Obsessive Flames of Love

09:00 AM, 04th August, M City

The sultry day cooled slightly beneath the salt tanged sea air. Rudra opened the glass door with bloodshot eyes, and the cool breeze off his private beach beckoned him for a swim. He stood in front of the rising waves, "savoring the stunning view of the downtown skyline."

While Rudra was mesmerized by the beauty of nature, he drifted when he and his mother were running, and the high tide drenched them. A slight chuckle appeared on his lips.

"Mamma... Don't go." He yelled his heart out, but she disappeared in front of his eyes. His inability to stop her haunted him. The vulnerability was driving him nuts while his fists became clenched instinctively.

Meanwhile, Maahir came rushing to the mansion and toppled his files in haste. With the sound, Rudra snapped to reality. Eyeing his actions, Rudra inwardly felt a bad vibe. With furrowed brows, his thoughts fleeted to the unfavorable events created by Diana and Ashley.

"This duo was making me feel helpless by getting on my nerves." Rudra resented their every attempt, which stung only fueling the fire that burned inside of him. His sharp jawline rooted while anger seethed through his veins.

By the time Maahir stood in front of him with an unsteady breath, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead, Rudra was squelching it down and overcompensating by being back to his distant look.

Fiddled with his fingers while averting his gaze, Maahir stuttered, "Boss, all our tender quotes related to major projects... were... leaked."

Hearing that, rage churned inside of him, and the serene look faded, his expression becoming inhuman. Maahir's face turned pale. With a gulp, he stepped back, and stammered, "The shareholders are... sus... suspecting your presence... behind it."

In an instant, the stifled fury overwhelmed Rudra. He became menacing, turning into a ferocious lion searching out its prey.

Rudra was developing mechanisms to cover the losses, while his competitor's attack advanced and gained vigor. Diana and Ashley were striving to jeopardize his influence and wanted to snatch his authority. He's not the one to give up a fight.

Rudra smirked as he slid into his Bentley Continental GT, thinking, "now the game is more exciting." Maahir roared the accelerator, but traffic looked awful, and the powerful engine did no good, becoming stuck along with the rest.

...

The investors and board of directors waited in the conference room, tapping their feet with impatience evident on their faces. The room was in chaos. The members were losing patience with the enormous financial losses, and the internal battle's in the company.

Meanwhile, a tall, sleekly muscled man dressed in a meticulously crafted white shirt and an inky black William Westmacott bespoke suit strode in. He was handsome in the cold way of a marble statue, and his hands tucked nonchalantly into his trouser pockets.

In an Instant, the atmosphere quieted. Every member in the hall greeted Rudra with the utmost respect. Rudra gave them a nod and settled himself into the President's chair. With his obsidian brown eyes, his powerful gaze emanated an intimidating aura while scrutinizing them.

"How did you plan to get away with this scene?" The board of directors questioned him.

"We'll not listen to you anymore, Rudra. The situation is out of control, and our stock prices are dropping. Either you back off, or you find a way to clean up this mess. If that's not going to happen, then we can't allow you to be the President." Nishanth Chandra provoked him. With his pushing, other members had begun to question his abilities.

"I'm a major shareholder with 60% shares. You're threatening to push me aside? It's my empire!" Rudra scoffed. "I built this with my bare hands, with my blood and sweat. No one will ruin it." Rudra stood up from the chair with hands crossed over his chest.

A domineering glare from him sent shivers down their spine. The temperature dropped, giving people chills despite the summer heat. With a single instruction from him, their entire family could be ruined. He carries that influence and is the ultimate monarch!!!

"But Rudra, The information got leaked from your mail. How do you prove your innocence?" Nishant objected in a sharp tone. Hearing the allegation, a sly scowl danced across Rudra's face.

"Do you think we'll believe your....." Maahir interrupted Nishant saying, "You dare to suspect him? He's Ishaan Rudra Chauhan, President of Chauhan Group of Companies and is the youngest person ranked under the top 100 billionaires in the world by Forbes."

"So...?" Nishant gave a questioning look by knitting his brows together without realizing his limits.

Maahir ridiculed his guts with a scornful smile, "With his vision, abilities, and skills, he took the Chauhan Group of Companies from its lowest point to the peak within eight years. He's not a lenient man, and you're in no position to question him." Maahir warned.

"He'll have whatever he wants. If anyone threatens his power and authority, he'll crush them without a second thought." A gray-haired shareholder mumbled.

"Yes, Yes, No one should disrespect him, and he won't accept no for an answer." The shareholders debated among themselves quietly while Rudra left. They heaved after seeing his disappearing silhouette.

...

Inside his sophisticated cabin, painted in a light shade of gray, which was well-designed with impeccable interiors. An in-built closet with a bedroom on one side, a sofa on the other side enveloped in glasses, a television at the center in the spacious room, and piles of files settled in the racks.

Rudra sat in the chair with a puckered forehead while Maahir and Tamaz were exchanging questioning glares. "I can't confine it any further. Diana and Ashley need to learn their lesson." Rudra asserted sternly when his hands slammed on the glossy wooden table. They snapped back with widened eyes.

"Watch Diana Industry. I want them to bleed money, poach their major team to our side." He directed Maahir and Tamaz.

"It won't be simple. They've been loyal to Diana Industries for years." Tamaz objected uncertainly.

"Everything in this world has a price. Give them whatever they want." Rudra declared with authority. "I expect Diana and Ashley to withdraw, or else this situation will end up as a disaster." He analyzed and walked away to the sprawling glass and leaned his back with a cold glare when his phone beeped.

"Boss! We captured Ashley." His men reported.

"Stash him in our warehouse. I don't want the information to get out."

"Okay! But hiding him might create chaos in the city."

"Do whatever I say." Rudra imposed and hung up.

"I gave you a chance to change your mind, Ashley. Despite being my financial advisor for years, you sided with Diana and sold out the major information." Rudra reckoned aloud in his office.

"You even leaked them from my mail? You sure got the guts to go against me, and the company? It's your turn to face the consequences." His lips pressed into a thin line.

"I'm not going to allow those bastards to succeed. I know Ashley is the key to your plans. Without Ashley, you're nothing, Diana." A smirk lingered on his devilish lips.

"No wonder you are known for being quick, efficient, and ruthless." His assistant, Maahir reminisced by staring at Rudra in admiral for his effectiveness.

...

Next morning.

Maahir hurried into the exquisitely designed mansion painted in beige and grey combination. A huge chandelier welcomed him.

Passing through the artistic paintings on the walls, he climbed the marble stairs and handed Rudra a report. Rudra flipped through it, his lips twitched slightly upwards, seeing Diana Industries' heavy overnight losses.

"You want to destroy me so badly, Diana? Wait and watch how things will turn out. I'll make you regret connecting with Ashley." Rudra speculated with unyielding determination in his gaze.

"Diana is going crazy. She can't figure out how her flawless plan turned out to be a failure," Maahir informed Rudra.

A vindictive sneer crossed Rudra's otherwise handsome face. Though his opponents started this war, the tables were turned. He'd give them some rope, let them climb all the way to the top, let them taste the satisfaction. And then he'd kick them straight to rock bottom.

...

A week later.

Rudra stood addressing a large crowd of conference-goers in Delhi. Diana hadn't made a sound since his men took Ashley. While speaking, he looked over the carefully gelled hair of India's most successful men to watch a woman enter the hall.

Her deep black eyes met his obsidian-amber eyes, and she gaped in awe. "Mr. Chauhan?" Her eyes gleamed in anticipation, observing him from tip to toe, "wow, he's more dazzling than in pictures." Cleared her throat, composed herself, and strode in, while peeping at her surroundings.

"Who is she? Why is she occupying the position of Mr. Henry, the CEO of Umbro Technologies." The members of the conference glanced at her from top to bottom with scrutinizing glares.

She paused, set her hair with her slender fingers, and kept her head high with an inevitable charm. "Is she representing on behalf of her Boss?" Rudra gazed at her movements with a questioning look.

While not stunningly beautiful, there was something about the way she dressed, her looks. Her pride gave her elegance. The way she took command of the situation got his attention. She's not conventionally beautiful, but her self-esteem and her demeanor made her special to him. The picture of her became printed in his subconscious mind.

Stared at him while intently listening, a satisfied smile settled across her rosy lips. "His voice is so alluring," she mumbled to herself while his gaze fixated on her, and she gulped as heat rushed up to her cheeks.

...

25th August, At Oberoi hotels

Rudra was going to meet one of his clients and halted near the elevator. Hearing the laughter from behind in the secluded area, he turned around and found the same girl from the conference.

The way she presented herself, and her simple, yet sophisticated attire drew his focus. The way she maintained control intrigued him. Rudra ruminated with a wink and averted his gaze.

Meanwhile, her widened eyes glued onto him. Peeped at him from the side, "Is he, Mr. Chauhan?" Her eyes shone as realization dawned on her by noticing the powerful man.

"Who else can have that aura?" Tanvi mumbled to herself in admiration for the domineering man and the image of him popped into her head. She couldn't help but exclaim to herself, "How can he be this handsome and overbearing?"

Sighing at herself in disbelief for dreaming of such a high and mighty man, "He's just perfect!" She quoted in her mind with a smile and shifted her focus onto her discussion.

...