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“A wedding? You saw me and—” The end of his mouth twisted up, a crooked smile on his face, and she knew it was a made-up story. “Why are you doing this?” she hissed and looked around to make sure no one was around. “I need to know what the deal is, or I’m going to run away, and no one can stop me this time. Not even your threats.”
He pressed his lips together. “One year, be my wife, play the role of a royal family member, and you are free to go with a promised job in hand.”
She narrowed her eyes like she knew there had to be more to what he was saying. “Why do you need a wife? Why me?”
“Didn’t I already tell you why I want to marry you?” His voice was too calm for comfort. “And I feel a year is a good amount of time for any couple to figure out if they still want to be married.”
She scrunched her nose. “What the heck is this? Some kind of a social experiment or…” Her eyes widened when something else came to mind. “Are you marrying me for an inheritance or to have me bear a child for you?”
He let out a chuckle before he shook his head. “I have no such interest unless that’s whatyouwant.”
“What?” She shook her head. “Why would I want a child?”
“Do you not want children ever?” His question caught her by surprise. She had not thought about that aspect of her life. Not until that moment when she was asked by a stranger what she wanted from life.
She pressed her fingers to her temple. “Stop. This is madness. I need to know why you are marrying me when so many other women would be willing to marry you and do what you want.”
He did not respond immediately. “Sanjana, there are many other women, but they are not you. I want to marry you. And if you choose to end the marriage after a year, you are free to go.”
Was he a psycho who was going to torture her?
“What if you misbehave with me?” She shot a glare his way.
“Define misbehave.” He folded his arms in front of him, his eyes locked with hers.
She was intimidated by his good looks, stature, and now his stance, but she held his gaze through the veil for which she was grateful. She felt somewhat protected by the sheer cloth. “I don’t want a physical relationship if this is some kind of an arrangement for a short time.”
He nodded. “We can have that included in the contract.”
Did she hear that right?“A contract?” Her voice wobbled.
He reached into his pocket and took out his phone. He held up his screen. “A copy of this document is in your email. You and I will be the only people who will know about this contract. It will go into effect once we are officially married. The contract is void, and you are eligible for compensation if I break any of the conditions.”
Shocked that this man had gone to such lengths of writing up a contract meant he had a plan. But what in the world did she have to offer that any other woman did not?
“What if I break any of the rules?” she challenged and saw amusement pass through his eyes.
“I think you value your independence a lot more than anything else, and hence, I don’t expect you to be the one to do anything that would compromise your situation,” he said it with a high amount of confidence.
The cockiness in his voice annoyed her and made her want to retaliate. “What if I want to continue being your wife after a year?” She fully expected him to be taken aback, but nothing seemed to falter his expression.
“Please read the contract. You will see that you’ll be required to mate with me to produce an heir if you decide to continue to be my wife at that point.” His tone was flat like he was discussing a property deal while playing Monopoly.
“What the heck?” Her trap fired back, and a shiver passed through her as she wondered how things had come to that point.
“I suggest you read the contract and ask for any amendments before we get married tonight.” His tone was insistent. “If you make no changes, the contract will stay as written.”
There was no way she was going to be able to read the contract because she would be surrounded by many people that day. And at that point, she knew there wasn’t much she could really do even if she didn’t agree to the contract. “What are the highlights?”
His brow furrowed. “Of the contract?” His expression did not falter, though. The arrogance was perpetual.
She nodded. “Is there a clause that says there will be no physical contact?”
He looked at her for a long moment. “The contract states that the relationship behind closed doors is defined by you, and when we are in public, by me.”
“What does that mean?” She knew it was best to read the contract, but it would be impossible to process it all.
“It means you will do what it takes to ensure we are in a happy relationship in the eyes of the public and my family.” He had his eyes trained on her all along.
