The door of Rudra's apartment closed behind him with a soft click. The world of boardrooms, deals, and fear faded instantly. He exhaled, shoulders loosening ever so slightly.
Reaching for his phone, he typed a simple message to Ayaan:
"Got home. Thanks for today."
No emojis, no flair — just the barest acknowledgment. He hit send, then finally allowed himself a moment to breathe.
Slowly, Rudra changed into comfortable clothes, washing the traces of the day away in the warm flow of the shower. Each movement was deliberate, precise, yet there was a softness now that had no place in his office.
Finally, he sank onto the bed, phone resting on his chest. The silence of his apartment enveloped him. Then, another ping. Ayaan.
"Did you get home safely?"
Rudra's thumb hovered for a moment, then he typed back. And just like that, they began to talk.
Minutes ticked by, then tens of minutes. Rudra, the man who had never spoken to anyone for more than twenty minutes straight, found himself replying, laughing softly at a joke, typing slowly when words didn't come immediately, letting Ayaan in.
Ayaan's texts were warm, gentle, teasing at times — full of the quiet care Rudra had never experienced before. And yet, for some reason, he didn't close the conversation. He didn't end it abruptly. He lingered.
The hour stretched on. Rudra lay on his bed, phone cradled in his hand, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Thoughts of Ayaan, of his warmth, of the café corner and the shy ghostly hug, filled him more completely than any boardroom victory ever had.
Finally, their messages slowed, soft goodnights exchanged, and the apartment was quiet once again. Rudra set his phone aside, eyes closing. The world of empires, fear, and untouchable power faded into the background.
For the first time in years, Rudra Malhotra allowed himself to drift into sleep, fully relaxed, fully human, fully… cared for.
And somewhere miles away, Ayaan did the same, cheeks still warm from the small interactions, heart quietly fluttering, and a smile tugging at his lips.
The night held them both in a soft, private cocoon, far away from the fear, far away from the empire — just two hearts, slowly intertwining.
________________________________________
The sun hadn't fully risen, but Rudra Malhotra was already at his desk, the office still quiet. The hum of computers and the soft click of keyboards filled the space as his staff began trickling in.
He sat there, dark eyes focused on the reports in front of him, fingers tapping methodically on the desk. Every movement was precise, controlled, professional — the Rudra everyone knew: untouchable, sharp, commanding.
And yet… beneath that carefully constructed exterior, he felt it. The warmth from last night, Ayaan's shy smile, the ghostly hug, the long hour of messages that had lingered far longer than he'd ever expected.
Rudra's chest tightened almost imperceptibly when he thought of the boy who had cared enough to text, to tease, to listen. It was a small, private warmth, tucked away behind his unreadable eyes. No one would ever guess, and that was exactly how he wanted it.
He poured himself a cup of black coffee, the steam swirling lazily, and sipped slowly. It grounded him. Just a little.
No one noticed the faint twitch of a corner of his lips when a message notification popped up. Just a simple:
"Good morning, Rudra ❤"
He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he set the phone aside, eyes returning to his reports, fingers tapping steadily. But inside, he allowed himself a small, private smile.
The office staff continued their routine, oblivious to the subtle shifts inside the CEO's mind. His assistants moved documents, Meera checked schedules, Lily arranged calls — all under the shadow of the unshakable, untouchable Rudra Malhotra.
And yet, for the first time in years, Rudra carried something else with him into the day: the memory of warmth, care, and quiet intimacy. A part of him that no one in the office, no business partner, no family member, would ever see.
He leaned back, taking another sip of coffee, eyes scanning the skyline. Calm. Collected. Unseen. Untouched by the world.
But secretly… undeniably… affected.
To be continued...