Chapter 4
1066 Words
The drive was silent.
Ananya sat beside Aryan, still trying to digest the fact that she'd signed away her freedom less than twenty-four hours earlier.
Outside the window, city lights blurred past. Inside the car, neither spoke.....Which was somehow worse.
At last—
"We're here." Ananya looked up and instantly frowned. The house was ridiculous. Not beautiful.
Ridiculous.
The kind of place that looked like it belonged in newspapers and magazines. Tall gates. Private driveway. More windows than necessary.
"It's a joke?" she asked as confusion laced her voice
"No." Of course he wasn't.
The front door opened before they even reached it.
A woman stepped out in a black suit, high heels,and sharp features. Everything about her looked sharp. She briefly looked at Ananya. Then at Aryan. Then back at Ananya before she finally spoke.
"Great"
Something about the woman's measured stare unsettled her. Aryan stood beside her showing no emotion.
"Nahida". He finally spoke.
"Sir." Nahida handed him a tablet.
"Singapore acquisition call moved to six.
Neil is waiting inside. Legal approved the corporate buyout documents."
Ananya's eyes widened.
Corporate buyout? What kind of life is this?
Aryan nodded. "Anything else?"
Nahida looked directly at Ananya.
"No."
The answer felt doubtful.
Inside the house, another voice instantly rang out.
"NO WAY."
Ananya looked up. A man practically launched himself off the couch.
He stared and stared even harder. Then pointed dramatically at Aryan.
"You actually did it."
Aryan sighed. Already tired.
"Neil". He said as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You married her." Neil looked at Ananya. Then back at Aryan. Then at Ananya again.
"Great".
Ananya frowned. "What?"
Neil looked genuinely impressed.
"I thought he'd stalk you forever."
The room went silent.
Aryan slowly turned his head.
"Neil."
"Right."
"Be quiet."
"Got it."
"Now."
"Understood."
Ananya narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean forever?"
Neil immediately stood. "Well! Look at the time!" And practically ran from the room.
For the first time all evening...
Ananya noticed something. Aryan wasn't just a "husband". He wasn't just a pain in the ass. He had an entire villa. A company. Employees. Friends. Responsibilities. Secrets.
And somehow...
She had just been dropped right into the middle of it.
Ananya stared at the staircase mainly because it was the fastest means to escape from the conversation.
Unfortunately. Aryan noticed.
"You should rest."
She immediately stood.
"Great idea."
Neil snorted from somewhere behind her.
"So pretty."
Aryan shot him a look.
Neil pretended to examine the ceiling.
Just as Ananya reached the stairs...
"Aryan."
Nahida's voice cut through the room. Business. The atmosphere changed Ananya watched Aryan turn.
And for the first time...
She saw a completely different version of him.
Not the man from the hospital. Not the man from her house. Not the man who forced an arranged marriage on her.
This version looked colder, stone-hearted and focused.
"The board refused the revised proposal."
Nahida handed him the tablet.Aryan skimmed the screen with his expression unchanged which somehow looked worse.
"And?"
"The CEO believes you'll back down."
Neil actually laughed. Like someone had just told a joke.
Ananya narrowed her eyes.
Nobody else seemed amused.
Finally Aryan spoke. "Schedule the meeting."
Nahida nodded. "Tomorrow morning."
"No". Aryan handed the tablet back.
"One hour."
Even Nahida blinked. Apparently that wasn't normal.
"One hour?" Nahida repeated.
"Yes."
"What if he refuses?"
Aryan's eyes remained on the document.
"He won't.
For a second...
Ananya forgot her own problems. She found herself studying him. Trying to understand him.
Who was this man?
Because every time she thought she'd figured him out...
Something new surfaced.
"AHEM."
Neil''s voice snapped her out of it. Ananya looked over.
Neil was smirking.
"I see what's happening."
"Nothing is happening."
"Yh, right."
Ananya narrowed her eyes.
"I don't even like him."
Neil looked happy.
Like she'd just handed him a present.
"Oh, things are around to be really fun around here "
Aryan sighed.
"Neil."
"Yes?"
"Leave."
"Bossy."
"Now."
"Fine."
Neil started walking away, stopped midway and slowly turned around and smiled at Ananya
"Oh, before I forget."
Aryan instantly looked suspicious.
"What?" Ananya asked.
Neil pointed directly at Aryan.
"When he says he doesn't care about something"
"...that's when he cares the most"
Aryan's jaw tightened slightly.
"Neil."
"And when he says he isn't worried about something"
"Neil ."
"He definitely is."
"Neil."
"And when..."
"And when what? Get out."
Neil laughed so hard he nearly walked into a wall.
The moment he disappeared, everything became still again.
Ananya looked at Aryan.
Aryan looked at the documents.
Both remained silent. Suddenly, his phone rang.
Nahida answered it before he could. Something shifted in her expression. Not dramatically....Just enough. Aryan noticed immediately.
"What happened?". The room became still. Nahida lowered the phone. "The market reacted."
Aryan's eyes narrowed.
"How f****d?"
"A lot worse than expected."
Even Neil , who had reappeared somehow, stopped smiling.
For the first time all evening...
Aryan looked genuinely concerned.
Not about Ananya.
Not about Manushi.
Not about the marriage.
His company.
Suddenly Ananya realized something. This man wasn't untouchable. He had pressure too. Rivals too. Things that could go wrong too.And for the first time...The curiosity in her awakened.Not about the contract. Not about the marriage.
About him.
- Writer
