THE GLIDED CAGE

4

The days following that car ride left Ishita more on edge than ever. Every interaction with Ranveer felt like walking on a knife’s edge, and his growing presence in her life was suffocating. It wasn’t just that he watched her at the office or that his words carried an undercurrent of possession—it was that she couldn’t stop thinking about him. The way his cold eyes bore into her, the way his voice could send shivers down her spine with just a simple command.

And then there was Aarav. Ranveer’s comment about her brother had unsettled her deeply. She couldn’t understand why he had brought Aarav into their conversation. It was almost as if he was hinting at something dangerous, a threat lurking beneath the surface. But what could a powerful business tycoon like Ranveer Khurana possibly want with a teenage YouTuber?

One evening, after another long and stressful day at work, Ishita sat in her living room, scrolling through her phone, trying to distract herself with Aarav’s latest videos. He was, as always, energetic and funny, his channel booming with comments and likes from fans. She smiled despite her anxiety—at least Aarav was thriving.

But her peace didn’t last long.

Her phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number:

**Unknown:** *"Careful where you step, Ishita. The world you’re in is darker than you think."*

Her heart skipped a beat as she stared at the screen, her fingers trembling. Who was this? She quickly blocked the number, trying to shake off the fear creeping into her mind. It was probably just a prank, she told herself. But deep down, she knew better. There was only one person who could make her feel this way.

Ranveer.

Just as her thoughts drifted to him, there was a knock on the door. Ishita jumped, her nerves already frayed. Who would come by so late?

She cautiously approached the door and opened it slightly, her breath catching in her throat when she saw who it was.

Ranveer Khurana stood there, his expression unreadable, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as they met hers.

"Sir?" Ishita stammered, opening the door wider in confusion. "What are you doing here?"

Without waiting for an invitation, Ranveer stepped inside, his presence filling the small apartment instantly. He closed the door behind him, his movements deliberate, his gaze never leaving her. Ishita backed up slightly, feeling trapped in her own home.

"Did you get my message?" he asked, his voice low, almost too calm.

Ishita’s heart raced. "Message? What message?"

He tilted his head, his eyes darkening as he took a step closer to her. "You blocked the number, didn’t you? That was a mistake."

Her stomach twisted with fear. So it had been him. But why? What did he want?

"I—I didn’t understand," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why would you send me something like that?"

Ranveer’s eyes flashed with something dangerous, something possessive. "Because you don’t understand the world you’re stepping into, Ishita. You think this is just a job, but it’s not. You’re in my world now. And in my world, people like you need to be protected. Whether you realize it or not."

Ishita’s mind spun as she tried to comprehend what he was saying. Protected? From what? From whom?

"I don’t need protection," she said, though her voice was weak. "I just want to do my job and go home."

Ranveer chuckled, but there was no warmth in the sound. "You think it’s that simple? That you can just waltz into my company, into my life, and walk away unscathed?" His voice dropped, cold and possessive. "You belong to me now, Ishita. Whether you like it or not."

Her breath caught in her throat as his words sank in. *Belong to him?* What did he mean? This wasn’t how the world worked—this wasn’t normal. She had to get away, she had to protect herself and Aarav. But how? Ranveer was too powerful, too deeply entrenched in every aspect of her life now.

"I don’t belong to anyone," she whispered, though her voice was shaky. "I’m not some object you can just claim."

His expression hardened, and he stepped closer until they were inches apart. "You don’t get to decide that," he said softly, his voice like ice. "I do."

Ishita’s chest tightened, fear clawing at her insides. She wanted to run, to escape, but she was frozen under his gaze, trapped in the web he had woven around her from the very beginning. And worst of all, a small part of her—some deep, dark part—was drawn to him. She hated it, hated the way his possessiveness made her feel both terrified and... something else she didn’t want to admit.

"You will understand soon enough," Ranveer continued, his voice softening slightly, though his eyes were still hard. "I don’t make threats, Ishita. I make promises. And I promise you this—you’re not walking away from me."

Ishita swallowed, her hands trembling at her sides. "And Aarav?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "What does he have to do with any of this?"

Ranveer’s gaze darkened further. "Aarav is your weakness. And in my world, weakness is dangerous. But as long as you’re with me, no harm will come to him. I’ll make sure of that."

Her blood ran cold at the implication. Ranveer was controlling her, trapping her by threatening the only family she had left. He had played this game so skillfully, and now she was caught in his grasp, with no way out.

"I—" she began, but before she could say anything more, Ranveer reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his touch surprisingly gentle.

"Don’t fight it, Ishita," he whispered, his voice almost tender now. "I’ll protect you. I’ll protect him. But you need to trust me."

Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared up at him, torn between fear and a strange, inexplicable pull that she couldn’t deny. She knew she should push him away, should scream, should run. But instead, she stood there, trapped in his gaze, unsure of what to do.

Ranveer leaned in slightly, his breath warm against her skin as he whispered in her ear, "You’re mine now. Don’t forget that."

And with that, he turned and left, leaving her standing alone in the dark, her mind racing, her heart pounding, and her world unraveling before her eyes.

To be countinue
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