The Billionaire's Bride [ Rewritten]

Part 19 | The Headlines

" Confess with a post card? No, too usual." I scrunched my nose, the annoyance bubbling up.

"That's it! I'm done!" Aditi threw her hands up, the movement sharp with defeat. "I have given you twenty-five different scenarios, and you haven't liked a single one?"

"It's not my fault your ideas are so basic," I muttered. She glared at me, instantly shutting me up.

" How is it going? " Rudy and Arjun barged into the room, a little too excited for a lazy afternoon.

"It's not," Aditi snapped. She turned and thwacked the top of my head with her spiral notepad. "Because this one is being stubborn and impossibly choosy."

"Hey!" I whined, rubbing the sore spot. "I'm not being difficult. I'm just... is it really necessary? The whole confession thing?"

"YES!" the three of them shouted in unison.

I sank back into my chair, the noise of their bickering fading into a dull hum. It wasn't that I was embarrassed to admit how I felt. It was simpler, and scarier, than that. Right now, this feeling was mine. It was tucked away in the quiet, private corners of my heart where it couldn't be bruised or misunderstood.

The second I let the secret slip-the moment I serve up my heart on a silver platter - It's no longer protected.

I'm no longer the keeper of my own heart; I'm just a witness, waiting to see if he will cherish or break the most precious thing I have to give.

I don't know If I'm just yet ready to find out.

" We have an idea," Rudra announced proudly.

"There's no escape, is there?" I asked weakly.

"NO," they chorused again.

I dragged a hand down my face before motioning for them to continue.

Arjun stepped forward first. "The Grand Annual Charity Gala is happening the day after tomorrow. And like every year, we've accepted the invitation."

"Okay...?" I drawled slowly.

"But Kartik isn't supposed to be back until the weekend, right?" Dhruv added quietly from the corner.

"The deal got signed early," Arjun replied.

"He'll be back a day sooner and will head straight to the gala."

At the mention of Kartik, my heart betrayed me with a flutter.

A day earlier.

I straightened immediately. "I'm listening."

"The venue is perfect," Rudra said excitedly. "Elegant, private, romantic. Kartik will never see it coming. It'll be the perfect night for you to confess."

"But won't it be crowded?" I frowned. "And what about the media?"

Wherever the rich gather, the press follows like shadows.