrifying story.

**Rudra:** (He kissed my temple gently, steering the conversation back to lightness.) **"Forget the drama. Now, about that **B.Ed. college**. Let's look at the Delhi University application form together. I need to make sure you fill in the 'Father's Occupation' section correctly. Should I write 'Corporate Tyrant' or 'Devoted Fiancé'?"**