Breach.
396 Words
CHAPTER SIX: Breach.
Falling in love was not in the contract. Which meant it was dangerous.
By the one- year mark, the lines between performance and reality had blurred completely.
They argued about trivial things- thermostat settings, coffee strength- and then made up with laughter and stolen kisses.
Aria moved into his bedroom without discussion. He started attending her project meetings without being asked.
They were still careful in public- but now the affection wasn’t rehearsed. And that was when the second crack appeared.
Dev’s board called an emergency meeting.
Aria overheard fragments: hostile takeover, shareholders revolt, vulnerability.
That night, he was distant.
“What’s going on?” She asked.
“Nothing you need to worry about” he said
“I’m your wife”.
“Yes”, he said too quickly.
She crossed her arms. “Don’t shut me out”
He exhaled. “If the merger dissolves, the board believes the marriage will look… unnecessary. They think a divorce might reassure investors”.
The words felt like ice water.
“After everything?” She whispered.
“It’s just talk” he said.
“But it’s possible”. She answered.
He ran a hand through her hair. “I built this company from nothing after my father died. I can’t let it collapse”.
“And I can’t let my project collapse”, she said quietly.
They stared at each other- the same crossroads as before, but with more at stake.
“This was supposed to be simple”, he muttered.
“It was never simple”, She said.
Dev pulled out a gift box from his drawer and gave it to her.
Aria took it, staring at the beautiful box.
“Open it” Dev said looking at her with a smile.
She opened it, unaware of what was inside.
“What?, A Rolls Royce car key!,
For me? She asked.
Dev nodded with a smile.
He took her to the basement in his penthouse and showed the new Rolls Royce he got for her.
“Thank you, Dev” she said wearing a smile on her face.
“You are my wife” he said. “As a CEO’s wife, you don’t have to go to meetings on foot.
Aria smiled looking at him.
For the first time in her life, A stranger gifted her.
- Writer
