Tavish had never been a man to hesitate. Yet, this morning, he did.

His arms were still wrapped around her, her warmth lingering against him like an unspoken plea. He had spent the night in a state of half-consciousness, aware of every shift in her breathing, every time she moved in her sleep. It wasn’t his usual sharp alertness—no, it was something far more instinctual.

Something that felt dangerously close to care.

But now, as the early morning light filtered through the curtains, he knew he had to pull away.

Almost reluctantly, Tavish shifted.

Dhriti let out the softest sigh in her sleep as he carefully untangled himself from her. She was still sleeping soundly, her face unguarded, free from the burdens she usually carried. A strange sense of satisfaction settled in his chest.

She looked at peace.

For the first time in a long time, he knew she had slept without worries clawing at her mind.

Tavish ran a hand through his hair, exhaling before standing up. He rolled his shoulders back, the tension from last night still sitting there, a quiet reminder of how close she had been to something irreversible.

He pushed the thought aside and walked to his closet.

A crisp black shirt. A fitted vest. Tailored trousers. The usual armor of a man who commanded power without ever needing to raise his voice.

The top two buttons of his shirt remained undone—just enough to exude effortless command, just enough to make anyone who looked at him know exactly who they were dealing with.

As he adjusted his cuffs, he stole one last glance at her.

She was still sleeping. Safe. His.

And then, he left the room.

Dhriti woke up feeling… different.

Better.

There was no sluggishness in her limbs, no weight pressing against her chest. Instead, there was an unfamiliar lightness.

It took her a moment to register the fact that she wasn’t in her own bed.

Her sharp gaze scanned the room—the dark walls, the intricate interior, the sheer elegance of everything around her.

It didn’t take her long to realize where she was.

Tavish’s mansion.

Her fingers curled against the silk sheets as last night’s events came rushing back. The hijacking. The fight. The betrayal hidden amongst the passengers. The moment her body had betrayed her.

And then…

Tavish.

The way he had cradled her. The way he had murmured soothing words she barely remembered. The way she had clung to him without hesitation.

A part of her wanted to cringe at the vulnerability she had shown.

Another part of her—the quieter part—felt strangely… at ease.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes, only to freeze when she noticed the state of her clothes. The sharp, black jacket she had been wearing was now replaced with a simple yet elegant silk robe. She touched the fabric, her gaze narrowing. What the hell?

Tavish walked in just then, exuding command in that effortless way he always did. His sharp gaze found hers immediately, noticing the disbelieving look on her face.

"You’re awake," he observed, like he had expected nothing less. "Sleep well?"

Dhriti’s eyes flicked over her changed attire. "What did you do to my clothes?" she asked, feigning innocence. She couldn’t hide the suspicion in her voice.

Tavish raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into an amused smirk. "Oh, I didn’t touch them, Jaan."

She narrowed her eyes. "You expect me to believe that?"

"Not at all," he replied smoothly, his gaze flickering over her with a touch of smugness. "But I did have my powers rearrange things for you."

Dhriti blinked, then laughed, shaking her head. "Seriously? Your powers now extend to changing clothes? How convenient."

Tavish chuckled darkly. "You have no idea what my powers extend to."

She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes as she leaned back against the pillows. "So, what? You’ve got a personal clothes-changing service now? A magic trick to add to your resume?"

"You’ll be surprised what I can do," Tavish said with a sly smirk, leaning casually against the doorframe. His voice dropped a little lower. "But it’s not magic. It’s just… influence."

"Influence?" Dhriti scoffed. "You're telling me you influenced my clothes off?"

Tavish’s eyes twinkled with mischief as he stepped closer, his presence drawing her in like gravity. "If I could control that, Jaan, you'd have been wearing nothing but silk the moment you entered." His tone was smooth, playful, but his gaze lingered on her lips, the implication unmistakable.

Dhriti’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she immediately scowled. "Don’t get ahead of yourself."

He just smirked, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "Relax, Jaan. I wouldn't embarrass you like that."

"Why not?" she retorted. "I’m already embarrassed just knowing you’ve seen my wardrobe malfunction.”

"You’re too easy to rile up," Tavish said with a shake of his head, sitting on the edge of the bed. He gave her a slow, teasing grin. "But you do look good in silk. Almost makes me regret not dressing you up earlier."

Dhriti couldn’t suppress a smile. "I swear, Tavish, you’re impossible."

Tavish met her eyes, his smirk still lingering, but there was something deeper in his gaze. "I only make things impossible for those who try to resist me."

Her heart skipped a beat at his words. They were loaded, deliberate. But before she could respond, he stepped back, his tone shifting back to business.

"You should take the day off," Tavish suggested, his voice smooth, almost too commanding.

Dhriti scoffed. "I’m fine. I don’t need to be coddled."

"You were drugged, fought an entire group of hijackers, and nearly—" He cut himself off, his expression hardening momentarily before forcing himself to relax. "You’re taking the day off."

She stood up, crossing her arms. "I can’t just stop working because some idiots decided to hijack my flight."

Tavish’s eyes narrowed. "Yes, you can."

Dhriti shot him a pointed look. "And if I don’t?"

"Then I’ll drag you back to my mansion and chain you to the couch until you're properly rested," he said, his tone so casual, it was almost terrifying. "You may not think you need rest, but trust me, you do."

She rolled her eyes, refusing to be swayed. "Always the drama, Tavish."

He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering to a deadly whisper. "You think I won't do it? I’ve already ruined entire empires, Jaan. The world would break before I let you destroy yourself over your pride." His words held a depth of truth, and for a fleeting moment, the world seemed to contract in intensity.

Dhriti swallowed, her defiance flickering in her eyes. "You sound like you're capable of that."

He didn’t flinch. "I am. But for you, I’ll settle for dragging you to my mansion again."

Her breath caught, and despite herself, she was slightly taken aback by his intensity.

"Fine," she said, relenting. "I’ll have breakfast first. But you better not start pulling any more miracles with my wardrobe."

Tavish gave her a knowing look as they walked to the dining hall. "Miracles? No. Just… influence. As you said."

Dhriti chuckled. "That’s one way to describe your narcissism."

Tavish grinned, a flash of something almost tender in his eyes. "And you love it."

She sighed but couldn’t help but smile back as they entered the dining hall. "You’re unbearable."

"And you," he shot back, his voice suddenly lighter, "are the only one who actually challenges me."

As they sat down for breakfast, there was a sense of quiet understanding between them. Tavish watched her with that same unblinking attention, like he could see everything she was and everything she would be.

A quiet promise lingered between them, one not yet spoken, but undeniably present.

When breakfast was over, Dhriti stood up, ready to leave. "I need to go home and get ready for the office."

Tavish raised an eyebrow. "You still want to work?"

"Yes, Tavish, because some of us don’t just sit around brooding in big, fancy mansions," she teased.

Tavish smirked. "If I were brooding, Jaan, you would know."

She rolled her eyes. "Are you going to drop me home or not?"

He sighed, shaking his head. "Stubborn as always."

And then, before she could respond, he gently took her wrist.

The world blurred.

A blink. A breath. And suddenly, they were in her penthouse.

Dhriti barely had time to process it before Tavish stepped back.

He exhaled, his gaze lingering on her. "I’ll see you at the office."

There was something in the way he said it.

Not just a statement. Not just a casual remark.

A promise.