Bound By Obsession

Kiara

The terrace was quiet, the distant murmur of the engagement party muffled by the night air. I wrapped my fingers around the railing, staring at the glittering cityscape below. The weight of my engagement ring felt heavier than it should have, a constant reminder of the choice I had made. 

A smart, calculated choice. 

So why did I feel like I was standing on the edge of something dangerous? 

The answer came in the form of a voice—smooth, controlled, and carrying the quiet intensity of a storm waiting to break. 

"Running away from your own party, princess?"

My body went rigid. 

I turned slowly, already knowing who I would find. Avyaan Rathore stood in the doorway, one hand in his pocket, the other lazily holding a glass of whiskey. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes—dark and sharp—studied me with a patience that sent a shiver down my spine. 

I forced my shoulders back. Don’t react. Don’t give him the satisfaction. 

"I needed air," I said coolly. 

His gaze flicked to the ring on my finger, and something flickered in his eyes—something unreadable and dangerous. 

"You must be exhausted," he mused, stepping closer. "All that smiling, pretending." 

I narrowed my eyes. "Pretending what, exactly?" 

"That you actually want this." 

I let out a humorless laugh. "Why wouldn’t I? Arjun is a good match—powerful, successful. He understands the stakes." 

Avyaan smirked, tilting his head slightly. "Cute. But I don’t buy it, princess." 

My fingers curled against the railing. "It doesn’t matter what you believe." 

"It matters," he said, voice dropping lower as he stepped into my space, "because I know you. And I know you wouldn't settle for safe." 

I clenched my jaw. "This isn’t about personal preference. It’s business." 

His eyes darkened. "Is that what you’re telling yourself?" 

"It’s the truth." 

He let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "If that were true, you wouldn’t be standing here, gripping that railing like you’re bracing for impact." 

I hated that he could see through me. Hated that he always knew exactly where to press. 

"Go back to the party, Avyaan," I said flatly. "Your presence is unnecessary." 

His smirk didn’t fade, but his voice turned silkier, edged with something sharper. 

"Let me make something clear, princess," he murmured, leaning in just enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath. "This isn’t over. Not even close." 

My heart slammed against my ribs, but I forced myself to stay still. "I don’t care." 

His smirk widened, slow and knowing. "You will." 

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving behind a quiet storm that refused to settle. 

--- 

Avyaan 

I reentered the ballroom, my grip tightening around the whiskey glass. The sight of Kiara standing beside Arjun Khanna made my blood run cold. She stood tall, poised, playing her role perfectly. 

A perfect business arrangement. A logical partnership. 

Bullshit. 

Rehaan was already waiting for me at the bar, his eyes flicking to me the moment I approached. "How bad?" 

I took a slow sip of whiskey. "She’s pretending she doesn’t care." 

Rehaan exhaled. "So, what’s the plan?" 

I set my glass down with a quiet clink. "Simple." My gaze stayed locked on Kiara. "I ruin her engagement before she even gets a chance to settle into it." 

Rehaan sighed. "Of course." 

I smirked. "Did you really think I’d just let her hand herself over to another man?" 

"She’s not handing herself over, Avyaan. She’s making a calculated decision. Like you would." 

I scoffed. "The difference is, I don’t make stupid decisions." 

Rehaan shook his head but didn’t argue. 

Because he knew. 

I never lost. 

And Kiara Sinha was no exception. 

--- 

Kiara

"Are you okay?" Arjun’s voice pulled me back to the present. 

I turned to face him, forcing a small smile. "Of course." 

His gaze lingered on me for a moment before he set his glass down. "You know, I don’t mind playing my role in this, Kiara. But if this is just about proving a point to him…" 

My spine stiffened. "It’s not." 

He raised a brow. "Are you sure?" 

I exhaled. "This is business. You and I both benefit from this alliance." 

Arjun nodded slowly. "Alright. But you should know something." 

I frowned. "What?" 

He glanced toward the other end of the ballroom, where Avyaan stood watching us, his presence like a shadow that refused to be ignored. 

"He doesn’t lose," Arjun said simply. 

I already knew that. 

But knowing it didn’t make the weight of Avyaan’s gaze feel any less suffocating. 

Because the thing about Avyaan Rathore? 

He never played fair. 

And I had just given him a reason to break all the rules. 

--- 

Avyaan

I watched as Kiara and Arjun exchanged quiet words. He stood close to her, protective. Too close. 

I wanted to break his fucking fingers. 

But not yet. 

I turned to Rehaan. "I want everything on him. His business, his contacts, his weaknesses." 

Rehaan sighed. "You’re going to ruin him, aren’t you?" 

I smirked, slow and calculated. "No, Rehaan." 

I swirled the whiskey in my glass, watching as Kiara glanced toward me, her lips pressing into a thin line. 

"I’m going to make her realize," I murmured, "that she was never his to begin with." 

Because if Kiara thought she could walk away from me? 

She had no idea what she had just started.