The warmth of the early morning sun felt different today. The sensation wasn't just from the rays brushing against my skin but from the remnants of the night before. A night filled with the kind of passion that leaves a mark, a permanent imprint that I carry within me as I stand on the terrace, overlooking the endless stretch of ocean.

I hear her approach before I feel her touch-a soft rustle of feet across stone, a whisper in the air as she moves closer. Her presence, the feel of her arms wrapping around me from behind, brings a sense of peace I rarely allow myself. Her touch is a balm, soothing the parts of me that are often restless, driven by an insatiable need for control.

As Ritika's hands settle on my chest, holding me close, I allow myself this moment. Just this once, I let the world fade away, focusing on the steady beat of my heart under her touch. She doesn't know the power she holds over me, how she has slowly become the center of everything I do. The obsession I have for her isn't just love-it's a need, a craving that consumes me, driving every action, every decision.

I turn in her embrace, needing to see her face, to confirm she's real and not some dream I conjured up in a moment of weakness. The sight of her in my shirt, looking so effortlessly beautiful, sends a wave of possessiveness through me. She's mine. In every sense of the word, she belongs to me, and I won't allow anyone or anything to take her away.

Her words echo in my mind. "And you, Mahir, are completely, undeniably mine."

Yes, I am. But I'm also much more. I'm the one who controls the board, the one who sets the pieces in place. And Ritika, my little fox, is the queen I'll protect at all costs-even if it means going to war with the entire world.

Her lips on mine bring me back to the present, a soft, lingering kiss that holds promises of more to come. But as much as I want to lose myself in her again, there are things that need to be done. Plans that need to be executed.

Reluctantly, I pull away, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as I meet her gaze. "Stay here," I whisper, my voice thick with the emotions I keep carefully controlled. "I have something I need to take care of."

She frowns slightly, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Now? Can't it wait?"

I shake my head, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Just a few minutes, little fox. I'll be back before you know it."

She doesn't argue, but the look in her eyes tells me she's curious, perhaps even suspicious. Good. Let her wonder. Let her try to figure out what I'm up to.

As I leave the terrace, the cool stone under my feet is a stark contrast to the heat of the moment we just shared. I make my way to the study, my sanctuary, where the pieces of my obsession are carefully hidden away.

The wooden box is exactly where I left it, tucked into the glove box of my car. Opening it, I pull out a small, sleek device. It's unassuming, just a simple black rectangle, but it holds the key to everything I've been planning.

There's a name that flashes on the screen as I activate the device-a reminder of the threat that still looms over us. Isabella. A woman who has no idea what she's stepped into by aligning herself against me. And Rudra Oberoi, the fool who thinks he can outmaneuver me. They have no idea who they're dealing with, how deep my connections run, how far I'm willing to go to protect what's mine.

I tap a few commands on the screen, initiating a sequence that will set the next phase of my plan in motion. The wheels are already turning, the pieces falling into place. And when the time comes, they'll realize that they've been outplayed from the very beginning.

Returning to the terrace, I find Ritika exactly where I left her, standing at the edge, looking out at the ocean. Her back is to me, her hair flowing in the gentle breeze, and for a moment, I allow myself to simply watch her, to take in the sight of the woman who has become my everything.

When she senses my presence, she turns, a soft smile on her lips. But there's a question in her eyes, one that I know I'll have to answer eventually.

"What was that about?" she asks, her tone light, but I can hear the underlying curiosity.

I walk up to her, pulling her into my arms once more. "Just taking care of a few things," I reply, my voice calm and controlled. "Nothing for you to worry about."

She studies me for a moment, her eyes searching mine for any sign of deception. But I give nothing away. I've mastered the art of keeping my true intentions hidden, even from her. Especially from her.

Satisfied, she relaxes against me, her head resting on my chest. "I trust you," she says softly, and those three words stir something deep inside me. Trust. It's such a fragile thing, easily broken, but when it's given freely, it's the most powerful weapon in the world.

"I know," I whisper back, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. And I do know. Her trust in me is absolute, and I'll do everything in my power to make sure it remains that way.

But trust is a double-edged sword. It binds us together, but it also gives me the power to hurt her, to manipulate her if I need to. And while I'd never do anything to truly harm her, there are things she doesn't need to know. Things that are better left in the shadows, where they belong.

For now, though, I'll focus on the present, on the woman in my arms. Because in this moment, we're both exactly where we want to be-together, wrapped in each other's embrace, with the world outside forgotten, if only for a little while.

The threat of Isabella and Rudra will be dealt with in due time. But today, on this terrace, with the ocean stretching out before us, there's only one thing that matters.

Ritika. My little fox. My obsession.

And I won't let anything come between us.