The Terms of the Deal
785 Words
Aarini Verma had just sold her soul to the devil.
Or at least, that’s how it felt as she stepped out of Kian Malhotra’s office, the weight of the contract pressing against her palm.
Six months.
Six months of pretending to be engaged to a man she barely knew, a man she didn’t even like.
She wasn’t sure what was worse—the fact that she had agreed, or the fact that a part of her was thrilling at the challenge.
Her phone buzzed. Mr. Mehra.
She exhaled and picked up. “Yes?”
“Did you do it?”
Aarini pressed the folder tighter against her chest. “The deal is done.”
A pause. Then, “Good. Now don’t mess it up.”
He hung up before she could respond.
Aarini sighed. Right. No pressure.
The Rules of Engagement
The next morning, a sleek, black car arrived outside her apartment building. Aarini barely had time to grab her handbag before her phone buzzed again.
Kian: Your first appearance as my fiancée is tonight. A gala at the Royal Orchid. Wear something appropriate.
Aarini scowled at the text. Wear something appropriate? The man had the charm of a brick wall.
When she slid into the car, Kian was waiting inside. Dressed in a sharp navy suit, he barely looked up from his phone.
“You’re late,” he said.
She checked her watch. “By two minutes.”
Kian’s lips twitched. “Don’t make it a habit.”
Aarini rolled her eyes. “Do you have a handbook on being insufferable, or does it come naturally?”
“Page one: punctuality,” he murmured, still not looking at her.
Aarini sighed. “Fine. Let’s talk details. If we’re doing this, we need ground rules.”
That got his attention. Kian set his phone aside, turning to her with a raised brow. “Ground rules?”
“Yes. If we’re going to be in public together, we need to act like a real couple. People will watch us. They’ll analyze every interaction.”
Kian nodded slowly. “Go on.”
Aarini took a deep breath. “Rule one: No surprises. If we’re attending an event, I need details in advance.”
“Done.”
“Rule two: No actual romance. This is a business arrangement, not a real relationship.”
Kian’s gaze darkened, but he nodded. “Understood.”
Aarini hesitated before adding, “And rule three: No touching unless absolutely necessary.”
Kian’s lips curved. “Define ‘necessary.’”
Aarini’s throat dried. “Public displays of affection. Hand-holding, the occasional kiss if required to sell the act. But nothing more.”
Kian leaned closer, his cologne—something expensive and maddeningly distracting—filling the space between them. “Don’t worry, Miss Verma. I have no interest in complicating this arrangement.”
Something about the way he said it made her chest tighten.
Because for the first time, she wasn’t sure if she believed him.
First Public Appearance
The gala at the Royal Orchid Hotel was a grand affair, the kind of event where power and wealth dripped from every conversation.
Aarini had always been comfortable in high society, but tonight, she was on display. Every step she took, every glance, was being analyzed.
Kian was beside her, his presence commanding. He placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her through the crowd with practiced ease.
She forced a smile, playing her part. “You’re good at this.”
He smirked. “Lying?”
“Pretending to care.”
“I don’t pretend,” he murmured. “I just give people what they expect.”
Before she could respond, a woman in a shimmering silver gown approached.
“Kian,” she purred. “And who’s this?”
Aarini recognized her instantly. Natasha Oberoi. CEO. Socialite. And one of Kian’s rumored exes.
Aarini’s pulse kicked up. This was her first test.
She smiled sweetly. “Aarini Verma. Kian’s fiancée.”
Natasha’s perfectly shaped brow arched. “Fiancée? My, my. Kian, I didn’t know you had it in you.”
Kian’s grip on Aarini’s waist tightened slightly. “Neither did I,” he said smoothly. “But here we are.”
Natasha’s gaze flickered between them before she smiled. “How… unexpected.”
Aarini knew what that meant. No one believed them yet.
Game on.
She turned to Kian and, before she could second-guess herself, brushed a soft kiss against his jaw.
The smallest gesture. Just enough to be convincing.
Kian tensed beside her. Just for a second.
Then, slowly, he turned to her, his expression unreadable.
And Aarini realized—this wasn’t going to be as easy as she thought.
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- Writer
